Chicago Cubs vs. Baltimore Orioles preview, Sunday 8/3, 1:20 CT

The Cubs go for the series win.

Sunday notes…

• SPLITTING THE DIFFERENCE: This is the 23rd of the Cubs’ 37 series in which they have split the first two games. There was no third game in two series. In the others, the Cubs are 11-9 overall but 3-4 at home, including 2-2 after winning, then losing in the first two games. They 4-0 after winning and losing on the road. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
• THE KELLY FILES: Carson Kelly, last 28 games since June 19: .330/.402/.557 (29-for-88) with eight doubles, four home runs, 12 RBI, 10 walks and 15 runs scored.
• IT’S ALL ABOUT THAT BASE: The Chicago Cubs rank second in the majors in total bases (1,671), behind the Yankees (1,700).
• THIS DAY IN CUBS HISTORY: The Cubs walked off the Marlins 5-4 with a wacky ninth inning which included a bases-loaded walk to tie the game and a wild pitch to win it. It happened nine years ago today, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016.

Here are today’s particulars.

Cubs lineup:

Orioles lineup:

Colin Rea, RHP vs. Brandon Young, RHP

Colin Rea’s last two starts, to be charitable, have been rough.

Before that, though, he had put together a four-start run with a 1.90 ERA.

With the addition of Michael Soroka to the rotation, expected tomorrow against the Reds, Rea is likely going to be shifted to the bullpen. Hopefully he can give the team one more good start before that.

Last year against the Orioles, April 14, 2024 in Baltimore, he allowed three runs in 5⅔ innings, with six strikeouts.

Brandon Young signed with the Orioles as an undrafted free agent during the 2020 pandemic season. He’s played four-plus years in their system and has made eight starts, two in April and the other six starting in late June.

He’s gone six innings just once, in his last outing July 29 against the Blue Jays. That’s also his best start to date, allowing two runs. The rest of the starts… mediocre to bad.

He’s obviously never faced the Cubs or anyone on their active roster. Go get him, Cubs hitters.

Baseball Savant

Baseball Savant

Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network. You can find out if Marquee is available via a provider in your area here.

Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Orioles site Camden Chat. If you do go there to interact with Orioles fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.

The 2025 Game Thread procedure will be identical to last year’s.

You’ll find the game preview posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).

At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game, including the First Pitch Thread and the overflow thread, as well as the recap when it’s published. The recap will also live on the front page as a separate post.

You will also be able to find the preview, First Pitch Thread and the overflow thread in the box marked “Chicago Cubs Game Threads” at the bottom of the front page (you can also find them in this section link). The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.

The First Pitch thread will post at five minutes before game time, then an overflow thread at 90 minutes after the scheduled game time.

Discuss amongst yourselves.