The Cubs open their first divisional play series of 2024.
Friday notes…
- THE FRIENDLY CONFINES: The Cubs are 10-3 at home this season, tying 2016 and six earlier seasons for their best home start since 1985, when they were 11-2. They started 12-1 twice, in 1907 and 1970. They lost their next game both of those years. They won to become 11-3 in 1923, 1932, 1955, 1976 and 1985. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
- STEALING: In the Cubs’ first 23 games, they had a 41.7 percent success rate in stolen bases (5-for-12). But over their last nine games, they have stolen 12 bases with no CS, including six in Thursday’s loss. That gives them a 70.8 percent success rate (17-for-24) for the season. The six steals Thursday was the Cubs’ most in a single game since they had six in a 9-6 win over the Padres, June 3, 2008.
- ICE COLD: Ian Happ, last 12 games since April 17: .125/.286/.150 (5-for-40), one double, eight walks, 17 strikeouts.
- ON THE OTHER HAND: Yency Almonte, last 11 appearances since April 6: 1.69 ERA, 0.750 WHIP, .086 opponents BA (3-for-35), 16 strikeouts in 10⅔ innings.
Here are today’s particulars.
Cubs lineup:
Back at Wrigley Field today!
Tune in: https://t.co/Gs2hZXyTjH pic.twitter.com/QeqMBzRi8L
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) May 3, 2024
Brewers lineup:
Sure feels like a big one
: @BallySportWI
: @620wtmj #ThisIsMyCrew X @NicoletLaw pic.twitter.com/XxyIZZCNDk— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) May 3, 2024
Hayden Wesneski, RHP vs. Joe Ross, RHP
In a small sample size (10⅓ innings), Hayden Wesneski has been just outstanding so far this year: 0.87 ERA, 0.677 WHIP, only seven baserunners out of 39 batters faced.
Last year Wesneski made one scoreless relief appearance against the Brewers, in the second-to-last game of the season, September 30 at Milwaukee. Hopefully that can continue. That’s his only career appearance vs. Milwaukee.
Joe Ross, now there’s a blast from the past. Before this year Ross last pitched in the majors with the Nationals in 2021, and he’s spent the last two years in Triple-A, with middling results.
So far this year, his 5.40 ERA and 1.680 WHIP don’t look that good, either.
The last time he faced the Cubs was July 31, 2021 in Washington, just after the big Cubs selloff, so I present that boxscore link mostly for amusement value.
Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network. You can find out if Marquee is available via a provider in your area here. It’s also on MLB Network (outside the Cubs and Brewers market territories).
Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
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The 2024 Game Thread procedure will be like last year’s, similar to what we’ve used for Spring Training.
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.