Cubs Den

Cubs @ Royals Series Preview: (8/5-8/6)

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So this is really a continuation of the two games at Wrigley the Cubs won. The bullpen keeps adding unnecessary drama to these contests. Craig Kimbrel struggled again on Tuesday, failing to close out the 9th inning. Chicago is winning these games, but it will be an issue against better competition.

Wednesday Nico Hoerner gets a start in center field with a lefty on the mound. The Cubs continue to get healthy production from the bottom of the lineup. The Royals lineup has not been effective save for the last inning Tuesday.

Watch/Listen

Wednesday: 7:05 PM CT on Marquee SN/670AM

Thursday: 6:07 PM CT FOX/670AM

Lineups

Cubs

1. Kris Bryant (R) 3B

2. Anthony Rizzo (L) 1B

3. Javier Baez (R) SS

4. Willson Contreras (R) DH

5. Kyle Schwarber (L) LF

6. David Bote (R) 2B

7. Jason Heyward (L) RF

8. Nico Hoerner (R) CF

9. Victor Caratini (S) C

P. Yu Darvish (R)

Royals

1. Whit Merrifield (R) CF

2. Jorge Soler (R) RF

3. Ryan O’Hearn (L) 1B

4. Salvador Perez (R) C

5. Alex Gordon (L) LF

6. Ryan McBroom (R) DH

7. Adalberto Mondesi (S) SS

8. Maikel Franco (R) 3B

9. Nicky Lopez (L) 2B

P. Kris Bubic (L)

Bullpen Usage

Lineups and Bullpen Usage via Baseball Press.

Opposing pitchers

Scouting Reports from Brooks Baseball.

Kris Bubic: Kris Bubic has thrown 75 pitches that have been tracked by the PITCHf/x system in 2020, all of them occuring in the MLB Regular Season. In 2020, he has relied primarily on his Fourseam Fastball (92mph) and Change (80mph), also mixing in a Curve (81mph).

Sean’s note: Bubic had never pitched above A ball before starting for the Royals this July. He allowed 2 earned runs over 4 innings in his only start against the White Sox.

Brad Keller: Although he has not thrown an MLB pitch in 2020, Brad Keller threw 4,941 pitches that were tracked by the PITCHf/x system between 2018 and 2019, all of them occuring in the MLB Regular Season. In 2019, he relied primarily on his Fourseam Fastball (94mph), Slider (85mph) and Sinker (93mph). He also rarely threw a Change (89mph).

His fourseam fastball is straight as an arrow, generates a very high amount of groundballs compared to other pitchers’ fourseamers, has some natural sinking action and has essentially average velo. His slider has exceptional depth, has short glove-side cut and results in somewhat more groundballs compared to other pitchers’ sliders. His sinker has surprisingly little armside run, results in many more groundballs compared to other pitchers’ sinkers and has slightly above average velo. His change is thrown extremely hard, is basically never swung at and missed compared to other pitchers’ changeups, has surprising cut action and results in somewhat more flyballs compared to other pitchers’ changeups.

Sean’s note: Keller has not started yet in 2020. He made 28 starts in 2019 with an ERA just over 4. Left handed and right handed hitters fared about equally against him.

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Series Preview, Uncategorized