The Cubs look to clinch home field for their Wild Card Series.
Saturday notes:
- RUN DIFFERENTIAL: After Friday’s 12-1 win, the Cubs’ run differential is a season-high +138. Their previous high was +133 after they won at Pittsburgh on Sept. 17. The Cubs have finished 14 seasons since 1901 with a higher differential than +138. Only two of them were in the past 80 years: +252 in 2016, second best ever behind +323 in 1906, and +184 in 2008, tied for ninth best with 1907. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
- EVERYONE DIGS THE LONG BALL: The Cubs have hit nine home runs in their last three games: two, then three, then four. This is the 10th three-game span this season, some overlapping, in which they have homered at least nine times. But it is the first since July 4-6, when they hit 11, matching their season high, set June 20-22. They hit 10 in three spans and nine in five. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
- MAGIC NUMBER: The Cubs’ magic number to clinch home field in their Wild Card Series against the Padres was lowered to 1 when the team won on Friday. If the Cubs win today or tomorrow, or the Padres lose today or tomorrow, the series will begin at Wrigley Field Tuesday.
- THE NICO FILES: Nico Hoerner’s 2-for-5 day Friday left his BA at an even .300. He’d have to go 6-for-7 over the season’s final two days to catch Trea Turner for the batting title. However, if he has three or more hits over the season’s last two days, he’ll finish the season at .300 or better. Since 2012, only two qualified Cubs hitters (502 PA or more) have hit .300 or better for a season: Ben Zobrist (.305 in 2018) and Cody Bellinger (.307 in 2023).
Cubs lineup:
Cardinals lineup:
Jameson Taillon, RHP vs. Michael McGreevy, RHP
Hey, look! Jamo’s been really good since he returned from a couple of injuries. Five starts since Aug. 24, 1.59 ERA, 0.918 WHIP, only one home run in 28.1 innings.
You don’t want to look at the boxscore from his only start against the Cardinals this year. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Remember, he’s done well lately. I expect that to continue.
Originally, left-hander Matthew Liberatore was going to start this game for the Cardinals, but they switched things around and moved right-hander Michael McGreevy up a day from Sunday, with Sunday’s starter now TBD.
This is likely good for the Cubs, as they have been better vs. RH starters all year.
McGreevy has made two starts against the Cubs this year. They hit him pretty hard in the first one (five runs in 4.2 innings June 24 in St. Louis) but he threw six shutout innings against them Aug. 8, also in St. Louis. So this is his first-ever start at Wrigley Field.
In September he has made four starts, two against the Giants (11.00 ERA in nine total innings) and one each vs. the Mariners and Reds (0.69 ERA in 13 innings). So your guess is as good as mine.
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.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
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The 2025 Game Thread procedure will be identical to last year’s.
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Discuss amongst yourselves.
Category: General Sports
