Chicago Cubs Lineup (8/28/24): Counsell Takes His Time, Hendricks Facing Skenes
You used to be able to count on lineups being posted right around 4 hours prior to gametime, even with Vegas having to get the first peek. Craig Counsell posts his later than most managers, often within 3 hours or less. Today’s was a whole new level of tardiness, however, as the lineup came out roughly 52 minutes before the game is scheduled to start.
The Cubs have taken the first two games of the series by scoring 27 total runs on 28 hits against a pitching staff that has actually looked really good this season. However, neither starter they’ve faced to this point is on par with the one they’re up against this afternoon. All-Star Game starter Paul Skenes should be the NL Rookie of the Year and he is getting his third crack at the Cubs after making the first two starts of his career against them back in May.
Though Baseball Savant’s percentile sliders can’t be used to tell a player’s whole story, Skenes is deep red in nearly every category. He’s in the 95th percentile or better in five separate metrics, with his 99 mph fastball working with a little cut to make his 94 mph splinker that much better. His slider is decent and his curve is decidedly meh, which just means he’s got that much more room to improve.
The true definition of a power pitcher, Skenes has no problem trying to beat hitters with strikes. He’s only walked three or more batters three times in 17 starts, though all have come in his last five outings. The Cubs have drawn three total free passes against him against 18 strikeouts, 11 of which came over six shutout innings in the second start of his career.
Styles make fights, and you won’t find two more contrasting pitchers than Skenes and Kyle Hendricks. The latter’s fastball is in line with the former’s changeup, and The Professor has notched more than five strikeouts just once this season. This is actually the second time these two have squared off, with the rookie getting the better of the veteran the last time. That was Skenes’ near-perfect second game, not that he needed to be that good as Hendricks allowed seven earned over 4.2 innings.
Sweeps are hard to complete and the bats seem to have a tendency to go cold in these situations, so we’ll see how they come out today. We’ve got the same order as usual, just with Christian Bethancourt starting behind the plate. I wonder if Miguel Amaya is feeling a little blah and the delay was from waiting to see whether or not to have him start. But catchers need more days off, so maybe it’s just Counsell being Counsell
First pitch is at 11:35am CT on Marquee and 670 The Score.
Here is today’s #Cubs starting lineup for the series finale at PNC Park!
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— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 28, 2024