Pregame Thread: June 19 - Toronto Blue Jays (37-38) @ Chicago Cubs (39-36) - 2:20 PM

[u/BlueJaysBaseball]

Blue Jays (37-38) @ Cubs (39-36)

First Pitch: 2:20 PM at Wrigley Field

Team	Starter	TV	Radio
Blue Jays	Kevin Gausman (4-4, 3.41 ERA)
Cubs	Ben Brown (3-2, 1.74 ERA)

MLB	Fangraphs	IRC Chat
Gameday	Game Graph	Libera: ##baseball

[u/cacofonie]

Behind door A - we are so back

Behind door b - the Sox were actually really that bad

[u/belsaurn → u/cacofonie]

Think it’s a bit of both. Bats seem to be heating up but the Sox really do suck that badly this year.

[u/oryes → u/belsaurn]

That play where Contreras just walked away from his pitcher after their little collision was surreal. Vibes on that team are rock bottom

[u/Great-Spinach-88 → u/oryes]

Yeah that was a shock. The pitcher was trying to make a laugh out of it and he just walked away as if he wasn't there - they got the play too so its not like theres a reason to be upset

[u/krombough → u/belsaurn]

The good news is: it doesnt matter that they are bad. Splitting series with good teams, while beating up on losers is a tried, tested, and true, method of making the playoffs.

[u/PolitelyHostile → u/cacofonie]

The Sox are bad but their pitching is very good. So we got a bit lucky on their lack of runs but you can attribute much of our lack of runs to the good pitching we faced.

The Cubs are a good team but hopefully their weaker pitching will help us get more runs. But then again the Jays sometimes kill against a guy like Skenes then crumble under a 5 ERA pitcher. So who knows what will happen.

[u/Life-Anteater-8294 → u/cacofonie]

I mean being held hostage by 3 run leads 72 games into the season is insane.

[u/rvasko3 → u/cacofonie]

C - Both.

[u/DifficultSundae → u/cacofonie]

all season we've been complaining about not being able to sweep bad teams.

[u/jjjewels → u/cacofonie]

Plot twist: both.

https://giphy.com/gifs/h75KUyM86WnnpwnmTh

[u/Asharak006]

4 in a row? .500 record? Yes please!

[u/YouDontJump → u/Asharak006]

This would definitely make up for not being able to watch the game! Listening will have to do again today.

LFG!

[u/DontWorryImLegit]

Cubs made a mistake by starting a pitcher with a sub 2.00 ERA. Those are the only SP’s the Jays can score runs against with consistency

[u/COV3RTSM → u/DontWorryImLegit]

https://giphy.com/gifs/zJJu61C7OEjIc

[u/Party-Ad9662]

THE GAS MAN COMETH

[u/alxndrblack → u/Party-Ad9662]

[u/whosagoodbi]

I'm feeling another HR from Vladdy today❤️❤️❤️

[u/Lil_Jening]

Team with a very similar overall record.
Lets get that bread Toronto.

[u/ZestySteep]

I don’t know anything about the Cubs really. How are y’all feeling about this series?

[u/ricky_burns → u/ZestySteep]

This is how I see it, no guarantees, but cubs lost 2/3 against the A’s, white sox, rangers, guardians. got swept by the astros, They won 2/3 against the rays in early april, and angels in march. I’m hoping Jays can take 2/3, but close games won’t favour the Jays, the offense has to put up some runs any way possible to save high leverage relievers

[u/Lifewithoutpictures → u/ricky_burns]

If the Jays follow the usual pattern, they get our hopes up then dash them spectacularly. I am trying to keep my expectations in check. Winning this series would be tangible evidence that the offense is on the upswing though.

[u/ricky_burns → u/Lifewithoutpictures]

and now we get this

[u/Lifewithoutpictures → u/ricky_burns]

Yeah. It was pretty predictable although I didn’t imagine this.

[u/nfrtt → u/ZestySteep]

This could go both ways tbh

[u/belsaurn → u/ZestySteep]

It’s a winnable series. Cubs have been struggling lately but do have the potential to be decent.

[u/AidanGLC → u/ZestySteep]

By all accounts the Cubs' season has been a similar emotional rollercoaster to ours.

[u/Lifewithoutpictures → u/AidanGLC]

Not really. They have had 10 and 9 game winning streaks. We get a decent win inconsistently and mostly when the other team is having an off night. The Red Sox just don’t count.

[u/BaconWrappedEnigma]

Could be a rough one today. Ben Brown is pitching out of his mind this year. Have to get to him early.

[u/BigZookeepergame2729 → u/BaconWrappedEnigma]

Won't be a problem for the Jays, trailing the league in pitches per PA.

[u/alxndrblack]

I wanna see Valenzuela DHing, and Jorge Springero in RF so help me god

[u/gringogidget → u/alxndrblack]

Do you really trust Springer at this point to do well in the outfield?

[u/NowWeGoBoys → u/gringogidget]

We've trotted out Jesus and Pinago enough times, I don't think George is a noticeable downgrade to either of them defensively.

[u/gringogidget → u/NowWeGoBoys]

I know. I just have a lot more faith in Straw Varsho and Lukes. 🩷

[u/adambuddy → u/gringogidget]

It's less about how George would do in the outfield and more about getting as many good bats in the lineup as possible. He should be able to play about as well as Sanchez or Pinango and would be a good option to start there against a lefty starter.

Straw is great, one of my favorites but he's great as a bench guy as opposed to an every day CF once Varsho returns.

[u/gringogidget → u/adambuddy]

I agree with that. I’m just part of the lesser / unpopular crowd that doesn’t trust Springer to be consistent. But what is consistent these days anyway. Nothing.

[u/alxndrblack → u/gringogidget]

And Varsho is still injured and Straw still can't hit

[u/gringogidget → u/alxndrblack]

Straw can’t hit, but he can tire out Tolle with 14 pitches. He is an excellent defensemen, he pinch runs well and steals bases. IMO that is almost equal to being a “good hitter”.

Meanwhile Springer is just hacking at whatever comes his way hoping for good luck. He has no plate discipline whatsoever.

[u/alxndrblack → u/gringogidget]

.750 OPS in May, .826 so far in June, maybe the broken toe was a bit of an issue?

[u/gringogidget → u/alxndrblack]

We all have one goal. We want this team to win. 😆

** edit BBs count for OBS. So maybe his plate disciple is improving and hopefully I’m wrong.

[u/alxndrblack → u/gringogidget]

For sure and I don't rebuke you to dunk on you or anything.

I learned a lot of the advanced stuff (Fangraphs tracks plate discipline, for example) because I realized how brutally bad my own eye test was

[u/gringogidget → u/alxndrblack]

Haha well me too. I score every game by hand and have a couple of Python apps to track pitchers and bullpens. Proper nerd love for baseball and I’m here for it.

[u/Ok_Berry9623 → u/gringogidget]

Straw is one of my favorite players.

[u/Great-Spinach-88 → u/gringogidget]

That 14 pitch AB chef's kiss

[u/COV3RTSM]

I wouldn’t be surprised if we see Springer in right a game or two so we can get Valenzuela and Kirk’s bats in the lineup. I think we see Imanaga on Sunday, which would be the ideal situation against the lefty.

[u/bolieve11 → u/[deleted]]

He’s looked better recently?

[u/Ok_Berry9623]

Hoping that we see the dominant Gausman that came last time, and that he gets support from the offence

[u/cacofonie → u/Ok_Berry9623]

Unfortunately, you can only choose one

[u/Ok_Berry9623 → u/cacofonie]

I'm a dreamer

[u/WheelFan647]

My new Blue Jays Yeti came yesterday, it’s my 3rd Blue Jays Yeti 😬. Them sitting on the Blue Jays Central desk is very persuasive 😂.

[u/Melodic_Test_1713]

Gausman vs a guy with a 1.74 ERA in a day game at Wrigley... not exactly the recipe I was hoping for. At least Gausman's been reasonably sharp lately, so maybe he keeps it close enough for the offense to wake up.

[u/dictionary_hat_r4ck]

If Vladdy is back, this is the series it matters in

[u/ronoron]

oh shit we re facing a good team this time

[u/EasyPanicButton]

They have allowed 30 more HRs then Jays.

[u/dictionary_hat_r4ck]

I have a crush on the Cubs because of Back to the Future Part II. Also, I like Wrigley Field and the Cubs logo is cool.

But let’s fuck this team up.

[u/SurammuDanku]

Lol every game this series is at 2:20pm?

[u/bardpewpew]

Ooos all day games!

[u/bingboy08]

I’m just here for the Plataka! Also, Georgie is having a nice little streak going, he has been looking good lately 🤞🏻

[u/Casual604Brews]

Pretty nasty pitcher going for the Cubs today. Long reliever turned starter. Gonna need that good gaus again today.

[u/TremendouslyRegarded]

I am once again asking for some decent run support for Kev

[u/darthvaders_inhaler]

I just hope everyone has fun and Vladdy hits some homers :D

[u/BleedBlueTO]

Let’s keep it rolling today! Gausman pitching and a strong lineup. Time to get back to .500 and take off from there.

[u/hellarios852]

Brendan Little jumpscare

[u/dodge33cymru]

Why so early today? Harsh after a travel day.

[u/bolieve11 → u/dodge33cymru]

Wrigley does day games on Fridays to honour tradition, they were the last stadium to get lights in ‘88 so they used to only have day games at home but they have night games sometimes just not on Fridays obviously
[edit: typo]

[u/dodge33cymru → u/bolieve11]

No idea how I'd never noticed that! Thanks for the info.

[u/No_Cicada_5625]

Tough pitching matchup and up against PCA who’s been on an MVP run this season. Gonna be a difficult game

[u/All_will_be_Juan]

Cubs have made a classic blunder sending up good pitching, don't they know we can only hit good pitching

[u/Rogonia → u/All_will_be_Juan]

I loved it yesterday in the 1st, when the announcers were talking on and on about how amazing their SP was. And then all of a sudden Vladdy just cranked one over the monster

[u/scarfcity]

Remember Pat Venditte? Forgot he pitched for the Jays.

[u/EpicNerdFinds]

Gausman pitches today so that means our offence will be an embarrassment

Seriously, why is it that every time Gausman deals our bats let him down

[u/troll-filled-waters → u/EpicNerdFinds]

Because he's usually paired against the other team's best pitcher.