Post by Commissioner Erick on Jan 3, 2022 13:35:38 GMT -5
Philadelphia Phillies (24-22) @ Chicago Cubs (21-24)
PHI: Jhoan Duran (3-2, 3.89)
CHC: Cobi Johnson (3-3, 4.11)
Phillies 5 Key Stats
78: Home Runs hit by Philadelphia, best in the NL. Seth Beer and Darrick Hall have 16, while Joe DeCarlo has 17. That trio are the top three home run hitters in the NL.
29: RBI’s by Joe Witt Jr. Even though Witt only has four long balls, he has ample opportunities to drive in runs hitting behind Seth Beer and Mickey Moniak. With Moniak out, Witt only hat two games with RBI’s last week, but he drove in five and had two home runs in a 12-6 win against Colorado on Friday. How he fares with Moniak out will be a subplot to watch.
17: The difference in RBI’s between the Mets’ Luis Morales, and Philadelphia’s Stud Morales, who has 23. Philadelphia’s young star is hitting just .230 and has just five walks to begin the year. With Philadelphia’s ability to knock in guys on base, the Phillies offense will be unstoppable if Morales breaks out of his funk. Until he does, he’s only the second best Luis Morales in the division.
1: Member of the Phillies bullpen who has pitched more than 4.1 innings and has an ERA under 5.11. The unit, perpetually a thorn in Matt Grubs’ side, has disappointed to start the year. Philadelphia goes nine deep with relievers, but only Cole Ragans has been able to stop opposing hitters. Considering Philadelphia’s history with its bullpen in spotlight games against the Cubs, they’ll need their hitters to produce and Jhoan Duran to pitch deep to win this game.
.594: Jorge Becerra’s Slugging Percentage. Beccera has the first crack at replacing Mickey Moniak this year, and he’s been a strong slugger thus far. He has five home runs and five doubles in 71 plate appearances, with a solid .281 average and an outfield assist. If he can be a solid replacement player, Philadelphia’s offense won’t miss a beat.
Cubs 5 Key Stats
6.7: Chicago’s Zone Rating. The Cubs were a bottom four defense the past two years, and getting the unit back to being a solid one has helped the Cubs be more respectable.
208: Runs scored by the Cubs thus far, 11th in the NL. With a ton of high-end talent leaving the lineup the past two seasons, the Cubs no longer have the offensive firepower they once did.
.196: Kris Bryant’s average this year, after a .212 mark last year. Bryant has hit .222 or worse every year since 2023 save for his 6.2 WAR, .262 average, 60 home run season in 2025. That anomaly aside, Bryant needs to generate value from over-the-fence power, and his seven home runs thus far are fine, but not stellar.
6.4: Francisco Lindor’s Zone Rating, second among any National Leaguer to Jeren Kendall. Lindor is also hitting .353, has seven home runs, and has swiped eight bags. At age 33, Lindor is on pace to steal the most bases of his career. Just another tremendous season from the future Hall-of-Famer
13-9: Chicago’s home record. The Cubs are under .500, but the Cubs have been solid at home. Philadelphia will need to play well to knock off the Cubs in Wrigley.
Questions for the GMs:
For Matt Grubs, another year, another season of having a disastrous bullpen. Are there any changes you plan to make to improve the unit?
You took a flier on Joe DeCarlo and he has to be exactly what you expected this year. Are there plans to extend him?
Why the decision to go with Beccera over Jake Fraley as the starting Left Fielder?
For Jon Richardson, do you plan on adding for a Wild Card run, selling off some of your veterans, or holding steady until next year when some of your pitchers mature?
You’ve allowed your top pitching prospects to pitch in the majors this year, rather than giving them more time in the minors. Why call them up this year?
Kris Bryant and Francisco Lindor are a little tired. Will you give them a break today?
TRIVIA: Francisco Lindor is head-and-shoulders number one in all-time Shortstop Zone Rating. Who is number two?
PHI: Jhoan Duran (3-2, 3.89)
CHC: Cobi Johnson (3-3, 4.11)
Phillies 5 Key Stats
78: Home Runs hit by Philadelphia, best in the NL. Seth Beer and Darrick Hall have 16, while Joe DeCarlo has 17. That trio are the top three home run hitters in the NL.
29: RBI’s by Joe Witt Jr. Even though Witt only has four long balls, he has ample opportunities to drive in runs hitting behind Seth Beer and Mickey Moniak. With Moniak out, Witt only hat two games with RBI’s last week, but he drove in five and had two home runs in a 12-6 win against Colorado on Friday. How he fares with Moniak out will be a subplot to watch.
17: The difference in RBI’s between the Mets’ Luis Morales, and Philadelphia’s Stud Morales, who has 23. Philadelphia’s young star is hitting just .230 and has just five walks to begin the year. With Philadelphia’s ability to knock in guys on base, the Phillies offense will be unstoppable if Morales breaks out of his funk. Until he does, he’s only the second best Luis Morales in the division.
1: Member of the Phillies bullpen who has pitched more than 4.1 innings and has an ERA under 5.11. The unit, perpetually a thorn in Matt Grubs’ side, has disappointed to start the year. Philadelphia goes nine deep with relievers, but only Cole Ragans has been able to stop opposing hitters. Considering Philadelphia’s history with its bullpen in spotlight games against the Cubs, they’ll need their hitters to produce and Jhoan Duran to pitch deep to win this game.
.594: Jorge Becerra’s Slugging Percentage. Beccera has the first crack at replacing Mickey Moniak this year, and he’s been a strong slugger thus far. He has five home runs and five doubles in 71 plate appearances, with a solid .281 average and an outfield assist. If he can be a solid replacement player, Philadelphia’s offense won’t miss a beat.
Cubs 5 Key Stats
6.7: Chicago’s Zone Rating. The Cubs were a bottom four defense the past two years, and getting the unit back to being a solid one has helped the Cubs be more respectable.
208: Runs scored by the Cubs thus far, 11th in the NL. With a ton of high-end talent leaving the lineup the past two seasons, the Cubs no longer have the offensive firepower they once did.
.196: Kris Bryant’s average this year, after a .212 mark last year. Bryant has hit .222 or worse every year since 2023 save for his 6.2 WAR, .262 average, 60 home run season in 2025. That anomaly aside, Bryant needs to generate value from over-the-fence power, and his seven home runs thus far are fine, but not stellar.
6.4: Francisco Lindor’s Zone Rating, second among any National Leaguer to Jeren Kendall. Lindor is also hitting .353, has seven home runs, and has swiped eight bags. At age 33, Lindor is on pace to steal the most bases of his career. Just another tremendous season from the future Hall-of-Famer
13-9: Chicago’s home record. The Cubs are under .500, but the Cubs have been solid at home. Philadelphia will need to play well to knock off the Cubs in Wrigley.
Questions for the GMs:
For Matt Grubs, another year, another season of having a disastrous bullpen. Are there any changes you plan to make to improve the unit?
You took a flier on Joe DeCarlo and he has to be exactly what you expected this year. Are there plans to extend him?
Why the decision to go with Beccera over Jake Fraley as the starting Left Fielder?
For Jon Richardson, do you plan on adding for a Wild Card run, selling off some of your veterans, or holding steady until next year when some of your pitchers mature?
You’ve allowed your top pitching prospects to pitch in the majors this year, rather than giving them more time in the minors. Why call them up this year?
Kris Bryant and Francisco Lindor are a little tired. Will you give them a break today?
TRIVIA: Francisco Lindor is head-and-shoulders number one in all-time Shortstop Zone Rating. Who is number two?
