Post by Commissioner Erick on Nov 30, 2023 22:21:13 GMT -5
Los Angeles Dodgers (73-53) @ Chicago Cubs (68-56)
LAD: Josh Weaver (11-9, 3.62)
CHC: Liam Thomas (9-5, 3.64)
Dodgers 3 Key Stats
6: Series wins in their last seven series against winning teams: The Dodgers have faced a tough schedule after the All-Star break, with eight of their nine series coming against teams with winning records. After dropping three of four to the Giants immediately after the break, the Dodgers have really surged. They split four games in Miami, their only series in the second half against a team with a losing record. They also dropped three of four in Arizona. However, they avenged series losses to the Diamondbacks and Giants with series wins last week. They were an extra innings loss away from sweeping three at home against the Padres, and were an extra innings loss away from sweeping four at home from the Mets. They swept a short two game set in Minnesota, and took two of three from the Brewers. If the standings hold, the Dodgers will have faced a team with a winning record every single week in the second half, but they’re stepping up to the challenge and surging despite the competition.
.774: Time Hendrickson’s OPS: The Dodgers were in trouble when Hyo-sang Choo broke a bone in his elbow in late April, but Hendrickson has really stepped up. One of the league’s better backup Catchers, Hendrickson’s 10 homers means he’s had double-digit homers each of the last three years. With 22 doubles, he has a .461 slugging percentage with a .269 average. It’s all good for a 110 OPS+. Hendrickson has been a bit strikeout prone, doesn’t walk much, and his defense has only been okay, but he’s given the team surprising production when little was expected. He’s done a great job helping the Dodgers lead a tough division.
14.4: Dodgers Baserunning runs. Los Angeles leads the league in baserunning runs, not a surprise when they lead the league in steals. The Dodgers have been terrors on the bases with 154 steals to top the NL. Five guys have double-digit steals, led by Rattlesnake Drouet’s 46, which easily leads the league. The Dodgers are only 10th in homers, and with some key players from last year moved on, are only third in average too. They’ve needed to a little bit more to squeeze out runs, but their efficiency on the bases has allowed them to squeeze runs out of the opportunities they’ve created.
Cubs 3 Key Stats
7: Losses in their last 8 games: Where as the Dodgers are playing great against a brutal slate, the Cubs have stumbled against a weak schedule in August. They took a slate with Milwaukee to begin the month, and then smothered the Braves in three out of four games, but the return visit to Milwaukee was rough. They dropped three of four in Milwaukee, lost two of two in Cincinnati, and needed a Keibert Ruiz three-run homer in the seventh on Sunday to avoid getting swept in Toronto. The Cubs are now 8.5 back of St. Louis in the NL Central and are only 1.5 up on the Padres and 2 up on the Giants. If they miss the playoffs, they can point to this stretch as the reason why.
.639: Chicago’s OPS in August. Only Miami and Atlanta have a lower OPS this month than the Cubs. The team’s offense has fallen apart, scoring two runs or fewer in eight of the last 13 games. Unsurprisingly the dropoff has coincided with Francisco Lindor’s sore elbow. Lindor got hurt on July 26, and Chicago has gone 7-15 since July 25. The team’s defense has been strong, but the club has too weak offensive players now. Luis Basquez has a .465 OPS as Lindor’s replacement, which isn’t good enough. With Basket Case Benoit going down August 8, the team called on Mike Bickley to replace him, but he started his career 0-15. The Cubs will need these automatic outs to give them something to survive until Lindor and Benoit heal up.
3.6: Liam Thomas’ WAR: A former Mets prospect, Thomas has had a strong first part of his career, with between 2.9 and 3.5 WAR each of his first three years. His ERA has been 4.30 and 4.25 each of his first two years with the Cubs, which are solid numbers for his age 23 and age 24 seasons. Still only 25, Thomas is showing he can anchor a staff. With one more win, he’ll tie his career high, and his 3.6 WAR is already a career high. He’s really handled right-handed hitters for the first time in his career, which has made a huge difference. Many of the Dodgers’ top hitters in terms of average are right-handed, so how Thomas fares against them may determine whether the Cubs come away with a win.
Questions for the GMs:
For Ben Vincent, Jeifry Nunez has a strained oblique. Will he see any IL time?
Your outfield may need a day off at some point. Will you give any of your starting outfield a day off today?
Manny Machado had a huge first half, but has also been struggling in the second half. As an older player, do you feel he has enough juice to make it to the finish line?
For Jon Richardson, you’ve really struggled offensively since Lindor went down. Will he return to the lineup this week?
Mike Bickley hasn’t hit since being called up. Do you have patience to stick with him, or will you find another option?
Juan Castereno has had a huge August as one of the few Cubs who is hitting. Has he provided what you’ve expected this year?
TRIVIA: Who is the only Cubs player with at least 300 career plate appearances for the team and an average under .200?
LAD: Josh Weaver (11-9, 3.62)
CHC: Liam Thomas (9-5, 3.64)
Dodgers 3 Key Stats
6: Series wins in their last seven series against winning teams: The Dodgers have faced a tough schedule after the All-Star break, with eight of their nine series coming against teams with winning records. After dropping three of four to the Giants immediately after the break, the Dodgers have really surged. They split four games in Miami, their only series in the second half against a team with a losing record. They also dropped three of four in Arizona. However, they avenged series losses to the Diamondbacks and Giants with series wins last week. They were an extra innings loss away from sweeping three at home against the Padres, and were an extra innings loss away from sweeping four at home from the Mets. They swept a short two game set in Minnesota, and took two of three from the Brewers. If the standings hold, the Dodgers will have faced a team with a winning record every single week in the second half, but they’re stepping up to the challenge and surging despite the competition.
.774: Time Hendrickson’s OPS: The Dodgers were in trouble when Hyo-sang Choo broke a bone in his elbow in late April, but Hendrickson has really stepped up. One of the league’s better backup Catchers, Hendrickson’s 10 homers means he’s had double-digit homers each of the last three years. With 22 doubles, he has a .461 slugging percentage with a .269 average. It’s all good for a 110 OPS+. Hendrickson has been a bit strikeout prone, doesn’t walk much, and his defense has only been okay, but he’s given the team surprising production when little was expected. He’s done a great job helping the Dodgers lead a tough division.
14.4: Dodgers Baserunning runs. Los Angeles leads the league in baserunning runs, not a surprise when they lead the league in steals. The Dodgers have been terrors on the bases with 154 steals to top the NL. Five guys have double-digit steals, led by Rattlesnake Drouet’s 46, which easily leads the league. The Dodgers are only 10th in homers, and with some key players from last year moved on, are only third in average too. They’ve needed to a little bit more to squeeze out runs, but their efficiency on the bases has allowed them to squeeze runs out of the opportunities they’ve created.
Cubs 3 Key Stats
7: Losses in their last 8 games: Where as the Dodgers are playing great against a brutal slate, the Cubs have stumbled against a weak schedule in August. They took a slate with Milwaukee to begin the month, and then smothered the Braves in three out of four games, but the return visit to Milwaukee was rough. They dropped three of four in Milwaukee, lost two of two in Cincinnati, and needed a Keibert Ruiz three-run homer in the seventh on Sunday to avoid getting swept in Toronto. The Cubs are now 8.5 back of St. Louis in the NL Central and are only 1.5 up on the Padres and 2 up on the Giants. If they miss the playoffs, they can point to this stretch as the reason why.
.639: Chicago’s OPS in August. Only Miami and Atlanta have a lower OPS this month than the Cubs. The team’s offense has fallen apart, scoring two runs or fewer in eight of the last 13 games. Unsurprisingly the dropoff has coincided with Francisco Lindor’s sore elbow. Lindor got hurt on July 26, and Chicago has gone 7-15 since July 25. The team’s defense has been strong, but the club has too weak offensive players now. Luis Basquez has a .465 OPS as Lindor’s replacement, which isn’t good enough. With Basket Case Benoit going down August 8, the team called on Mike Bickley to replace him, but he started his career 0-15. The Cubs will need these automatic outs to give them something to survive until Lindor and Benoit heal up.
3.6: Liam Thomas’ WAR: A former Mets prospect, Thomas has had a strong first part of his career, with between 2.9 and 3.5 WAR each of his first three years. His ERA has been 4.30 and 4.25 each of his first two years with the Cubs, which are solid numbers for his age 23 and age 24 seasons. Still only 25, Thomas is showing he can anchor a staff. With one more win, he’ll tie his career high, and his 3.6 WAR is already a career high. He’s really handled right-handed hitters for the first time in his career, which has made a huge difference. Many of the Dodgers’ top hitters in terms of average are right-handed, so how Thomas fares against them may determine whether the Cubs come away with a win.
Questions for the GMs:
For Ben Vincent, Jeifry Nunez has a strained oblique. Will he see any IL time?
Your outfield may need a day off at some point. Will you give any of your starting outfield a day off today?
Manny Machado had a huge first half, but has also been struggling in the second half. As an older player, do you feel he has enough juice to make it to the finish line?
For Jon Richardson, you’ve really struggled offensively since Lindor went down. Will he return to the lineup this week?
Mike Bickley hasn’t hit since being called up. Do you have patience to stick with him, or will you find another option?
Juan Castereno has had a huge August as one of the few Cubs who is hitting. Has he provided what you’ve expected this year?
TRIVIA: Who is the only Cubs player with at least 300 career plate appearances for the team and an average under .200?
