Game of the Week: July 26: CHC @CHW

[Commissioner Erick]

Chicago Cubs (57-41) @ Chicago White Sox (64-34)


CHC: Pierce Johnson (4-1, 2.26)
CHW: Carlos Martinez (6-4, 3.82)



After some struggles the first few weeks of the year, the Chicago White Sox are looking like they could be the best team in the American League. After getting their pitching staff in order after a slew of injuries, the Chicago Cubs are looking like the best team in the National League.

Tonight's Game of the Week could be a preview of the 2021 World Series.

Division leaders in the Windy City Square off when the Chicago White Sox host their crosstown rivals the Chicago Cubs.

The White Sox have soared after the All-Star break, winning all three series they've played to open up a 4.5 game lead on Cleveland for the division lead. They've got a few small injuries to their staff that should heal up soon, plus Eduardo Rodriguez is due back soon from the torn meniscus that has sidelined him the entire year. When the pitching staff is fully functional, it will take the White Sox to the next level as they already have the best offense in baseball.

Carlos Martinez will get the start. He's already pitched well in one Game of the Week, blanking Cleveland over 6.2 innings in a May 24 win. Plus, Martinez facing the Cubs will evocate feelings of 2018, when Martinez had a season for the ages and the White Sox topped the Cubs for the championship. However, Martinez has only reminded people of 2018 when he's pitched at home this year. He has a 5.36 road ERA and a 1.94 mark at home, which is stark. Fortunately for the Sox, today's start is at home, where Martinez hasn't given up more than one run in an outing since May 20.

Martinez will take on a Cubs team that has solidified itself in the NL Central. Now that their pitching situation is settled, they've actually turned into one of the best run prevention teams in the league. In fact, their team ERA for July thus far is a tidy 3.48, which tops the league.

They'll look to a surprising contributor to keep the stretch going.

Pierce Johnson doesn't have the stamina to go deep in games, but he has the talent to pitch well the brief time he's out there. He's only gone 5 innings three times in his 11 starts, but he's allowed more than a single run in only two of them. Then he'll leave and turn things over to a deep bullpen to keep throwing blanks.

Mike Montgomery and Skylar Arias are the long men you can expect to see after a Pierce Johnson start. Montgomery, since transitioning to a relief pitcher, has a 3.21 ERA out of the bullpen, which is a strong mark. Arias has worked out of the pen all year as a Rule 5 pick from Cleveland, and he has a solid 4.06 mark. The 24-year-old has a wild 10.1% walk rate, but also carries an explosive 30.1% strikeout rate.

Those will be the players largely tasked with slowing down a historically talented offense. Check out the Game of the Week to see whether or not they succeed.


Questions for the GM's:


For Brandon Hillebrand, Jeimer Candelario has been a stalwart for your team, but he's been benched with Kris Bryant going back to being a Third Baseman. Is there a way you can get his bat back in the lineup?

Do you feel confident in your rotation, throwing out a guy who can only really go 4 innings, or do you need another arm?

Montgomery and Arias are both lefties, and the White Sox carry a lot of lefties. Would you rather see Pierce going out early so you can get to your lefties earlier?

For Mike Ball, Eduardo Rodriguez may or may not need a rehab assignment, while A.J. Cole and Tony Zych are dealing with some nagging injuries. How will you adjust your rotation this week?

You've settled on Elijah Dilday as your starting DH. Why him over other options?

With the trade deadline approaching, what holes do you think your team has?

[Commissioner Erick]

TRIVIA: The Cubs have had some rough defense this year, playing guys out of place. What player, though, has the lowest Zone Rating in a season in PBA history?

[Mike RedSox]

For Mike Ball, Eduardo Rodriguez may or may not need a rehab assignment, while A.J. Cole and Tony Zych are dealing with some nagging injuries. How will you adjust your rotation this week?

We don't have a day off for a while so we'll put Suarez back in the starting lineup (ugh) and promote Michael Kelly and Jae-joon Bae to help fill in holes in the bullpen.

You've settled on Elijah Dilday as your starting DH. Why him over other options?

Elijah's been able to muster a decent OPS and his glove is inadequate off bench.  This let's us use Anderson and Winker in different roles off the bench including using Anderson against lefties later in a game (not that he's hitting worth a shit).

With the trade deadline approaching, what holes do you think your team has?

Eduardo returning will allow us to move Suarez back to the bullpen where his lefty arm is more valuable.  But he actually has not been great as a starter or reliever so we have been checking the market for a LOOGY.

We are happy with the offense.  For the first time ever we're actually hitting lefties.

[brandoncubs]

Q) For Brandon Hillebrand, Jeimer Candelario has been a stalwart for your team, but he's been benched with Kris Bryant going back to being a Third Baseman. Is there a way you can get his bat back in the lineup?

A) I think we're going to try out a platoon strategy and see how it goes. Cespedes will handle lefties and Candy will hit against righties.

Q) Do you feel confident in your rotation, throwing out a guy who can only really go 4 innings, or do you need another arm?

A) I think the rotation is considerably weaker than it has been in previous years, but I still have confidence in them to get the job done. Pierce has done really well for his role as somewhat of an opener, and we will continue that strategy unless somebody gets hurt.

Q) Montgomery and Arias are both lefties, and the White Sox carry a lot of lefties. Would you rather see Pierce going out early so you can get to your lefties earlier?

A) I want Pierce to just keep doing what he's been doing, and know the bullpen has his back when he's tired. He's been good enough that I have confidence in him to take on a great lineup like the Sox and hold his own.

[Commissioner Erick]

White Sox 5 - Cubs 4

WP: C. Martinez (7-4)
LP: P. Johnson (4-2)
SV: J. Sherfy (19)


Even when Carlos Martinez is seemingly struggling, he always seems to produce under the brightest lights.

Monday's Game of the Week was no exception.

Martinez fired 7 innings of one-run ball, Brendan McKay hit his 13th home run, and the Chicago White Sox held on to defeat the Chicago Cubs 4-3.

The White Sox got an outstanding performance from Martinez. Against a powerful offense, Martinez allowed just the one run. He allowed only five hits, walked only one batter, and struck out five Cubs. Instead he kept the ball down, allowing just one fly ball through the first five frames, that one being a short fly to left-center.

Pierce Johnson tried to keep the Cubs in the game, but he could only go 4 innings. he allowed just two hits and fanned four, but one of the hits was a two-run home run by McKay. Mike Montgomery came on for the fifth and strained his arm after two batters, really taxing Chicago's pen. Corey Knebel came on and did a good job to get a Yoan Moncada double play to end the fifth, but three straight hits by the heart of the White Sox lineup—Benintendi, Devers, and McKay, brought home a run for the White Sox.

The White Sox continued to play the BABIP game off Darren O'Day in the seventh. After a popup and weak grounder found holes, Yoan Moncada atoned for his earlier double play by roping a ball to right with two on to plate Elijah Dilday to make it 4-1.

The Cubs came back against the White Sox' bullpen in the eighth. With Martinez pulled after 100 pitches, Brian Clark came in and immediately allowed a double to Darryl Wilson. Alex Faedo followed and gave up an opposite-field triple to Francisco Lindor as Benintendi retrieved it a little slowly. Two walks loaded the bases with one away and Faedo was in the danger zone.

Instead of bucking, Faedo showed what makes him such an exciting prospect. He struck out Kris Bryant and struck out Anthony Rizzo to get things to two outs. He stayed on to face Wilson Contreras, walking him on four pitches to make it 4-3. However, he retired Jeimer Candelario on a fly ball to keep the 4-3 lead.

In the ninth, despite a walk and a sacrifice putting the tying run on second with one out, Jimmie Sherfy retired Lindor on a grounder to Moncada for the second out, before Xander Bogaerts popped up a slider to Alfred Despaigne in foul ground to end the game.

It was Sherfy's 19th save of the year.


Questions for the GM's:


For Brandon Hillebrand, you recently called up D.J. Wilson, who doesn't come highly regarded but has some nice minor league numbers in his career. He had two hits, a sac bunt, made two plays in his area, and threw out a runner. What have you seen from him so far?

It appears Montgomery hurt his arm, which forced you to go with your short relievers early in the game. Will Montgomery's injury have any impact on Pierce's status in the rotation?

You got Candelario a start. How did he look?

For Mike Ball, Carlos Martinez hasn't been his usual dominant self this year. How encouraging was it for you to see him dominate the Cubs the way he did?

You had Faedo as a starter at the beginning of the year and he struggled without a good third pitch. He got sent down to Triple A and was excellent. In the bullpen today, he allowed three walks, but struck out two guys. How has he looked as a reliever to you?

Some of us remember 2019 when Garin Cecchini played most of your first base and hit .210 with a .641 slugging. How does it feel to have developed Brendan McKay, who homered today, to be your first baseman?

[Commissioner Erick]

TRIVIA: In Game 7 of the 2018 World Series, the Cubs had the bases load with two outs in the bottom of the 9th. Which White Sox pitcher got which Cubs hitter to pop out to clinch the title?

[Mike RedSox]

For Mike Ball, Carlos Martinez hasn't been his usual dominant self this year. How encouraging was it for you to see him dominate the Cubs the way he did?

You like to see your best pitcher handle great teams like the Cubs, it's a good sign.

You had Faedo as a starter at the beginning of the year and he struggled without a good third pitch. He got sent down to Triple A and was excellent. In the bullpen today, he allowed three walks, but struck out two guys. How has he looked as a reliever to you?

We've wanted to use him as a starter but we keep having needs in the bullpen.  I think he might be ticketed for the bullpen, but that's ok.

Some of us remember 2019 when Garin Cecchini played most of your first base and hit .210 with a .641 slugging. How does it feel to have developed Brendan McKay, who homered today, to be your first baseman?

I love it when a plan comes together.

[brandoncubs]

Q) You recently called up D.J. Wilson, who doesn't come highly regarded but has some nice minor league numbers in his career. He had two hits, a sac bunt, made two plays in his area, and threw out a runner. What have you seen from him so far?

A) I think wilson has a very bright future as a major leaguer, whether it's as a backup outfielder or as a starter time will tell. He has great defensive ability in centerfield and can be underrated with the bat. We've been very happy with him so far.

Q) It appears Montgomery hurt his arm, which forced you to go with your short relievers early in the game. Will Montgomery's injury have any impact on Pierce's status in the rotation?

A) We're gonna continue rolling with Pierce in the rotation and call up Williams to take Montgomery's spot. Hopefully Williams can be serviceable until Montgomery returns.

Q) You got Candelario a start. How did he look?

A) Candy looks very good. With Zagunis shitting the bed, he looks to get a fair bit of playing time.

[Commissioner Erick]

TRIVIA 1: Hanley Ramirez in 2018


TRIVIA 2: Dan Jennings retired Jeimer Candelario