MLB on Sling TV: Cubs at Brewers, Cardinals at Pirates on ESPN; Monday’s Action on FOX Sports Regional Networks
(all times Eastern, starters subject to change)
Chicago Cubs (Hendricks 13-7, 2.09) at Milwaukee Brewers (Davies 10-6, 4.07)
1pm ET on ESPN
Since cresting at a modest 3.05, Kyle Hendricks’ ERA has drifted steadily downward, as he’s allowed an ERA of just 1.27 over his last 85 ⅓ innings. Yes, it’s been a lot of luck, as his peripherals are good, but hardly world-beating: 7.9 SO/9, 2.2 BB/9, .7 HR/9… good, not great. But as the great Bill Parcells once said, you are what your record says you are, and the record says that nobody’s been stingier this season with the earned runs than Hendricks.
Zach Davies was called up in September of last year, and acquitted himself well over 6 starts, compiling a 3.71 ERA over 34 innings, though the 24 strikeouts vs. 15 walks had to be disconcerting. But this year he’s been much better, even if it’s not showing up in his ERA, as he’ cut his walks nearly in half, from 4 per 9 to 2.2 per 9, and his walks have edged up from 6.4 per 9 to 7.6 per 9. But, man, the homers are killing him, as he’s served up 18 taters in 139 ⅓ innings.
The Cubs went into the holiday weekend at 86-47, 15 ½ games atop the NL Central, while the Brewers trailed them by 29 games in the division. But, hey, the Brew Crew is just 13 ½ behind the Cards for the second Wild Card spot, so that’s something.
St. Louis Cardinals (Wainwright 9-8, 4.53) at Pittsburgh Pirates (Kuhl 3-2, 3.70)
4pm ET on ESPN
Following a July 28 win over the Marlins, the Cardinals were 55-47, 6 ½ games behind the Cubs. Over their next 30 games, however, they played .500 ball, to fall to 15 games back, as the pitching staff has struggled mightily, with a 4.59 ERA. Adam Wainwright has been a big part of the problem, with an 0-3 record and a 6.10 ERA over that span, with 5 homers 37 hits and 12 walks in just 31 innings.
Chad Kuhl has made just 9 starts in his short career, dating back to June 26, only really stinking up the joint once, on July 9 against the Cubs. Since then he’s been great, making 6 starts and going 35 ⅓ innings with 24 K’s vs. 8 walks, and a 2.80 ERA. But despite the shot in the arm Kuhl’s provided, the Pirates still headed into the weekend about 300 games back of the Cubs in the Central, and 2 ⅕ back of the Cards in the hunt for the second Wild Card spot.
Watch the Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers at 1pm ET, followed by the St. Louis Cardinals vs. the Milwaukee Brewers at 4pm ET Monday on ESPN by subscribing to the Sling Orange.
Here’s the action from the FOX Sports regional networks across the land:
Toronto Blue Jays (Estrada 8-6, 3.37) at New York Yankees (Tanaka 11-4, 3.12)
1:05pm ET on YES
Baltimore Orioles (Jimenez 5-11, 6.46) at Tampa Bay Rays (Odorizzi 9-5, 3.56)
1:10pm ET on Fox Sports Sun
New York Mets (Colon 12-7, 3.35) at Cincinnati Reds (Finnegan 8-10, 4.19)
1:10pm ET on FOX Sports Cincinnati
Philadelphia Phillies (Eickhoff 9-13, 3.90) at Miami Marlins (Esch 0-0, 4.15)
1:10pm ET on FOX Sports Florida
Kansas City Royals (Volquez 10-10, 5.01) at Minnesota Twins (Dean 1-5, 6.75)
2:10pm ET on FOX Sports Kansas City
Atlanta Braves (Wisler 6-11, 4.76) at Washington Nationals (Gonzalez 10-9, 4.14)
4:05pm ET on FOX Sports Southeast
Los Angeles Angels (Weaver 10-11, 5.21) at Oakland Athletics (Detwiler 1-3, 4.81)
4:05pm ET on FOX Sports West
St. Louis Cardinals (Wainwright 9-8, 4.53) at Pittsburgh Pirates (Kuhl 3-2, 3.70)
4:05pm ET on FOX Sports Midwest
Detroit Tigers (Verlander 14-7, 3.30) at Chicago White Sox (Sale 15-7, 3.10)
4:10pm ET on FOX Sports Detroit
Texas Rangers (Hamels 14-4, 2.91) at Seattle Mariners (Paxton 4-5, 3.83)
4:10pm ET on FOX Sports Southwest
Boston Red Sox (Pomeranz 10-10, 3.00) at San Diego Padres (Jackson 3-5, 6.26)
4:40pm ET on FOX Sports San Diego
Houston Astros (McHugh 9-10, 4.80) at Cleveland Indians (Tomlin 11-8, 4.89)
7:10pm ET on SportsTime Ohio
Arizona Diamondbacks (Greinke 12-4, 4.17) at Los Angeles Dodgers (Hill 10-3, 2.09)
8:10pm ET on FOX Sports Arizona
Watch baseball on FOX and FOX Sports Regional Networks by subscribing to the Sling Blue.
All stats courtesy of ESPN and Baseball Reference