MLB on Sling TV: Cubs at Nationals on ESPN; regional action on Fox Sports Networks
Chicago Cubs (Hendricks 4-5, 2.90) at Washington Nationals (Scherzer 7-4, 3.57) 7pm ET on ESPN
Kyle Hendricks is maybe the Cubs worst starter, with the fewest wins, lowest winning percentage, highest ERA, fewest WAR… But he’d be no worse than the #3 starter on most teams in the Majors, thanks to his 2.90 ERA, 3.80 SO/BB, and his .5 HR/9IP. His last start was Tuesday against the Phillies, as he gave up 2 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks over 5 innings, while striking out 6 in a 3-2 loss to the Phillies. Following last night’s 13-2 pounding of the Braves, the Cubs still possess the best record in all of baseball at 43-18, and are in first place, 9 games ahead of the Cardinals.
After getting slapped around by the Cubs on May 7, when he gave up 7 runs – including 4 homers – in 5 innings, Max Scherzer was record was 3-2 and his ERA was 4.60. Five days later, Scherzer tied a Major League record by striking 20 Detroit Tigers in 9 a 9-inning game en route to a 4-2 win. Sicen that bad day against Chicago, he’s gone 4-2 with a 2.58 ERA and a 6.1 SO/BB ratio. Against the White Sox on Wednesday he went 7 shutout innings, giving up just 5 hits and a walk, while whiffing 6. The Nationals remain in first place in the NL East at 39-24, 4 ½ games ahead of the Mets, after last night’s 5-4 walk-off win over the Phillies.
And here’s the action from the FOX Sports regional networks across the land…
Cincinnati Reds (Wright 0-2, 7.20) at Atlanta Braves (Blair 0-4, 7.13) 7:10pm ET on FOX Sports Cincinnati & FOX Sports Southeast
Detroit Tigers (Boyd 0-1, 3.38) at Chicago White Sox (Shields 2-8, 5.06) 8:10pm ET on FOX Sports Detroit
Cleveland Indians (Carrasco 2-1, 3.48) at Kansas City Royals (Volquez 5-6, 4.25) 8:15pm ET on FOX Sports Kansas City & SportsTime Ohio
Los Angeles Dodgers (Bolsinger 1-3, 5.75) at Arizona Diamondbacks (Greinke 8-3, 3.84) 9:40pm ET on FOX Sports Arizona
Minnesota Twins (Nolasco 2-4, 5.17) at Los Angeles Angels (Weaver 5-5, 5.56) 10:05pm ET on FOX Sports North & FOX Sports West
Texas Rangers (Ramos 1-2, 3.58) at Oakland Athletics (Manaea 2-4, 6.20) 10:05pm ET on FOX Sports Southwest
Miami Marlins (Chen 3-2, 4.56) at San Diego Padres (Rea 3-2, 4.74) 10:10pm ET on FOX Sports Florida & FOX Sports San Diego
Milwaukee Brewers (Anderson 4-6, 4.21) at San Francisco Giants (Cain 1.5, 5.20) 10::15pm ET on FOX Sports Wisconsin
All stats courtesy of ESPN and Baseball Reference