The 20-6 Cubs will be tested in this 4 game set VS the Nationals. Not just because the Nationals are 19-8 and a complete team, with great pitching as well as great hitting, but also because the Cubs catch them with the back of their rotation starting games 1 and 2. Kyle Hendricks (1-2 3.91 ERA) will draw Joe Ross (3-0 0.79 ERA) in the opener Max Scherzer will face John Lackey with Hammel facing Gio Gonzalez and Jake Arrieta facing Tanner Roark. The National starters boast ERA's ranging from Ross' 0.70 to Scherzer's 3.55. The Cubs will miss Strausburg, who helped the Nationals to a 13-2 win, their 5th in the last 6 games. Daniel Muphy when last seen at Wrigley field, was wreaking havoc on Cubs pitching with the Mets, is now a National and leading the league in hitting at .398. There won't be any easy ones in this series. Should be a good test.

_________________
Go Cubs!!!!

Biggest test of the year..lookin forward to it and I know both teams are.

_________________

I'd take a split.

_________________
You know me like that.

Cubs will lose the first two with one of those being a blowout but they'll win the next two to split the series. Nationals are really good, better than any team in the AL.

Redundant.

_________________

So is your Mom's vagina.

Better than any team in the AL?

The Twins?

_________________
You know me like that.

Shut up and drink your gin

Biggest series in the history of sports

@ HG

I think that's the other old guy.

_________________

You Millennial sons of bitches...

Leash is right.

_________________
You know me like that.

Cubs will sweep. Best team in the history of baseball and you guys are rooting for a split. Sad.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

saying you would take a split and rooting for a split are not even close to the same thing

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

I'm rooting for a split.

Nationals overconfidence will come in handy later.

_________________
You know me like that.

With the pitching matchups, that would seem to be pretty easy to accept. But I have a feeling they are going to jump on Ross in the opener and take 3 of 4. Hendricks needs a good outing to solidify his hold on the 5th spot in the rotation or the Cubs may look more and more to possible trade deadline deals to improve that slot in the rotation. They don't need more than 4 starters in the playoffs, but if they feel Hendricks doesn't win a high enough percentage of his starts, they may make the move in an effort to improve their chances of winning the division and avoiding the Wild Card game.

_________________
Go Cubs!!!!

If they move away from Hendricks, I think they'd go to Warren before making a trade.

I don't think they're close to moving away from Hendricks though.

_________________
You know me like that.

Not yet, but Maddon keeps him on a short leash and I'm not sure he wouldn't make a move by June if Hendricks is scuffling as he did early last season. He had a better 2nd half (opposite of Hammel) though. You are probably right about Warren getting the nod if a move is made. But I still believe they will get a rental at the deadline. A front of the rotation guy perhaps, and maybe a closer. Rondon is pretty good, but he's not a light's out, sure thing.

_________________
Go Cubs!!!!

You don't like Rondon?

I love Rondon.

_________________
You know me like that.

Of course Steve doesn't love Rondon. He can't. Give his skin color, it is literally impossible for Steve to love the guy.

_________________

I like Rondon as a set up guy. But as the closer he is just not what I would consider a lock down guy that I feel is a sure thing. He is a good closer. But not a great closer. I know there are not many Mariano Rivera or Bruce Sutter types out there.

_________________
Go Cubs!!!!

Hendricks has some decent stuff but he likes to put a handful of sinkers over the heart of the plate every game. Harper might hit one over the scoreboard tonight. I'd be proactive and throw at him in his first at bat.

Anyone going Saturday?

_________________

Let's go full meatball. Cubs sweep. For fucks sake they average winning by over three runs a game. Right now this team is an absolute buzz saw. Until they come back to earth enjoy it.

Cubs will take 5 out of 4.

_________________

At least!!

_________________
Go Cubs!!!!

You mean there aren't a lot of generational talents sitting around to close games? Rondon has been fantastic the last year and a half. With the Cubs team, I would expect most closers to have struggled so far with this work load. There just aren't a lot of save opportunities. He is perfect on the year, and is sitting with 4 saves.

Of the 20 wins so far this year, only 20% have been save eligible.

Hector, for his career. has a higher save percentage with a lower career WHIP and ERA than Bruce Sutter's career. Rondon was GREAT last season, and looks to have started this season in the same fashion.

tl;dr Steve is racist.

_________________
Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Like I said, I like Rodon. I think he's a legitimate closer. I just don't think he's an elite closer. If his numbers are better than Sutter's that's surprising. I remember thinking that when Sutter entered a game (like Eckersley, or Rivera) that the game was over. I just don't feel that way with Rondon. If they had a chance to get an elite closer, I would investigate it.

_________________
Go Cubs!!!!

This is why actual statistics and results are a lot better than "I remember thinking."

_________________
Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

How about you guys keep Steve in your threads from now on, OK?