Cubs Den

Game Post 7/30

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Thursday: 5:10 PM CT on Marquee SN/670AM

Lineups

Cubs

1. Kris Bryant (R) 3B

2. Anthony Rizzo (L) 1B

3. Javier Baez (R) SS

4. Kyle Schwarber (L) LF

5. Willson Contreras (R) DH

6. Jason Heyward (L) RF

7. Victor Caratini (S) C

8. Nico Hoerner (R) 2B

9. Ian Happ (S) CF

P. Yu Darvish (R)

Reds

1. Shogo Akiyama (L) LF

2. Joey Votto (L) 1B

3. Eugenio Suarez (R) 3B

4. Mike Moustakas (L) 2B

5. Nick Castellanos (R) RF

6. Jesse Winker (L) DH

7. Nick Senzel (R) CF

8. Freddy Galvis (S) SS

9. Tucker Barnhart (L) C

P. Luis Castillo (R)

Bullpen Usage

Lineups and Bullpen Usage via Baseball Press.

Opposing pitchers

Scouting Reports from Brooks Baseball.

Luis Castillo: Luis Castillo has thrown 7,345 pitches that have been tracked by the PITCHf/x system between 2017 and 2020, including pitches thrown in the MLB Regular Season and Spring Training. In 2020, he has relied primarily on his Change (89mph), Sinker (98mph) and Fourseam Fastball (97mph), also mixing in a Slider (88mph).

His change is thrown extremely hard, generates an extremely high number of swings & misses compared to other pitchers’ changeups, dives down out of the zone and has slight armside fade. His sinker has heavy sinking action, is thrown at a speed that’s borderline unfair, generates a high number of swings & misses compared to other pitchers’ sinkers, is an extreme flyball pitch compared to other pitchers’ sinkers and has slight armside run. His fourseam fastball generates an extremely high number of swings & misses compared to other pitchers’ fourseamers, has heavy sinking action, is an extreme flyball pitch compared to other pitchers’ fourseamers, is blazing fast and has slight armside run. His slider is thrown extremely hard, generates an extremely high number of swings & misses compared to other pitchers’ sliders, is an extreme flyball pitch compared to other pitchers’ sliders and has primarily 12-6 movement.

Sean’s note: Castillo had a breakout year of his own in 2019 with a strikeout per 9 of 10.67. Like Gray his ground ball rate was astronomical at 55%. He had a terrific start on Saturday striking out 11 Tigers in six one-run innings in a no-decision.

Final Thoughts: Rain is in the forecast for tonight. Sonny, not rain, was the Cubs issue Wednesday as Mr. Gray shut them down. Castillo is capable of similar feats so beware. The Cubs have to find a way to salvage a couple arms out of their toxic waste dump of a bullpen.

Update: