Cubs Den

Game Post 8/6

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Thursday: 6:07 PM CT FOX/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) C

6. Jason Heyward (L) RF

7. Victor Caratini (S) DH

8. Nico Hoerner (R) 2B

9. Ian Happ (S) CF

P. Tyler Chatwood (R)

Royals

1. Whit Merrifield (R) RF

2. Jorge Soler (R) DH

3. Salvador Perez (R) C

4. Ryan O’Hearn (L) 1B

5. Adalberto Mondesi (S) SS

6. Alex Gordon (L) LF

7. Maikel Franco (R) 3B

8. Nicky Lopez (L) 2B

9. Nick Heath (L) CF

P. Brad Keller (R)

Bullpen Usage

Lineups and Bullpen Usage via Baseball Press.

Opposing pitcher

Scouting Report from Brooks Baseball.

Brad Keller: Although he has not thrown an MLB pitch in 2020, Brad Keller threw 4,941 pitches that were tracked by the PITCHf/x system between 2018 and 2019, all of them occuring in the MLB Regular Season. In 2019, he relied primarily on his Fourseam Fastball (94mph), Slider (85mph) and Sinker (93mph). He also rarely threw a Change (89mph).

His fourseam fastball is straight as an arrow, generates a very high amount of groundballs compared to other pitchers’ fourseamers, has some natural sinking action and has essentially average velo. His slider has exceptional depth, has short glove-side cut and results in somewhat more groundballs compared to other pitchers’ sliders. His sinker has surprisingly little armside run, results in many more groundballs compared to other pitchers’ sinkers and has slightly above average velo. His change is thrown extremely hard, is basically never swung at and missed compared to other pitchers’ changeups, has surprising cut action and results in somewhat more flyballs compared to other pitchers’ changeups.

Sean’s note: Keller has not started yet in 2020 after testing positive for COVID-19. He made 28 starts in 2019 with an ERA just over 4. Left handed and right handed hitters fared about equally against him.

Final Thoughts: Tyler Chatwood has been awesome in his first two starts. Justin Steele and Rex Brothers were sent to South Bend as rosters got reduced from 30 to 28.

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