Chicago Cubs Lineup (8/5/24): Forgot to Post Previously, Hendricks on Mound
Don’t look now, but the Cubs have climbed out of last place in the NL Central and have one of weakest remaining schedules in MLB over the remainder of the season. They’ve still got a whole lot of ground to make up just to sniff the third Wild Card, however, and that whole easy schedule thing doesn’t really start until after they host the Twins. Minnesota comes to town at 62-48 with four straight victories.
This will be the only matchup between two teams that last played when Willians Astudillo was a thing and it was so hot that three Twins players left early due to heat-related issues. Okay, that’s not true at all because the game in question was Astudillo’s MLB debut on June 30, 2018. Albert Almora Jr. was the Cubs’ leadoff hitter in that one, a role Joe Maddon inexplicable chose to put him in more often than any other spot in the order.
Why am I bothering with these random snippets from six years ago? No idea, but it’s worth noting that Ian Happ and David Bote are the only position players left from that team. Kyle Hendricks was around back then as well, but he didn’t pitch against the Twins in any of the three games in the series. Mike Montgomery started the Friday contest, Tyler Chatwood took the bump Saturday, and Jon Lester showed off some of the lefty pop this clubs sorely needs by homering during his Sunday start.
The Cubs swept those three games by scoring 35 total runs — 10, 14, 11 — and, man, what a fun little time capsule this has been. Dillon Maples, Steve Cishek, Brandon Morrow. I honestly wasn’t sure where this was going and I’m still not, but damn.
Anywho, Hendricks is starting this one in the wake of some decidedly mediocre performances that play up a little based on relatively low expectations. The Professor has been pretty inconsistent this season as water again finds its level following two excellent starts upon rejoining the rotation. After giving up just three earned runs with 12 strikeouts and two walks over 12.2 innings in those games, Hendricks has a 6.83 ERA with 17 strikeouts, nine walks, and six homers allowed over his last six outings.
He’s only gone more than five innings once in that time and may still have some lingering effects from the stiff back that forced him out of his July 6 start against the Angels early. Even if you’re not bullish on the Cubs’ chances to come all the way back for a postseason bid, we can probably all agree that it’s more fun when Hendricks looks good out there. Assuming this is his prolonged swan song, it sure would be nice for him to avoid too many more sour notes.
This was one of those where time got away from me, so I’m posting after the fact for the sake of posterity.
They’re up against 24-year-old David Festa, who is making just the fourth start and fifth overall appearance of his MLB career. The results have been less than great on the whole, but that’s mostly due to two very shaky starts right out of the gate. He gave up 12 earned across 10 innings, but has held opponents to three earned runs over the last 9.1 frames. The lanky righty has good velocity that plays up because his long levers get the ball closer to the plate and he’s capable of shutting this lineup down.
Ranked the organization’s No. 4 prospect by MLB Pipeline, Festa sits around 96 mph with his fastball and can get it up to 98-99 mph. His slider sits upper 80s and can be a real weapon now that he’s differentiated it from a curveball he doesn’t seem to be throwing at this point. His changeup has been around 89 mph with arm-side movement, but he’s had real trouble with it at the highest level.
Hitters from both sides of the plate have done plenty of damage against Festa so far and he’s given up at least one homer in every game. He should generate a decent number of bats this evening, so it may come down to how well the Cubs take advantage of what should be more than a few mistakes. First pitch is at 7:10pm CT on Marquee and 670 The Score.