Everyone has their opinion about who the best team or teams in major league baseball are.
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Lackey holds the upper hand in the season series between the two clubs, winning two out of three starts-St.
But, uh … I did not become a Sox fan until I moved to Chicago. Lester was brought in during the off-season to pitch in games like these, he faces off against John Lackey tonight.
As hard as it was to watch Lester not re-sign with the Red Sox, the loss of Lackey is actually more inexplicable.
Cards fans can’t even begin to imagine the horror, which will make a few Red Sox fans lean toward blessing the Cubs, including Lester, for success.
When Lester learned he would be opposed by Lackey, he thought it amusing – and fitting. And how much will the Mets gets from 42-year-old Bartolo Colon.
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Over nine seasons in Boston, he posted a 2.11 ERA with 68 strikeouts and 21 walks in 13 postseason games.
The Cardinals will follow with Jaime Garcia in Game 2 and Michael Wacha in Game 3. He was terrific in September, and he’s allowed more than three runs just once in the last four months. Just four, that’s it. If so, he could start a potential Game 4 against the Dodgers at Citi Field.
When Arrieta is on the mound, the Cubs have the advantage. The Cardinals have a whole bunch of guys you may or may not have heard of, and a lineup that powered the team to 100-wins.
“All those things are pointing in the direction that it’s possible”, Matheny said, adding the biggest worry is handling foul tips. That’s great news for the Cardinals.
There was the benches-clearing incident Wednesday night, but Rizzo said it was important for the Cubs not to lose their cool.
For many sports fans, this might seem a bit unfair. They did relinquish the division down the stretch, but this team is so young and talented that regardless of the outcome of this October, they’ll be back.
With the position players, manager Joe Maddon has a lot of options. His best fielders are seasoned veterans such as Molina, Heyward and Carpenter. Haren can come out of the bullpen and give you a couple of innings. Dexter Fowler and Kyle Schwarber led the Cubs offense, while Jake Arrieta yet again was untouchable. Jonathan Broxton used to be a closer, now he’s a solid relief option.
Wainwright was supposed to miss the whole season. That could end up being a shrewd move. Maddon is now 14-17 in the playoffs. They’ve still got plenty of power in Mark Reynolds.
I hope so. No, I’m not rooting for the Cardinals right now. What the Cardinals lack is speed.
The teams play in baseball’s last two ancient cathedrals, Fenway Park and Wrigley Field. The Royals play this afternoon in Kansas City, down one game to none to the Astros. They have a legitimate shot with Arietta and Lester fronting their rotation, the latter of whom will get the start today. Lackey is anything but inexperienced. The Cardinals took 11 of the 18 meetings in the regular season, though the Cubs won 6 of the final 9.
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June 26 at Busch Stadium: Cardinals 3, Cubs 2, 10 innings.
