CHICAGO — If Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon had his druthers Sonny Jurgensen Jersey , his team wouldn’t have played a pair of games Tuesday.
But as the Cubs head into Wednesday’s series finale against the defending National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers, Maddon certainly won’t complain about having the opportunity to claim a series victory.
How they had to do it, however, is a different story.
The Cubs earned a doubleheader split with a 2-1 nightcap victory after Albert Almora, Jr., delivered a 10th-inning single. The win came after the Cubs blew a ninth-inning lead in Tuesday’s first game, which the Dodgers rallied to win, 4-3.
Maddon expressed his displeasure with the split doubleheader format ahead of Wednesday’s matinee series finale. After Monday’s game was postponed due to the combination of inclement weather and electrical issues with Wrigley Field’s lights, Tuesday proved to be a long day for everyone involved.
“I don’t like it,” Maddon said Tuesday, according to the Chicago Tribune. “I don’t think it’s a good idea. To be here for a noon game and then a 7 o’clock game, that’s wrong. I don’t think there’s one player, manager, coach who thinks it’s a good idea.”
Maddon added: “I’m not crying. It’s just true. So it works for both sides. The Dodgers have to do the same thing. I’m not just talking about us. I’d just prefer a different method over the split doubleheader to appease when the game was rained out like it was (Monday) night.”
Maddon voiced his opinion ahead of Tuesday’s rescheduled series opener in which Cubs reliever Justin Wilson surrendered a two-out Randy Gregory Jersey , two-run single in the ninth inning. Wilson pitched in place of closer Brandon Morrow, who was unavailable for Tuesday’s doubleheader due to back spasms. The Cubs didn’t make Morrow’s condition public until after Tuesday’s first game when Maddon said he was holding out Morrow for precautionary reasons. Morrow told reporters he considered his availability to be day-to-day.
After offense came at a premium in Tuesday’s second game, Wednesday’s showdown has all the makings of a pitcher’s duel.
Jon Lester (8-2, 2.28 ERA) takes the mound for the series finale looking to extend what has been a successful first half of the season. Lester has won four straight starts and has only allowed a pair of runs in three starts in June. Lester is 2-3 in seven career starts against the Dodgers.
The Dodgers will counter with Ross Stripling, who will take the mound with eyes set on his seventh straight victory. Stripling (6-1, 1.76 ERA) hasn’t lost since April 30 and has struck out at least six in each of his last seven starts. Over his last six starts, Stripling has struck out 47 and walked just two.
Stripling, who will make his first career start against the Cubs on Wednesday, has taken over the role as the Dodgers ace in the place of injured Clayton Kershaw. His strong start has made him a strong contender for a place on the National League All-Star team.
“You never know if you’ll have another chance in a six-, eight-, 10-year career to make an All-Star game,” Stripling said recently, according to the Loss Angeles Times. “I want to go out there and do my best to try and get there because it would be pretty cool.”
Stripling has the vote of teammate Matt Kemp.
“He needs to be in there,” Kemp said Chase Daniel Jersey , according to the Times. “That boy is pitching his butt off. It’s fun to watch.”
TAMPA BAY (5-11) at NEW ORLEANS (12-6)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
OPENING LINE - Saints by 7
RECORD VS. SPREAD - Buccaneers 6-9-1, Saints 8-9
SERIES RECORD - Saints lead 32-20
LAST MEETING - Buccaneers beat Saints 31-24, Dec. 31, 2017
AP PRO32 RANKING - Buccaneers No. 29, Saints No. 6
BUCCANEERS OFFENSE - OVERALL (9), RUSH (27), PASS (4).
BUCCANEERS DEFENSE - OVERALL (20), RUSH (31), PASS (7).
SAINTS OFFENSE - OVERALL (2), RUSH (5), PASS (5).
SAINTS DEFENSE - OVERALL (32), RUSH (23) http://www.dallascowboysteamonline.com/cole-beasley-jersey , PASS (32).
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES 鈥?Teams split two meetings in 2017, with each winning at home. ... With incumbent starting QB Jameis Winston suspended, veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick starts his 13th pro season. Fitzpatrick passed for 1,103 yards, seven TDs, three INTs with Bucs last season. ... Buccaneers RB Ronald Jones set to make NFL debut, selected in second round of 2018 draft. Jones rushed for 3,619 yards with 39 TDs at USC. ... WR Mike Evans had 1,001 yards receiving last season, joined Hall of Fame receiver Randy Moss and A.J. Green as only players in NFL history with four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to begin career. ... TE O.J. Howard had six TD catches last season, tied for first among rookies. He ranked third with 432 yards receiving. ... Bucs DT Gerald McCoy had team-high six sacks last season, has 44 陆 sacks since 2012. ... DE Jason Pierre-Paul makes Bucs debut. He had 8 陆 sacks with New York Giants in 2017. ... LB Lavonte David forced five fumbles last season Brett Favre Jersey , tied for second most in NFL, and led Bucs with 101 tackles. ... Saints have not won regular-season opener since 2013. ... Saints have won past two at home vs. Buccaneers and six of past seven meetings in New Orleans. ... Saints are defending NFC South champs ... QB Drew Brees begins season with 70,445 career yards passing, only active player and one of only three in NFL history, along with Peyton Manning and Brett Favre, with more than 70,000 yards. Last season Brees set single-season record with 72 percent completion rate. He ranked fourth in 2017 in yards passing with 4,334. ... RB Alvin Kamara was 2017 Offensive Rookie of Year. ... CB Marshon Lattimore was Defensive Rookie of Year in 2017 and led all rookies with five INTs. He tied for first among rookies with 18 passes defensed. ... DE Cameron Jordan had career high 13 sacks in 2017 and made All-Pro for first time since joining NFL in 2011. Jordan also broke up 11 passes, had one INT for TD and two forced fumbles. ... LB Demario Davis makes Saints debut. Davis ranked sixth in NFL with 135 tackles in 2017 with Jets. ... Fantasy Tip: Kamara led NFL rookies and ranked second in NFL with 14 total TDs and with Mark Ingram suspended for first four games, Kamara surely will get more touches.
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