Cubs, Phillies to play two today
PHILADELPHIA - Not much is going to get the playoff-contending Cubs down right now - not even sitting around waiting for a game that wound up getting postponed.
The opener of a four-game series with the Phillies was called off Thursday night after more than 90 minutes of persistent rain and was rescheduled as part of a doubleheader today starting at 4:05 p.m., Chicago time.
"Conflicting reports," manager Joe Maddon said when asked why the game was not called off earlier. "We've gone through this in Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. Same thing. Nobody's upset."
At 80-58, the Cubs entered Thursday 9 games ahead of San Francisco for the second NL wild-card spot. The Cubs are on pace to make the playoffs for the first time since 2008 as they go after their first World Series title since 1908.
Jake Arrieta, whose start was pushed back to today, is 18-6 with a 2.03) ERA. He has won 7 straight starts, giving up 2 earned runs with 50 strikeouts in 50⅓ innings. He pitched a no-hitter against the Dodgers at Los Angeles on Aug. 30. Over 15 appearances dating to June 21, Arrieta is 12-1 with a 0.99 ERA.
Kyle Hendricks (6-6, 4.08) is to start the nightcap today. He will be making his first start against Philadelphia, which is the only NL team he hasn't faced.
The duo will try to help the Cubs bounce back from Wednesday's 4-3 loss at St. Louis that stopped a five-game winning streak. The Cubs are 29-12 since getting swept by the Phillies at home July 24-26.
Left-hander Adam Morgan (5-5, 4.42) will face Arrieta in the opener today. The rookie is coming off a career-worst outing in his last start when he gave up 6 runs on 8 hits in 6⅓ innings in a 7-5 loss last Friday at Boston. Morgan never has faced the Cubs.
In the second game, right-hander Alec Asher (0-2, 10.61) will make his third start since the Phillies acquired him in the trade that sent Cole Hamels to Texas. Asher has surrendered 11 earned runs in 9⅓ innings.
On a day when general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. was fired, Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said he doesn't worry about his future.
Mackanin assumed managerial duties when Ryne Sandberg resigned on June 26, and the Phillies are 28-38 under his helm.
"As odd as this might sound, I put it out of my mind," he said Thursday. "I don't want to think about it because it does me no good.
"When I was younger, it would have, but at this point I think I've gained a little bit of wisdom knowing it's out of my hands. I'm just going to do the daily task at hand on a given day and let happen what happens."
Cubs infielder Starlin Castro, who lost his everyday job at shortstop, is 7-for-12 in his last four games. He was slated to play second base and hit fifth in Thursday's game at Philadelphia, where he has batted .355 with 12 RBI in 16 games.
Catcher/outfielder Kyle Schwarber wasn't in the starting lineup Thursday. He was 0-for-4 with 4 strikeouts in Wednesday's 4-3 loss at St. Louis.