#Cubs

Welcome back to BCB After Dark: the swingin' after-party for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. I hope you all had a good weekend. If you spent it at the Cubs convention, we're glad that you've decided to continue the good times with us. Come on in out of the cold. If it's raining or snowing where you are, come in and get…

For years, the NBA and NHL have set the top of their draft orders through a lottery system. And Major League Baseball is about to do the same. The new MLB collective bargaining agreement struck ahead of the 2022 campaign called for a draft lottery beginning in 2023. The change was made to discourage tanking, as finishing with one of the worst…

Justin Steele and Josiah Gray are the projected starters when the Chicago Cubs and the Washington Nationals play on Wednesday at Wrigley Field, at 2:20 PM ET. The Cubs are 19th in baseball with 107 home runs. They average 1.0 per game. The Nationals have a team batting average of.248 this season, which ranks 12th among MLB teams. To prepare for the…

The Chicago Cubs take on the Los Angeles Dodgers. Check out our MLB odds series for our Cubs Dodgers prediction and pick. Mark Leiter Jr. gets the ball for the Cubs, while Tony Gonsolin takes the mound for the Dodgers. Mark Leiter Jr. has a 4.85 ERA. He has pitched only 29 2/3 innings this season, so it's not as though he has built a substantial…

This week's edition of Sunday Night Baseball props targets a couple of Chicago Cubs hitters - Nico Hoerner and Patrick Wisdom - primed for a knock against Carlos Rodon and the Giants. We break it all down below. After dropping seven in a row to begin the unofficial second half of the season, the Giants have taken two of three from the Cubs this…

A rare inter-league matchup on the diamond is scheduled to take place as the New York Yankees and the Pittsburgh Pirates go to battle on Tuesday evening. Join us for our MLB odds series, where our Yankees-Pirates prediction and pick will take place. After winning yet another series over the weekend over the Guardians, the Yankees will have their…

Game: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs Date: Monday, May 16, 2022 Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL TV: Marquee The Chicago Cubs (12-20) host the Pittsburgh Pirates (15-19) at Wrigley Field on Monday. The expected starting pitchers are Bryse Wilson and Wade Miley. As a team, the Pittsburgh Pirates are compiling 3.6 runs per game, which puts…

The Astros haven't even held their World Series parade in Houston yet, but 29 other MLB teams are already focused on the 2023 Fall Classic. Houston won its second title in six years by beating the Philadelphia Phillies in six games. The team is among the contenders to win it all next season, but another powerhouse organization is pinned as the…

Look, I understand my job each week in my quizzes is to educate, illuminate and entertain you (and occasionally frustrate you as you attempt to go 9-for-9). I'm definitely not here to bring you down, even in a memorial for those we lost in 2022. I look at it more as a celebration of their lives and hopefully give you something to further remember…

LOS ANGELES - Both the Yankees and Mets will look into a trade for suddenly available superstar Juan Soto, sources tell The Post. That should surprise no one as his availability represents a rare chance to acquire an all-time talent at age 23. That said, the early speculation around the game is that it won't be easy for anyone to complete a…

The 2022 MLB season takes a detour for one of the most special events of the year where the Cincinnati Reds take on the Chicago Cubs in the 2022 MLB Field of Dreams Game, which take place in remote stadium built within a corn field and pays homage to the 1989 film "Field of Dreams" when this game gets underway on Thursday, August 11 at 4:15 p.m.…

In stretching out Trea Turner's $300 million contract over 11 years, the Phillies diluted the average annual salary for luxury-tax purposes and payroll flexibility. It's the approach they took four years ago in signing Bryce Harper. The length of Turner's deal, like Harper's 13-year pact, was predicated on economics, not baseball. But the Phillies…

Joc Pederson has enjoyed a successful MLB career, considering he was drafted in the 11th round of the 2010 MLB Draft. Since then, the slugging outfielder has won two World Series titles, while also receiving two selections to the All-Star team. "Mickey Mantle has the most home runs in WS history with 18. Here are the top 5 active players in HRs in…

We are less than two weeks into the 2023 calendar year, but we've got bold predictions of a litany of things that will go down in Major League Baseball over the course of the next 11.5 months. Most of our predictions are about things that will happen during the 2023 MLB season, of course. A breakout rookie. An unlikely MVP. A surprise AL West…

As of June 8, the Detroit Tigers have the second-best bullpen ERA in baseball. Wait, what? The same Detroit Tigers whose abysmal late-game pitching potentially cost them multiple World Series appearances and - potentially - wins? The ones who threw money at proven veterans with excellent track records only to turn into pumpkins in Detroit? Yes, the…

Now that the 2022 MLB trade deadline has passed, it's worthwhile to check back in on the updated World Series odds. While the Yankees, Dodgers, and Astros still sit atop the World Series odds boards, given the changes to this year's playoff format, it's truly anyone's game once the 12-team field is officially set. A handful of playoff-contending…

The Chicago Cubs victory in the 2016 World Series gets discussed as if it was yesterday but the fact remains that the Cubs are closer to 2026 than they are to 2016. Starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks is the lone player that remains on the Cubs' roster from the 2016 team and questions have arisen over the course of the next two seasons regarding when…

The Astros' offseason has been filled with disrespectful prediction after slanderous column. And we get it--people are sick of the bad boys of baseball and they are sick of their winning ways. Since 2017, the Astros have made it to the ALCS six straight seasons, won the AL West five times, appeared in four World Series and won two. Needless to say,…

It's another Wednesday evening at BCB After Dark: the swinging spot for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. It's the last show of the week and we're going out with a bang. We're so glad you could come and join us. It's cold out there but it's warm in here. There are still a few good tables available. There's a two-drink…

The Major League Baseball season looms just over the horizon and new hopes are placed in teams around major league baseball. The Houston Astros lifted the Commissioner's Trophy at the end oflast season, winning in six against a stubbornly difficult Philadelphia Phillies. As the dust settles on the biggest of the off-season trade deals, all eyes…

This Saturday, the game's brightest prospects will gather at Dodger Stadium for the 2022 Futures Game. The Futures Game is MLB's annual showcase of the sport's best prospective big leaguers, some of whom will make their big-league debut in the second half. And you know what? Some will be traded at the deadline. That's how it has been throughout…

For all the talk about how division races supposedly don't matter as much as they used to -- and I can think of a couple No. 1 and No. 2 seeds who would very much disagree with you -- it still means something to be able to call yourself a champion. I guarantee you there are Guardians fans who have 2022 AL Central champs shirts. It might not be the…

I write this piece every year, but I never could have predicted what happened in 2021. Usually, "bold predictions" come up short because they're too bold. For instance, last year I picked Austin Slater to hit more homers than in his previous four seasons combined (he came close, missing by two!) and Duane Kuiper projected double-digit homers for…

Sunday means plenty of early baseball, but also means a new edition of The Run Line tonight from 8-10 p.m. ET with pinch-hit host Holden Kushner and myself talking all things MLB. It should be a lot of fun and I hope you get the chance to tune in. You can listen live HERE or subscribers can watch the live videostream HERE. There isn't a lot of time…

The good news about MLB.com's predictions for the next 10 World Series matchups (which are set in stone and written entirely unironically, definitely, without a doubt)? They've given the Yankees a championship, something this starving fan base hasn't experienced since 2009. The bad news? Only a single title won't satiate these hounds, and the other…

It's another evening here at BCB After Dark: the mellow meet-up for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. We're so glad that you stopped in tonight. The place is always better with you than without you. There's no cover charge this evening, so come on in. Get in out of the cold. Let us take your coat for you. Grab any…

Seems likely that the Yankees are finished with their left field search - at least until the Pirates either pull star Bryan Reynolds off the market or trade him. That's according David Cone, who posited his theory on an episode of Toeing The Slab: A Pitching Podcast on Jomboy Media on Tuesday. "You just get the feeling that they're waiting on Bryan…

The MLB betting action goes on Monday, May 9, 2022, with 11 games around the leagues, so we are taking a closer look at the National League showdown from Petco Park in San Diego to get you the best Cubs vs. Padres betting pick and odds. The Cubs and Padres lock horns for the first time in 2022, opening a three-game set in California. San Diego is…

The Pittsburgh Pirates will continue their three-game series with the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday evening at Camden Yards. With that said, it's a good time to check out our MLB odds series, which includes our Pirates-Orioles prediction and pick we have laid out below. Pittsburgh is fresh off a shutout at the hands of Baltimore last night, and in…

Spencer Torkelson and newly signed free-agent Ronald Acuña Jr. will team up to help the Detroit Tigers break their 45-year World Series drought... in 2029. That's the fanciful prediction of MLB.com, which set out to project the next 10 World Series winners. Author Will Leitch said the Tigers are "too motivated of a franchise, with too desperate of…

The Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds will play on Wednesday at Great American Ball Park, at 4:10 PM ET, with Nico Hoerner and Jonathan India among those expected to deliver at the plate. The Cubs have the 20th-ranked team ERA across all league pitching staffs (4.02). The Reds have a team batting average of.235 this season, which ranks 21st among…

Off the top of your head, see if you can name the teams that won the World Series every year of the last 10 seasons, in order. You ready? No peeking. The answers are, of course: 2013: Red Sox over Cardinals 2014: Giants over Royals 2015: Royals over Mets 2016: Cubs over Indians 2017: Astros over Dodgers 2018: Red Sox over Dodgers 2019: Nationals…

Yankees games are going to sound a little bit different in 2023. The YES Network has canned retired MLB outfielder Cameron Maybin as it looks to shake up its broadcast lineups for next year, according to a report from the New York Post's Andrew Marchand. In addition to Maybin's ouster, Carlos Beltran will appear in studio instead of during games,…

The Astros haven't even held their World Series parade in Houston yet, but 29 other MLB teams are already focused on the 2023 Fall Classic. Houston won its second title in six years by beating the Philadelphia Phillies in six games. The team is among the contenders to win it all next season, but another powerhouse organization is pinned as the…

Step into the action with the latest Caesars Sportsbook promo code. The busy month of April is winding down, but there is no slowing dow in May with this new promo. New users who sign up and use Caesars Sportsbook promo code MHSXLCZR will earn a $1100 risk-free bet to use on any sport this weekend. All it takes is a sign-up and deposit to lock in…

Ever catch yourself thinking, "Boy, I'd love to see the Rick Hahn 2023 master craftsmanship roster breakdown all in one place?" Well, ponder no further. We present you with the White Sox 40-man (well, 39-man) roster as it currently stands. Of course, this can change at any time. So come on in and take a waltz down memory lane. You know your brain…

Cody Bellinger scored the winning run on Mookie Betts' infield single with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, and the Los Angeles Dodgers edged the Colorado Rockies 2-1 on Wednesday night to complete a three-game sweep. Dodgers starter Mitch White and three relievers combined to allow only one hit - a single by Brendan Rodgers in the…

With the 2021 postseason around the corner, the MLB playoff picture is starting to take shape. Which team has the best odds to win this year's World Series? USA Today Sports With around a month left in MLB's 2021 regular season, teams are making a push for the playoffs. And the Boston Red Sox are one of them. Right now, the Red Sox are sitting 2.5…

MLB odds series for our Mets Cubs prediction and pick. Max Scherzer gets the call for the Mets in the split-session doubleheader at Wrigley Field, while Drew Smyly goes against him for the Cubs. Max Scherzer's year-long ERA is 2.15, but that's not the main thing you need to know about him right now. The key point with Scherzer is that since coming…

Who doesn't love some NL Central baseball? In this edition of division foes, the Pittsburgh Pirates will battle it out with the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in the first matchup of a four-game set on Thursday. Join us for our MLB odds series, where our Pirates-Cubs prediction and pick will be made. Heading into this one, the Pirates have dropped…

The Milwaukee Brewers take on the Los Angeles Dodgers. Check out our MLB odds series for our Brewers Dodgers prediction and pick. Eric Lauer goes to the bump for the Brewers, while Julio Urias will start for the Dodgers. Eric Lauer has a 3.58 ERA, but what is more important than that fact is that he pitched a very strong game against these same…

Nico Hoerner and the Chicago Cubs hit the field on Thursday at Wrigley Field against Carlos Carrasco, who will start for the New York Mets. First pitch will be at 8:05 PM ET for the first game of a four-game series. The Mets' 3.76 team ERA ranks eighth across all MLB pitching staffs. The Cubs have a team batting average of.244 this season, which…

The latest Caesars Sportsbook promo code is raising the stakes for a big week of MLB and NFL preseason action. The MLB regular season is heating up as teams jockey for playoff positioning. Meanwhile, the NFL preseason chugs along with Week 2 coming in hot. Caesars Sportsbook promo code AMNY15 is the key to unlocking a $1500 risk-free bet this week.…

SAN DIEGO - Here's one thing that is not a secret: The Tigers, for way too long, struggled in the realm of player development. They did not produce enough international hitters. They did not find and develop international talent. When their rebuild began around 2017, the farm system was largely barren. And as has been well-documented, the Tigers…

The New York Mets visit Wrigley Field on Friday afternoon for a battle against a National League foe. The Mets take on the Chicago Cubs in the second game of a four-game set in the Windy City. New York won the opener by an 8-0 margin on Thursday evening. The Mets are 56-34 this season, and the Cubs enter at 34-55 overall. First pitch is at 2:20…

This offseason has the potential to go many different ways for the Cubs. There are a multitude of players at the top of the free agent market that would fit well on this Cubs roster. Jed Hoyer's front office could also opt to make a big trade this winter, leveraging some of the organization's young talent to acquire impact players at the big-league…

After signing with the Atlanta Braves as a free agent 13 years ago, Billy Wagner heard from pitching coach Roger McDowell, who mentioned a young, power-armed reliever with whom team officials were enamored. "You're going to think he's your twin," McDowell said. A few weeks later, Wagner met Craig Kimbrel and saw what the Braves saw. Wagner is…

Chicago Cubs (41-61) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (55-48) August 4, 2022 1:15 pm EDT The Line: Game 1: St. Louis Cardinals -149 / Chicago Cubs+138; Over/Under: 7.5 --- Game 2: St. Louis Cardinals -177 / Chicago Cubs+163; Over/Under: 8.5 (Click here for latest betting odds) The Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals meet Thursday in MLB doubleheader…

The New York Yankees travel to the Twin Cities as they take on the Minnesota Twins with a three game series that ends on Thursday night at 7:40 p.m. New York lost it's first game in over a week as Minnesota dominated in a 8-1 victory at Target Field on Wednesday night. Here are my picks and predictions on the finale of this American League series…