Red Sox (Giolito) vs Cubs (Rea): 7/18/25, 2:20pm

[Brandon Glick]

What a series to begin the second half. The hottest team in baseball at Wrigley Field to face the NL Central-leading Cubs.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Oh, if anyone is heading to the game, here is a comprehensive guide to Wrigley!

The Ultimate Fan Guide to Wrigley Field - Guides & Resources - North Side Baseball

NORTHSIDEBASEBALL.COM

---

Welcome! This is the definitive guide to Wrigley Field, by the fans and for the fans.

[mvp 78]

Wait, it's an afternoon game? 

 

[jgar658]

Sox favored to win today!

[Brock Beauchamp]

19 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Wait, it's an afternoon game? 

Friday game in Wrigley, 1:20 central time start.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDNVhw6ThSI

[notin]

1 hour ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

Oh, if anyone is heading to the game, here is a comprehensive guide to Wrigley!

The Ultimate Fan Guide to Wrigley Field - Guides & Resources - North Side Baseball

NORTHSIDEBASEBALL.COM

---

Welcome! This is the definitive guide to Wrigley Field, by the fans and for the fans.

Going tomorrow, assuming no rain…

[mvp 78]

I was going to a game at Wrigley once, but it turned out that my roommate, Henry Warnimont, had been scammed by fake tickets. It all worked out in the end though. Met some great people. Cubs even won the game! 

[Nick]

Friday games are usually in afternoons.

I believe that was the agreement with the city.

[Maxbialystock]

Duran LF  (.844)

Bregman 3b  (.894)

Anthony DH (!) (.861)

Narvaez C (.738)

Story  SS (.704)

Mayer 2b (.747)

Rafaela CF (.786)

Toro 1b (.781) 

  In parentheses are OPS's vs righty pitchers.  Note 4 righty bats (Bregman, Narvaez, Story, and Rafaela).  

Cubs are 30-16 at home and Sox are 21-25 on the road.  

MLB leaders in runs scored:  Dodgers 1st; Cubs 2d; Yankees 3d; DBacks 4th;  Sox 5th; Tigers 6th

Same 5 teams rankings in team ERA:  Dodgers 25th; Cubs 14th; Yankees 13th; Diamondbacks 26th; Red Sox 12th; Tigers 6th.  

 

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

These next 9 games will be a big part in determining if the Sox are a contender or a pretender. Realistically, I'm hoping for a 5-4. However, even 4-5 wouldn't be that bad.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

4 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

These next 9 games will be a big part in determining if the Sox are a contender or a pretender. Realistically, I'm hoping for a 5-4. However, even 4-5 wouldn't be that bad.

Btw, winning this 1st game of the 9 would be huge.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

REA-lly?

[Maxbialystock]

Top of the 1st, Sox look very rusty at the plate--but, I have to honest here, Rea looks very sharp on pitch location and pitch variety.  

[Tedballgame]

The Keystone cops have returned after the all-star break. Idiot Giolito walks the first two guys of the game, which is always going to end up in a disaster and then Bregman and Duran Duran screw up a easy pop-up.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

OB nailed it. Gruesome!

[vegasbob]

It didn't take long to expose the late second half slumpers. 2 K's in first inning , walks and HR by Gio, pop-ups lost in sun.   The bombs are falling and this team needed a wake up call , so here it is. 

Gio at 22 pitches before recording an out.    Trade the whole team now.

OK, so pushed the sarcasm button a little early. Pent up excitement over the Red Sox after 4 day withdrawal.   Plenty of time for a comeback win after all.

[Tedballgame]

2 hours ago, jgar658 said:

Sox favored to win today!

That’s a joke

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

12 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

Top of the 1st, Sox look very rusty at the plate--but, I have to honest here, Rea looks very sharp on pitch location and pitch variety.  

Duran very rarely gets on base in the 1st inning. He's made it into an art form.

[Tedballgame]

Good thing the bullpen is rested. They are going to get some work today.

[Maxbialystock]

Bottom of the 1st.   Giolito gives up 3 run dinger and needs 30 pitches.  3d out was a drive almost into the ivy but caught by Rafaela.  

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Good news: It's early.

Bad news: It's early.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

3 minutes ago, Tedballgame said:

Good thing the bullpen is rested. They are going to get some work today.

Gio was due to get back to earth.

[Maxbialystock]

5 minutes ago, vegasbob said:

It didn't take long to expose the late second half slumpers. 2 K's in first inning , walks and HR by Gio, pop-ups lost in sun.   The bombs are falling and this team needed a wake up call , so here it is. 

Gio at 22 pitches before recording an out.    Trade the whole team now.

OK, so pushed the sarcasm button a little early. Pent up excitement over the Red Sox after 4 day withdrawal.   Plenty of time for a comeback win after all.

The Cubs win 2 out  3 games at Wrigley, and the Sox have a losing record on the road.  The Cubs GG leftfielder had a problem with the sun.  

Agree completely Giolito's 2 BB's to start things off were inexcusable.  

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Tucker is the best everyday player in this game.

[Maxbialystock]

Story robbed by great grab.  

[Maxbialystock]

2 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Tucker is the best everyday player in this game.

Crow-Armstrong has the better WAR and better DWAR.  

[Maxbialystock]

The first five OPS's in the Cubs lineup are .927, .884, .878, .852, and .894.  

[mvp 78]

14 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

Bottom of the 1st.   Giolito gives up 3 run dinger and needs 30 pitches.  3d out was a drive almost into the ivy but caught by Rafaela.  

Giolito doesn't have a great track record at Wrigley. The last 3 G (inc. this one), he has given up 6 💣.

[Tedballgame]

4 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

The first five OPS's in the Cubs lineup are .927, .884, .878, .852, and .894.  

 

7 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

Crow-Armstrong has the better WAR and better DWAR.  

Right now, I would not trade PCA for Tucker.

[Tedballgame]

Sox need a homer to take the lid off. Giolito needs to keep them at 3.