Sunday update…
At Tropicana Field: The Cubs will be playing their 12th game here today. Their overall record at the Trop is 4 wins and 7 losses, including a 2-1 mark this season. Earlier this year, they dropped the April 6 game to the Rays but bounced back with wins on April 7 and 8. Meanwhile, the Red Sox are hitting their 243rd game at the Trop with an all-time record of 116-126 against the Rays at this venue and just 1-6 so far this year. They were recently there last weekend, securing one win but dropping the other two games. (Thanks to BCB’s JohnW53)
Series Wins and Losses: The Cubs have now lost 25 series this year, with 26 series victories and three splits. Last season, they finished with a 31-19-3 series record and an overall 92-70 win-loss. (Thanks to BCB’s JohnW53)
Run Production Issues: Over the last four games, the Cubs have given up 10 runs but lost three contests. This marks the 18th stretch this season (some overlapping) where they allowed 10 or fewer runs. However, this is the first time in such a span that they didn’t win at least two games. They had stretches winning all four games five times, three games five times, and two games seven times in similar runs. (Thanks to BCB’s JohnW53)
Performance with Runners in Scoring Position (RISP): As of June 16, the Cubs’ batting average with runners in scoring position stood at .219. Over the next 65 games, through September 2, that average improved to .289, raising the season figure to .252. However, in their last 21 games, it has dropped to .185, pulling the season average down to .243. (Thanks to BCB’s JohnW53)
On This Day in Cubs History: On September 27, 2003, 23 years ago, the Cubs completed a doubleheader sweep against the Pirates with scores of 4-2 and 7-2, clinching the NL Central title.
Starting Lineups:
Cubs lineup details are available.
Red Sox lineup details are available.
Pitching Matchup Preview:
Shōta Imanaga, a left-handed pitcher, will be starting against the Red Sox’s right-hander Tanner Houck. It’s somewhat surprising Imanaga is getting the nod unless he’s expected to pitch just a few innings and then be available again later this week against the Padres. Imanaga has excelled in September so far, posting a 1.96 ERA and a WHIP of 0.783 across four starts totaling 23 innings, allowing only one home run. Notably, in his last outing against the Red Sox at Wrigley Field on July 19, 2025, he threw seven shutout innings with five strikeouts.
On the other hand, Tanner Houck, who had a strong 2024 season, underwent Tommy John surgery after just nine starts in 2025 and hasn’t pitched in the majors this year. He has thrown eight innings during four minor league rehab appearances this season, with a 3.38 ERA and 0.875 WHIP. Cubs players haven’t faced Houck much; Dansby Swanson’s 2-for-5 performance with one home run stands out. The included pitch chart for Houck reflects his 2025 stats.
Today’s game will be broadcast on Marquee Sports Network.
For full live streaming and additional details, check out:
- MLB.com Gameday
- Baseball-reference.com game preview
If you want to connect with Red Sox fans, visit our SB Nation sister site Over The Monster. Please remember to be respectful, follow their site rules, and represent Cubs fans and BCB well.
Note on 2026 Season Discussion Changes:
- Game previews like this will post separately on the front page around two hours before game time (or 90 minutes for early day games following night games).
- A StoryStream titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads” will aggregate all posts related to the game.
- The live discussion thread (formerly “First Pitch”) will appear five minutes before game time and will be the exclusive live thread on the front page.
- Game recaps and “Heroes and Goats” posts will also be featured separately on the front page after games.
- All these threads and StoryStreams will be available in a dedicated section for easy access.
Feel free to join the conversation!
Get involved:
- Create a user account to comment on articles and posts, recommend comments, and use the improved notifications system.
- Download the SB Nation app on iOS or Android to stay updated.
Fan Take:
This update matters because it offers a detailed snapshot of the Cubs’ current form and challenges, particularly their difficulty capitalizing with runners in scoring position. Understanding these trends highlights the delicate balance in baseball between pitching prowess and timely offense, which can shape playoff aspirations and fan excitement alike.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
