Todd Ricketts, co-owner of the Chicago Cubs, recently discussed the anticipated restraint among teams at the upcoming trade deadline and the disruptive influence of streaming services on the market. Speaking on the show 'Don't @ Me w/ Dan Dakich', Ricketts offered his perspective on these key aspects of modern sports business.
While the Cubs are currently performing above expectations with a 61-46 record, a significant number of their starting pitchers have faced injuries. Despite these challenges, the team has managed to maintain one of the better records in the National League. The Cubs' offense demonstrates versatility, capable of scoring through home runs or by manufacturing runs through strategic base running.
The team's pitching staff has a collective ERA of 4.20 and a WHIP of 1.27. Pitcher Matthew Boyd has been a notable contributor, holding a 6-1 record with a 3.81 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP for the season. Boyd has performed well on the road, posting a 3.21 ERA. Since returning from the injured list in June, he has made six starts, accumulating 35 innings pitched with only nine earned runs allowed. Historically, hitters in the Cardinals lineup have a .267 batting average against Boyd in 30 at-bats.
The St. Louis Cardinals are currently under .500 for the season, a performance exceeding some expectations. Given their current roster of young talent, the team is unlikely to pursue major trades, as the focus appears to be on development. The Cardinals' pitching has been adequate, with Dustin May posting a 5-7 record, a 4.59 ERA, and a 1.32 WHIP.
May's performance shows improvement at home, with a 3.45 ERA, and particularly at night, with a 2.60 ERA, both conditions relevant to the upcoming game. In his last five home starts, May has allowed just six earned runs over 29.1 innings. While he has not faced the Cubs this season, they hold a .306 batting average against him historically.
Analysts anticipate a lower-scoring game between the Cubs and Cardinals, influenced by the recent pitching performances of both Boyd and May. The expectation is that both pitchers will be effective in limiting opposing offenses, leading to a total of under eight runs for the game.