The stakes are lopsided. Boston clinched a playoff berth before the schedule change, and WEEI has already written up Bello as a possible key postseason piece. That makes this start look a little like an audition for October. The Cubs were tied with the Padres and Phillies in the NL Wild Card race when the doubleheader was set, so every game still counts for them. Both teams play the 1:05 PM ET opener first, so whatever that game does to the bullpens carries straight into this one.
Chicago is 3-2 in the last 5 and won their last game. They've taken 1 of the first 3 against the Marlins after going 2-0 against the Reds, where they scored 14 runs in 2 games. The bats have cooled since: 2 runs in each of the 3 Marlins games. Boston is 1-4 in the last 5 and lost their last game. They were 0-2 at Tampa and have taken 1 of the first 3 against Cleveland, and the lone win was a 1-0 game. The Red Sox pitching has been good enough to win lately. The Red Sox hitting has not.
- Day-To-DayNewAlex Bregman (3B) — Bregman (face) resumed hitting Wednesday and it "went well,"09/24
- Day-To-DayNewKevin Gausman (SP) — His left shoulder remains sore and he's uncertain when he will be available to pitch.09/24
- 15-Day-ILTrent Thornton (RP) — Thornton (5-4) worked around a walk to pitch a scoreless inning of relief and earn the win in Thursday's 3-2, extra-innings victory over the Blue Jays. He struck out one.09/12
- 15-Day-ILGavin Hollowell (RP) — Hollowell (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Saturday.09/04
- 60-Day-ILNewJustin Steele (SP) — The team doesn't plan to activate Steele (elbow) from the 60-day injured list this weekend.09/24
- 60-Day-ILShelby Miller (RP) — The Cubs have shut down Miller's (elbow) rehab.09/15
- 60-Day-ILBen Brown (RP) — Brown (neck) has been ruled out for the remainder of the season.09/03
- 60-Day-ILPhil Maton (RP) — The Cubs transferred Maton (knee) to the 60-day injured list Wednesday.08/19
- 60-Day-ILRiley Martin (RP) — Martin (elbow) has been ruled out for the remainder of the season.08/19
- 60-Day-ILHunter Harvey (RP) — Harvey's (triceps/shoulder) rehab hasn't come along as hoped.08/19
- 60-Day-ILPorter Hodge (RP) — The Cubs transferred Hodge (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Friday.05/08
- 60-Day-ILCade Horton (SP) — The Cubs transferred Horton (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Saturday.05/08
- 60-Day-ILTyler Austin (1B) — The Cubs placed Austin (knee) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.05/08
- OutNewWillson Contreras (1B) — Contreras (hand) expressed concern Thursday about his availability for Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series next week, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports. "I'm working hard with the trainers, the hand is slowly getting better," Contreras said. "But I haven't been able to swing the last two days. I'll be honest with the team. I know Tuesday is a really important game. It's a really important series, and I'll be completely honest with the team."09/25
- 10-Day-ILCurtis Mead (3B) — Mead (wrist) is a long shot to be available for the postseason.09/23
- 10-Day-ILEli White (CF) — White underwent Lisfranc surgery on his right foot Tuesday.09/22
- 10-Day-ILAnthony Seigler (2B) — The Red Sox placed Seigler on the 10-day injured list Sunday due to right wrist inflammation.09/13
- 10-Day-ILMasataka Yoshida (DH) — Interim manager Chad Tracy revealed Tuesday that Yoshida has a "significant" left hamstring injury that will keep him out until close to the end of the season, at minimum.08/18
- 15-Day-ILJustin Slaten (RP) — Slaten (elbow) will not return from the injured list this season.09/15
- 60-Day-ILGarrett Crochet (SP) — Crochet (lat) is not expected to pitch again before the end of the regular season.09/23
- 60-Day-ILTanner Houck (SP) — Houck (elbow) allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits while striking two over 3.1 innings for Triple-A Worcester on Saturday.09/20
- 60-Day-ILJohan Oviedo (SP) — Ovideo (elbow) allowed one run on two hits and one walk while striking out four for Triple-A Worcester on Thursday.09/18
- 60-Day-ILKutter Crawford (SP) — Crawford (forearm) is expected to remain on the injured list for the rest of the season.09/07
- 60-Day-ILEduardo Rivera (SP) — The Red Sox recalled Rivera from Triple-A Worcester and placed him on the 60-day injured list Tuesday due to a lumbar strain.09/01
- 60-Day-ILTriston Casas (1B) — Casas (abdomen/knee) underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left wrist Thursday.08/06
- 60-Day-ILZack Kelly (RP) — The Red Sox recalled Kelly (elbow) from Triple-A Worcester and placed him on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.07/21
The Cubs' injury list is mostly pitchers. Kevin Gausman says his left shoulder is still sore and he doesn't know when he'll be available. Justin Steele won't be activated from the 60-day IL this weekend. Porter Hodge, Phil Maton, Hunter Harvey, Shelby Miller, Ben Brown and Riley Martin are all on the 60-day IL, which leaves a thin bullpen that has to cover 2 games in 1 day. Boston's rotation depth is thin too: Garrett Crochet isn't expected back before the regular season ends, and Tanner Houck and Johan Oviedo are still pitching rehab outings in Worcester.
The forecast calls for 63 degrees, clouds and a 15 mph wind at Fenway, which is about the best the weekend is going to offer. Watch how deep Peterson and Bello can go. After an afternoon game, the team whose starter gets through 6 innings is the team that doesn't have to push its bullpen further than it can handle.