Stephanie: A 10th inning gut punch, a series on the line, and the Cubs need to answer right now. Welcome to Beatline, Cubs fans — I'm Stephanie.
Sean: And I'm Sean. The Cubs dropped a heartbreaker in Seattle last night, 6-5 in extras. But this is a new day, a new game, and we've got everything you need to know before first pitch.
Stephanie: That's right. On today's show: we break down the pitching matchup for game two, the hitters who need to step up, the bullpen questions that keep us up at night, and of course, our bold prediction. Stick with us.
Stephanie: Sean, let's start with last night. The Cubs had that game, then Leo Rivas plays hero with an RBI single in the 10th. What happened?
Sean: It was a classic extra-innings battle. The Cubs fought back, but the bullpen couldn't hold the line. It's a tough one to swallow, but the beauty of baseball is you get to flush it and play again today.
Stephanie: And today, the Cubs send Shota Imanaga to the mound. He's been the ace all year. What do you expect from him in this spot?
Sean: Imanaga has been phenomenal — he's the stabilizer of this rotation. He gives you quality innings, keeps hitters off balance with that fastball and splitter. In a must-win spot, there's no one else I'd rather have.
Stephanie: And the Mariners? Who are they throwing out there?
Sean: Not confirmed yet, but the Mariners are likely to go with a bullpen game or a spot starter. Their rotation has been banged up — Kevin Gausman is day-to-day, and Bryan Woo is day-to-day as well. That's a big advantage for the Cubs.
Stephanie: So the Cubs should be able to get to their bullpen early. That's a huge opportunity for this offense.
Sean: Exactly. If they can work counts, get the starter out early, they can feast on a taxed Seattle bullpen. Imanaga just needs to keep the game close and give the hitters a chance.
Stephanie: Alright, let's talk about the lineup. Who needs to step up today?
Sean: Well, we said before the series that Pete Crow-Armstrong would hit two homers in this series. He hasn't gone deep yet, so I'm looking for him to get loose. He's been electric on the bases and in center field.
Stephanie: I told you I predicted a sweep, and I'm sticking with it. But last night's loss makes that tougher. Still, I believe in this team.
Sean: I had Cubs in two of three. That's still very much alive. But they need the big bats — Seiya Suzuki, Ian Happ, Michael Busch — to drive in runs. They went quiet in the middle innings last night.
Stephanie: And what about the bullpen? That's been a sore spot. Clay Holmes is a starter now, but the relief corps has been shaky.
Sean: You're right. They need to shorten the game. If Imanaga goes seven, you hand it to your best relievers. But if the bullpen has to cover four or five innings, that's a problem.
Stephanie: Injuries are also a factor. The Cubs have Matt Shaw on the 10-day IL, and Kevin Gausman is day-to-day for Seattle. But the Mariners have a few more — J.P. Crawford, Colt Emerson, and others. That depth could be the difference.
Sean: Absolutely. The Mariners are missing key pieces, and the Cubs need to take advantage. Imanaga has to shut them down, and the offense has to get to that bullpen.
Stephanie: So what's the key to this series, Sean? If the Cubs want to take two of three, what has to happen?
Sean: First, get to the starter early. Second, Imanaga has to pitch like the ace he is. And third, the bullpen has to hold a lead. If they do those three things, they'll win the series.
Stephanie: And what about the offense? They scored five runs last night. Is that enough?
Sean: It should be, but they left too many runners on base. They need more timely hits, especially with runners in scoring position. That's been a theme all year.
Stephanie: Alright, bold prediction time. I said sweep, but I'll adjust: I'm predicting a big game from Pete Crow-Armstrong — a homer and a stolen base — and the Cubs win 7-4.
Sean: I'll stick with my two-of-three call, and I'll say Imanaga goes seven strong, and the Cubs take this one 5-2.
Stephanie: I like it. Cubs bounce back tonight, and we'll see you tomorrow for the rubber match. That's all for today's show. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review Beatline. Share this episode with your Cubs crew, and as always... Go Cubs Go!
Sean: Go Cubs Go! We'll catch you next time.