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<\/p>\nMonday notes\u2026<\/p>\n
IT\u2019S STILL EARLY: April 6 is the earliest date on which the Cubs have played the Rays. The previous earliest was April 18, in 2022, at Wrigley Field. The earliest at Miami was June 11 in 2024, the last time the Cubs journeyed there. The Cubs\u2019 first games this season vs. the Angels and Guardians also were their earliest in those rivalries. (Courtesy BCB\u2019s JohnW53)<\/p>\n
HOME RUNS ARE GOOD, BUT\u2026 The Cubs have lost the last three games in which they hit exactly three home runs: on Sept. 25 of last year, at home against the Mets, 8-5; on March 29, at home against the Nationals, 6-3; and yesterday in Game 2 at Cleveland, 6-5. Before that, they had lost only three of 19 three-homer games, going back to Sept. 30, 2023. (Courtesy BCB\u2019s JohnW53)<\/p>\n
DOUBLEHEADER CATCH-UP: The Cubs split Sunday\u2019s doubleheader in Cleveland. The last time the Cubs swept a doubleheader on the road was Sept. 11, 2015 at Philadelphia.<\/p>\n
STEALING BASES: The Cubs have stolen eight bases so far this year without being caught. They are the only MLB team with at least eight steals this year with no runners caught stealing.<\/p>\n
Cubs lineup:<\/p>\n
Rays lineup:<\/p>\n
Jameson Taillon, RHP vs. Shane McClanahan, RHP<\/p>\n
Jameson Taillon\u2019s ERA shows 0.00, which is good!<\/p>\n
I wouldn\u2019t exactly call his first 2026 start \u201cgood,\u201d though. He walked four and threw 85 pitches and didn\u2019t complete the fifth inning. Still, it was better than his awful Spring Training. So that\u2019s something, anyway.<\/p>\n
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The last time he faced the Rays in Tampa, June 11, 2024<\/a>, he threw six shutout innings, striking out five. That\u2019d work, though most of those guys aren\u2019t on the Rays anymore.<\/p>\n Cedric Mullins, new to the Rays this year, is 5-for-14 against Jamo with two home runs. So watch for that.<\/p>\n Shane McClanahan allowed two hits and three walks in 4.2 innings in his first 2026 start against the Brewers. That was, in fact, his first MLB appearance since 2023, following Tommy John surgery and then a nerve issue.<\/p>\n He has faced the Cubs once in his career, May 30, 2023 at Wrigley Field<\/a>. Nico Hoerner homered off him that evening.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n That\u2019s about all I\u2019ve got on McClanahan.<\/p>\n Today\u2019s game is on Marquee Sports Network.<\/p>\n Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.<\/a><\/p>\n MLB.com Gameday<\/a><\/p>\n Baseball-reference.com game preview<\/a><\/p>\n Please visit our SB Nation Rays site\u00a0DRays Bay<\/a>. If you do go there to interact with Rays fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.<\/p>\n The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled \u201cCubs vs. (Team) (Day of week\/date) game threads.\u201d It will contain every post related to that particular game.<\/p>\n The Live! (formerly \u201cFirst Pitch\u201d) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.<\/p>\n You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in\u00a0this section link<\/a>. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.<\/p>\n Discuss amongst yourselves.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Join the conversation!<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1ccc13c0eaf864fcc74bc0eef4e3c314.jpeg\"\/)
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