It may be too little, too late for the Cubs, but hope springs eternal since the Northsiders have won 10 of their last 15 and pulled to within 5.5 games of the Wild Card.

Assad has pitched well all year but has found another gear over the last month, with Chicago going 5-1 in his starts with a margin of victory averaging 3.4 RPG. They've covered the Rul Line in all of them and I expect them to do the same today.

The Marlins have been outscored 20-5 in the first two games of this series and they're sending a pitcher to the mound today that likely wouldn't be on any other roster in baseball other than the Marlins, who happen to be the worst team in the National League.