I’m going to go out on a limb here, and maybe I’m way off base, but hear me out.
In a way, I can see Joe Maddon’s thinking in sending a bullpen game out against Max Scherzer. Scherzer has dominated the Cubs in regular-season play. Including this game, Scherzer has given the Cubs five runs in 29 innings (1.55 ERA) over the last four times he’s faced them, with one walk and 39 strikeouts. Even with Cole Hamels facing them in the first game of a doubleheader, this game might have shaped up as a loss.
Remember that without David Bote’s walkoff slam, the previous Hamels/Scherzer matchup would have gone to Scherzer at Wrigley four weeks ago.