OSS: Cubs dig a hole, then climb back out of it. Three up: Vic Caratini hit a bases loaded, pinch-hit double to give the Cubs the lead in the sixth, completing the comeback after the Cubs went down 4-0 in the first inning. Kyle Schwarber had the other big hit two innings earlier, a solo shot that tied the game …
Cubs 3, Cardinals 1
OSS: Hamels stifles the Cards in his best start in a Cubs uniform so far. Three up: Cole Hamels had a day, striking out ten Cardinals in eight scoreless innings and allowing just three hits and one walk. His game score of 89 is his best since joining the Cubs. In fact, it was his best game since 2016. The …
Cubs 9, Rockies 8
OSS: David Bote has a day, and the Cubs new bullpen reinforcment can’t get here fast enough Three up The Cubs finally did what was obvious that they should have done six months ago, namely, sign Craig Kimbrel. We’ll see how long it tackes for him to be game ready, but whenever it is, it won’t be a moment too …
Cubs 6, Rockies 3
OSS: The Cubs played through some tight games over the weekend and a blowout on Monday, but sometimes what you need is a relatively uneventful, closeish win to really get back into the groove of winning, or something. Three up: Cyle had a solid start, striking out ten batters in seven innings and allowing three runs. I was in and …
Series Preview: Colorado Rockies (31-27) at Chicago Cubs (32-26)
Wait, the Rockies are good again? Last I remembered they got off to a terrible start and were already written off. They had an eight game losing streak in April and were an early 2019 Cubs-esque 3-12. Since then they have gone 28-15, and are currently riding an eight game winning streak that wipes out that earlier dumpster fire of …
Series Preview: Chicago Cubs (31-23) at St Louis Cardinals (27-28)
The Cardinals had a brutal month of May, going 7-17 and nearly going from first to worst in the division. While their offense has been solid, their starting pitching has been brutal. Michael Wacha has taken another giant step back, and the shine has faded from Miles Mikolas after he took the league by storm in 2018. Team Leaders Cubs …
Cubs 8, Reds 6
OSS: Time to redefine what makes a good Yu Darvish start, I guess. Three up: Addison Russell had a three-hit day, including a two run homer in the fourth inning that gave the Cubs their first lead of the day. He also legged out a bunt single in the eighth on what was probably a sac bunt and came around …
Cubs 3, Phillies 2
OSS: Return of the Mago Three up: On a day when no one on the Cubs offense could get a hit with RISP, Javy delivered a pinch hit single to walk it off. Baez wasn’t even supposed to be here today. He’s only been out two days but you can already feel the Cubs missing him in the lineup The …
Series Preview: Philadelphia Phillies (27-19) at Chicago Cubs (27-17)
Two first place teams match up for a big series at Wrigley Field. All the story lines will be focused on the return of Jay Carrieta, whose rotation spot didn’t come up against the Cubs in his first year in Philadelphia. Team Leaders Phils OBP: Rhys Hoskins (.390) ISO: Hoskins (.273) HR: Hoskins (11) R+RBI: Hoskins (62) wRC+: Hoskins (148) …
Cubs 6, Nats 5
OSS: Cubs squander some early chances, hang on to win. Three up: The Kyle Schwarber Leadoff Experiment worked out well this series. Schwarber had three hits and four walks (and one HBP) in 15 PAs. He had RBI on two sac flies in this game, which is not really what you expect to see from a leadoff hitter but the …