OSS: Kris Bryant bags a hat trick. Three up The Cubs offense exploded for six home runs, with Bryant providing half that total. All three of Bryant’s home runs landed in the Cubs bullpen – maybe he was dive bombing them in revenge for trying to blow the game? I’m not sure what is more impressive – Bryant homering three …
Series Preview: Chicago Cubs (25-16) at Washington Nationals (18-25)
It’s been a rough go of it for the Nats this year, just won their first series in over a month. Former Cubs bench coach Dave Martinez doesn’t seem to have brought that Joe Maddon magic along with him, and every new team that comes into DC has to be double checking wikipedia before the series to see if he’s …
Cubs 3, Reds 1
OSS: Cy(le) Cobb makes an appearance Three up: Kyle Hendricks extended his streak of excellent pitching, allowing just one run in eight innings, striking out seven. Hendricks led off the top of the ninth with his first walk of the game, which led to the pen finishing the game off. Even more impressively, Hendricks went 3-4 including a two-run double …
Cubs 4, Brewers 1
OSS: KB stays hot, Cubs win another close one against the Beers. Three up: Kris Bryant hit yet another home run, his fifth in the last eight games. His wRC+ is all the way up to 149. The heart of the Cubs lineup now has wRC+ of 149, 142, 157, and 171. That’ll do, pig. Jon Lester had another great …
Cubs 2, Brewers 1
OSS: Chatwood guts it out, Willson walks it off. Three up: Tyler Chatwood was the Cubs WPA leader by far, posting a .615 WPA for pitching four scoreless innings in extras. Chatwood struck out seven and allowed no hits, though he did walk three. It was especially gutsy considering he had pitched just two games ago, though just one inning …
Cubs 4, Marlins 1
OSS: Bryzzo each homer, Cubs cruise to a series win. Three up: Kris Bryant’s hot hitting streak continues, homering yet again in this one. KB also drew two walks, coming around to score on… Another home run from Anthony Rizzo. It’s nice to see both guys hitting at the same time. Bryant improved his wRC+ to 145, and Rizzo’s is …
Cubs 3, Marlins 2
OSS: Cyle pitches another gem, and Heyward walks it off in extras Three up Jason Heyward’s power surge continued with a walkoff HR in the bottom of the 11th inning. It was Heyward’s sixth home run of 2019, just one less homer than he hit in all of his first season with the Cubs. Joe put Heyward in the leadoff …
Cubs 5, Marlins 2
OSS: Bryant walks it off. Three+ up Kris Bryant’s hot streak continues. He hit a triple in his first plate appearance, and a walk off home run in his last one. His wRC+ has crept up to 137, and in addition to his power surge he also leads the team in walks with 21. Albert Almora has two jobs – …
Cubs 13, Cardinals 5
OSS: Cubs sweep their way to first place. Three up: The entire offense was rolling in this one, and it’s tough to single out any one player. Jason Heyward actually had the biggest WPA play of the day on his fifth inning RBI triple that put the Cubs up 2-0. Rizzo’s double in the sixth and Willson’s solo shot that …
Cubs 6, Cardinals 5
OSS: Taylor Davis picks a good time to hit his first MLB home run. Three up: After the Cubs had fallen behind 5-1 in the top of the fourth inning, Taylor Davis of all players answered back with a grand slam to left center. It wasn’t a cheapie, nearly leaving the park. Baez had a long HR of his own …