OSS: The final score is what it is, but it would be great if the path wasn't always so difficult to get there. Three up: Despite not starting the game, Willson Contreras was the Cubs WPA leader by far in this game thanks to a go-ahead two run double in the sixth, followed by some ballsy baserunning that WPA doesn't …
Cubs 8, Phillies 3 (5.2.17)
OSS: Cubs bomb their way out of a mini losing streak Three Four Five up: Kyle Schwarber's three run bomb in the fourth was the biggest play of the game. It broke a 2-2 tie and the Cubs never really looked back from there. Kris Bryant also had a nice day at the plate, homering in the first and following …
Series Preview: Phillies (11-12) at Cubs (13-11)
The Phillies are in the middle of about as tough a stretch as any team could face. They just got swept by the Dodgers in LA, head to Wrigley to face the Cubs for a four game series, then are rewarded with a trip home to face the Nationals. They did manage to rip off a six game winning streak …
Cubs 7, Red Sox 4 (4.29.17)
OSS: Cubs come back with a little help from the Red Sox defense. Three up: A few other pieces of the Cubs lineup have been inconsistent of late, but Bryant and Rizzo are still rolling along. Bryant had two doubles in the game, and had another effective double when he took second after reaching on a throwing error by Sox …
Series Preview: Chicago Cubs (12-9) at Boston Red Sox (11-10)
I like this matchup much more in the regular season than as a possible World Series matchup going into last postseason. I underrated the Indians by a lot, but I still think that Boston was the best team in the AL last year. Team Leaders Cubs OBP: Anthony Rizzo (.400) ISO: Rizzo (.241) HR: Rizzo (5) R+RBI: Addison Russell (29) …
Cubs 1, Pirates 0 (4.25.17)
OSS: Just what one would expect after seventeen runs were scored on Monday. Three up: Kyle Hendricks looked rocky/bad early, adding fuel to the fire of speculation about his velocity and hard hit rate. But then he settled down over the last few innings and showed flashes of the Cyle we remember from last season. His final line was 6 …
Cubs 14, Pirates 3 (4.24.17)
OSS: Cubs bats wake up in a rout. Three up: Jason Heyward was the WPA winner of the day, getting the vaunted game winning RBI with his three run homer in the first. It was his third of the season, and his slash line now reads .294/.342/.456. The other WPA winner on the day was Addison Russell, who drove in …
Series Preview: Chicago Cubs (10-8) at Pittsburgh Pirates (8-10)
The Cubs were swept by this Pirates team a week ago, but the narrative has completely changed following Starling Marte's PED suspension. They've got another top prospect outfielder in Austin Meadows who in a perfect world would be filling those shoes, but he's been terrible since hitting AAA last year. It's strange to think back to those wild card teams …
Cubs 6, Reds 5 (4.21.17)
OSS: Comeback Cubs blast their way to another late win. Three up: It was Anthony Rizzo's turn for thrilling heroics today. After going 0-4 with a strikeout and a walk on the day, Rizzo deposited a Jared Michael Lorenzen pitch in the right field seats to tie up the game. Maybe the World Series hangover is that the Cubs got …
Series Preview: Chicago Cubs (8-7) at Cincinnati Reds (9-7)
The Cubs face off with the titans of the NL Central for the first time this year. The Reds have cooled off a bit, dropping three of four to the Brewers and two of three to the O's in the past week. At least they gave their fans two weeks or so of vague relevancy, unlike past rebuilding Cubs teams. …