OSS: Cubs bats get over their bizarre Big Game James issues, Arrieta has a solid performance, and the Cubs are back in first place. Three up: Jake looked pretty good tonight, and his final line was 6.2 IP, 2 H, 2R, 2 BB, 5 K. Obviously Jay Carrieta isn't walking through that door anymore, but this was a solid start. …
Cubs 7, White Sox 2
OSS: A most incredibly frustrating 5 run win. Three up: Willson Contreras might be the best player on this team. He hit another homer, his 7th of July which brought his OPS up to .835. Combining his offense, defense, and rookie contract, I don't think there's a more valuable catcher in the game. Ben Zobrist is trying to find himself out of …
Cubs 3, Cardinals 2
OSS: An excellent pitchers' duel turns into a wild finish. Three up: Jon Lester was fantastic today, taking a perfect game into the sixth until Wainwright poked a single through the left side to break it up. He continued to cruise until he ran out of steam in the eighth, giving up back to back solo shots to Grichuk and …
Cubs 4, Braves 3 (7.17.17)
OSS: Cubs manage not to ruin a great start by Jon Lester. Three up: Lester was great tonight, which is especially nice to see after the play about pieces of feces that was his last start before the break. Lester gave up just three hits with one walk and six strikeouts in seven innings, and was cruising along well enough …
Cubs 9, O’s 8 (7.14.17)
OSS: Cubs blow an eight run lead, somehow win anyway Three up: Addison Muscle hit a go-ahead homer in the top of the ninth to put the Cubs over the top in this strange game. Russell led the Cubs in WPA on the day, largely due to that shot. It was one of five on the day by Cubs hitters, …
Cubs 7, Pirates 1 (6.18.17)
OSS: Cubs win a road series for the first time since April Three up: Anthony Rizzo continues to thrive in the leadoff spot, launching yet another home run. He had three hits total and scored three runs. He was knocked in by Willson Contreras in his other non-HR runs, who was the spark that got the Cubs moving today. Lackey …
Cubs 3, Marlins 1 (6.5.17)
OSS: Cubs blast two homers with the wind blowing in to extend winning streak to four games and get back to a tie for first place. Three up: The biggest hit of the game was Kris Bryant's two run homer in the first inning, which plated Zobrist. Zobrist himself just missed hitting one out to lead off the game for …
Cardinals 6, Cubs 7 (6.14.17)
OSS: Cubs complete the sweep of the Cardinals behind a big day from Ian Happ. Three up: Ian Happ launched two homers off of Michael Wacha, driving in more than half the the Cubs runs. One of them even had runners on base. The novelty! Based on what few innings I've seen he looks credible in CF too. Albert Almora …
Cubs 5, Cardinals 3 (6.3.17)
OSS: Kyle Schwarber blasts the Cubs to at least a series win. Three up: Kyle Schwarber hit an opposite field grand slam off of Mike Leake in the seventh to put the Cubs ahead. You may have heard that Schwarber is in a bit of a slump, having just five hits in the previous two weeks going into this game. …
Cubs 7, Reds 5 (5.17.17)
TSS: Cubs get some hits with runners in scoring position? What sorcery is this? Three up: On a day when the wind was howling out, the Cubs scored seven runs without a home run. Coomer claimed it was 45 mph winds but I'm guessing that was jsut gusts. The biggest hit of the day was Kyle Schwarber's two-run single that …