Did The Cubs Win?
OSS: Starlin Castro and Travis Wood laying down the big lumber!
1. Starlin Castro went 3-6 with a 3-run bomb. His OPS sits at .802 (15 points over yesterday numbers). He’s never had an OPS over 800 over a whole season, but he’s also never shown power quite like this. His ISO sits at .187, which would be 40 points higher than his previous career high. Not only is his bat the best it’s ever been, Castro is a legitimate good defender this year. He’s made 10 errors, but that’s not that important. His FRAA this year is positive (to a tune of half a win, no less), and his F2O% is at 88%, which is the highest of his career (F2O% measures the percentage chance that a ball that Castro fields results in an out). Castro and Rizzo are legitimate bright spots in the Cubs’ franchise.
2. Luis Valbuena is the leadoff hitter, and that should be the end of the discussion. He went 2-4 with 2 walks (and 2 strikeouts and a TOOTBLAN), and his line is at .289/.390/.461. He’s played his way into the everyday role at 2B or 3B.
3. Travis Wood raised his batting average to .276 with a run-scoring double in the 13th inning. He has a .874 OPS.
Three Down
1. Anthony Rizzo left 5 on base and went 0-5. He did walk one time.
2. Ryan Sweeney went 0-6 and left 3 on base.
3. Justin Ruggiano struck out 3 times (though he had a hit).
Quick Hits
Cubs relievers: 7 IP, 2 H, 5 BB, 8 SO, 0 R…James Russell had the save…5 Cubs relievers have an ERA under 3…Giancarlo Stanton hit a home run that did not appear to ever be more than 15 feet of the ground.
Next Game
Today, 6:10 PM CT, Samardzija vs. DeSclafani
Will The Cubs Win?