Well, here we are in fourth place with a losing record. Just like we thought at the beginning of the season, right? The Reds have been streaky all year, already with two four-plus game winning streaks and losing streaks. Votto continues to be Votto and Cozart is building on last year's solid season, but the WAR leader on the team …
Cubs 3, Cardinals 2 (5.12.17)
OSS: Eddie Butler exceeds expectations in his debut Three up: Butler threw six innings of shutout ball. Things were rocky early, as Butler walked two batters in the first and was racking up a large pitch count early in the game, possibly due to adrenaline jitters, but he settled down as the game went on. I'm a little baffled at …
Series Preview: Chicago Cubs (17-17) at St. Louis Cardinals (19-14)
While the Cubs scuffled against the Yankees and Rockies, the Cardinals ripped off a six game winning streak because, Cardinals. Their pitching has rebounded from early season struggles to have the second best ERA in the leage (n.b. they are tied in FIP with the Cubs), and their offensive wRC+ is smack on 101. They even have fewer HR than …
Yankees 5, Cubs 4 (18 innings)
OSS: Cubs and Yankees set a record for the most strikeouts in a game in an 18 inning marathon. Three Five up: Kyle Schwarber made an amazing defensive play on a foul ball in extras, falling into the stands and somehow not getting hurt on that concrete wall. He also doubled twice and drew two walks Rizzo was the Cubs …
Series Preview: New York Yankees (17-9) at Chicago Cubs (16-12)
Hey, the Yankees are suddenly really good again. The main driver of their success is the offense, which leads the majors in wRC+ by a large margin. They are second only to the Brewers in home runs, and that's without much contribution from Gary Sanchez. Our old pal Starlin Castro is having a great year, slashing .362/.402/.543. He wasn't on …
Cubs 5, Phillies 4 (5.3.17)
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) …