OSS: The Cubs go deep 3 times and played screw the closer in the 8th. Three Four up: Javier Baez was only 1-4, but his 2-out home run in the 7th with 1 man on was the play of the night. Javy hit it way out and broke the 1-1 tie in Cubs favor. He’s got a 113 wRC+ on the …
Cubs 5, Brewers 2 (7.22.16)
Baseball predictions are silly up to a point, but I’m going to predict the Cubs are about to go on a run that’s similar to what they did in the first half. The Cardinals have pulled within 6.5 games, which is still a mile away in baseball terms, but I do miss the double digit lead they enjoyed for awhile. The …
Series Preview: Chicago Cubs (57-37) @ Milwaukee Brewers (40-53)
The online MLB odds for the Cubs winning the division have taken a small hit over the last month or so, but they still have close to 90% odds of winning their division. The NL Central lead for the Cubs is down to 6.5 games again after the Cardinals swept a double-header on Wednesday and came from behind last night. The Cubs …
Series Preview: Chicago Cubs (43-18) @ Washington Nationals (39-24)
The Nationals and Rangers are tied for the second best record in baseball at 39-24, which is well behind the Cubs at 43-18. Scherzer and Gonzalez would like some revenge against the Cubs and they're playing some good baseball right now. So are the Cubs. This should be a fun series. Team Leaders Cubs (100 PA) OBP: Ben Zobrist (.431) …
Series Preview: Chicago Cubs (41-17) @ Atlanta Braves (17-42)
The league's best team vs the worst. The Cubs run differential is +149, which is more twice as much as the next best (Red Sox, +70). The Braves are -97, which is only one run worse than the Reds. This series is about as lopsides as it gets on paper. The Braves snapped a 6-game losing streak with a 4-2 …
The Cubs historic start part 2
A month ago I looked at the Cubs historic start to the 2016 season by using Baseball Prospectus's 3rd order winning percentage.The Cubs didn't have any comparables at the time and today I set out to find the top team in 3rd order winning percentage each season going back 50 years. I looked for the top team as of games …
Cubs 5, Diamondbacks 3
OSS: Jason Hammel dominates on the mound and has the biggest hit of the game. The Cubs improve to 8-1 on this 10-game homestand and they have Jake Arrieta going tomorrow. Three up: Jason Hammel returned from his abbreviated start last time with 7 excellent innings. He only allowed 1 hit, though that hit was a 1st inning home run to …
Cubs 6, Diamondbacks 0 (6.3.16)
OSS: John Lackey was quite good and it seemed like everyone in the lineup had a double. Three up: John Lackey is efficient with his pitches. He struggled in the 2nd and threw 26 pitches, but other than that and a small jam in the 7th that Warren bailed him out of, he was outstanding. He struckout 9 and walked 2 …
Series Preview: Los Angeles Dodgers of Los Angeles (27-24) at Chicago Cubs (34-14)
These were the top two teams going into the season by projections, but since then their paths have diverged. We all know about how great the Cubs have been both at the plate and on the mound, but I at least didn't really haev a clue what has been happening with the Dodgers aside from remembering injury problems in the …
Cubs 12, Cardinals 3 (5.24.16)
OSS: That’s more like it Three up: The Cubs jumped on Michael Wacha early, batting around and scoring six runs in the first inning. It feels strange to have gotten used to seeing Cubs pitchers get a PA before they even take the mound. David Ross had the biggest WPA play in the rally, a bases loaded double that drove …