1. Man. They had him.
They had Shane Bieber so many times, or so it seemed. I get the frustrations with runners-on-bases hitting. But also: the biggest LOB offender was Ildemaro Vargas, and what can you ask for from that guy beyond what he’s giving; and it was against Shane Bieber. Shane Bieber! Guy’s a great pitcher. Great pitchers are hard to hit. Even when there are runners on base.
2. Man. They had ‘em.
Adbert Alzolay threw a great game and was one César Hernández home run away from outdueling Bieber. César effing Hernández.
3. I didn’t hate the Joc Pederson steal on Nick Martini’s full count.
Martini’s a contact guy. That’s his deal. Matt Duffy, who was on deck, is not a slugger—he’s a good-plate-appearance guy. It worked out horribly but it wasn’t the worst idea that’s ever been ideated. Was it a bad idea? Probably. Joc Pederson is not fast and you had a strikeout savant facing a career minor-leaguer. But there have been worse ideas.
4. Thank goodness Kris Bryant was just sick.
I mean, hopefully thank goodness. Hopefully it isn’t something like appendicitis or scurvy. (Is scurvy serious? Or is it only serious for pirates?) But compared to “well, his wrist was bothering him,” this is probably good news.
5. Eric Sogard, you say?
The Sogard home run was a great moment and a good spark. Hopefully he will somehow rise to fill Jake Marisnick’s role as the man inexplicably raking.
***
Around the Division:
The Reds lost to the Pirates, 7-2. The Brewers and Cardinals are in extras as this is typed.
Up Next:
Rematch. Day game.
***
Whom:
Cubs vs. Cleveland
Where:
Cleveland
When:
12:10 PM Chicago Time
Weather:
Temperatures in the 50’s, wind should be blowing in—mostly from left—at about ten miles per hour.
Starting Pitchers:
Zach Davies vs. Sam Hentges
The Opponent:
Hentges is a 24-year-old pitcher who’s come up through the Cleveland organization, which is an absolutely terrifying description given recent history over there. I believe he’s been paired with an opener twice now, working three-ish innings his last two times out. Not great results, but only nine total innings of work, and he’s only walked two guys and he might have had some bad luck on home runs (four in nine innings is a lot). Not a huge prospect, but he is a huge man. 6’8”. Lefty.
The Numbers:
Looks like the Cubs are at just -102 to win across the limited books that have the line up already. They’re at -108 to lose, so basically a tossup. Over/under’s at nine and leans towards the under.
Cubs News:
They picked up Trayce Thompson from the Diamondbacks earlier for cash, and I thought someone was joking about this but he’s Klay Thompson’s younger brother. He’s probably just minor league outfield depth, but put him down on the list of guys who could conceivably see big league action if Jason Heyward’s bone bruise makes his hand unplayable.
Speaking of which, Jason Heyward’s hand issue is something like a bone bruise.
It sounds like Nico Hoerner and Jake Arrieta should both come back this weekend. Jake Marisnick, as expected, is on the injured list, and Javy Báez was scratched to give his back another day off. Brad Wieck was called up to take Marisnick’s spot on the roster, leaving the Cubs playing an injured Jason Heyward, sitting an injured Javy Báez, and rolling with just Nick Martini and Tony Wolters healthy on the bench. And that’s before thinking about Kris Bryant’s health. Yikes! Jake Arrieta DH day?
Kyle Ryan cleared waivers, so he’s still in the fold.
Cubs Thoughts:
You lost to Shane Bieber and your young starter pitched a good game. Hard to be unhappy with that. If Bieber had mowed the Cubs down, we’d be fine with it, but putting pressure on him makes us all mad. Go figure.
If Davies can pitch like he did his last time out, this should be an advantageous day for the Cubs. He won’t have as bad of hitting conditions as he did his last time out, though, and he won’t be facing the Pirates.
Overall, you probably want to go 5-3 over these next eight (this one, three in Detroit, four at home against the Nationals), and you entered tonight wanting to go 5-4 over them all, so it’s not like you’re playing catchup. It’s fun to say that the Cubs haven’t been swept yet, and not getting swept is a useful habit, but getting swept in a two-game set is, of course, the best way to get swept if you’re gonna do it. All of which goes to say that this would be a great game for the Cubs to win, but they’re playing with a short roster and if they lose it, whatever.
P.S. The Cardinals have a guy on third in the 11th with one out and Paul Goldschmidt up. That’s where I click “send” on this. (Editor’s note Goldschmidt went yard and the Cardinals got three more I think they’re gonna win.)
