| | | |
CHICAGO CUBS ( LESTER )
CINCINNATI ( LEAKE ) |
|
|
7ov
| 7
Final
3 |
|
|
| | |
|
|
|  | |
|
| 905 | CHICAGO CUBS | -105 | Ov 7.5,-105 | -110 | Ov 7.5,+115 | | 906 | CINCINNATI | -105 | Un 7.5,-115 | +100 | Un 7.5,-135 |
|
|
|  |
|
| | | | | |
|
|
| All Games | 8-7 | +0.3 | 8-6 | 4.4 | 0.248 | 0.322 | 0.385 | 0.707 | 4.1 | 0.247 | 0.286 | 0.380 | 0.665 | | Road Games | 4-3 | +1.2 | 4-2 | 5.3 | 0.278 | 0.347 | 0.424 | 0.771 | 4.9 | 0.269 | 0.303 | 0.438 | 0.741 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 7-5 | +1 | 6-5 | 4.3 | 0.249 | 0.323 | 0.388 | 0.711 | 3.7 | 0.236 | 0.270 | 0.356 | 0.626 | | Past 7 Games | 3-4 | -1.2 | 5-1 | 4.9 | 0.271 | 0.338 | 0.380 | 0.718 | 5.0 | 0.240 | 0.272 | 0.407 | 0.679 | | Grass Games | 8-7 | +0.3 | 8-6 | 4.4 | 0.248 | 0.322 | 0.385 | 0.707 | 4.1 | 0.247 | 0.286 | 0.380 | 0.665 | | Night Games | 5-3 | +1.8 | 3-4 | 5.0 | 0.281 | 0.353 | 0.452 | 0.805 | 3.9 | 0.241 | 0.280 | 0.363 | 0.643 | | Division | 5-4 | +0.6 | 3-5 | 4.1 | 0.256 | 0.323 | 0.389 | 0.712 | 3.4 | 0.223 | 0.266 | 0.341 | 0.607 |
|
| |
|
|
| All Games | 4.4 | 0.248 | 0.322 | 15 | 512 | 127 | 23 | 4 | 13 | 0.385 | 61 | 56 | 134 | 16 | 116 | 10 | 13 | 5 | 10 | | Road Games | 5.3 | 0.278 | 0.347 | 7 | 245 | 68 | 12 | 3 | 6 | 0.424 | 35 | 26 | 60 | 7 | 54 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 3 | | Righty Starters | 4.3 | 0.249 | 0.323 | 12 | 410 | 102 | 18 | 3 | 11 | 0.388 | 48 | 45 | 101 | 15 | 94 | 8 | 10 | 5 | 9 |
|
| |
|
| All Games | 3.31 | 1.102 | 49 | 19 | 18 | 41 | 4 | 13 | 47 | 4-2 | 3 | 4 | 42.9% | | Road Games | 4.37 | 1.323 | 22.7 | 12 | 11 | 23 | 2 | 7 | 26 | 2-1 | 2 | 2 | 50% |
|
|
| |
|
|
| All Games | 8-8 | +0.6 | 6-9 | 3.9 | 0.221 | 0.285 | 0.358 | 0.643 | 4.1 | 0.237 | 0.299 | 0.388 | 0.687 | | Home Games | 4-2 | +2.1 | 3-2 | 4.0 | 0.212 | 0.286 | 0.365 | 0.650 | 3.8 | 0.231 | 0.297 | 0.363 | 0.661 | | vs Left-handed Starters | 1-2 | -1 | 1-1 | 3.7 | 0.218 | 0.262 | 0.337 | 0.598 | 4.7 | 0.275 | 0.339 | 0.461 | 0.800 | | Past 7 Games | 3-4 | -0.8 | 2-5 | 4.3 | 0.226 | 0.293 | 0.376 | 0.669 | 4.1 | 0.232 | 0.275 | 0.386 | 0.661 | | Grass Games | 8-8 | +0.6 | 6-9 | 3.9 | 0.221 | 0.285 | 0.358 | 0.643 | 4.1 | 0.237 | 0.299 | 0.388 | 0.687 | | Night Games | 6-4 | +2.8 | 5-5 | 4.5 | 0.230 | 0.292 | 0.364 | 0.657 | 4.2 | 0.228 | 0.296 | 0.371 | 0.667 | | Division | 8-8 | +0.6 | 6-9 | 3.9 | 0.221 | 0.285 | 0.358 | 0.643 | 4.1 | 0.237 | 0.299 | 0.388 | 0.687 |
|
| |
|
|
| All Games | 3.9 | 0.221 | 0.285 | 16 | 542 | 120 | 13 | 2 | 19 | 0.358 | 59 | 48 | 125 | 17 | 100 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 8 | | Home Games | 4.0 | 0.212 | 0.286 | 6 | 203 | 43 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 0.365 | 21 | 21 | 57 | 10 | 41 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | | Lefty Starters | 3.7 | 0.218 | 0.262 | 3 | 101 | 22 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0.337 | 10 | 6 | 23 | 2 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
|
| |
|
| All Games | 5.01 | 1.452 | 41.3 | 25 | 23 | 40 | 7 | 20 | 42 | 4-3 | 4 | 4 | 50% | | Home Games | 4.22 | 1.313 | 21.3 | 10 | 10 | 21 | 3 | 7 | 21 | 4-1 | 2 | 3 | 40% |
|
| | |
|
|
| 4/10/2015 | WOOD(L) | @ COLORADO | MATZEK(L) | 1-5 | L | 125 | 10 ev | U | 5 | 9 | 1 | 11 | 8 | 0 | | 4/11/2015 | HAMMEL(R) | @ COLORADO | KENDRICK(R) | 9-5 | W | -105 | 10.5 ev | O | 12 | 8 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 1 | | 4/12/2015 | HENDRICKS(R) | @ COLORADO | LYLES(R) | 6-5 | W | -105 | 9.5 ov | O | 7 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 6 | 4 | | 4/13/2015 | LESTER(L) | CINCINNATI | LEAKE(R) | 7-6 | W | -140 | 7.5 un | O | 10 | 7 | 1 | 13 | 6 | 0 | | 4/14/2015 | ARRIETA(R) | CINCINNATI | DESCLAFANI(R) | 2-3 | L | -145 | 7 un | U | 5 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 0 | | 4/15/2015 | WOOD(L) | CINCINNATI | MARQUIS(R) | 5-0 | W | -140 | 7 un | U | 11 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 2 | | 4/17/2015 | HAMMEL(R) | SAN DIEGO | SHIELDS(R) | 4-5 | L | -120 | 7.5 ov | O | 7 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 2 | | 4/18/2015 | HENDRICKS(R) | SAN DIEGO | ROSS(R) | 7-6 | W | -115 | 7 un | O | 12 | 13 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 1 | | 4/19/2015 | LESTER(L) | SAN DIEGO | CASHNER(R) | 2-5 | L | -120 | 6.5 ov | O | 7 | 9 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 2 | | 4/20/2015 | ARRIETA(R) | @ PITTSBURGH | BURNETT(R) | 5-2 | W | -105 | 7 ov | P | 14 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 2 | | 4/21/2015 | WOOD(L) | @ PITTSBURGH | LIRIANO(L) | 9-8 | W | 140 | 7 ov | O | 12 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 2 | | 4/22/2015 | HAMMEL(R) | @ PITTSBURGH | WORLEY(R) | 3-4 | L | 100 | 7.5 un | U | 10 | 10 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 1 | | 4/23/2015 | HENDRICKS(R) | @ PITTSBURGH | LOCKE(L) | 4-5 | L | -120 | 7 ev | O | 8 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 7 | 0 | | 4/24/2015 | LESTER(L) | @ CINCINNATI | LEAKE(R) | | | 4/25/2015 | ARRIETA(R) | @ CINCINNATI | DESCLAFANI(R) | | | 4/26/2015 | WOOD(L) | @ CINCINNATI | MARQUIS(R) | | | 4/27/2015 | HAMMEL(R) | PITTSBURGH | WORLEY(R) | | | 4/28/2015 | HENDRICKS(R) | PITTSBURGH | LOCKE(L) | | | 4/29/2015 | LESTER(L) | PITTSBURGH | COLE(R) | | | 5/1/2015 | | MILWAUKEE | | |
|
|
| |
|
|
| 4/10/2015 | MARQUIS(R) | ST LOUIS | LACKEY(R) | 5-4 | W | +115 | 8 un | O | 4 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 8 | 0 | | 4/11/2015 | CUETO(R) | ST LOUIS | WACHA(R) | 1-4 | L | -115 | 6.5 un | U | 6 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 1 | | 4/12/2015 | IGLESIAS(R) | ST LOUIS | MARTINEZ(R) | 5-7 | L | +105 | 8 un | O | 11 | 15 | 0 | 10 | 8 | 0 | | 4/13/2015 | LEAKE(R) | @ CHICAGO CUBS | LESTER(L) | 6-7 | L | 130 | 7.5 un | O | 13 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 1 | | 4/14/2015 | DESCLAFANI(R) | @ CHICAGO CUBS | ARRIETA(R) | 3-2 | W | 135 | 7 un | U | 7 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 0 | | 4/15/2015 | MARQUIS(R) | @ CHICAGO CUBS | WOOD(L) | 0-5 | L | 130 | 7 un | U | 4 | 6 | 2 | 11 | 10 | 0 | | 4/17/2015 | CUETO(R) | @ ST LOUIS | WACHA(R) | 1-6 | L | 110 | 6.5 ov | O | 6 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 2 | | 4/18/2015 | BAILEY(R) | @ ST LOUIS | MARTINEZ(R) | 2-5 | L | 130 | 7.5 un | U | 9 | 9 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 0 | | 4/19/2015 | LEAKE(R) | @ ST LOUIS | WAINWRIGHT(R) | 1-2 | L | 175 | 7 ov | U | 8 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | | 4/20/2015 | DESCLAFANI(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | PERALTA(R) | 6-1 | W | -110 | 8 un | U | 9 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | | 4/21/2015 | MARQUIS(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | FIERS(R) | 16-10 | W | 115 | 8 un | O | 13 | 6 | 1 | 12 | 5 | 2 | | 4/22/2015 | CUETO(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | NELSON(R) | 2-1 | W | -135 | 7 ov | U | 4 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 0 | | 4/23/2015 | BAILEY(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | LOHSE(R) | 2-4 | L | 100 | 8 un | U | 4 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 0 | | 4/24/2015 | LEAKE(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | LESTER(L) | | | 4/25/2015 | DESCLAFANI(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | ARRIETA(R) | | | 4/26/2015 | MARQUIS(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | WOOD(L) | | | 4/27/2015 | CUETO(R) | MILWAUKEE | NELSON(R) | | | 4/28/2015 | BAILEY(R) | MILWAUKEE | LOHSE(R) | | | 4/29/2015 | LEAKE(R) | MILWAUKEE | GARZA(R) | | | 4/30/2015 | | @ ATLANTA | | | | 5/1/2015 | | @ ATLANTA | | |
|
| |  | CHICAGO CUBS: CHICAGO (AP) - Standing in the shade on a beautiful afternoon in Arizona, Jon Lester embraced the question that hovers over the Chicago Cubs these days.
When it comes to all those highly touted prospects, Lester said the time is now.
''When I played in Boston, we didn't have time to grow up,'' the left-hander explained. ''You just had to show up and play, and each year you're expected to win, so that's how I feel. Every year they should come in and expect to be not only division winners, but World Series champions. If you don't have that mindset, then I think you're playing for the wrong reasons.''
Heady stuff for a franchise known mostly for futility, but the Cubs think it's a new era after five consecutive losing seasons.
The shift in thinking for president of baseball operations Theo Epstein and the rest of the front office was evident during an aggressive offseason that included the addition of Joe Maddon after the veteran manager opted out of his contract with Tampa Bay, and a $155 million, six-year contract to add Lester.
The hiring of Maddon meant dumping Rick Renteria after just one year, and Lester's deal is a significant investment for a pitcher who turned 31 in January. But looking at their good young core and rich minor league system, the Cubs felt it was time to act.
''There's a lot of talent here. Now it's about executing,'' Lester said. ''It's going out and playing good baseball for six months. It's hard to do. But that's why we're here. We're going to figure it out as we go.''
The Cubs, who also acquired center fielder Dexter Fowler and catcher Miguel Montero in trades, should be much improved after their 73-89 finish in 2014. But going from last place to the playoffs could depend more on the development of Chicago's top prospects than its newest players.
Jorge Soler takes over in right field after making his major league debut in August and drawing raves for his approach at the plate in the season's final month. Javier Baez, Arismendy Alcantara and Kris Bryant - all 20-something position players with considerable potential - also are key to the Cubs' chance for a breakthrough.
''You don't really read enough about their personalities and their makeup. That to me makes them real prospects,'' Maddon said. ''There's a lot of guys who throw 95 mph and hit balls out of sight. But with the makeup, personality and character ... that's what really turns me on to this group.''
Here are a few more things to watch with the Cubs:
UNDER THE RADAR: Jake Arrieta was a pleasant surprise, finishing with a 10-5 record and a sparkling 2.53 ERA in 25 starts last year. He struck out 167 in 156 2-3 innings and allowed just five homers.
Arrieta, 29, began last season on the disabled list with right shoulder tightness but looked healthy this spring and could team with Lester to give Chicago a potent top of the rotation.
''There's always room to improve. There's always things to get better at,'' Arrieta said. ''There's a right way to go about doing that, and I think that there's some things that I can clean up and kind of use in regard to what I did last season to make it even better.''
AT THE PLATE: The Cubs struck out a major league-high 1,477 times last season, and their .300 on-base percentage was 28th among 30 teams. They had six players with at least 100 strikeouts.
The addition of Fowler, who had a .375 on-base percentage last season with Houston, should help the top of the order, and the pressure is on new hitting coach John Mallee to help Baez and the other young hitters make more consistent contact.
IN THE DUGOUT: Maddon is one of the game's most creative managers, and the move to the NL and one of the game's most quirky ballparks in Wrigley Field could lead to all sorts of different lineups. He could put the pitcher in the eighth slot in the lineup in some situations. Pretty much everything is on the table when it comes to Maddon.
IN THE FIELD: The majors' second-oldest ballpark is undergoing a major renovation that could affect its notoriously fickle wind, which can turn innocent fly balls into homers and long drives into outs. A massive new videoboard is expected to be in place by opening day, but the bleachers will be under construction for the first part of the season. How the work on the ballpark affects the  the field remains to be seen. | | CINCINNATI: CINCINNATI (AP) - The rotation was Cincinnati's strength in an otherwise disappointing season last year. It's the Reds' biggest question as they try to move forward.
They're not sure what they're getting beyond 20-game-winner Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake, the only two holdovers who are healthy enough to pitch as the season begins. They've got some veteran retreads and unproven young starters trying to hold it together.
The rotation could be a work in progress well into the season.
''I know what the regular lineup looks like,'' second-year manager Bryan Price said. ''The biggest challenge is the bullpen and deciding roles and finalizing the last two starting pitchers.''
The Reds created two openings by trading Mat Latos and Alfredo Simon in the offseason. Homer Bailey hasn't fully recovered from surgery on his forearm and won't be ready until at least mid-April.
Cincinnati is counting on Anthony DeSclafani, who was acquired from Miami in the trade for Latos, to fill one of the spots. The rest of the rotation was under construction late in spring training, a sign of how much things had changed from a year ago.
''We feel we have a competitive team,'' Price said. ''This isn't a rebuilt situation. So we have to feel as confident as we can one-through-five in our rotation.''
The Reds lost 86 games last season in large part because of a subpar offense and a bullpen that finished as one of the NL's worst. They've tried to fix those two problems in the offseason through trades and free agency.
Now, a lot of it is on the starters to make it hold together during a special season in Cincinnati, which will host the All-Star Game. Some things to watch:
---
CUETO'S CONTRACT
Cueto is entering the final year on his deal. The Reds have talked to him about an extension, but nothing was imminent as spring training wound down. If Cueto doesn't have an extension by midseason, the Reds would be in the position of considering a trade offer rather than letting him leave as a free agent after the season.
---
VOTTO'S LEG
First baseman Joey Votto didn't play after July 5 because of strained muscles above his left knee. The 2010 National League MVP felt good in spring training. The Reds struggled to score runs last season despite playing in hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park. If Votto is back to form, the offense will get a huge boost. The question is whether he can make it through the season without getting hurt again.
''I think that I've proven when healthy that I'm a helpful part of the team,'' Votto said.
---
NEEDING RELIEF
The bullpen was one of the biggest problems in the second half of the season, contributing to the Reds' collapse. They were only 1 1/2 games out in the NL Central at the All-Star break, but went 25-42 the rest of the way. The bullpen was 1-17 after the break. Closer Aroldis Chapman was dependable, but the middle of the bullpen was a huge problem. The Reds added Burke Badenhop and Kevin Gregg to try to help, and moved left-hander Tony Cingrani into a relief role during spring training.
---
OUT IN LEFT FIELD
Ryan Ludwick struggled in his return from a significant shoulder injury, and nobody else excelled in left field, either, making it the biggest weakness in the lineup. The Reds got Marlon Byrd in a trade with the Phillies, hoping to finally stabilize the position. The 14-year veteran knows there's a lot at stake in how he performs.
''Yes, there is pressure and there should be,'' Byrd said. ''This is a team that wanted me. I've got to come in to fill that veteran role, the left field spot, and bring some pop to the lineup. I have to do what I've done the last two years. To do any less is just a failure on my part.''
---
RUN BILLY RUN
Center fielder Billy Hamilton had an exceptional rookie season, stealing a club-record 56 bases. He wore down as the season went along, batting only .200 with 18 steals in the second half. The 6-foot, 160-pound leadoff hitter lifted weights in the offseason, trying to get stronger so he doesn't fade again.
''I'm not a power hitter, but I want to be stronger than last year,'' Hamilton said. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER NL PREVIEW (CHICAGO CUBS-CINCINNATI) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Cubs-Reds Preview* ===================
By JACK CASSIDY STATS Writer
Chicago (8-6) at Cincinnati (8-7), 7:10 p.m. EDT
The Chicago Cubs seemed ready to carry momentum from a convincing victory into another divisional matchup, but instead enter the weekend with plenty of bullpen concerns.
The Cincinnati Reds, meanwhile, enter this three-game series Friday night on the tail-end of their extended season-opening run against the NL Central.
Chicago (8-7), which earned back-to-back victories in Pittsburgh on Monday and Tuesday, failed in a comeback effort Wednesday in a 4-3 loss and then blew a three-run lead in a 5-4 defeat to the Pirates on Thursday.
"We probably took the first two games away from them," manager Joe Maddon said. "They took the last two away from us, that's how this division is going to play this year."
Poor middle relief was the culprit for the Cubs in the series finale. Starter Kyle Hendricks lasted 5 1-3 innings before ceding the mound to Edwin Jackson, who allowed one earned run and one inherited runner to score before Brian Schlitter yielded Pittsburgh's go-ahead run in the seventh.
A similar performance against Cincinnati (8-8) would be a dramatic step backward from the relief pitching they put forth in a series win against the Reds on April 13-15, when they allowed no runs and only four hits in 8 1-3 innings of work.
Jon Lester (0-2, 6.89 ERA) will make the start Friday. The left-hander, who allowed six runs in six innings against the Reds on April 13, has yet to earn a win since signing with Chicago in the offseason, but expects to build from his slow start moving forward.
"I'm usually not a fast starter," Lester said. "Usually I guess it's maybe mid-May, June where you get into that rhythm of every five days and arm strength has built up and it's started to warm up and everything falls into place."
Mike Leake (0-1, 3.92) outdueled Lester in that victory and will again oppose the Cubs' No. 1 starter. Leake had his best outing of the young season his last time out, allowing just two runs and four hits through eight innings against St. Louis.
He surrendered four runs in his outing against the Cubs, but will face a slightly different lineup this time with top prospects Kris Bryant and Addison Russell having joined the fray.
Bryant is 9 for 25 with seven RBIs since his MLB debut April 17, while Russell has suffered a slower start, going 2 for 13 with six strikeouts through three games.
The Reds followed their series defeat in Chicago with a winless trip to St. Louis in which they scored only four total runs, but they rebounded with three wins in four tries against Milwaukee. They have yet to play a team from outside the NL Central.
Although they fell 4-2 in the series finale Thursday, the Reds' offense - highlighted by a five-homer, 16-run outburst Tuesday - impressed manager Bryan Price.
"Coming back and winning three out of four in this series (turned) what looked to be a disastrous road trip into, not a good one, but certainly a better (one) than it could have (been)," Price said.
Chris Coghlan is a perfect 8 for 8 against Leake in his career. He went 3 for 3 against the Reds starter earlier this month with a home run, a double and two runs.
|
| | Last Updated: 4/26/2024 6:57:32 AM EST. |
|
|
| |
|