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| 951 | CHICAGO CUBS | -115 | Ov 7.5,+100 | -115 | Ov 7,+110 | | 952 | CINCINNATI | +105 | Un 7.5,-120 | +105 | Un 7,-130 |
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| All Games | 9-7 | +1.3 | 9-6 | 4.6 | 0.245 | 0.318 | 0.388 | 0.706 | 4.1 | 0.244 | 0.286 | 0.373 | 0.659 | | Road Games | 5-3 | +2.2 | 5-2 | 5.5 | 0.268 | 0.335 | 0.425 | 0.761 | 4.6 | 0.261 | 0.301 | 0.418 | 0.719 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 8-5 | +2 | 7-5 | 4.5 | 0.246 | 0.318 | 0.392 | 0.710 | 3.6 | 0.234 | 0.272 | 0.351 | 0.622 | | Past 7 Games | 4-3 | +1 | 5-1 | 5.3 | 0.271 | 0.336 | 0.398 | 0.734 | 4.7 | 0.236 | 0.274 | 0.388 | 0.662 | | Grass Games | 9-7 | +1.3 | 9-6 | 4.6 | 0.245 | 0.318 | 0.388 | 0.706 | 4.1 | 0.244 | 0.286 | 0.373 | 0.659 | | Day Games | 3-4 | -1.6 | 5-2 | 3.7 | 0.208 | 0.285 | 0.303 | 0.588 | 4.4 | 0.253 | 0.293 | 0.398 | 0.690 | | Division | 6-4 | +1.6 | 4-5 | 4.4 | 0.251 | 0.316 | 0.394 | 0.710 | 3.4 | 0.222 | 0.268 | 0.335 | 0.604 |
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| All Games | 4.6 | 0.245 | 0.318 | 16 | 554 | 136 | 26 | 4 | 15 | 0.388 | 68 | 59 | 148 | 18 | 121 | 10 | 13 | 6 | 13 | | Road Games | 5.5 | 0.268 | 0.335 | 8 | 287 | 77 | 15 | 3 | 8 | 0.425 | 42 | 29 | 74 | 9 | 59 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 6 | | Righty Starters | 4.5 | 0.246 | 0.318 | 13 | 452 | 111 | 21 | 3 | 13 | 0.392 | 55 | 48 | 115 | 17 | 99 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 12 |
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| All Games | 3.00 | 1.111 | 54 | 19 | 18 | 44 | 4 | 16 | 53 | 5-2 | 3 | 4 | 42.9% | | Road Games | 3.58 | 1.301 | 27.7 | 12 | 11 | 26 | 2 | 10 | 32 | 3-1 | 2 | 2 | 50% |
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| All Games | 8-9 | -0.4 | 7-9 | 3.9 | 0.221 | 0.285 | 0.353 | 0.638 | 4.3 | 0.236 | 0.297 | 0.391 | 0.688 | | Home Games | 4-3 | +1 | 4-2 | 3.9 | 0.212 | 0.286 | 0.353 | 0.638 | 4.3 | 0.228 | 0.292 | 0.374 | 0.666 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 7-6 | +1.6 | 5-8 | 4.0 | 0.222 | 0.290 | 0.363 | 0.653 | 4.0 | 0.228 | 0.290 | 0.371 | 0.660 | | Past 7 Games | 3-4 | -0.9 | 2-5 | 4.6 | 0.230 | 0.300 | 0.372 | 0.673 | 4.3 | 0.227 | 0.271 | 0.395 | 0.666 | | Grass Games | 8-9 | -0.4 | 7-9 | 3.9 | 0.221 | 0.285 | 0.353 | 0.638 | 4.3 | 0.236 | 0.297 | 0.391 | 0.688 | | Day Games | 2-4 | -2.2 | 1-4 | 3.0 | 0.206 | 0.272 | 0.347 | 0.619 | 4.0 | 0.252 | 0.304 | 0.416 | 0.720 | | Division | 8-9 | -0.4 | 7-9 | 3.9 | 0.221 | 0.285 | 0.353 | 0.638 | 4.3 | 0.236 | 0.297 | 0.391 | 0.688 |
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| All Games | 3.9 | 0.221 | 0.285 | 17 | 580 | 128 | 16 | 2 | 19 | 0.353 | 62 | 52 | 141 | 20 | 108 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 10 | | Home Games | 3.9 | 0.212 | 0.286 | 7 | 241 | 51 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 0.353 | 24 | 25 | 73 | 13 | 49 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | | Righty Starters | 4.0 | 0.222 | 0.290 | 13 | 441 | 98 | 9 | 1 | 17 | 0.363 | 49 | 42 | 102 | 15 | 85 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 7 |
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| All Games | 5.36 | 1.478 | 45.3 | 29 | 27 | 45 | 7 | 22 | 47 | 4-4 | 4 | 4 | 50% | | Home Games | 4.97 | 1.382 | 25.3 | 14 | 14 | 26 | 3 | 9 | 26 | 4-2 | 2 | 3 | 40% |
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| 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) | 7-3 | W | -105 | 7 ov | O | 9 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 1 | | 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 | | | | 5/2/2015 | | MILWAUKEE | | |
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| 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) | 3-7 | L | -105 | 7 ov | O | 8 | 8 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 0 | | 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 | | | | 5/2/2015 | | @ ATLANTA | | |
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| |  | 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:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.''
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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 MATT BECKER STATS Editor
Chicago (9-7) at Cincinnati (8-9), 1:10 p.m. EDT
Cincinnati Reds rookie Anthony DeSclafani hasn't allowed a run since his season debut, beginning a scoreless inning streak at Wrigley Field last week.
The Chicago Cubs' Jake Arrieta is also off to a solid start to the season, though his worst outing came opposite DeSclafani.
DeSclafani looks to continue his dominance in a rematch with Arrieta and the Cubs on Saturday at Great American Ball Park.
Eight starts into his professional career, DeSclafani (2-0, 0.86 ERA) is one of the majors' leaders with a 0.62 WHIP and has allowed only two extra-base hits in 76 batters faced.
The right-hander threw eight shutout innings in Monday's 6-1 victory over Milwaukee, holding the Brewers to two hits and a walk to extend his scoreless innings streak to 15. He also yielded two hits while shutting down the Cubs for seven innings in a 3-2 win on April 14.
"In my mind, I haven't thrown any shutout innings," he told MLB's official website Monday. "It's just going to be the same approach. Just take it inning by inning and just try to put up zeros. That stat doesn't really cross my mind. I don't care about that. I just want to put up zeros. As long as the team wins, then I'm happy."
The Reds (8-9), who have won all three of his starts, fell to the Cubs 7-4 in 11 innings in Friday's opener.
Anthony Rizzo homered, doubled, singled and scored the go-ahead run on Jonathan Herrera's single as the Cubs (9-7) bounced back after losing back-to-back games for the first time this season.
"I've always thought really highly of a team that can win in extra innings on the road," manager Joe Maddon said. "That's always been my measuring stick of a good team.
"I'll take the attitude of these guys any day of the week."
Rizzo is 10 for 19 during a five-game hitting streak and batting .379 with six home runs and nine walks in his last eight contests in Cincinnati. However, he is hitless in six career at-bats against DeSclafani.
The teams combined for 30 strikeouts Friday, and the Reds stranded eight runners and went 0 for 14 with runners in scoring position.
"We had opportunities to pull it out," said Jay Bruce, who went 0 for 5 and left six men on. "We just couldn't come through. The writing was on the wall."
Bruce is 0 for 11 with seven strikeouts in the last three games and has struck out six times while going 2 for 11 against Arrieta (2-1, 1.74).
Arrieta has a 0.64 ERA in his two wins but gave up three runs in 6 2-3 innings to take the loss against the Reds last week. Joey Votto, who is 0 for 7 in his last two contests after four straight two-hit games, was 2 for 3 against the righty.
Arrieta bounced back by allowing one run and four hits while striking out seven and walking none over seven innings in Monday's 5-2 victory at Pittsburgh, improving to 5-1 with a 1.29 ERA over his last seven starts. This stretch began immediately after he permitted six runs in four innings in his only start at Cincinnati on Aug. 28.
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| | Last Updated: 4/26/2024 4:41:43 PM EST. |
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