| | | |
CHICAGO CUBS ( WOOD )
ST LOUIS ( MARTINEZ ) |
|
|
7.5un
| 9
Final
10 |
|
|
| | |
|
|
|  | |
|
| 907 | CHICAGO CUBS | +120 | Ov 7.5,-110 | +135 | Ov 7,-125 | | 908 | ST LOUIS | -130 | Un 7.5,-110 | -145 | Un 7,+105 |
|
|
|  |
|
| | | | | |
|
|
| All Games | 13-10 | +1 | 10-10 | 4.1 | 0.250 | 0.319 | 0.376 | 0.695 | 3.8 | 0.237 | 0.279 | 0.363 | 0.643 | | Road Games | 6-3 | +3.2 | 5-2 | 5.4 | 0.259 | 0.327 | 0.416 | 0.742 | 4.3 | 0.252 | 0.295 | 0.412 | 0.707 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 11-8 | +0.8 | 8-9 | 3.9 | 0.245 | 0.312 | 0.376 | 0.687 | 3.6 | 0.232 | 0.274 | 0.350 | 0.624 | | Past 7 Games | 4-3 | -0.2 | 1-4 | 3.0 | 0.260 | 0.320 | 0.348 | 0.668 | 3.3 | 0.219 | 0.263 | 0.339 | 0.602 | | Grass Games | 13-10 | +1 | 10-10 | 4.1 | 0.250 | 0.319 | 0.376 | 0.695 | 3.8 | 0.237 | 0.279 | 0.363 | 0.643 | | Night Games | 8-4 | +3.8 | 5-5 | 4.8 | 0.280 | 0.347 | 0.425 | 0.772 | 3.7 | 0.234 | 0.275 | 0.344 | 0.619 | | Division | 10-7 | +1.4 | 5-9 | 3.8 | 0.254 | 0.318 | 0.375 | 0.693 | 3.4 | 0.220 | 0.266 | 0.337 | 0.603 |
|
| |
|
|
| All Games | 4.1 | 0.250 | 0.319 | 23 | 781 | 195 | 35 | 5 | 18 | 0.376 | 89 | 79 | 222 | 26 | 171 | 19 | 21 | 9 | 20 | | Road Games | 5.4 | 0.259 | 0.327 | 9 | 320 | 83 | 17 | 3 | 9 | 0.416 | 47 | 32 | 84 | 10 | 63 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 7 | | Righty Starters | 3.9 | 0.245 | 0.312 | 19 | 644 | 158 | 28 | 4 | 16 | 0.376 | 70 | 62 | 181 | 20 | 137 | 17 | 17 | 9 | 19 |
|
| |
|
| All Games | 3.33 | 1.137 | 73 | 29 | 27 | 62 | 4 | 21 | 76 | 5-3 | 5 | 4 | 55.6% | | Road Games | 3.23 | 1.239 | 30.7 | 12 | 11 | 28 | 2 | 10 | 35 | 3-1 | 3 | 2 | 60% |
|
|
| |
|
|
| All Games | 18-6 | +10.8 | 9-14 | 4.1 | 0.266 | 0.333 | 0.391 | 0.724 | 2.5 | 0.227 | 0.281 | 0.326 | 0.607 | | Home Games | 11-2 | +8 | 4-8 | 4.5 | 0.268 | 0.339 | 0.380 | 0.718 | 2.2 | 0.241 | 0.286 | 0.319 | 0.604 | | vs Left-handed Starters | 2-2 | -0.4 | 0-4 | 1.7 | 0.243 | 0.321 | 0.293 | 0.613 | 1.7 | 0.248 | 0.314 | 0.338 | 0.652 | | Past 7 Games | 6-1 | +4.6 | 2-4 | 4.7 | 0.271 | 0.357 | 0.377 | 0.734 | 2.6 | 0.251 | 0.301 | 0.341 | 0.642 | | Grass Games | 18-6 | +10.8 | 9-14 | 4.1 | 0.266 | 0.333 | 0.391 | 0.724 | 2.5 | 0.227 | 0.281 | 0.326 | 0.607 | | Night Games | 10-3 | +6.4 | 5-7 | 4.2 | 0.270 | 0.333 | 0.401 | 0.735 | 2.4 | 0.229 | 0.283 | 0.312 | 0.595 | | Division | 13-4 | +8 | 6-11 | 3.6 | 0.249 | 0.312 | 0.371 | 0.684 | 2.2 | 0.219 | 0.272 | 0.319 | 0.591 |
|
| |
|
|
| All Games | 4.1 | 0.266 | 0.333 | 24 | 836 | 222 | 51 | 3 | 16 | 0.391 | 93 | 84 | 171 | 14 | 185 | 24 | 17 | 14 | 7 | | Home Games | 4.5 | 0.268 | 0.339 | 13 | 440 | 118 | 30 | 2 | 5 | 0.380 | 56 | 47 | 83 | 7 | 92 | 15 | 9 | 4 | 3 | | Lefty Starters | 1.7 | 0.243 | 0.321 | 4 | 140 | 34 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0.293 | 7 | 16 | 38 | 6 | 35 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
|
| |
|
| All Games | 1.51 | 1.056 | 77.7 | 14 | 13 | 56 | 3 | 26 | 75 | 7-2 | 11 | 2 | 84.6% | | Home Games | 1.02 | 1.038 | 44.3 | 6 | 5 | 37 | 2 | 9 | 34 | 4-0 | 5 | 1 | 83.3% |
|
| | |
|
|
| 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 | | 4/26/2015 | ARRIETA(R) | @ CINCINNATI | DESCLAFANI(R) | 5-2 | W | -115 | 7 un | P | 6 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 2 | | 4/27/2015 | HAMMEL(R) | PITTSBURGH | WORLEY(R) | 4-0 | W | -120 | 7 un | U | 11 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | | 4/28/2015 | WOOD(L) | PITTSBURGH | LOCKE(L) | 6-2 | W | +100 | 8 ov | P | 12 | 12 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | | 4/29/2015 | HENDRICKS(R) | PITTSBURGH | COLE(R) | 1-8 | L | +105 | 7 un | O | 7 | 5 | 2 | 14 | 11 | 2 | | 5/1/2015 | LESTER(L) | MILWAUKEE | PERALTA(R) | 1-0 | W | -180 | 7.5 un | U | 9 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 | | 5/2/2015 | ARRIETA(R) | MILWAUKEE | FIERS(R) | 1-6 | L | -175 | 8 un | U | 5 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 0 | | 5/3/2015 | HAMMEL(R) | MILWAUKEE | NELSON(R) | 3-5 | L | -145 | 10 ov | U | 9 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 1 | | 5/4/2015 | WOOD(L) | @ ST LOUIS | MARTINEZ(R) | | | 5/5/2015 | HENDRICKS(R) | @ ST LOUIS | LYONS(L) | | | 5/6/2015 | LESTER(L) | @ ST LOUIS | LYNN(R) | | | 5/7/2015 | ARRIETA(R) | @ ST LOUIS | LACKEY(R) | | | 5/8/2015 | HAMMEL(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | NELSON(R) | | | 5/9/2015 | WOOD(L) | @ MILWAUKEE | LOHSE(R) | | | 5/10/2015 | HENDRICKS(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | GARZA(R) | | | 5/11/2015 | | NY METS | | |
|
|
| |
|
|
| 4/21/2015 | LYNN(R) | @ WASHINGTON | GONZALEZ(L) | 1-2 | L | 105 | 7 un | U | 13 | 13 | 2 | 8 | 11 | 1 | | 4/22/2015 | LACKEY(R) | @ WASHINGTON | FISTER(R) | 7-5 | W | -110 | 7 ov | O | 11 | 9 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 1 | | 4/23/2015 | WACHA(R) | @ WASHINGTON | SCHERZER(R) | 4-1 | W | 120 | 6.5 un | U | 9 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 1 | | 4/24/2015 | MARTINEZ(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | GARZA(R) | 3-0 | W | -140 | 7.5 ov | U | 8 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | | 4/25/2015 | WAINWRIGHT(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | PERALTA(R) | 5-3 | W | -155 | 7.5 ev | O | 9 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 2 | | 4/26/2015 | LYNN(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | FIERS(R) | 3-6 | L | -125 | 7 un | O | 13 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 1 | | 4/27/2015 | LACKEY(R) | PHILADELPHIA | HAMELS(L) | 1-4 | L | -140 | 6.5 un | U | 5 | 8 | 0 | 11 | 6 | 0 | | 4/28/2015 | WACHA(R) | PHILADELPHIA | GONZALEZ(R) | 11-5 | W | -215 | 7 ov | O | 15 | 9 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 2 | | 4/29/2015 | MARTINEZ(R) | PHILADELPHIA | HARANG(R) | 5-2 | W | -195 | 7 ov | P | 9 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 9 | 0 | | 4/30/2015 | COONEY(L) | PHILADELPHIA | BUCHANAN(R) | 9-3 | W | -230 | 7.5 un | O | 12 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 0 | | 5/1/2015 | LYNN(R) | PITTSBURGH | BURNETT(R) | 2-1 | W | -140 | 7.5 un | U | 8 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 2 | | 5/2/2015 | LACKEY(R) | PITTSBURGH | LIRIANO(L) | 2-1 | W | -110 | 7 ov | U | 6 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 18 | 0 | | 5/3/2015 | WACHA(R) | PITTSBURGH | WORLEY(R) | 3-2 | W | -145 | 7.5 ov | U | 12 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 13 | 0 | | 5/4/2015 | MARTINEZ(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | WOOD(L) | | | 5/5/2015 | LYONS(L) | CHICAGO CUBS | HENDRICKS(R) | | | 5/6/2015 | LYNN(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | LESTER(L) | | | 5/7/2015 | LACKEY(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | ARRIETA(R) | | | 5/8/2015 | WACHA(R) | @ PITTSBURGH | LIRIANO(L) | | | 5/9/2015 | MARTINEZ(R) | @ PITTSBURGH | WORLEY(R) | | | 5/10/2015 | LYONS(L) | @ PITTSBURGH | LOCKE(L) | |
|
| |  | 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. | | ST LOUIS: ST. LOUIS (AP) - The Cardinals hope Michael Wacha is ready to stand alongside ace Adam Wainwright at the top of their rotation.
Wacha was the NL Championship Series MVP as a rookie but just 5-6 with a 3.20 ERA in 19 starts last year. He was sidelined for most of the season's second half by a stress reaction in his shoulder, and was rusty in October before giving up Travis Ishikawa's series-winning homer in Game 5 of the NLCS.
Now he feels healthy.
''It's very encouraging, the long term of what this kid could be and the short term of how he feels, somebody every fifth day that can bring the kind of stuff he does,'' St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. ''He feels good about himself and we feel good about what we're seeing.''
The 23-year-old Wacha has long insisted the injury is behind him.
''Ever since I came back last year, I haven't thought about it when I was on the mound,'' Wacha said. ''As far as I know, it was a rare injury. I'm not sure where it came from.''
If it stays away, the Cardinals figure to again have one of the deeper starting staffs despite trading 15-game winner Shelby Miller for outfielder Jason Heyward. Wainwright was a 20-game winner for the second time, and Lance Lynn has averaged 16 wins during three years in the rotation.
John Lackey is a proven late-season talent. Jaime Garcia's resurgent spring following surgery to relieve nerve compression may cause promising Carlos Martinez to be related to the bullpen again.
Lackey expects to be more comfortable in his first full NL season, saying ''It's different for a lot of reasons.''
Things to watch for with the Cardinals, who open April 5 at Chicago:
LEFT-HANDED HEAVY
There are five lefty bats in the lineup, a potential downside. But there also figures to be more power on the bench. Mark Reynolds, who has hit 20 or more homers each of the last seven seasons, was signed as a free agent. He could factor in as a semi-regular, especially at first base, where Matt Adams has struggled against lefties.
HEYWARD TIME
Only 25, Heyward is a potential future core member of the franchise. His is eligible for free agency after the World Series, and the wooing began not long after the trade with Atlanta - which also brought set-up man Jordan Walden.
''He fits in very well with how our guys work, how seriously they take the game,'' Matheny said. ''He's mixed in very well to this point.''
IMPROVED POP
St. Louis hit just 105 homers last season, second-fewest in the majors. They Cardianls are anticipating more out of right field from Heyward, who had a career-low 11 last year while forced into the leadoff spot with Atlanta. Jhonny Peralta followed his drug suspension with a 21 homers, a franchise record among shortstops, and the smooth-swinging Adams is capable of hitting a lot more than 15.
HEALTHY CHOICES
A full return by Garcia would be an unexpected bonus after two injury-filled seasons. Wainwright and Lynn are recovering from health setbacks early in spring training. Center fielder Jon Jay made a delayed exhibition debut following wrist surgery. ''I said the whole goal was to be ready April 5,'' Jay said.
MORE SPEED
Along with increasing the power profile, there will be an emphasis on manufacturing runs. The Cardinals stole 57 bases last year, third-fewest in the major leagues, but are primed for at least a little more thievery with both Wong and Heyward capable of swiping 20-plus.
''I want to see bigger leads. I want to see more aggressive chances with balls in the dirt,'' Matheny said. ''I want to see us take a first-and-second double steal because we have the kind of players to do that.'' |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER NL PREVIEW (CHICAGO CUBS-ST LOUIS) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(CORRECTS Wong's HR from 12th to 14th)
*Cubs-Cardinals Preview* ========================
By JACK CASSIDY STATS Writer
Chicago (13-10) at St. Louis (18-6), 8:15 p.m. EDT
The season's first month has been an exciting resurgence for the Chicago Cubs.
For the St. Louis Cardinals, it's been business as usual.
In a meeting between the NL Central's top two clubs, the Cubs head to St. Louis to open a four-game series with the streaking Cardinals on Monday night.
St. Louis (18-6) has taken 11 of 13 at home this season and has won six straight overall following a three-game sweep of Pittsburgh. The Cardinals prevailed in extra innings in each victory over the Pirates, winning 3-2 on a 14th-inning walk-off home run from Kolten Wong on Sunday.
Chicago (13-10) looked primed for a long streak of its own after taking four in a row April 24-28, but has since dropped three of four. The Cubs averaged 5.5 runs during the winning streak but have scored 1.5 per game in the 1-3 stretch.
The Cubs struck out a league-high 18 times against major league-worst Milwaukee in a 6-1 defeat Saturday, then lost 5-3 on Sunday.
They'll turn to Travis Wood (2-1, 3.04 ERA) to right the ship at Busch Stadium, where the Cubs went 4-6 last season.
"This is a good test," right-hander Jason Hammel told MLB's official website. "We've got to win these games. To be the best, you've got to beat the best. (The Cardinals) are hot and we're going into their territory. We'll find out what we're made of in the series."
Wood made five starts against the Cardinals last year and went 2-1 with a 5.20 ERA. Those numbers were largely representative of his 2014, as the left-hander ended the season with a 5.03 ERA and five starts of seven or more innings, none of which came after June 15.
He's been much better this season through four starts and is coming off a seven-inning, two-run effort Tuesday in which he struck out nine in a 6-2 win over Pittsburgh. Wood, who recorded his second outing of at least seven innings, didn't walk anyone for the first time in 29 starts.
"It means you've been attacking the strike zone and getting some quick outs, and not letting them get deep and not giving any free passes," he said. "Free passes bit me before in the past - they bite every pitcher. To keep that off the board is a good thing."
Carlos Martinez (3-0, 1.73) makes his first start against the Cardinals' archrival. The right-hander turned in his fourth strong effort in as many starts Wednesday, giving up two runs in six innings of a 5-2 win over Philadelphia.
"I thought he did a real nice job," manager Mike Matheny said. "He had a good changeup, used his breaking ball, got guys chasing out of the zone and still had all the velocity he needed."
Martinez's 8.31 strikeouts per nine innings ranks second among St. Louis pitchers with at least 25 innings behind Lance Lynn (11.0).
Both teams enter this meeting with bullpens looking to bounce back after usually dominant relievers struggled Sunday. Chicago's Pedro Strop gave up two runs in the eighth inning to snap a 3-all tie after allowing two runs in his previous 32 appearances, while St. Louis' Trevor Rosenthal blew his first save of the season.
Matt Holliday and Yadier Molina have fared extremely well against Wood, hitting a combined .385 in 78 at-bats with seven home runs and eight doubles.
|
| | Last Updated: 4/26/2024 8:58:41 AM EST. |
|
|
| |
|