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CHICAGO CUBS ( ARRIETA )
ARIZONA ( ) |
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| 959 | CHICAGO CUBS | -120 | Ov 8.5,+100 | -130 | Ov 8,-105 | | 960 | ARIZONA | +110 | Un 8.5,-120 | +120 | Un 8,-115 |
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| All Games | 23-18 | +2.7 | 19-18 | 4.2 | 0.245 | 0.319 | 0.389 | 0.708 | 4.2 | 0.246 | 0.298 | 0.387 | 0.685 | | Road Games | 10-10 | +0.2 | 12-6 | 4.7 | 0.244 | 0.308 | 0.415 | 0.723 | 4.9 | 0.258 | 0.314 | 0.420 | 0.734 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 19-15 | +1.4 | 14-17 | 3.9 | 0.239 | 0.311 | 0.389 | 0.700 | 3.8 | 0.238 | 0.290 | 0.366 | 0.656 | | Past 7 Games | 4-3 | +0.7 | 3-4 | 4.0 | 0.230 | 0.317 | 0.369 | 0.686 | 3.6 | 0.241 | 0.299 | 0.385 | 0.684 | | Grass Games | 23-18 | +2.7 | 19-18 | 4.2 | 0.245 | 0.319 | 0.389 | 0.708 | 4.2 | 0.246 | 0.298 | 0.387 | 0.685 | | Night Games | 15-9 | +6 | 12-9 | 4.7 | 0.264 | 0.335 | 0.439 | 0.774 | 4.2 | 0.240 | 0.294 | 0.367 | 0.662 |
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| All Games | 4.2 | 0.245 | 0.319 | 41 | 1408 | 345 | 67 | 8 | 40 | 0.389 | 165 | 152 | 406 | 40 | 312 | 29 | 32 | 32 | 33 | | Road Games | 4.7 | 0.244 | 0.308 | 20 | 718 | 175 | 41 | 5 | 24 | 0.415 | 92 | 67 | 209 | 17 | 139 | 13 | 18 | 17 | 14 | | Righty Starters | 3.9 | 0.239 | 0.311 | 34 | 1157 | 277 | 54 | 7 | 35 | 0.389 | 126 | 120 | 340 | 31 | 246 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 30 |
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| All Games | 4.24 | 1.372 | 125.3 | 62 | 59 | 120 | 11 | 52 | 120 | 9-8 | 10 | 8 | 55.6% | | Road Games | 5.14 | 1.556 | 63 | 38 | 36 | 67 | 7 | 31 | 59 | 4-6 | 5 | 5 | 50% |
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| All Games | 20-21 | +1.3 | 21-18 | 4.7 | 0.267 | 0.321 | 0.402 | 0.723 | 4.4 | 0.262 | 0.318 | 0.415 | 0.734 | | Home Games | 10-12 | -1.8 | 14-7 | 5.0 | 0.267 | 0.329 | 0.417 | 0.747 | 4.8 | 0.273 | 0.333 | 0.424 | 0.757 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 15-16 | +0.1 | 15-15 | 4.7 | 0.267 | 0.315 | 0.406 | 0.721 | 4.3 | 0.264 | 0.317 | 0.421 | 0.738 | | Past 7 Games | 5-2 | +3.4 | 3-4 | 4.3 | 0.259 | 0.303 | 0.370 | 0.674 | 4.0 | 0.246 | 0.306 | 0.379 | 0.685 | | Grass Games | 20-21 | +1.3 | 21-18 | 4.7 | 0.267 | 0.321 | 0.402 | 0.723 | 4.4 | 0.262 | 0.318 | 0.415 | 0.734 | | Night Games | 16-16 | +1.9 | 17-14 | 4.9 | 0.266 | 0.317 | 0.409 | 0.726 | 4.2 | 0.253 | 0.310 | 0.396 | 0.706 |
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| All Games | 4.7 | 0.267 | 0.321 | 41 | 1473 | 393 | 71 | 10 | 36 | 0.402 | 184 | 118 | 311 | 39 | 290 | 37 | 18 | 34 | 21 | | Home Games | 5.0 | 0.267 | 0.329 | 22 | 769 | 205 | 34 | 8 | 22 | 0.417 | 105 | 72 | 163 | 18 | 153 | 16 | 10 | 19 | 16 | | Righty Starters | 4.7 | 0.267 | 0.315 | 31 | 1090 | 291 | 57 | 7 | 27 | 0.406 | 136 | 76 | 226 | 29 | 208 | 23 | 14 | 24 | 17 |
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| All Games | 4.25 | 1.403 | 144 | 69 | 68 | 147 | 14 | 55 | 126 | 8-9 | 5 | 6 | 45.5% | | Home Games | 4.33 | 1.444 | 89.3 | 44 | 43 | 95 | 8 | 34 | 67 | 4-5 | 2 | 2 | 50% |
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| 5/9/2015 | WOOD(L) | @ MILWAUKEE | LOHSE(R) | 4-12 | L | -115 | 8.5 un | O | 8 | 5 | 2 | 11 | 4 | 0 | | 5/10/2015 | HENDRICKS(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | GARZA(R) | 2-3 | L | -110 | 8.5 ev | U | 6 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 0 | | 5/11/2015 | LESTER(L) | NY METS | DEGROM(R) | 4-3 | W | -145 | 8.5 ov | U | 6 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 1 | | 5/12/2015 | ARRIETA(R) | NY METS | SYNDERGAARD(R) | 6-1 | W | -145 | 7 un | P | 11 | 12 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | | 5/13/2015 | HAMMEL(R) | NY METS | HARVEY(R) | 2-1 | W | -110 | 6.5 un | U | 7 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | | 5/14/2015 | WOOD(L) | NY METS | NIESE(L) | 6-5 | W | -140 | 7.5 ov | O | 6 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 1 | | 5/15/2015 | HENDRICKS(R) | PITTSBURGH | LOCKE(L) | 11-10 | W | -130 | 9.5 ov | O | 15 | 16 | 0 | 15 | 12 | 1 | | 5/16/2015 | LESTER(L) | PITTSBURGH | COLE(R) | 4-1 | W | +100 | 8 ov | U | 8 | 8 | 0 | 11 | 10 | 3 | | 5/17/2015 | ARRIETA(R) | PITTSBURGH | BURNETT(R) | 0-3 | L | -140 | 10 un | U | 5 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 1 | | 5/19/2015 | HAMMEL(R) | @ SAN DIEGO | SHIELDS(R) | 3-4 | L | 110 | 6.5 ov | O | 7 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 0 | | 5/20/2015 | WADA(L) | @ SAN DIEGO | ROSS(R) | 3-2 | W | 125 | 7 un | U | 5 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 0 | | 5/21/2015 | HENDRICKS(R) | @ SAN DIEGO | DESPAIGNE(R) | 3-0 | W | -115 | 7 un | U | 7 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | | 5/22/2015 | LESTER(L) | @ ARIZONA | COLLMENTER(R) | 4-5 | L | -120 | 8.5 un | O | 11 | 11 | 1 | 12 | 11 | 1 | | 5/23/2015 | ARRIETA(R) | @ ARIZONA | DE LA ROSA(R) | | | 5/24/2015 | HAMMEL(R) | @ ARIZONA | HELLICKSON(R) | | | 5/25/2015 | WADA(L) | WASHINGTON | ZIMMERMANN(R) | | | 5/26/2015 | HENDRICKS(R) | WASHINGTON | COLE(R) | | | 5/27/2015 | LESTER(L) | WASHINGTON | SCHERZER(R) | | | 5/29/2015 | | KANSAS CITY | | | | 5/30/2015 | | KANSAS CITY | | |
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| 5/9/2015 | ANDERSON(R) | SAN DIEGO | ROSS(R) | 4-6 | L | -115 | 8 un | O | 9 | 8 | 1 | 14 | 12 | 1 | | 5/10/2015 | HUDSON(R) | SAN DIEGO | CASHNER(R) | 2-1 | W | -105 | 8.5 un | U | 5 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 9 | 0 | | 5/11/2015 | COLLMENTER(R) | WASHINGTON | SCHERZER(R) | 1-11 | L | +140 | 8 un | O | 6 | 6 | 0 | 15 | 7 | 0 | | 5/12/2015 | DE LA ROSA(R) | WASHINGTON | STRASBURG(R) | 14-6 | W | +130 | 8.5 ev | O | 16 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 6 | 1 | | 5/13/2015 | HELLICKSON(R) | WASHINGTON | GONZALEZ(L) | 6-9 | L | +115 | 9 un | O | 14 | 12 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 3 | | 5/15/2015 | ANDERSON(R) | @ PHILADELPHIA | BILLINGSLEY(R) | 3-4 | L | -115 | 7.5 un | U | 10 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 0 | | 5/16/2015 | BRADLEY(R) | @ PHILADELPHIA | WILLIAMS(R) | 5-7 | L | -120 | 8 un | O | 10 | 5 | 2 | 13 | 11 | 1 | | 5/17/2015 | COLLMENTER(R) | @ PHILADELPHIA | O'SULLIVAN(R) | 0-6 | L | -130 | 8 un | U | 8 | 10 | 1 | 11 | 8 | 0 | | 5/18/2015 | DE LA ROSA(R) | @ MIAMI | HAREN(R) | 3-2 | W | 110 | 8 un | U | 9 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 0 | | 5/19/2015 | HELLICKSON(R) | @ MIAMI | KOEHLER(R) | 4-2 | W | 130 | 8 ev | U | 9 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 1 | | 5/20/2015 | ANDERSON(R) | @ MIAMI | PHELPS(R) | 6-1 | W | 115 | 7.5 un | U | 11 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | | 5/21/2015 | BRADLEY(R) | @ MIAMI | LATOS(R) | 7-6 | W | 130 | 7.5 un | O | 11 | 8 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 0 | | 5/22/2015 | COLLMENTER(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | LESTER(L) | 5-4 | W | +110 | 8.5 un | O | 12 | 11 | 1 | 11 | 11 | 1 | | 5/23/2015 | DE LA ROSA(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | ARRIETA(R) | | | 5/24/2015 | HELLICKSON(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | HAMMEL(R) | | | 5/25/2015 | ANDERSON(R) | @ ST LOUIS | MARTINEZ(R) | | | 5/26/2015 | BRADLEY(R) | @ ST LOUIS | GARCIA(L) | | | 5/27/2015 | COLLMENTER(R) | @ ST LOUIS | LYNN(R) | | | 5/29/2015 | | @ MILWAUKEE | | | | 5/30/2015 | | @ MILWAUKEE | | |
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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. | | ARIZONA: PHOENIX (AP) - Arizona's desert overhaul began last summer with the hire of Tony La Russa as chief baseball officer.
More hires followed: Dave Stewart as general manager, Joe Carter and De Jon Watson to front-office positions, Chip Hale as the new manager.
Now that the brain trust is in place, it's time to see what the new-look Diamondbacks can do on the field.
''I don't have a crystal ball. I just know we'll be competitive,'' La Russa said. ''I've said before, I'll be broken-hearted if we don't have a winning record this year.''
Arizona has fallen hard since winning the 2011 NL West crown, putting together a pair of .500 seasons before dropping to 64-98 a year ago, the worst record in baseball and second-worst in franchise history.
Some of it was injuries; the Diamondbacks lost three pitchers to Tommy John surgery and seemed to have every one of their top players get hurt at some point.
But La Russa and the rest of the front office also saw need for changes, which began during the trade deadline and continued during the offseason.
Gone are catcher Miguel Montero, third baseman Martin Prado, shortstop Didi Gregorius, along with pitchers Wade Miley and Brandon McCarthy.
Even with the losses, Arizona's lineup should be potent.
A.J. Pollock, Mark Trumbo and Paul Goldschmidt are all healthy after missing games last season and David Peralta returns in right field after a solid rookie season. Arizona also picked up Cuban slugger Yasmany Tomas, who has potentially game-changing power.
But, as has been the case in the desert, pitching will be the big question
Arizona traded Miley to Boston and its opening day starter will be Josh Collmenter, an over-the-top-throwing right-hander who has bounced between the bullpen and the rotation during his four big-league seasons.
Patrick Corbin and Bronson Arroyo were part of the rotation last season, but both underwent Tommy John surgery and aren't expected to return until at least midseason.
The Diamondbacks picked up right-hander Rubby De La Rosa in the Miley trade and right-hander Jeremy Hellickson in another deal with Tampa Bay. Arizona also signed 21-year-old Cuban right-hander Yoan Lopez, who is competing for a spot in the rotation, and has right-handers Chase Anderson and Trevor Cahill back from last season.
For all the potential the Diamondbacks have with their bats, it won't matter much if the pitchers don't come through.
A few more things to look for from the 2015 Arizona Diamondbacks:
GOLDY SHINES: Goldschmidt was having another stellar season in 2014 when he was derailed by a broken hand at the start of August. Before his injury, the All-Star first baseman had become one of the best power hitters in the game and was runner-up in the NL MVP race in 2013, when he hit .302 with 26 homers and 125 RBIs. He felt good throughout spring training and expected to be back giving the Diamondbacks some consistent pop in the lineup.
REPLACING MONTERO: Arizona took a gamble during the offseason by trading Montero to the Chicago Cubs. A two-time All-Star, Montero was a steadying influence in the clubhouse and behind the plate, not to mention a power bat in the lineup. Now that he's gone, the Diamondbacks will turn to 31-year-old Tuffy Gosewisch, who has 179 career at-bats and didn't break into the majors until 2013 after eight years in the minors.
ADDING TOMAS: The Diamondbacks made a bit of an international splash by signing Tomas to a six-year, $68 million contract. The dilemma now is to figure out where to play him and how quickly he can adjust to playing in the big leagues. Arizona would like to play the 24-year-old at third base, but could move him to the outfield if he can't make the transition to a position he's never played. Tomas has plenty of raw ability and is young, so the Diamondbacks have high hopes for him - wherever he ends up playing.
HUDSON'S RETURN: Daniel Hudson was a consistent performer on Arizona's staff before having Tommy John surgery each of the past two seasons. He returned last September, pitching in the bullpen. The right-hander is expected to start the season in the bullpen, but could find a place back in the rotation if he remains healthy. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER NL PREVIEW (CHICAGO CUBS-ARIZONA) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(TIGHTENS to conform.)
*Cubs-Diamondbacks Preview* ===========================
By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer
Chicago (23-18) at Arizona (20-21), 10:10 p.m. EDT
The Arizona Diamondbacks have shown plenty of resiliency during their current surge.
Following their second 13-inning victory this week, the Diamondbacks seek a sixth straight win Saturday night against the Chicago Cubs.
Paul Goldschmidt hit a tying two-run homer with two outs in the 10th and Nick Ahmed drove home the winner in the 13th of Friday's 5-4 victory. Arizona (20-21) overcame a pair of deficits to record its sixth consecutive win over Chicago.
Ahmed, who entered batting .194, had three hits. The shortstop belted his second career homer in the fifth off Jon Lester to tie the game.
"I made some improvements, made some adjustments," Ahmed said. "I'm starting to put the bat on the ball, starting to see it a lot better."
The Diamondbacks, who last won six straight as part of a nine-game run Aug. 23-31, 2011, began their current streak with a 3-2, 13-inning victory at Miami on Monday. After failing to hold a 2-0 advantage the next night, Arizona scored twice in the eighth en route to a 4-2 victory. It then overcame a pair of two-run deficits and another blown lead Thursday to win 7-6 and complete the four-game sweep of the Marlins.
A.J. Pollock, who doubled ahead of Goldschmidt in the 10th, recorded four hits Friday. The center fielder is 10 for 16 with seven runs in the last four games and batting .423 in seven home games versus Chicago (23-18).
The Cubs have failed to score more than four runs in any game while splitting their last six. They haven't scored any in three of the last four when Jake Arrieta (4-4, 2.77 ERA) has been on the mound.
Arrieta has given up one run in each of his last two starts and eight hits combined, splitting them while striking out 17 in 15 innings. The right-hander fanned seven over seven during a 3-0 loss to Pittsburgh on Saturday.
"It's one of those games where you feel like you won," said Arrieta, who has the second-lowest ERA among Cubs starters but receives the fewest runs on average (3.12).
Chicago lost 3-2 on July 20 in his only previous appearance versus Arizona as Arrieta allowed three runs and struck out eight in 6 2-3 innings.
Goldschmidt, 0 for 3 with two strikeouts versus Arrieta last season, had three hits Friday and is batting .417 with five home runs and 14 RBIs in 10 career home games against the Cubs.
After coming off the bench in the last two games, teammate Aaron Hill could be in the lineup to face Arrieta, against whom he's 6 for 14 with a homer and two doubles.
The Diamondbacks hand the ball to Rubby De La Rosa (4-2, 4.08), who has gone 2-0 with a 2.35 ERA and lasted at least seven innings over his last three starts. He yielded a two-run homer and no walks over nine innings of Monday's marathon against the Marlins.
"Compete for the team," the right-hander said. "Get a W, no matter what. That means go today and pitch like how I know how to do."
He'll get his first look at Kris Bryant, who is batting .359 with 12 RBIs during an 11-game hitting streak.
Expected to start this contest, ex-Diamondback Miguel Montero went 0 for 2 with a walk off the bench Friday in his return to Arizona. The veteran catcher spent his first nine seasons there before being traded to Chicago in December.
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| | Last Updated: 4/16/2024 8:49:53 PM EST. |
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