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CHICAGO CUBS ( LESTER ) |
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| 959 | WASHINGTON | -120 | Ov 6.5,+105 | -110 | Ov 6.5,+100 | | 960 | CHICAGO CUBS | +110 | Un 6.5,-125 | +100 | Un 6.5,-120 |
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| All Games | 27-19 | +3.3 | 27-18 | 4.7 | 0.256 | 0.323 | 0.418 | 0.741 | 4.2 | 0.262 | 0.311 | 0.378 | 0.689 | | Road Games | 13-12 | -1 | 15-9 | 5.2 | 0.259 | 0.326 | 0.412 | 0.738 | 4.7 | 0.284 | 0.334 | 0.422 | 0.756 | | vs Left-handed Starters | 7-3 | +3.4 | 7-3 | 5.2 | 0.258 | 0.325 | 0.438 | 0.764 | 3.7 | 0.254 | 0.298 | 0.367 | 0.665 | | Past 7 Games | 5-2 | +2.7 | 2-5 | 3.1 | 0.221 | 0.288 | 0.432 | 0.719 | 3.1 | 0.223 | 0.263 | 0.361 | 0.624 | | Grass Games | 27-19 | +3.3 | 27-18 | 4.7 | 0.256 | 0.323 | 0.418 | 0.741 | 4.2 | 0.262 | 0.311 | 0.378 | 0.689 | | Night Games | 16-11 | +2.8 | 15-12 | 5.1 | 0.269 | 0.334 | 0.428 | 0.762 | 3.9 | 0.262 | 0.312 | 0.375 | 0.687 |
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| All Games | 4.7 | 0.256 | 0.323 | 46 | 1542 | 395 | 80 | 7 | 52 | 0.418 | 210 | 152 | 363 | 12 | 303 | 36 | 36 | 39 | 17 | | Road Games | 5.2 | 0.259 | 0.326 | 25 | 860 | 223 | 44 | 6 | 25 | 0.412 | 124 | 85 | 195 | 10 | 167 | 18 | 19 | 23 | 9 | | Lefty Starters | 5.2 | 0.258 | 0.325 | 10 | 333 | 86 | 17 | 2 | 13 | 0.438 | 50 | 33 | 77 | 1 | 61 | 4 | 12 | 8 | 1 |
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| All Games | 3.02 | 1.212 | 137 | 52 | 46 | 122 | 11 | 44 | 133 | 8-5 | 17 | 7 | 70.8% | | Road Games | 3.53 | 1.278 | 79 | 37 | 31 | 72 | 9 | 29 | 73 | 3-4 | 8 | 5 | 61.5% |
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| All Games | 25-20 | +2.2 | 20-21 | 4.2 | 0.242 | 0.313 | 0.390 | 0.703 | 4.1 | 0.242 | 0.294 | 0.388 | 0.682 | | Home Games | 14-9 | +2.3 | 7-14 | 3.6 | 0.244 | 0.324 | 0.368 | 0.692 | 3.3 | 0.231 | 0.281 | 0.362 | 0.643 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 21-17 | +1 | 15-20 | 3.9 | 0.236 | 0.305 | 0.390 | 0.695 | 3.8 | 0.234 | 0.286 | 0.369 | 0.655 | | Past 7 Games | 4-3 | +0.6 | 2-5 | 3.7 | 0.207 | 0.267 | 0.380 | 0.647 | 3.0 | 0.205 | 0.260 | 0.371 | 0.631 | | Grass Games | 25-20 | +2.2 | 20-21 | 4.2 | 0.242 | 0.313 | 0.390 | 0.703 | 4.1 | 0.242 | 0.294 | 0.388 | 0.682 | | Night Games | 17-9 | +8 | 13-10 | 4.8 | 0.263 | 0.333 | 0.440 | 0.773 | 4.2 | 0.238 | 0.292 | 0.370 | 0.661 |
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| All Games | 4.2 | 0.242 | 0.313 | 45 | 1538 | 372 | 74 | 8 | 46 | 0.390 | 181 | 160 | 437 | 42 | 330 | 33 | 37 | 37 | 35 | | Home Games | 3.6 | 0.244 | 0.324 | 23 | 753 | 184 | 30 | 3 | 19 | 0.368 | 77 | 89 | 210 | 23 | 184 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 20 | | Righty Starters | 3.9 | 0.236 | 0.305 | 38 | 1287 | 304 | 61 | 7 | 41 | 0.390 | 142 | 128 | 371 | 33 | 264 | 30 | 32 | 33 | 32 |
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| All Games | 4.07 | 1.311 | 135 | 64 | 61 | 124 | 13 | 53 | 126 | 11-9 | 11 | 8 | 57.9% | | Home Games | 3.31 | 1.147 | 68 | 26 | 25 | 56 | 6 | 22 | 65 | 6-3 | 5 | 3 | 62.5% |
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| 5/13/2015 | GONZALEZ(L) | @ ARIZONA | HELLICKSON(R) | 9-6 | W | -125 | 9 un | O | 8 | 6 | 3 | 14 | 12 | 0 | | 5/14/2015 | FISTER(R) | @ SAN DIEGO | ROSS(R) | 3-8 | L | 100 | 6.5 ov | O | 8 | 10 | 0 | 13 | 5 | 1 | | 5/15/2015 | ZIMMERMANN(R) | @ SAN DIEGO | DESPAIGNE(R) | 10-0 | W | -130 | 7 un | O | 16 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | | 5/16/2015 | SCHERZER(R) | @ SAN DIEGO | CASHNER(R) | 4-1 | W | -135 | 6.5 un | U | 11 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 2 | | 5/17/2015 | STRASBURG(R) | @ SAN DIEGO | KENNEDY(R) | 10-5 | W | -125 | 6.5 ov | O | 8 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 0 | | 5/19/2015 | GONZALEZ(L) | NY YANKEES | EOVALDI(R) | 8-6 | W | -130 | 7.5 un | O | 10 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 0 | | 5/20/2015 | ZIMMERMANN(R) | NY YANKEES | WARREN(R) | 3-2 | W | -155 | 7 ov | U | 5 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 1 | | 5/22/2015 | SCHERZER(R) | PHILADELPHIA | O'SULLIVAN(R) | 2-1 | W | -270 | 7 ov | U | 6 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | | 5/23/2015 | STRASBURG(R) | PHILADELPHIA | HAMELS(L) | 1-8 | L | -135 | 6.5 un | O | 5 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 5 | 0 | | 5/24/2015 | GONZALEZ(L) | PHILADELPHIA | HARANG(R) | 4-1 | W | -170 | 7 un | U | 10 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 0 | | 5/25/2015 | ROARK(R) | @ CHICAGO CUBS | WADA(L) | 2-1 | W | 105 | 11 un | U | 5 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1 | | 5/26/2015 | ZIMMERMANN(R) | @ CHICAGO CUBS | HENDRICKS(R) | 2-3 | L | 100 | 10 ev | U | 6 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 0 | | 5/27/2015 | SCHERZER(R) | @ CHICAGO CUBS | LESTER(L) | | | 5/29/2015 | STRASBURG(R) | @ CINCINNATI | DESCLAFANI(R) | | | 5/30/2015 | GONZALEZ(L) | @ CINCINNATI | CUETO(R) | | | 5/31/2015 | ROARK(R) | @ CINCINNATI | MARQUIS(R) | | | 6/1/2015 | ZIMMERMANN(R) | TORONTO | DICKEY(R) | | | 6/2/2015 | SCHERZER(R) | TORONTO | ESTRADA(R) | | | 6/3/2015 | | TORONTO | | |
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| 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) | 9-6 | W | -125 | 8 un | O | 8 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 1 | | 5/24/2015 | HAMMEL(R) | @ ARIZONA | HELLICKSON(R) | 3-4 | L | -130 | 8.5 ov | U | 5 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 0 | | 5/25/2015 | WADA(L) | WASHINGTON | ROARK(R) | 1-2 | L | -115 | 11 un | U | 5 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0 | | 5/26/2015 | HENDRICKS(R) | WASHINGTON | ZIMMERMANN(R) | 3-2 | W | -110 | 10 ev | U | 9 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 1 | | 5/27/2015 | LESTER(L) | WASHINGTON | SCHERZER(R) | | | 5/29/2015 | ARRIETA(R) | KANSAS CITY | VOLQUEZ(R) | | | 5/30/2015 | HAMMEL(R) | KANSAS CITY | VENTURA(R) | | | 5/31/2015 | WADA(L) | KANSAS CITY | GUTHRIE(R) | | | 6/1/2015 | HENDRICKS(R) | @ MIAMI | | | | 6/2/2015 | LESTER(L) | @ MIAMI | | | | 6/3/2015 | | @ MIAMI | | |
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| |  | WASHINGTON: WASHINGTON (AP) - Bryce Harper's reaction to the news that the Washington Nationals added Max Scherzer to an already-talented starting staff drew quite a lot of attention.
''I just started laughing,'' Harper famously said. ''I was like, `Where's my ring?'''
Yes, that pretty much sums up where the expectations are for the 2015 Nationals - as expressed by them and by others.
On the first day of full-squad workouts at spring training, reigning NL Manager of the Year Matt Williams posted these words of wisdom in the clubhouse: ''The road to the World Series begins today.''
''We're here to get to that ultimate goal,'' Williams said. ''We're not alone. There's 29 other teams that have the same thought. So that being said, I want to make sure that we understand that that's our goal. That is our goal: to be the last one standing at the end of it.''
The main reason many folks think the Nationals are capable of achieving that goal, even if the team has yet to win a playoff series, is the rotation.
Scherzer, the 2013 AL Cy Young Award winner with Detroit, came aboard with a $210 million contract, joining a group that led the majors in ERA last season - right-handers Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister, and lefty Gio Gonzalez.
''There's no break'' for an opposing team, new reliever Casey Janssen observed.
It's such a formidable quintet that a guy who won 15 games, had a sub-3.00 ERA and threw nearly 200 innings a year ago, Tanner Roark, is moving to the bullpen.
In 2014, the Nationals won a league-best 96 games and finished atop the underwhelming NL East by a whopping 17 games, but then bowed out in four games in a Division Series against the eventual champs, the San Francisco Giants. Washington's starting pitching wasn't the problem in the postseason; its bullpen and hitting were what led to a second quick playoff exit in three years.
And yet general manager Mike Rizzo allowed those two areas to lose important pieces, trading away the man he called ''maybe the best eighth-inning setup man in the history of the game,'' Tyler Clippard, and letting first baseman Adam LaRoche (team highs of 26 homers, 92 RBIs) leave via free agency.
The hope, presumably, is that hitters such as Harper, Ryan Zimmerman (who replaces LaRoche at first) and Wilson Ramos, who each missed significant chunks of last season, will deliver the numbers they're capable of producing, while opponents have a really hard time scoring much against all the aces Williams will send to the mound.
''It's hilarious having to go in there and face them. It's absolutely stupid,'' Harper said. ''We have the best staff in baseball. I don't care what anybody says.''
Actually, Bryce, that's exactly what pretty much everybody IS saying.
Here are other things to know about the Nationals, who open the season on April 6 at home against the New York Mets:
HEALTH MATTERS: Half of the everyday lineup - outfielders Jayson Werth and Denard Span (both recovering from offseason surgery), third baseman Anthony Rendon and new second baseman Yunel Escobar - missed extended periods of spring training, as did fourth outfielder Nate McClouth. Rendon, Span, Werth and McClouth might all miss opening day. ''You can be as good as you want on paper, but that doesn't mean anything until the end of the year,'' Scherzer said. ''We've got to stay healthy.''
MIGHTY `PEN?: Given their aspirations, October is what really matters for the Nationals, and Drew Storen blew save chances in the 2012 and 2014 playoffs. Still, the closer's job is his entering the season, and Clippard is no longer around to shut down foes in the eighth - or provide ninth-inning backup if needed. Worth watching: Will Aaron Barrett set aside the yips that hit him in the NLDS?
LAST HURRAH: A couple of homegrown franchise cornerstones, Zimmermann and shortstop Ian Desmond, can become free agents after the season, as can Span and Fister. Rizzo could try to sign one or more to long-term deals. He could trade one or more. Or he could decide to let things play out with this group, then move on next offseason. ''With this group of guys,'' Werth said, ''this might be it.'' | | 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. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER NL PREVIEW (WASHINGTON-CHICAGO CUBS) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Nationals-Cubs Preview* ========================
By TAYLOR BECHTOLD STATS Writer
Washington (27-18) at Chicago (24-20), 8:05 p.m. EDT
All eyes have been on Bryce Harper and Kris Bryant in the series between the Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs, and both young sluggers provided late home runs Tuesday at Wrigley Field.
Those offensive fireworks could be difficult to find in the decisive finale as Washington's Max Scherzer looks to win his fifth straight start Wednesday night in a battle of aces against Chicago's Jon Lester.
The 22-year-old Harper and the 23-year-old Bryant have been rivals since their high school days in Las Vegas and entered their first series in the majors as two of the game's most exciting young players.
Harper delivered in Tuesday's seventh inning with his NL-leading 17th home run to make it 1-all. The red-hot right fielder is batting .467 with 12 homers and 27 RBIs in 18 games since May 6.
Bryant then answered with his second longball of the series before Addison Russell came through with a walk-off double in a 3-2 win. Bryant is batting .448 with five homers during a nine-game hitting streak at Wrigley.
"I've hit some good home runs in my short time here on this Earth," Bryant said of an eighth-inning shot that might have hit the new videoboard in left field. "That was a good one for me, and there was a little wind blowing out, too."
Now he'll get his first look at Scherzer (5-3, 1.67 ERA), who has allowed just three home runs in 64 2-3 innings. The 2013 AL Cy Young Award winner will try to help Washington (27-19) bounce back from only its sixth defeat in 26 games.
Scherzer has given up two runs over 22 innings in his past three starts and is 2-1 with a 1.00 ERA in four road outings. He gave up one run and four hits over eight innings in Friday's 2-1 home win over Philadelphia.
The right-hander has an opportunity to become the first Nationals pitcher since Livan Hernandez in 2005 to throw at least seven innings in eight consecutive starts.
"That's something I take pride in," Scherzer told MLB's official website.
Scherzer has a 2.25 ERA with 14 strikeouts in two career starts against the Cubs (25-20), who he hasn't faced since 2012.
Dexter Fowler, who hit a leadoff homer Tuesday, is 4 for 13 with a double and three RBIs when facing him. David Ross, 3 for 9 with two doubles in the matchup, will be behind the plate with Lester (4-2, 3.56) pitching.
Lester looks to remain unbeaten in May after starting 4-0 with a 1.85 ERA in five starts. He had gone 0-2 with a 6.23 ERA in four April outings after signing a six-year, $155 million contract in December.
The left-hander allowed two runs and five hits over seven innings in Friday's 5-4, 13-inning loss at Arizona.
"Everybody knows with the contract stuff, I definitely don't want to be one of those guys who at the end of it, you look at it as a bust," he said.
Lester is 2-0 with a 3.32 ERA in three career starts versus Washington while with Boston - none since 2012.
Washington's Denard Span is batting .432 over a nine-game road hitting streak after homering in the first two games of this series.
Lester certainly hasn't helped himself at the plate, going 0 for 57 lifetime to move into a tie with San Diego's Joey Hamilton for the longest hitless streak by a pitcher at the start of his career.
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| | Last Updated: 4/18/2024 11:15:01 PM EST. |
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