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CHICAGO CUBS ( LESTER )
MIAMI ( HAREN ) |
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| 909 | CHICAGO CUBS | -130 | Ov 7,-115 | -115 | Ov 7,-115 | | 910 | MIAMI | +120 | Un 7,-105 | +105 | Un 7,-105 |
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| All Games | 27-23 | +0.8 | 21-25 | 4.0 | 0.240 | 0.311 | 0.386 | 0.697 | 4.1 | 0.240 | 0.292 | 0.386 | 0.678 | | Road Games | 12-12 | -0.1 | 13-9 | 4.7 | 0.239 | 0.303 | 0.408 | 0.712 | 4.7 | 0.251 | 0.304 | 0.407 | 0.710 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 23-19 | +0.6 | 16-23 | 3.8 | 0.234 | 0.303 | 0.386 | 0.689 | 3.7 | 0.232 | 0.284 | 0.367 | 0.652 | | Past 7 Games | 3-4 | -1.6 | 1-6 | 2.4 | 0.222 | 0.281 | 0.372 | 0.652 | 3.1 | 0.209 | 0.269 | 0.380 | 0.649 | | Grass Games | 27-23 | +0.8 | 21-25 | 4.0 | 0.240 | 0.311 | 0.386 | 0.697 | 4.1 | 0.240 | 0.292 | 0.386 | 0.678 | | Night Games | 18-11 | +7 | 13-13 | 4.6 | 0.259 | 0.329 | 0.430 | 0.758 | 4.0 | 0.236 | 0.289 | 0.369 | 0.658 |
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| All Games | 4.0 | 0.240 | 0.311 | 50 | 1709 | 410 | 85 | 9 | 49 | 0.386 | 194 | 175 | 490 | 43 | 367 | 35 | 45 | 41 | 37 | | Road Games | 4.7 | 0.239 | 0.303 | 24 | 852 | 204 | 50 | 5 | 28 | 0.408 | 111 | 78 | 241 | 19 | 160 | 17 | 25 | 20 | 16 | | Righty Starters | 3.8 | 0.234 | 0.303 | 42 | 1425 | 334 | 68 | 8 | 44 | 0.386 | 153 | 140 | 417 | 34 | 294 | 31 | 39 | 37 | 34 |
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| All Games | 3.87 | 1.305 | 148.7 | 70 | 64 | 133 | 15 | 61 | 141 | 12-10 | 11 | 8 | 57.9% | | Road Games | 4.67 | 1.430 | 71.3 | 39 | 37 | 70 | 8 | 32 | 63 | 5-6 | 6 | 5 | 54.5% |
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| All Games | 21-32 | -13 | 27-24 | 3.8 | 0.257 | 0.306 | 0.368 | 0.674 | 4.2 | 0.257 | 0.314 | 0.384 | 0.698 | | Home Games | 11-16 | -9 | 11-15 | 3.5 | 0.253 | 0.301 | 0.348 | 0.650 | 4.1 | 0.247 | 0.304 | 0.346 | 0.650 | | vs Left-handed Starters | 6-3 | +3.2 | 6-1 | 5.1 | 0.283 | 0.350 | 0.453 | 0.803 | 3.8 | 0.245 | 0.296 | 0.358 | 0.654 | | Past 7 Games | 3-4 | -0.4 | 2-5 | 3.6 | 0.240 | 0.270 | 0.393 | 0.662 | 4.1 | 0.249 | 0.303 | 0.395 | 0.698 | | Grass Games | 21-32 | -13 | 27-24 | 3.8 | 0.257 | 0.306 | 0.368 | 0.674 | 4.2 | 0.257 | 0.314 | 0.384 | 0.698 | | Night Games | 13-20 | -7.6 | 15-17 | 3.3 | 0.242 | 0.296 | 0.341 | 0.637 | 4.4 | 0.263 | 0.325 | 0.393 | 0.718 |
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| All Games | 3.8 | 0.257 | 0.306 | 53 | 1813 | 466 | 70 | 9 | 38 | 0.368 | 184 | 127 | 420 | 35 | 359 | 41 | 20 | 51 | 28 | | Home Games | 3.5 | 0.253 | 0.301 | 27 | 913 | 231 | 33 | 6 | 14 | 0.348 | 88 | 63 | 198 | 18 | 178 | 21 | 10 | 25 | 19 | | Lefty Starters | 5.1 | 0.283 | 0.350 | 9 | 311 | 88 | 18 | 4 | 9 | 0.453 | 41 | 32 | 79 | 4 | 70 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 1 |
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| All Games | 3.88 | 1.304 | 174 | 77 | 75 | 171 | 7 | 56 | 165 | 8-12 | 8 | 7 | 53.3% | | Home Games | 3.36 | 1.192 | 99 | 38 | 37 | 87 | 4 | 31 | 103 | 6-5 | 4 | 3 | 57.1% |
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| 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) | 0-3 | L | +115 | 6.5 ov | U | 7 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 10 | 0 | | 5/29/2015 | ARRIETA(R) | KANSAS CITY | VOLQUEZ(R) | 4-8 | L | -145 | 8.5 un | O | 8 | 6 | 2 | 11 | 5 | 0 | | 5/31/2015 | WADA(L) | KANSAS CITY | VENTURA(R) | 2-1 | W | +100 | 6.5 un | U | 7 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 0 | | 6/1/2015 | HAMMEL(R) | @ MIAMI | URENA(R) | 5-1 | W | -125 | 7.5 ov | U | 8 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 0 | | 6/2/2015 | HENDRICKS(R) | @ MIAMI | HAND(L) | 2-5 | L | 100 | 8 un | U | 8 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 0 | | 6/3/2015 | LESTER(L) | @ MIAMI | HAREN(R) | | | 6/4/2015 | ARRIETA(R) | @ WASHINGTON | GONZALEZ(L) | | | 6/5/2015 | WADA(L) | @ WASHINGTON | ROARK(R) | | | 6/6/2015 | HAMMEL(R) | @ WASHINGTON | ZIMMERMANN(R) | | | 6/7/2015 | HENDRICKS(R) | @ WASHINGTON | ZIMMERMANN(R) | | | 6/9/2015 | LESTER(L) | @ DETROIT | SANCHEZ(R) | | | 6/10/2015 | | @ DETROIT | | |
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| 5/20/2015 | PHELPS(R) | ARIZONA | ANDERSON(R) | 1-6 | L | -125 | 7.5 un | U | 4 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 9 | 0 | | 5/21/2015 | LATOS(R) | ARIZONA | BRADLEY(R) | 6-7 | L | -140 | 7.5 un | O | 12 | 8 | 0 | 11 | 8 | 1 | | 5/22/2015 | ALVAREZ(R) | BALTIMORE | JIMENEZ(R) | 5-8 | L | +100 | 7.5 un | O | 14 | 12 | 1 | 11 | 10 | 1 | | 5/23/2015 | HAREN(R) | BALTIMORE | WRIGHT(R) | 1-0 | W | -105 | 7.5 un | U | 7 | 10 | 0 | 9 | 10 | 1 | | 5/24/2015 | KOEHLER(R) | BALTIMORE | GONZALEZ(R) | 5-2 | W | -105 | 7.5 un | U | 11 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 0 | | 5/25/2015 | PHELPS(R) | @ PITTSBURGH | MORTON(R) | 2-4 | L | 115 | 7.5 ev | U | 9 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 0 | | 5/26/2015 | URENA(R) | @ PITTSBURGH | LOCKE(L) | 1-5 | L | 125 | 8 ev | U | 6 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 0 | | 5/27/2015 | HAND(L) | @ PITTSBURGH | COLE(R) | 2-5 | L | 182 | 7.5 un | U | 9 | 7 | 0 | 11 | 8 | 1 | | 5/29/2015 | HAREN(R) | @ NY METS | HARVEY(R) | 4-3 | W | 150 | 6.5 ov | O | 6 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 0 | | 5/30/2015 | KOEHLER(R) | @ NY METS | NIESE(L) | 9-5 | W | 110 | 7.5 ov | O | 14 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 2 | | 5/31/2015 | PHELPS(R) | @ NY METS | COLON(R) | 3-4 | L | 115 | 7.5 un | U | 9 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 0 | | 6/1/2015 | URENA(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | HAMMEL(R) | 1-5 | L | +115 | 7.5 ov | U | 6 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 2 | | 6/2/2015 | HAND(L) | CHICAGO CUBS | HENDRICKS(R) | 5-2 | W | -110 | 8 un | U | 8 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 1 | | 6/3/2015 | HAREN(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | LESTER(L) | | | 6/5/2015 | KOEHLER(R) | @ COLORADO | BUTLER(R) | | | 6/6/2015 | PHELPS(R) | @ COLORADO | | | | 6/7/2015 | URENA(R) | @ COLORADO | KENDRICK(R) | | | 6/8/2015 | HAND(L) | @ TORONTO | ESTRADA(R) | | | 6/9/2015 | HAREN(R) | @ TORONTO | BUEHRLE(L) | | | 6/10/2015 | | @ TORONTO | | |
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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. | | MIAMI: MIAMI (AP) - Two transactions midway through spring training that drew little notice heralded significant progress for the Miami Marlins.
Top pitching prospects Jose Urena and Justin Nicolino were optioned to the minor leagues - moves reflecting the franchise's improved depth of talent. This season, for a change, the front office doesn't feel compelled to rush youngsters like Urena and Nicolino to the majors.
''In previous years they would probably already be in the big leagues,'' president of baseball operations Michael Hill said. ''We've really tried to change that, be fair to the player and allow them to have the necessary growing pains in the minor leagues so when they do get to the big leagues, they can hit the ground running.''
When Urena and Nicolino do reach the majors, they might be joining a contender. Following a busy offseason highlighted by the signing of Giancarlo Stanton to a record $325 million contract, Miami's expectations are unusually lofty.
The Marlins don't talk just about finishing above .500 for the first time since 2009. They want to end an 11-year playoff drought.
''I love the talent we've been able to assemble,'' Hill said. ''If we handle our business, I'm pretty excited about where that will lead.''
While Stanton draws the biggest headlines, it might be the Marlins' rotation that separates them from the pack. They enter the season with five solid starters, and that doesn't include ace Jose Fernandez, the 2013 NL Rookie of the Year, who is projected to return from elbow surgery at midseason.
Miami acquired Mat Latos and Dan Haren in offseason deals, and they join Henderson Alvarez, Jarred Cosart and Tom Koehler. Latos is 56-40 since 2010, and the others each won at least 10 games last year, with a combined record of 48-39. Newcomer David Phelps, who is 12-11 as a starter, provides depth and can also relieve.
''I like our rotation,'' manager Mike Redmond said. ''These guys have gone out and competed for a long time and have a lot of experience, which is nice.''
Other things to know about the baseball buzz building in South Florida:
RETURN ON INVESTMENT: Stanton appears poised for another big year after being knocked out of the 2014 NL MVP race when a beaning ended his season in September. He led the NL in slugging and homers despite missing the final 17 games.
During spring training batting practice, new teammate Phelps noted that Stanton hits balls to the opposite field farther than most players can pull them. And he doesn't just outslug everybody.
''We ran shuttles the first week of camp and I figured he was a good athlete,'' Phelps said. ''But I didn't expect him to be outrunning everybody, too.''
TRENDING UPWARD: Miami went 62-100 under Redmond two years ago, and then ended a streak of three consecutive last-place finishes in the NL East by going 77-85 in 2014. The 15-win improvement tied for the best in the National League by a 100-loss team since 1986.
Among the players still around from that young, awful 2013 team are Stanton, Fernandez, Alvarez, Koehler, left fielder Christian Yelich, center fielder Marcell Ozuna and shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria.
''The fun part is to see the excitement in guys now, and for them to talk about how far we've come in a short amount of time,'' Redmond said. ''As tough as it was at the time, I knew we would be better off for it, because we got some guys a lot of experience.''
STILL YOUNG: With the addition such veterans as Latos, Haren, third baseman Martin Prado, second baseman Dee Gordon and first baseman Michael Morse, the payroll is expected to be above $70 million. That's the highest for the Marlins since 2012, and an increase of about 50 percent from last year.
Even so, the Marlins remain young. Fernandez, Alvarez, Cosart, Stanton, Yelich, Ozuna and Hechavarria are all under 26. That creates a clubhouse environment foreign to Phelps, a right-hander acquired in a trade with the Yankees.
''It's a lot of young, talented players,'' said Phelps, 28, accustomed to being surrounded by the likes of Derek Jeter and CC Sabathia. ''It's really a breath of fresh air just to come in and have a core in place that is younger than me.''
Most of the Marlins have never played on a contending team, which raises some skepticism about their chances. But Alvarez predicted the Marlins will be playing games that matter late this season for a change.
''We're going to surprise a lot of people,'' he said. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER NL PREVIEW (CHICAGO CUBS-MIAMI) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Cubs-Marlins Preview* ======================
By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer
Chicago (27-22) at Miami (20-32), 7:10 p.m. EDT
Jon Lester's winning stretch might be over but he's still throwing the ball well for the Chicago Cubs.
Miami's Dan Haren has been at his best at Marlins Park.
Both veterans look to continue their respective success during Wednesday night's series finale.
After going 0-2 with a 6.23 ERA in four April starts, Lester (4-3, 3.30 ERA) went 4-1 with a 1.76 ERA over six last month. He suffered that defeat after yielding an earned run and striking out 10 over seven innings while being outpitched by Max Scherzer during a 3-0 loss to Washington last Wednesday.
"He can absolutely deal," Scherzer told MLB's official website about Lester. "You know how good he is, and you just know that you have to match him."
After Lester yielded one homer through his first five outings, half of the 12 runs he's allowed in his last five have come on solo home runs. He's served up two of those long balls to All-Stars Paul Goldschmidt and Bryce Harper.
"The thing that makes really good hitters is when you make mistakes, they don't miss them," the left-hander said.
He'll get his first look at Giancarlo Stanton, who hit his 16th home run to help Miami (21-32) even the set with Tuesday's 5-2 victory. Stanton's hit half of the Marlins' 14 homers at home.
Lester hasn't faced the Marlins since 2009, but Ichiro Suzuki has homered twice while batting .340 (18 for 53) against him. Teammate Martin Prado has not gone deep versus Lester, but is 5 for 7 with three doubles.
Haren (5-2, 3.03) allowed a pair of solo homers and two other hits over seven innings of a 4-3 road win over the New York Mets on Friday.
"He doesn't throw real hard, but he locates well and he mixes well," New York's Lucas Duda said.
The right-hander, who turns 35 in September, has done quite well while going 2-0 with a 1.45 ERA in five home starts. He gave up two runs over 20 innings there in three May outings.
However, while pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season, Haren was tagged for seven runs in 4 1-3 innings of an 8-2 loss to the Cubs on Aug. 1.
Dexter Fowler is 1 for 10 versus Haren, but 3 for 8 with three runs scored in the series.
Fowler and Junior Lake each had two hits Tuesday for the Cubs (27-23), who are 6-8 since winning a season-high six in a row. Chicago committed its 44th error in the field and a mental one on the bases when rookie Addison Russell was caught taking a big turn off second with one out and the bases potentially loaded in the ninth.
"We did not deserve to win," manager Joe Maddon said.
Lake could see more time in place of right fielder Jorge Soler, who is day to day with a sore ankle. Soler leads all rookies with 50 hits.
"It could be day to day or it could be longer than that, I'm not sure," Maddon said. "If it's going to be relatively short, I don't think it's wise to DL him. A guy like him, one or two days at the most might be plenty."
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| | Last Updated: 4/16/2024 7:01:40 PM EST. |
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