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CHICAGO CUBS ( HAREN )
MILWAUKEE ( LOPEZ ) |
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| 959 | CHICAGO CUBS | -145 | Ov 8.5,-110 | -135 | Ov 8,-110 | | 960 | MILWAUKEE | +135 | Un 8.5,-110 | +125 | Un 8,-110 |
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| All Games | 96-65 | +15.9 | 72-80 | 4.3 | 0.244 | 0.315 | 0.399 | 0.713 | 3.8 | 0.233 | 0.287 | 0.373 | 0.660 | | Road Games | 47-33 | +12.7 | 38-36 | 4.5 | 0.251 | 0.315 | 0.401 | 0.716 | 3.8 | 0.236 | 0.291 | 0.367 | 0.657 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 76-51 | +11.8 | 57-63 | 4.4 | 0.247 | 0.317 | 0.410 | 0.727 | 3.7 | 0.229 | 0.283 | 0.365 | 0.647 | | Past 7 Games | 7-0 | +7 | 2-4 | 4.4 | 0.259 | 0.333 | 0.395 | 0.728 | 1.1 | 0.137 | 0.167 | 0.187 | 0.355 | | Grass Games | 96-65 | +15.9 | 72-80 | 4.3 | 0.244 | 0.315 | 0.399 | 0.713 | 3.8 | 0.233 | 0.287 | 0.373 | 0.660 | | Day Games | 37-30 | -3.1 | 31-32 | 4.1 | 0.234 | 0.307 | 0.385 | 0.691 | 3.8 | 0.240 | 0.289 | 0.394 | 0.682 | | Division | 45-30 | +9.8 | 34-35 | 4.3 | 0.256 | 0.327 | 0.401 | 0.729 | 3.9 | 0.232 | 0.286 | 0.360 | 0.645 |
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| All Games | 4.3 | 0.244 | 0.315 | 161 | 5459 | 1331 | 272 | 30 | 171 | 0.399 | 656 | 563 | 1509 | 93 | 1158 | 120 | 112 | 119 | 136 | | Road Games | 4.5 | 0.251 | 0.315 | 80 | 2846 | 713 | 160 | 15 | 79 | 0.401 | 344 | 270 | 793 | 50 | 599 | 57 | 61 | 67 | 54 | | Righty Starters | 4.4 | 0.247 | 0.317 | 127 | 4325 | 1067 | 212 | 26 | 148 | 0.410 | 533 | 443 | 1163 | 75 | 906 | 96 | 91 | 94 | 121 |
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| All Games | 3.39 | 1.233 | 511.7 | 223 | 193 | 449 | 42 | 182 | 508 | 37-26 | 47 | 19 | 71.2% | | Road Games | 3.31 | 1.269 | 236.3 | 101 | 87 | 208 | 13 | 92 | 228 | 13-15 | 27 | 9 | 75% |
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| All Games | 68-93 | -20.3 | 81-68 | 4.1 | 0.252 | 0.305 | 0.394 | 0.699 | 4.6 | 0.262 | 0.325 | 0.424 | 0.749 | | Home Games | 34-46 | -16.7 | 42-33 | 4.2 | 0.251 | 0.309 | 0.405 | 0.714 | 4.8 | 0.261 | 0.318 | 0.443 | 0.761 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 49-73 | -19.9 | 63-51 | 4.0 | 0.249 | 0.301 | 0.386 | 0.687 | 4.7 | 0.265 | 0.328 | 0.428 | 0.756 | | Past 7 Games | 3-4 | +1 | 1-4 | 2.9 | 0.213 | 0.255 | 0.317 | 0.573 | 3.1 | 0.256 | 0.349 | 0.399 | 0.748 | | Grass Games | 68-93 | -20.3 | 81-68 | 4.1 | 0.252 | 0.305 | 0.394 | 0.699 | 4.6 | 0.262 | 0.325 | 0.424 | 0.749 | | Day Games | 22-29 | -6.1 | 25-24 | 3.9 | 0.256 | 0.305 | 0.397 | 0.701 | 4.6 | 0.267 | 0.331 | 0.425 | 0.757 | | Division | 31-44 | -6.6 | 37-34 | 4.0 | 0.246 | 0.302 | 0.380 | 0.683 | 4.3 | 0.250 | 0.316 | 0.414 | 0.730 |
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| All Games | 4.1 | 0.252 | 0.305 | 161 | 5452 | 1375 | 272 | 34 | 145 | 0.394 | 624 | 410 | 1293 | 83 | 1023 | 152 | 115 | 161 | 102 | | Home Games | 4.2 | 0.251 | 0.309 | 80 | 2666 | 668 | 143 | 21 | 76 | 0.405 | 323 | 225 | 627 | 41 | 510 | 66 | 58 | 66 | 43 | | Righty Starters | 4.0 | 0.249 | 0.301 | 122 | 4138 | 1029 | 190 | 21 | 112 | 0.386 | 465 | 308 | 987 | 56 | 766 | 116 | 95 | 129 | 66 |
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| All Games | 3.44 | 1.241 | 526 | 221 | 201 | 471 | 61 | 182 | 542 | 23-15 | 40 | 12 | 76.9% | | Home Games | 3.60 | 1.229 | 275 | 125 | 110 | 245 | 37 | 93 | 277 | 12-9 | 21 | 7 | 75% |
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| 9/20/2015 | LESTER(L) | ST LOUIS | MARTINEZ(R) | 3-4 | L | -140 | 7.5 un | U | 6 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 0 | | 9/21/2015 | HAMMEL(R) | MILWAUKEE | PERALTA(R) | 9-5 | W | -210 | 8 un | O | 13 | 10 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 0 | | 9/22/2015 | ARRIETA(R) | MILWAUKEE | CRAVY(R) | 4-0 | W | -325 | 7.5 ev | U | 7 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | | 9/23/2015 | HENDRICKS(R) | MILWAUKEE | DAVIES(R) | 1-4 | L | -225 | 8 un | U | 4 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | | 9/25/2015 | LESTER(L) | PITTSBURGH | COLE(R) | 2-3 | L | -115 | 6.5 un | U | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 0 | | 9/26/2015 | HAMMEL(R) | PITTSBURGH | LIRIANO(L) | 0-4 | L | +100 | 7.5 un | U | 4 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 9 | 0 | | 9/27/2015 | ARRIETA(R) | PITTSBURGH | BURNETT(R) | 4-0 | W | -175 | 7 ov | U | 9 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | | 9/28/2015 | HENDRICKS(R) | KANSAS CITY | VENTURA(R) | 1-0 | W | +105 | 8 un | U | 4 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 | | 9/29/2015 | HAREN(R) | @ CINCINNATI | SMITH(R) | 4-1 | W | -135 | 8.5 ov | U | 8 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | | 9/30/2015 | LESTER(L) | @ CINCINNATI | DESCLAFANI(R) | 10-3 | W | -155 | 7 ov | O | 16 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | | 10/1/2015 | HAMMEL(R) | @ CINCINNATI | LAMB(L) | 5-3 | W | -115 | 7.5 un | O | 8 | 5 | 2 | 12 | 9 | 0 | | 10/2/2015 | ARRIETA(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | PENA(R) | 6-1 | W | -235 | 7 ov | P | 10 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 2 | | 10/3/2015 | HENDRICKS(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | WAGNER(R) | 1-0 | W | -190 | 8 ev | U | 8 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | | 10/4/2015 | HAREN(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | LOPEZ(R) | |
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| 9/20/2015 | PENA(R) | CINCINNATI | DESCLAFANI(R) | 8-4 | W | +105 | 7.5 un | O | 13 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 3 | | 9/21/2015 | PERALTA(R) | @ CHICAGO CUBS | HAMMEL(R) | 5-9 | L | 190 | 8 un | O | 8 | 5 | 0 | 13 | 10 | 3 | | 9/22/2015 | CRAVY(R) | @ CHICAGO CUBS | ARRIETA(R) | 0-4 | L | 265 | 7.5 ev | U | 3 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 0 | | 9/23/2015 | DAVIES(R) | @ CHICAGO CUBS | HENDRICKS(R) | 4-1 | W | 205 | 8 un | U | 6 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | | 9/24/2015 | JUNGMANN(R) | @ ST LOUIS | WACHA(R) | 3-7 | L | 185 | 7 un | O | 9 | 8 | 0 | 12 | 6 | 1 | | 9/25/2015 | PENA(R) | @ ST LOUIS | MARTINEZ(R) | 4-3 | W | 200 | 7 un | P | 9 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 1 | | 9/26/2015 | WAGNER(R) | @ ST LOUIS | GARCIA(L) | 1-5 | L | 205 | 7.5 un | U | 7 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 0 | | 9/27/2015 | CRAVY(R) | @ ST LOUIS | LACKEY(R) | 8-4 | W | 200 | 7.5 un | O | 9 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 9 | 1 | | 9/29/2015 | LOPEZ(R) | @ SAN DIEGO | ROSS(R) | 4-3 | W | 165 | 7 un | P | 7 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 0 | | 9/30/2015 | DAVIES(R) | @ SAN DIEGO | CASHNER(R) | 5-0 | W | 135 | 7 un | U | 13 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 1 | | 10/1/2015 | JUNGMANN(R) | @ SAN DIEGO | KENNEDY(R) | 1-3 | L | 125 | 7 ov | U | 7 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | | 10/2/2015 | PENA(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | ARRIETA(R) | 1-6 | L | +215 | 7 ov | P | 4 | 5 | 2 | 10 | 8 | 2 | | 10/3/2015 | WAGNER(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | HENDRICKS(R) | 0-1 | L | +180 | 8 ev | U | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 12 | 0 | | 10/4/2015 | LOPEZ(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | HAREN(R) | |
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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. | | MILWAUKEE: MILWAUKEE (AP) - Success for the Brewers this season may hinge on Milwaukee's consistency in the batter's box.
September swoons can prove costly - as can prolonged slumps any other time of year, for that matter.
A lineup filled with accomplished hitters like Ryan Braun, Jonathan Lucroy and Carlos Gomez has the potential to score runs. To break into the playoffs from the competitive NL Central, the Brewers must eliminate team-wide slumps.
''Last year we kind of grinded it to a point where instead of just playing day to day and for that game and to win, we looked like we were forcing things,'' manager Ron Roenicke said. ''We were trying to hold on to what we had, and that's not the way we go about it.''
The Brewers spent 150 days in first place before a stunning, late-season collapse left them out of the playoffs for a third straight year.
''We've got a good club, and when we're playing the type of baseball I think we can play every night ... if we just worry about that game today, at the end of the season, good things will happen,'' the skipper added from the team's spring training complex in Phoenix.
The lineup is bashing again this spring.
After a slow start, Braun has been hitting much better following an unusual offseason medical procedure. Extreme cold was applied to his right hand in hopes of fixing a lingering nerve problem near the thumb.
Lucroy also looks like he is over a hamstring injury that limited him for the first few weeks of spring training. The upbeat, energetic Gomez had three homers three weeks into spring ball.
''Every day you learn something new ... you learn from that,'' Gomez said about the 2014 season. ''The first step we have to do is make the playoffs. We take it game by game.''
The regular season begins on April 6 against Colorado at Miller Park. Some things to watch with the Brewers:
PITCHING: The Brewers don't have a true ace, but they do have solid veterans atop the rotation in Kyle Lohse and Matt Garza. Wily Peralta won 17 games last year in his second full season in the majors, and Mike Fiers impressed down the stretch. But Milwaukee traded Yovani Gallardo and Marco Estrada, so there is no experienced starting depth. Young right-hander Jimmy Nelson must prove he can be a consistent fifth starter. A long-term injury to any of the starting five could leave the Brewers scrambling.
In the bullpen, veteran Francisco Rodriguez figures to return to the closer's role after re-signing with the club more than two weeks into spring training. He bounced back with 44 saves in 49 chances last season.
AGGRESSIVENESS: Roenicke likes his team to take chances on the base paths, and he's sticking with that philosophy. That puts the Brewers in attack mode, and when working at its best, the strategy forces the defense to rush and possibly make mistakes. But rally-killing outs on the bases can make fans at Miller Park groan. Perhaps of more concern is the approach at the plate, where the Brewers led the majors by swinging at 33 percent of first pitches, according to STATS. Darnell Coles is the new hitting coach. The team wants to stay aggressive while having more plate discipline.
KEYSTONE COMBO: While Braun, Lucroy and Gomez draw much of the attention in the lineup, the Brewers' keystone combination of second baseman Scooter Gennett and shortstop Jean Segura will be just as vital to the team's success. Gennett, a left-hander, will play every day and must prove he can hit lefties consistently. The speedy Segura is a top defender, though he is looking to bounce back from a slump that dropped his average nearly 50 points to .246.
RAMMY OUT: It is probably one more and done for third baseman Aramis Ramirez, who turns 36 in June. He has said he likely will retire after this season to spend more time with his family. Ramirez's production has waned over the last two seasons, though he remains one of the best in the league in fielding bunts and slow rollers to third. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER NL PREVIEW (CHICAGO CUBS-MILWAUKEE) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Cubs-Brewers Preview* ======================
By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer
Chicago (95-65) at Milwaukee (68-92), 3:10 p.m. EDT
The Chicago Cubs have put themselves in position to perhaps conclude a special regular season with another memorable accomplishment.
Still in the hunt to host next week's NL wild-card game, the visiting Cubs try to close out the season with an eight-game win streak Sunday against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one hit and struck out eight in six innings and Addison Russell delivered a RBI single in the second that was the difference in Saturday's 1-0 victory. Winners in 14 of the last 18, the Cubs (96-65) are one game behind Pittsburgh in the race for the top wild-card spot.
"It's pretty interesting isn't it? I'm really proud of our guys," manager Joe Maddon said.
With a victory Sunday and a Pirates' loss to Cincinnati, Chicago would host Wednesday's wild-card contest by virtue of owning the head-to-head tiebreaker between the clubs.
"It'd be huge," Hendricks said about the possibility of playing at Wrigley Field. "We feel confident in our team no matter where we play, but obviously the home atmosphere has been unbelievable ... and would help use out that much more."
Chicago's starting pitchers have dominated over the last seven games, yielding one earned run, striking out 53 and walking two over 45 1-3 innings.
Dan Haren (10-9, 3.67 ERA) allowed three hits and struck out six without a walk in 7 1-3 innings of Tuesday's 4-1 victory at Cincinnati to finish 2-0 with a 2.36 ERA in five September starts.
"That's really the best he's thrown the ball for us," Maddon said about Haren, who is 3-2 with a 4.30 ERA in 10 starts since coming over from Miami in late July.
If Chicago is to top Pittsburgh and face St. Louis in the division series, it's uncertain if Haren would make that roster. However, the veteran right-hander can at least take comfort with the way he's thrown the ball of late.
"The last few times out have been a lot better," he said. "I'm confident I can get the job done."
Haren wasn't overly effective Aug. 11 when he allowed three runs and five hits in 5 1-3 innings of a 6-3 win over Milwaukee.
The Brewers (68-93) have totaled two runs and 13 hits while losing their last three games. They've scored 25 runs, hit .180 and fanned 118 times while losing 11 of their last 12 to the Cubs.
A possible candidate for the Brewers third base job in 2016, Hernan Perez had one of his team's two hits Saturday and is 6 for 14 in the last four games.
Jorge Lopez (1-0, 5.40) takes the ball for Milwaukee after he allowed three runs, eight hits and struck out seven in five innings to win his major league debut, 4-3 at San Diego on Tuesday.
"It was amazing," the right-hander said. "I was excited at first. I was like, 'Here I am.' I was thinking, 'Let's go and pound and attack the zone."'
Lopez was the Brewers' minor league pitcher of the year, and earned the same honor in the Southern League after going 12-5 with 2.26 ERA in 24 starts for Double-A Biloxi.
"I like to win games, compete," he said.
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| | Last Updated: 4/26/2024 7:19:39 PM EST. |
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