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NY METS ( COLON ) |
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| 907 | CHICAGO CUBS | -120 | Ov 7,+105 | -125 | Ov 7,+100 | | 908 | NY METS | +110 | Un 7,-125 | +115 | Un 7,-120 |
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| All Games | 40-35 | +1.8 | 30-40 | 3.9 | 0.243 | 0.311 | 0.385 | 0.696 | 3.8 | 0.239 | 0.294 | 0.385 | 0.679 | | Road Games | 20-20 | +0.2 | 20-17 | 4.6 | 0.249 | 0.312 | 0.403 | 0.715 | 4.2 | 0.254 | 0.305 | 0.403 | 0.708 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 33-31 | -2.1 | 25-35 | 3.8 | 0.243 | 0.308 | 0.389 | 0.697 | 3.7 | 0.236 | 0.291 | 0.377 | 0.668 | | Past 7 Games | 2-5 | -3.2 | 1-6 | 1.1 | 0.222 | 0.298 | 0.278 | 0.576 | 3.4 | 0.204 | 0.275 | 0.356 | 0.631 | | Grass Games | 40-35 | +1.8 | 30-40 | 3.9 | 0.243 | 0.311 | 0.385 | 0.696 | 3.8 | 0.239 | 0.294 | 0.385 | 0.679 | | Night Games | 27-20 | +7.4 | 20-24 | 4.2 | 0.254 | 0.320 | 0.413 | 0.733 | 3.9 | 0.241 | 0.297 | 0.381 | 0.679 |
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| All Games | 3.9 | 0.243 | 0.311 | 75 | 2565 | 624 | 124 | 13 | 71 | 0.385 | 281 | 252 | 704 | 49 | 546 | 59 | 55 | 62 | 56 | | Road Games | 4.6 | 0.249 | 0.312 | 40 | 1415 | 352 | 71 | 9 | 43 | 0.403 | 177 | 130 | 379 | 23 | 277 | 31 | 32 | 36 | 23 | | Righty Starters | 3.8 | 0.243 | 0.308 | 64 | 2192 | 533 | 106 | 12 | 63 | 0.389 | 234 | 206 | 603 | 39 | 458 | 52 | 49 | 54 | 52 |
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| All Games | 3.02 | 1.217 | 238.3 | 88 | 80 | 197 | 18 | 93 | 221 | 18-13 | 18 | 10 | 64.3% | | Road Games | 3.53 | 1.312 | 119.7 | 50 | 47 | 108 | 9 | 49 | 105 | 6-8 | 11 | 6 | 64.7% |
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| All Games | 40-38 | -0.5 | 36-37 | 3.5 | 0.233 | 0.291 | 0.361 | 0.652 | 3.7 | 0.247 | 0.296 | 0.379 | 0.675 | | Home Games | 29-12 | +14.8 | 20-19 | 4.2 | 0.240 | 0.307 | 0.377 | 0.684 | 3.3 | 0.245 | 0.290 | 0.369 | 0.659 | | vs Left-handed Starters | 7-6 | +0.8 | 6-7 | 3.7 | 0.243 | 0.302 | 0.406 | 0.708 | 3.3 | 0.221 | 0.286 | 0.352 | 0.638 | | Past 7 Games | 4-3 | +1.1 | 1-6 | 2.3 | 0.177 | 0.249 | 0.273 | 0.522 | 1.7 | 0.212 | 0.272 | 0.294 | 0.566 | | Grass Games | 40-36 | +1.5 | 36-35 | 3.6 | 0.236 | 0.293 | 0.363 | 0.656 | 3.6 | 0.245 | 0.293 | 0.376 | 0.669 | | Night Games | 22-32 | -12.6 | 21-28 | 3.0 | 0.220 | 0.273 | 0.334 | 0.607 | 3.8 | 0.255 | 0.306 | 0.395 | 0.701 |
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| All Games | 3.5 | 0.233 | 0.291 | 78 | 2571 | 600 | 118 | 7 | 65 | 0.361 | 264 | 210 | 599 | 30 | 501 | 84 | 46 | 64 | 32 | | Home Games | 4.2 | 0.240 | 0.307 | 41 | 1347 | 323 | 72 | 4 | 35 | 0.377 | 166 | 131 | 287 | 15 | 272 | 36 | 18 | 42 | 10 | | Lefty Starters | 3.7 | 0.243 | 0.302 | 13 | 436 | 106 | 16 | 2 | 17 | 0.406 | 46 | 37 | 116 | 5 | 86 | 13 | 4 | 8 | 7 |
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| All Games | 2.81 | 1.182 | 204.7 | 66 | 64 | 160 | 13 | 82 | 191 | 9-7 | 24 | 7 | 77.4% | | Home Games | 2.46 | 1.152 | 120.7 | 34 | 33 | 98 | 9 | 41 | 113 | 8-2 | 16 | 5 | 76.2% |
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| 6/17/2015 | WADA(L) | @ CLEVELAND | MARCUM(R) | 17-0 | W | 120 | 8 un | O | 18 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1 | | 6/18/2015 | HAMMEL(R) | @ CLEVELAND | SALAZAR(R) | 3-4 | L | 135 | 7.5 ov | U | 7 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 1 | | 6/19/2015 | HENDRICKS(R) | @ MINNESOTA | HUGHES(R) | 2-7 | L | -110 | 8 ov | O | 4 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 5 | 0 | | 6/20/2015 | LESTER(L) | @ MINNESOTA | MAY(R) | 4-1 | W | -105 | 8 ov | U | 11 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 1 | | 6/21/2015 | ARRIETA(R) | @ MINNESOTA | GIBSON(R) | 8-0 | W | -135 | 8 ov | P | 12 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | | 6/22/2015 | WADA(L) | LA DODGERS | KERSHAW(L) | 4-2 | W | +165 | 8.5 un | U | 5 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | | 6/23/2015 | HAMMEL(R) | LA DODGERS | GREINKE(R) | 1-0 | W | +125 | 7 un | U | 5 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | | 6/24/2015 | HENDRICKS(R) | LA DODGERS | BOLSINGER(R) | 2-5 | L | +100 | 8 un | U | 9 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | | 6/25/2015 | LESTER(L) | LA DODGERS | FRIAS(R) | 0-4 | L | -145 | 7 un | U | 8 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | | 6/26/2015 | ARRIETA(R) | @ ST LOUIS | LACKEY(R) | 2-3 | L | 110 | 6.5 ov | U | 12 | 12 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 0 | | 6/27/2015 | ROACH(R) | @ ST LOUIS | WACHA(R) | 1-8 | L | 165 | 7 ov | O | 7 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 9 | 0 | | 6/28/2015 | HAMMEL(R) | @ ST LOUIS | MARTINEZ(R) | 1-4 | L | 125 | 7 un | U | 6 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 1 | | 6/30/2015 | HENDRICKS(R) | @ NY METS | NIESE(L) | 1-0 | W | -120 | 7 ov | U | 4 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | | 7/1/2015 | LESTER(L) | @ NY METS | COLON(R) | | | 7/2/2015 | ARRIETA(R) | @ NY METS | DEGROM(R) | | | 7/3/2015 | ROACH(R) | MIAMI | KOEHLER(R) | | | 7/4/2015 | HAMMEL(R) | MIAMI | URENA(R) | | | 7/5/2015 | HENDRICKS(R) | MIAMI | LATOS(R) | | | 7/6/2015 | LESTER(L) | ST LOUIS | LACKEY(R) | | | 7/7/2015 | | ST LOUIS | | | | 7/7/2015 | | ST LOUIS | | | | 7/8/2015 | | ST LOUIS | | |
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| 6/17/2015 | NIESE(L) | @ TORONTO | HUTCHISON(R) | 0-8 | L | 190 | 8.5 ov | U | 6 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 0 | | 6/18/2015 | COLON(R) | @ TORONTO | DICKEY(R) | 1-7 | L | 150 | 9 un | U | 3 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 0 | | 6/19/2015 | DEGROM(R) | @ ATLANTA | WISLER(R) | 1-2 | L | -140 | 7 un | U | 6 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 1 | | 6/20/2015 | SYNDERGAARD(R) | @ ATLANTA | PEREZ(R) | 4-6 | L | -125 | 7 ev | O | 8 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 6 | 0 | | 6/21/2015 | HARVEY(R) | @ ATLANTA | TEHERAN(R) | 0-1 | L | -125 | 7 un | U | 4 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 0 | | 6/23/2015 | NIESE(L) | @ MILWAUKEE | FIERS(R) | 2-3 | L | 145 | 8 un | U | 4 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 11 | 1 | | 6/24/2015 | COLON(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | NELSON(R) | 1-4 | L | 120 | 7.5 ev | U | 3 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 0 | | 6/25/2015 | DEGROM(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | JUNGMANN(R) | 2-0 | W | -115 | 7 ev | U | 10 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | | 6/26/2015 | SYNDERGAARD(R) | CINCINNATI | CUETO(R) | 2-1 | W | +110 | 6.5 un | U | 2 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 1 | | 6/27/2015 | HARVEY(R) | CINCINNATI | LORENZEN(R) | 2-1 | W | -160 | 7 un | U | 11 | 19 | 0 | 11 | 12 | 2 | | 6/28/2015 | MATZ(L) | CINCINNATI | SMITH(R) | 7-2 | W | -140 | 7.5 un | O | 8 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 2 | | 6/30/2015 | NIESE(L) | CHICAGO CUBS | HENDRICKS(R) | 0-1 | L | +110 | 7 ov | U | 3 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 0 | | 7/1/2015 | COLON(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | LESTER(L) | | | 7/2/2015 | DEGROM(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | ARRIETA(R) | | | 7/3/2015 | SYNDERGAARD(R) | @ LA DODGERS | KERSHAW(L) | | | 7/4/2015 | HARVEY(R) | @ LA DODGERS | GREINKE(R) | | | 7/5/2015 | MATZ(L) | @ LA DODGERS | BOLSINGER(R) | | | 7/6/2015 | NIESE(L) | @ SAN FRANCISCO | HESTON(R) | | | 7/7/2015 | COLON(R) | @ SAN FRANCISCO | CAIN(R) | | | 7/8/2015 | | @ SAN FRANCISCO | | |
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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. | | NY METS: NEW YORK (AP) - The big names for the New York Mets this season: Matt Harvey, David Wright, Tommy John.
Finally confident they're a playoff contender, the Mets absorbed a familiar setback in spring training - two of them, really. Zack Wheeler and Josh Edgin became the latest New York pitchers to have reconstructive elbow surgery, sidelining both until next year.
Wheeler's injury prevents the Mets from lining up three electric young arms at the top of their rotation. And the loss of Edgin, who had a 1.32 ERA last season, leaves the bullpen without a dependable lefty.
But the return of Harvey, an imposing ace back from his own Tommy John operation in 2013, has the team talking about October aspirations.
''We've been sitting around for four years asking everybody to be patient,'' manager Terry Collins said when camp opened. ''Well, it's time.''
Former batting champ Michael Cuddyer was signed to add offense, and his Virginia hometown buddy Wright looks healthy again at the plate. So while hardly anyone expects the Mets to unseat Washington atop the NL East, anything short of a wild-card push would be a disappointment.
That's a new outlook for a big-market club that has spent several years trimming payroll while rebuilding under general manager Sandy Alderson. New York improved by five wins last year and finished 79-83, its sixth consecutive losing season since moving into Citi Field.
''Is the team capable of winning 89-90 games? Yeah, I think the team is capable,'' Alderson said last month. ''It has that capacity. I think it has that potential.''
Harvey highlights a solid group of starters that includes 2014 NL Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom, who made a successful comeback in the minors from Tommy John surgery - the ligament-replacement procedure named for its pioneer pitching patient in 1974.
Dillon Gee, who was headed for the bullpen, instead slides back into the rotation as Wheeler's substitute. He rejoins Jonathon Niese and 41-year-old Bartolo Colon, a 15-game winner last season.
With young right-hander Rafael Montero also in the mix, plus top prospects Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz (a former Tommy John patient) getting close, the Mets might indeed have enough pitching depth to offset the injuries.
Especially if Tommy John veterans Jenrry Mejia and Bobby Parnell can lock down games in the late innings.
Mejia had his operation in 2011, shifted to a relief role last season and posted 28 saves. Parnell, the team's previous closer, had surgery last April and could be back this May.
New York is hardly the only team hurt by the recent rash of torn elbow ligaments all over baseball. Look no further than division rivals Washington, Miami and Atlanta.
But for a club that's been rebuilding around a young stable of power arms, rebuilding all those elbows has taken its toll on progress.
''Every guy that throws hard eventually is going to have it,'' Wheeler said.
The regular season begins April 6 in Washington. Here are some other story lines to watch for with the Mets this season:
POWER COMPANY: New York finished 12th in the National League in slugging percentage (.364) last year and 13th in batting average (.238). More is needed from Curtis Granderson, who hit .227 with 20 homers and 66 RBIs in his first season with the Mets after signing a $60 million, four-year contract. Kevin Long, a Granderson favorite during his Yankees days, was hired as hitting coach - and the Mets moved in the Citi Field fences for the second time to help Granderson, Wright and Lucas Duda in right-center. Wright, a seven-time All-Star, is eager to rebound after a left shoulder injury contributed to his 2014 bust. Duda will try to repeat his breakout season of 30 homers and 92 RBIs.
UP THE MIDDLE: Outside of Gold Glove center fielder Juan Lagares, the defense appears shaky. Wilmer Flores, a young hitter with a suspect glove, starts at shortstop - a gaping hole since Jose Reyes left following the 2011 season. All-Star second baseman Daniel Murphy is also limited defensively, so double-play chances could get dicey. Passed balls and wild throws are a concern for catcher Travis d'Arnaud.
UNDER PRESSURE: Increased expectations mean added scrutiny for Collins entering the final guaranteed season of his contract. Word is Alderson was even considering a change last year before deciding to bring Collins back. In truth, this is probably his first chance in five years to manage a Mets team talented enough to contend - but it might be his only one. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER NL PREVIEW (CHICAGO CUBS-NY METS) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Cubs-Mets Preview* ===================
By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer
Chicago (39-35) at New York (40-37), 7:10 p.m. EDT
Joe Maddon brought in a magician to snap the Cubs out of a funk. He can only hope Jon Lester fell under his spell.
After some excellent pitching helped the Cubs end their longest slide of the season, Maddon is looking for that to rub off on Lester as the left-hander tries for his first win in more than six weeks Wednesday night against the New York Mets.
With Chicago (40-35) mired in a five-game losing streak, Maddon hired a magician to entertain the team in another of his tension-reducing stunts that made him popular with Tampa Bay.
It seemed to do the trick, as the Cubs got an RBI double from Matt Szczur to edge the Mets 1-0 in Tuesday's opener. They've won seven straight over New York (40-38), one shy of their record in the all-time series most recently done from 2003-04.
"I just felt more comfortable and, I'm sure the guys felt the same, because he kind of tones it down a little bit, lets you relax," Szczur said about Maddon. "It was a fun time."
Lester (4-6, 4.03 ERA) isn't having much fun as he struggles to live up to the six-year, $155 million free-agent contract he signed over the winter. The three-time All-Star owns the most losses on the team and his ERA is his highest in three years.
Lester is 0-4 with a 4.43 ERA in seven starts since beating Pittsburgh on May 16. However, he's only been backed by seven runs over that stretch, getting one or none in five.
"I feel good going into starts," Lester said. "It's not like I'm searching for things."
He was searching for his command in Thursday's 4-0 defeat to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He surrendered four runs with five strikeouts and four walks in four innings in his shortest outing as a Cub.
"It just comes down to the things I keep preaching and harping on, is fastball location and executing pitches," Lester said. "That's what it comes down to, and I'm not doing it consistently enough right now to help this team."
He gave up three runs and two homers while issuing four walks in six innings of a 4-3 win over New York on May 11.
Lester could be in for some better results Wednesday. The Mets are hitting .176 while averaging 1.8 runs during a 4-8 stretch. They mustered just three hits in the series opener as their four-game winning streak came to an end.
New York has a .192 average with 10 runs in five meetings with the Cubs this season, with Michael Cuddyer going 2 for 17. He's 2 for 28 over his last nine games overall.
The Mets are turning to their own struggling veteran in Bartolo Colon (9-6, 4.89), who is 3-5 with a 6.50 ERA over his last eight starts to nearly double his ERA from his first seven.
The right-hander has lost his last two, surrendering 11 runs and 19 hits in 10 1-3 innings. Both of those outings came on the road, though, and he's won six of eight home starts and three in a row behind a 3.79 ERA.
Colon is 0-2 with a 4.73 ERA in five career starts against Chicago, one of two teams (Arizona) that he's failed to defeat in his 18-year career.
Cubs rookie Kris Bryant is 7 for 16 with two homers, five walks and four RBIs against the Mets.
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| | Last Updated: 5/2/2024 1:18:43 AM EST. |
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