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CHICAGO CUBS ( HENDRICKS )
SAN DIEGO ( DESPAIGNE ) |
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| 961 | CHICAGO CUBS | +100 | Ov 7,-125 | -110 | Ov 7,-120 | | 962 | SAN DIEGO | -110 | Un 7,+105 | +100 | Un 7,+100 |
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| All Games | 22-17 | +2.8 | 18-17 | 4.3 | 0.247 | 0.321 | 0.389 | 0.711 | 4.3 | 0.248 | 0.300 | 0.390 | 0.690 | | Road Games | 9-9 | +0.4 | 11-5 | 4.9 | 0.247 | 0.312 | 0.419 | 0.731 | 5.2 | 0.263 | 0.320 | 0.429 | 0.749 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 18-14 | +1.6 | 13-16 | 3.9 | 0.241 | 0.313 | 0.389 | 0.703 | 3.9 | 0.240 | 0.292 | 0.367 | 0.659 | | Past 7 Games | 5-2 | +2.8 | 3-4 | 4.1 | 0.231 | 0.323 | 0.345 | 0.668 | 3.7 | 0.248 | 0.299 | 0.402 | 0.702 | | Grass Games | 22-17 | +2.8 | 18-17 | 4.3 | 0.247 | 0.321 | 0.389 | 0.711 | 4.3 | 0.248 | 0.300 | 0.390 | 0.690 | | Night Games | 14-8 | +6.2 | 11-8 | 4.8 | 0.269 | 0.341 | 0.445 | 0.786 | 4.3 | 0.242 | 0.297 | 0.369 | 0.667 |
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| All Games | 4.3 | 0.247 | 0.321 | 39 | 1325 | 327 | 62 | 8 | 37 | 0.389 | 158 | 145 | 387 | 39 | 295 | 28 | 31 | 30 | 29 | | Road Games | 4.9 | 0.247 | 0.312 | 18 | 635 | 157 | 36 | 5 | 21 | 0.419 | 85 | 60 | 190 | 16 | 122 | 12 | 17 | 15 | 10 | | Righty Starters | 3.9 | 0.241 | 0.313 | 32 | 1074 | 259 | 49 | 7 | 32 | 0.389 | 119 | 113 | 321 | 30 | 229 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 |
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| All Games | 4.20 | 1.350 | 120 | 59 | 56 | 113 | 10 | 49 | 115 | 9-7 | 10 | 7 | 58.8% | | Road Games | 5.15 | 1.526 | 57.7 | 35 | 33 | 60 | 6 | 28 | 54 | 4-5 | 5 | 4 | 55.6% |
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| All Games | 20-21 | -2 | 26-15 | 4.4 | 0.248 | 0.302 | 0.391 | 0.693 | 4.8 | 0.258 | 0.323 | 0.454 | 0.777 | | Home Games | 11-11 | -2.1 | 13-9 | 4.3 | 0.242 | 0.292 | 0.392 | 0.684 | 4.9 | 0.250 | 0.313 | 0.437 | 0.750 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 15-16 | -2 | 19-12 | 4.2 | 0.243 | 0.294 | 0.395 | 0.689 | 4.9 | 0.263 | 0.328 | 0.460 | 0.788 | | Past 7 Games | 3-4 | -1.1 | 4-3 | 3.4 | 0.225 | 0.270 | 0.370 | 0.640 | 5.0 | 0.269 | 0.338 | 0.420 | 0.759 | | Grass Games | 20-21 | -2 | 26-15 | 4.4 | 0.248 | 0.302 | 0.391 | 0.693 | 4.8 | 0.258 | 0.323 | 0.454 | 0.777 | | Night Games | 14-14 | -0.9 | 17-11 | 4.5 | 0.256 | 0.310 | 0.391 | 0.701 | 5.1 | 0.273 | 0.334 | 0.479 | 0.813 |
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| All Games | 4.4 | 0.248 | 0.302 | 41 | 1415 | 351 | 71 | 10 | 37 | 0.391 | 176 | 109 | 332 | 30 | 267 | 32 | 27 | 36 | 36 | | Home Games | 4.3 | 0.242 | 0.292 | 22 | 730 | 177 | 33 | 5 | 22 | 0.392 | 92 | 51 | 176 | 12 | 127 | 18 | 13 | 26 | 18 | | Righty Starters | 4.2 | 0.243 | 0.294 | 31 | 1068 | 259 | 49 | 9 | 32 | 0.395 | 125 | 78 | 245 | 27 | 195 | 23 | 19 | 31 | 26 |
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| All Games | 4.58 | 1.361 | 125.7 | 68 | 64 | 121 | 19 | 50 | 107 | 6-5 | 12 | 4 | 75% | | Home Games | 4.87 | 1.319 | 72 | 42 | 39 | 65 | 10 | 30 | 55 | 3-2 | 7 | 0 | 100% |
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| 5/7/2015 | ARRIETA(R) | @ ST LOUIS | LACKEY(R) | 1-5 | L | 105 | 7.5 un | U | 6 | 7 | 2 | 10 | 5 | 0 | | 5/8/2015 | HAMMEL(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | NELSON(R) | 7-6 | W | 100 | 8 ov | O | 10 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 9 | 2 | | 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) | | | 5/22/2015 | LESTER(L) | @ ARIZONA | COLLMENTER(R) | | | 5/23/2015 | ARRIETA(R) | @ ARIZONA | DE LA ROSA(R) | | | 5/24/2015 | | @ ARIZONA | | | | 5/25/2015 | | WASHINGTON | | | | 5/26/2015 | | WASHINGTON | | | | 5/27/2015 | | WASHINGTON | | |
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| 5/7/2015 | DESPAIGNE(R) | @ ARIZONA | DE LA ROSA(R) | 0-11 | L | 110 | 8.5 ov | O | 3 | 5 | 0 | 17 | 7 | 0 | | 5/8/2015 | SHIELDS(R) | @ ARIZONA | HELLICKSON(R) | 6-5 | W | -120 | 8.5 ev | O | 12 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 0 | | 5/9/2015 | ROSS(R) | @ ARIZONA | ANDERSON(R) | 6-4 | W | 105 | 8 un | O | 14 | 12 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 1 | | 5/10/2015 | CASHNER(R) | @ ARIZONA | HUDSON(R) | 1-2 | L | -105 | 8.5 un | U | 8 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | | 5/12/2015 | KENNEDY(R) | @ SEATTLE | PAXTON(L) | 4-11 | L | 125 | 7.5 un | O | 6 | 11 | 0 | 15 | 7 | 1 | | 5/13/2015 | SHIELDS(R) | @ SEATTLE | WALKER(R) | 4-2 | W | 130 | 7 ov | U | 8 | 6 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 1 | | 5/14/2015 | ROSS(R) | WASHINGTON | FISTER(R) | 8-3 | W | -110 | 6.5 ov | O | 13 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 10 | 0 | | 5/15/2015 | DESPAIGNE(R) | WASHINGTON | ZIMMERMANN(R) | 0-10 | L | +120 | 7 un | O | 7 | 7 | 0 | 16 | 7 | 0 | | 5/16/2015 | CASHNER(R) | WASHINGTON | SCHERZER(R) | 1-4 | L | +125 | 6.5 un | U | 5 | 7 | 2 | 11 | 7 | 0 | | 5/17/2015 | KENNEDY(R) | WASHINGTON | STRASBURG(R) | 5-10 | L | +115 | 6.5 ov | O | 7 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 0 | | 5/19/2015 | SHIELDS(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | HAMMEL(R) | 4-3 | W | -120 | 6.5 ov | O | 5 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 3 | | 5/20/2015 | ROSS(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | WADA(L) | 2-3 | L | -135 | 7 un | U | 6 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 0 | | 5/21/2015 | DESPAIGNE(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | HENDRICKS(R) | | | 5/22/2015 | CASHNER(R) | @ LA DODGERS | GREINKE(R) | | | 5/23/2015 | KENNEDY(R) | @ LA DODGERS | BOLSINGER(R) | | | 5/24/2015 | | @ LA DODGERS | | | | 5/25/2015 | | @ LA ANGELS | | | | 5/26/2015 | | @ LA ANGELS | | | | 5/27/2015 | | @ LA ANGELS | | | | 5/28/2015 | | PITTSBURGH | | |
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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. | | SAN DIEGO: San Diego Padres manager Bud Black turned the corner to meet the press on the first day of spring training and was taken aback at the throng of reporters waiting.
''What are we, the Yankees?'' Black asked.
No, but they're no longer the anonymous Padres, the light-hitting, star-less team planted near the bottom of the NL West.
Thanks to first-year general manager A.J. Preller's wild offseason, the Padres have been remade. There's suddenly star power. And expectations, too.
''The organization, from top on down, there's a different vibe,'' Black said.
A new ace in James Shields joins an already strong rotation. Matt Kemp, Justin Upton and Wil Myers make for a brand new power-hitting outfield. Derek Norris is now catching. Newcomers Yangervis Solarte and Will Middlebrooks have had great springs as they compete at third base.
''I'm impressed,'' Kemp said. ''We've got a lot of great players in this clubhouse. We have a really good chance of winning some games.''
It's been a long time since people have been saying that about the Padres. They were last in the postseason in 2006. They haven't had a winning season since 2010 and last year finished 18 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.
A lost season included a shake-up at the top. Preller, a former assistant GM with Texas, replaced the fired Josh Byrnes in August. Preller was then the clear star of baseball's hot stove season.
Kemp, who acknowledged he was shocked the Dodgers traded him, thinks the Padres now have the best outfield in the game.
Shields, who helped get Kansas City to the World Series last season, was the last piece. He signed in February.
''Shields wanted to be here. Kemp, Upton, Norris, those guys are happy to be here,'' Black said. ''They're happy to be in San Diego. They're happy to be a Padre. That's a good thing.''
Now it will be up to Black, lauded for squeezing as much as he can out of bad rosters, to make them winners. The Padres expect to contend for at least a wild card spot.
''I've been in San Diego for 40 years. That energy is back,'' Padres executive chairman Ron Fowler said. ''People are talking baseball and it's fun to be a Padre right now.''
ROTATION WORKHORSES: Adding Shields gives the Padres baseball's most durable pitcher on a staff already known for eating innings. The right-hander has tossed 1,785 2/3 innings since 2007. No pitcher has thrown more. Tyson Ross (195 2/3) and Ian Kennedy (201) were workhorses in 2014. Right-hander Andrew Cashner was the exception, but last year's opening-day starter has looked dominant as he returns from arm issues. Brandon Morrow and Odrisamer Despaigne are contending for the fifth spot. And Josh Johnson, coming back from elbow surgery, could be ready by June. ''The one thing we do have is pitching depth,'' Shields said. ''And you can never have too much.'' The one issue: no left-handers.
CAN THEY FIELD?: The new outfield packs power, but can they cover spacious Petco Park? Kemp's arthritic hips were made public during trade discussions and he no longer has the speed for center. Myers has only played there in the minors. ''They read the noise that we're not going to play defense,'' Black said. ''Players have a lot of pride.'' Veteran Wil Nieves, a non-roster invite, is the likely backup catcher with Tim Federowicz sidelined following knee surgery.
WHO PLAYS THIRD?: Solarte, acquired last summer from the Yankees, has impressed at the plate and can also play second and first. Middlebrooks, coming off a poor, injury-plagued 2014 in Boston, has hit well and looked smooth in the field. ''I'm not too worried about it. I know I'm a good player,'' Middlebrooks said. ''He's a good player as well. We're both going to be on the field at some point.''
WHAT HAPPENS TO QUENTIN?: Preller's next task is to figure out what to do with all his spare outfielders. That includes Carlos Quentin, the oft-injured two-time All-Star. ''Everyone knows there's a DH in the American League,'' said Quentin, who is open to a trade. Will Venable and Cameron Maybin also face uncertain futures.
PRESSURE ON BLACK: Black found a way to win 77 games last year with a roster that scored 535 runs, 38 fewer than any other team. But Preller declined to extend his contract in the offseason. ''We're both in the last year before we're free agents,'' Kennedy said, grinning. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER NL PREVIEW (CHICAGO CUBS-SAN DIEGO) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Cubs-Padres Preview* =====================
Chicago (22-17) at San Diego (20-21), 9:10 p.m. EDT
Two well-pitched games have resulted in a split in this series between the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres.
There won't be a low-scoring game in Thursday night's finale if San Diego's Odrisamer Despaigne turns in a start similar to his last two.
The Padres starter has nowhere to go but up after getting ripped for 15 runs over his last two outings heading into his first career start against the visiting Cubs.
San Diego (20-21) posted a 4-3 victory in Tuesday's opener, as the Padres' James Shields and Cubs' Jason Hammel each received no-decisions after seven stellar innings for each.
Chicago (22-17) won 3-2 the next night with 4 1-3 innings of scoreless relief after starter Tsuyoshi Wada struck out a career-high nine over 4 2-3 innings in his season debut after being out with a left groin strain. Tyson Ross absorbed the loss after he allowed three runs and struck out eight in seven innings.
The Cubs have struck out 24 times in this series - increasing their major league-high total to 387 - but they may like their chances of making solid contact Thursday.
That's because Despaigne (2-2, 6.75 ERA) surrendered eight runs in five innings in an 11-0 loss at Arizona on May 7 and seven over three in Friday's 10-0 home defeat to Washington.
"I think my control has been a little inconsistent," the Cuban right-hander said through a translator. "One time it's my fastball that's not working and the next time it's my curveball that's not working. It's just a matter of consistency."
Those outings are in stark contrast to Despaigne's first two starts April 14 and 20 in which he went 2-0 with a 1.98 ERA.
The only available Chicago hitter he has faced in the past is Miguel Montero, who is 3 for 10 with a homer.
The Cubs will start Kyle Hendricks (0-1, 5.15), who earned his first career victory with seven innings of five-hit ball in a 6-0 victory over San Diego on July 22. The right-hander faced the Padres most recently April 18 when he gave up two runs over six innings with eight strikeouts in a 7-6, 11-inning win.
Matt Kemp has the most at-bats among San Diego hitters versus Hendricks, going 1 for 6 with a homer.
Hendricks has failed to get through the sixth inning in his last five starts, giving up five runs in 5 2-3 in Friday's 11-10, 12-inning home win over Pittsburgh. The Cubs have dropped his last three road starts.
University of San Diego product Kris Bryant is 12 for 29 with three homers and nine RBIs during a nine-game hitting streak in which the Cubs are 7-2.
Chicago has won the most one-run games in baseball with a 12-7 mark.
Kemp is 0 for 8 with four strikeouts in this series to drop to 4 for 20 against the Cubs this year.
Justin Upton homered Wednesday, going deep for the third time in his last three games.
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| | Last Updated: 4/28/2024 6:15:42 AM EST. |
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