The Kids Are Coming: A Cubs Dynasty (The Show 15)

[Jr.]

Chicago Cubs MiLB Report

#1 Addison Russell, SS (AAA, 21 years old) - .301/.379/.386 3 HR, 16 RBI, 8 SBs
Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 60 | Run: 55 | Arm: 60 | Field: 55 | Overall: 65
Addison Russell continues to impress at the minor league level in 2015. He struggled initially after being traded to the Cubs last year, but has been one of the most consistent players in minor league baseball since then.

Russell has established himself as one of the best shortstop prospects in baseball, and he's erased any concerns about his long-term future at the position. He has the hands, range and arm strength needed to make stunning plays in the field.

Addison uses the whole field to hit, and his quick hands enable him to make consistent hard contact. He has surprising pop, and he could develop above-average power in the future. Russell isn't a speedster, but he gets the most out of his solid speed, and he's aggressive on the basepaths. MLB ETA – Late July/early August

#2 Carl Edwards Jr., RHP (AAA, 23 years old) – 2-4, 54 IP, 2.83 ERA, 59:16 K:BB ratio
Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 55
Acquired from the Rangers in the Matt Garza trade, Edwards has yet to fully reach his potential. He’s had some injury concerns, namely missing nearly all of the 2014 season due to a strained right shoulder.

Edwards usually operates in the low 90s with his fastball and has reached 97 mph, but the velocity doesn't matter as much as its natural cutting life. Hitters rarely make hard contact against his heater and it shows with a .224 BAA so far this year (though LHHs are having a bit of success against him). His secondary pitches continue to improve, with his curveball now sitting in the upper 70s with good depth and his changeup featuring some splitter action.

The big improvement has come in Edwards’ command, only issuing 16 walks in 54 innings thus far. The only real concern with him becoming a frontline starter is an extremely skinny frame that may not be suited to taking the ball every fifth day. MLB ETA - July

#3 Kyle Schwarber, C/OF (AA, 22 years old) - .270/.340/.468 7 HR, 19 RBI
Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 65 | Run: 40 | Arm: 45 | Field: 40 | Overall: 55
Drafted 4^th overall in 2013, Schwarber has followed a similar, if less spectacular, path that former top prospect Kris Bryant did. Schwarber tore up the lower levels after being drafted last season, and while he got off to a slow start this year, he’s started to turn it on at the AA level.

Widely considered the best all-around bat in the draft last year, Schwarber combines strength and bat speed from the left side of the plate and excels at recognizing pitches and working counts. He repeatedly makes hard contact and has the tools to become a .280 hitter with 30 homers and a high on-base percentage.

If he can stay at catcher, Schwarber's bat could make him a superstar. He moves well for his size and has some arm strength, but his throwing and receiving need a lot of work, and most scouts outside the organization don't think he can make it as a backstop. If he has to move to left field, where he played some in Indiana and in his pro debut, he still should make an offensive impact. MLB ETA – mid 2016

#4 Albert Almora, CF (AA, 21 years old) – .251/.303/.429 6 HR, 21 RBI
Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Arm: 60 | Field: 65 | Overall: 55
Another former top 10 pick in the Cubs system, Almora has struggled the past couple of seasons in pro ball. However, he’s still considered a high level prospect due to his elite defense and hard contact, when he makes it. He got off to a horrid start in 2015, but has bounced back a bit since being moved down in the lineup. He’s showing more power than he has in the past, which could inflate his value even more as he continues to excel at defense.

He projects as a possible Gold Glove player in center field, and if he can hit in the .280s with double digit power, he would be a perennial All-Star. While not a burner, he gets great jumps due to his instincts and takes very precise routes to run down fly balls in the gaps. He’s refining his approach a bit as shown by his 29:11 K:BB ratio. That means he’s probably had some bad luck with an extremely low BABIP thus far. The Cubs expect his numbers to rise and possibly compete for a MLB OF spot as soon as next year.
MLB ETA – mid 2016

#5 Gleybar Torres, SS (A, 18 years old) - .312/.381/.390 (real life stats)
Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55
Signed for $1.7 million out of Venezuela as part of the Cubs' $8.2 million international signing spree in 2013, Torres was even better than advertised in his first year as a pro. He had no trouble making his U.S. debut at age 17 and easily handled a jump to the short-season Northwest League in August.

An extremely advanced hitter for his age, Torres has a quick, short right-handed stroke and handles the bat well. He uses the entire field and has good knowledge of the strike zone. He's not physically imposing but has some strength that could produce close to average power once he learns to turn on pitches more often.

Because he has just average speed and quickness, Torres may wind up at second base in the long run. But he looked better at shortstop than expected and his instincts may allow him to stay there. His strong arm will allow him to play anywhere in the infield. MLB ETA – 2018

#6 Billy McKinney, OF (AA, 20 years old) - .225/.315/.401 5 HR, 20 RBI
Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm: 45 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55
The forgotten piece of the Samardzija/Hammel deal, McKinney came over to the Cubs and did what it seems all of their prospects have done the past 3 years… hit. However, that has not been the case so far this year as McKinney has struggled in the transition to AA. Still, he’s only 20 years old and one of the youngest players in the Southern League.

McKinney’s bat should come around because he has a smooth left-handed swing, outstanding hand-eye coordination, bat speed and an advanced approach. There's some question as to how much power he'll produce, but he barrels balls so easily that he should provide plenty of doubles with a peak of 18-20 homers per year.

McKinney played mostly center field in Oakland's system but shifted to left field with Almora anchoring CF. His average speed is better suited for a corner, though his instincts and aggressiveness allow him to play quicker than that on the bases and in the outfield. MLB ETA – 2017

#7 Pierce Johnson, RHP (AA, 24 years old) - 2-7, 5.21 ERA, 60:31 K:BB ratio
Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 60 | Cutter: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 50
The oldest player on this list, Johnson was signed for just over $1M after being taken in the supplemental 1^st round in 2012. He’s had some injury concerns, similar to Edwards, with hamstring issues last year that kept him out for a couple of months.

He’s off to a bad start this year, as his numbers show. The strikeouts are there, but he’s walking a lot of guys, and getting hit hard (.289 BAA). His ceiling is as high as a #2 starter, but his stock is dropping this season, and he needs to turn it around soon or he could be on the outside looking in come next season. At 24 years old, he needs to show that he’s a part of the organization’s future soon. MLB ETA – mid 2016

#8 Jen-Ho Tseng, RHP (A, 20 years old) - 2-4, 4.59 ERA (real life numbers)
Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 55 | Overall: 50
Tseng was the Minor League Pitcher of the Year in the Cubs organization last year after breaking out at the low A level. He’s struggled to find that same success this season, but he still projects as a possible #3 starter.

Tseng pitched in the low 90s early last season before settling in at 88-92 mph and a consistent peak of 94. Though he can locate his fastball on both sides of the plate, it may be just his third-best pitch. He has advanced feel for his changeup and can spin a tight curveball, both of which are plus offerings at their best.

Though his frame is fairly mature, Tseng needs to build up his strength so he can maintain his stuff throughout a full season. But even when he tired in the second half last year, his command and his competitiveness allow him to continue to succeed. He had a 1.64 ERA in the final two months and won both of his playoff starts. MLB ETA – 2017

#9 Dan Vogelbach, 1B (AA, 22 years old) - .288/.358/.384 3 HR, 18 RBI
Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 60 | Run: 20 | Arm: 40 | Field: 30 | Overall: 50
Bryce Harper made a name for himself when he slammed a 502-foot home run at the 2009 Power Showcase, a high school homer run derby, and Vogelbach topped him the next year with a 508-foot blast. That power has been showcased throughout Vogelbach’s pro career, but is disappointingly absent so far in 2015. While his average is still high, He has yet to fully tap into his pop, though he's also still just 22.

There are two obstacles to him becoming a regular for the Cubs: All-Star Anthony Rizzo and persistent questions about whether Vogelbach has enough athleticism to be more than a DH. He has gotten himself in much better shape than the days in high school when he carried 280 pounds on his 6-foot frame, but he's a base-clogger with limited range at first base. MLB ETA – 2016 (probably with another organization)

#10 Shawon Dunston Jr., OF (AA, 22 years old) - .280/.324/.393
Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 60 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50
The son of former Cubs shortstop Shawon Dunston, has struggled a bit early in his pro career. Making the move from CF to LF and platooning, he was slow out of the gate in 2014, but finished strong, hitting .295/.321/.425 over his last 37 games. That earned him a spot in AA Tennessee for the 2015 season where he’s shown that he can sustain that production.

Dunston needs to show that he’s got enough game-power to turn his contact into line drives and gappers, and that his speed plays in the game. He’s only got 3 SBs and has been caught twice, so it’s not looking great so far. He’s got a ways to go, but if he can refine his game, Dunston might find himself toward the top of the Cubs OF logjam in the minors. MLB ETA - 2017

[Jr.]

MLB Draft Preview: The Top Prospects

With the MLB Draft (June 4th, 6 pm ET MLB Network) less than a week away, let’s take a look at some of the top prospects and possible future MLB stars.

Mark Baldwin, RHP, UCLA
20 years old, 5’11 179 lbs
MLB Comp: Roy Oswalt

A flamethrower from southern California, Mark Baldwin reminds many people of Roy Oswalt. He’s a bit undersized at only 5’11, but he routinely touches 98 mph and pitches in the 94-96 range. Baldwin was a 15^th round pick out of high school, only because his asking price to sign was so high. He was eventually drafted by the San Diego Padres, but the Pads refused to meet Baldwin’s demands, so he went on to shine at UCLA. A starter for 3 years, Baldwin really found his groove this season, going 12-1 with a 1.21 ERA and 122 Ks in 98 IP. His most improved area has been his control, which vaulted him to the top of this class of pitchers. He is expected to go in the top 5.

Julio Lucero, RHP, University of Missouri
20 years old, 6’2 203 lbs
MLB Comp: Mike Leake

Lucero is a fantastic athlete who played both ways at Mizzou. A switch hitter at the plate, Lucero was top 10 in the SEC in hitting with a .353 average and 8 HRs. He closed for the Tigers and led the nation with 12 saves and a 0.52 ERA. Lucero’s stuff isn’t the most electric, but he pitches in the 90-92 range with his fastball and shows a developing curve and changeup. His true value is in his leadership, though, as he has his Tigers in the NCAA tournament, despite only a couple of other players on his team that will be drafted. He’s a big body, and should develop a little more velocity as he fills out. If he can fine tune his complementary pitches, Lucero probably fits better at the MLB level as a starter rather than a late-inning reliever. His best MLB comparison is Mike Leake, who was also a fantastic 2 way player at Arizona State and made the jump directly to the Majors after the draft. Lucero won’t do that, but he could be MLB ready by next season, similar to 1^st round pick Carlos Rodon from last year’s draft.

Nolan Camacho, OF, Iowa Western Community College
19 years old, 6’ 182 lbs
MLB Comp: Moises Alou

Camacho was a 3^rd round pick in the 2014 draft, but couldn’t reach an agreement to sign with the San Francisco Giants, so he enrolled at one of the top JuCo programs in the nation and is on his way to leading them to the JuCo World Series. Camacho is currently hitting .475 with 14 HRs and 76 RBI for Iowa Western. He might have the most MLB ready bat in the draft and shows an advanced approach at the plate. While he has 14 HRs this year, he doesn’t project as a big power guy at the MLB level. He may hit 20 HRs some year, but scouts see him as a potential .300 career hitter. He needs a lot of work defensively, which is why he plays the corner outfield instead of center, despite his 6.8 60 speed. His arm rates as only average, so he probably ends up as a left fielder in pro ball.

Stephen Arroyo, RHP, Archbishop Moeller HS (Cincinnati, OH)
18 years old, 6’3 214 lbs
MLB Comp: Trevor Hoffman

Arroyo is a big body, already developed, 18 year old stud. At 6’3, 214 lbs he’s already bigger than almost any other pitcher in this draft. On the mound, he tops out at 95, but pitches in the 90-92 range with a hard sinker and an electric changeup. That changeup is what compares him to Trevor Hoffman, who dominated baseball for 10+ years thanks to his. Arroyo’s changeup is already a 65 on the 20-80 scale, and should only improve as he learns how to utilize it better. For his high school, he plays 1B, hits 3^rd and closes every game he can. Because he’s only thrown 1-2 innings each outing, there is less concern from scouts about the wear on his body. It’s extremely rare to see a high school reliever go in the top 10, and Arroyo may very well fall out of the top 10, but he could be in the majors as early as his 20^th birthday, which makes him one of the top prospects in this draft.

Ramon Batista, LHP, Chipola Community College (Florida)
19 years old, 5’11 207 lbs
MLB Comp: Chris Sale

Batista is another JuCo player projected in the top 10. A bad-body pitcher, Batista struggles to go deep into games, but he’s got absolutely electric stuff. He routinely touches the mid 90s and has a plus slider and curve. His changeup has good fade action to it, but it’s still developing and he often is unable to find the zone with it. Speaking of that, control has been a bit of an issue for Batista this year as he’s given 45 free passes in 90 innings, but he’s also struck out 115 and has a .195 BAA. The Sale comparison is based purely on stuff. They both throw in the mid 90s with devastating off-speed pitches, but Batista has a ways to go before he meets that comparison. If he can reign in his control, we could see him in the majors before his 21^st birthday.

Felipe Cedeno, RHP, University of Texas
22 years old, 6’ 183 lbs
MLB Comp: Zach Britton

Cedeno was an unheralded prospect coming out of high school. Undrafted and lightly recruited, he attended Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (junior college) before exploding on the scene his 2^nd year. Sporting a 95+ mph sinker, Cedeno got an offer from the University of Texas and was immediately planted as their #2 starter as a Junior. He won 10 games and posted a 2.23 ERA, but was only drafted in the 20^th round. So he came back for his Senior year, hoping to build on his success. After injuries to the teams top bullpen arms, Cedeno asked his coach if he could close games to help his team. He turned in to one of the top closers in college baseball, posting 9 saves the 2^nd half of the season with a 1.85 ERA for the year. Another undersized arm, Cedeno draws comparisons to Zach Britton due to his power sinker and ability to move from starting to closing. Scouts think he could do either at the professional level, and where he ends up depends on what team takes him. As a closer, we could see him at the MLB level as soon as this September.

[Jr.]

Hammel Dominates Fish

Hammel was excellent throwing 8 shutout innings on Tuesday

MIAMI – Jason Hammel wanted to just forget his last start, at home against the Nationals. He gave up 5 runs in 4 innings, and only struck out 2. “Sometimes I want to watch film and learn from a poor outing,” Hammel said before yesterday’s series opener against the Miami Marlins. “But after last week, I just wanted to forget and move on. I didn’t do anything particularly well, and I wanted to get the feeling of that game out of my mind.”

Mission accomplished.

Hammel absolutely dominated the Marlins en route to a 6-0 Cubs win. He went 8 shutout innings, with 7 Ks and only 5 hits. “He had great stuff tonight. Anything I called, he put it right where it needed to be,” Miguel Montero said of Hammel after the game. It was Hammel’s best start of the season.. a season that hasn’t been the best since he signed back with Chicago this off-season after being traded to Oakland last year.

Hammel got little help from the offense until late in the game, so it was helpful that he was so good. Tommy LaStella, making a spot start to give Javier Baez a day off, got the Cubs on the board in the 3^rd with a RBI single that scored Matt Szczur from second base. Chicago then added 2 more in the 4^th off of a Chris Denorfia RBI single and a Matt Szczur fielder’s choice.

The Cubs broke open the game in the 8^th when Starlin Castro doubled into the gap to drive in LaStella, and Rizzo capped off the win with an opposite field 2 run homerun on a 0-2 slider from lefty Mike Dunn. It was Rizzo’s 13^th homerun of the season.

Travis Wood (4-3 4.98 ERA) looks to bounce back from his worst outing of the season and the Cubs go for the series sweep tomorrow night as they face Henderson Alvarez (3-4 4.45 ERA). The players aren’t the only ones busy as the organizations scouts and front office make final preparations for Thursday’s MLB Draft. The Cubs have the 9^th pick in the 1^st round.

Highlights:


Box Score:

Spoiler

Chicago Cubs at Miami Marlins
Jun 2, 2015	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Chicago (29-24)	0	0	1	2	0	0	0	3	0	6	8	2
Miami (27-26)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
W: Jason Hammel (4-5) L: Jarred Cosart (4-7)

Chicago Cubs
HITTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	HR	AVG
Castro, SS	4	1	1	1	0	0	0	.348
Bryant, 3B	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	.267
Rizzo, 1B	3	2	1	2	1	0	1	.340
Montero, C	4	1	1	0	0	0	0	.270
Denorfia, LF	4	0	1	1	0	1	0	.289
Lake, RF	4	0	1	0	0	3	0	.209
Szczur, CF	3	1	0	1	1	1	0	.200
Hammel, P	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	.053
Olt, PH	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.187
LaStella, 2B	3	1	2	1	0	1	0	.200
TEAM TOTALS	32	6	8	6	2	7	1
BATTING: 2B: Castro (18) HR: Rizzo (13) RBI: Castro (29), Rizzo 2 (29), Denorfia (20), Szczur (6), LaStella (6) SAC: Hammel
FIELDING: E: Hammel (2), Lake (3)

Miami Marlins
HITTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	HR	AVG
Gordon, 2B	4	0	0	0	0	1	0	.251
Yelich, LF	4	0	1	0	0	1	0	.291
Stanton, RF	3	0	1	0	1	0	0	.287
Ozuna, CF	4	0	1	0	0	2	0	.267
Morse, 1B	4	0	0	0	0	1	0	.269
Prado, 3B	2	0	0	0	1	1	0	.286
Hechavarria, SS	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	.240
Baker, PH-1B	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.186
Realmuto, C	4	0	0	0	0	2	0	.298
Cosart, P	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	.263
Solano, PH-SS	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	.322
TEAM TOTALS	33	0	5	0	2	8	0
BATTING: 2B: Solano (7) HBP: Prado

Chicago Cubs
PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Hammel (W, 4-5)	8.0	5	0	0	2	7	0	4.11
Medina	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	4.70
TEAM TOTALS	9.0	5	0	0	2	8	0

Miami Marlins
PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Cosart (L, 4-7)	6.0	5	3	3	2	3	0	4.87
Dyson	1.0	2	2	2	0	2	0	3.22
Dunn	1.0	1	1	1	0	0	1	5.79
Capps	1.0	0	0	0	0	2	0	4.82
TEAM TOTALS	9.0	8	6	6	2	7	1

Sim Games Recap:
Marlins Game 1 - Jorge Soler went 3-4 with 3 runs scored, Starlin Castro drove in 3 runs, Anthony Rizzo stole 2 bases, and Jake Arrieta (6 IP 8 H 3 R) notched a quality start as the Cubs notched an 8-3 victory in the series opener. Giancarlo Stanton went deep for the Marlins, but the offense could do little else against Arrieta and the Cubs pen. Mat Latos (6-3) was roughed up for 4 runs, all earned, in 5 innings with only 1 K.

[Gronk4M13]

Great prospect/minor league writeups.

[Jr.]

Quote: Originally Posted by Gronk4M13

Great prospect/minor league writeups.

I can't take all the credit. Some of it is copied from Baseball America's prospect reports. But thanks for reading and following along. I should get to the draft tonight and have a report up.

[Getty51]

I'm enjoying following along here with your dynasty as it gives me an idea the peaks and valleys another Cubs user is having. I think it is interesting that we both have had a pretty rough second half of May after starting off pretty decent.

Best of luck! Hope you can win the big one!

[Jr.]

Chicago Cubs 2015 Draft Recap

The Chicago Cubs completed their picks in the newly formatted 7 round MLB Draft on Thursday. In total the Cubs selected 6 players (the team did not have a 2nd round pick) and had the 9th overall selection in the 1st round. Let's take a closer look at their picks:

1st Round, #9 overall: LHP Ramon Batista
19 years old, 5'11 207 lbs.

Batista's stock dropped a bit after a poor outing in the JuCo World Series in Grand Junction, CO. He walked 6 batters and gave up 7 runs in 4 innings, but it wasn't enough to deter the Cubs from taking him with their 1st selection. The 19 year old's velocity was down in the low 90s in his last game, which is concerning, but he still flashed his two plus off-speed pitches. Batista figures to be a quick signee and should report to the Cubs Arizona rookie league team within the next two weeks.

3rd Round: 2B Earnest Aguila
18 years old, 5'10 174 lbs.

Aguila is an interesting selection this high. A bit undersized, Aguila is a solid but unspectacular player. He's didn't wow scouts as a high school player, but his stats are nothing to snuff at as he hit over .500 this year with a respectable 7 home runs and 10 stolen bases. He's definitely got to find his niche to make it to the highest level. The Cubs organization are certainly hoping they've found a poor man's Jose Altuve.

4^th Round: RHP Frank McNamara
19 years old, 5’11 213 lbs.

McNamara is another head scratching pick. A sidearmer, he has impressive numbers in his 1 year at the JuCo level, but nothing about him screams “future MLB player.” He pitches in the upper 80s/low 90s range, but with very little control, as can be expected from guys who throw from down low as he does. His Frisbee slider got plenty of swings and misses, but it remains to be seen if it can be effective at the professional level.

5^th Round: RHP Reggie Linden
18 years old, 6’3 209 lbs.

This could turn out to be a very underrated selection by Chicago. Linden was a fringe 1^st round prospect, but there were questions regarding his signability. The Cubs are expected to sign Batista under slot and will likely need to use the extra money to pull Linden out of his commitment to LSU. Linden flashes low 90s velocity on a hard sinker that he pairs with a plus slider. He’ll have to develop a 3^rd pitch, whether it be a changeup or a slower breaking ball, but he should show well in the Cubs system. There’s some questions about his makeup as reports surfaced about issues with his high school coach weeks before the draft.

6^th Round: C/OF Bret Morgan
21 years old, 6’3 179 lbs.

A college catcher, Morgan projects better in pro baseball as an outfielder. He throws well, but has slow feet behind the plate which causes issues on his throws. Not much is known about Morgan due to a slew of injuries he suffered in college. He did produce when he played, but there are questions about the level of competition he faced at the Division III level. A pre-med major, Morgan is set to graduate on Saturday after only 3 years of college. Is he committed enough to even play professional baseball?

7^th Round: RHP Phillip Yamaguchi
18 years old, 6’4 221 lbs.

A pick made purely on projectability, Yamaguchi is years away, at best, from seeing the upper levels of even minor league baseball. However, at his size, scouts salivate over what he may become. With a fastball that already touches the mid 90s, many scouts believe Yamaguchi has the ability to touch triple digits as he gets professional instruction. The Cubs are unlikely to sign him, however, as he is set to play football at the University of Southern California in the fall, but don’t be surprised if this name is seen in the top 3 rounds of the 2018 Draft.

[Jr.]

Ramos Walks Off, Cubs Lose Again

Jake Arrieta provided 6 shutout innings, but the Cubs couldn't give him any support in a 1-0 loss.

WASHINGTON, DC – A great pitcher’s duel was ended with a Wilson Ramos walk off home run on Saturday night. Ramos took a 0-1 slider from Pedro Strop off the right field fair pole to give the Nationals a chance to sweep the 4 game set on Sunday afternoon.

Jake Arrieta and Max Scherzer were both dominant as the pair combined to allow 6 hits. Neither offense really even had many opportunities to score, either. Chicago could only manage 3 singles on the night, and didn’t have more than one baserunner on at a time until the 8^th inning. The Nationals did have a double off of Arrieta, from Ryan Zimmerman in the 4^th, but he was left on the basepaths when Arrieta struck out the next two batters.

It looked as though neither offense would ever score, but Pedro Strop hung a slider in the middle of the plate and Ramos barreled it up for his 7^th home run of the season, and his first walk-off. “Pedro has been amazing this season. He just left one over the plate and their guy put a good swing on it,” said Joe Maddon after the game.

The Cubs will look to salvage one game of the series and avoid a sweep when Jason Hammel (4-5 4.11 ERA) takes the mound against Stephen Strasburg (6-1 2.61 ERA) tomorrow afternoon. It will be a tough challenge for the Cubs who have not fared well against Strasburg since he made his debut 5 seasons ago. First pitch is scheduled for 3:05 pm CT.


Highlights:




Box Score:

Spoiler

Chicago Cubs at Washington Nationals
Jun 7, 2015	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Chicago (30-27)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
Washington (37-19)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	6	0
W: Matt Thornton (1-1) L: Pedro Strop (1-1)

Chicago Cubs
HITTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	HR	AVG
Castro, SS	4	0	1	0	0	1	0	.335
Rizzo, 1B	4	0	0	0	0	1	0	.342
Bryant, LF	4	0	0	0	0	2	0	.255
Montero, C	3	0	0	0	1	2	0	.271
Baez, 2B	3	0	1	0	0	1	0	.240
Soler, RF	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	.268
LaStella, 3B	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	.197
Arrieta, P	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	.142
Denorfia, PH	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.276
Alcantara, CF	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	.253
TEAM TOTALS	29	0	3	0	2	7	0
BASERUNNING: SB: Alcantara (4) CS: Castro (1)

Washington Nationals
HITTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	HR	AVG
Span, CF	3	0	0	0	1	0	0	.313
Werth, LF	4	0	1	0	0	1	0	.308
Escobar, 3B	4	0	0	0	0	1	0	.254
Ramos, C	3	1	1	1	0	0	1	.257
Rendon, 2B	3	0	0	0	0	1	0	.263
Zimmerman, 1B	3	0	3	0	0	0	0	.320
Desmond, SS	3	0	0	0	0	1	0	.276
Moore, RF	3	0	1	0	0	1	0	.267
Scherzer, P	2	0	0	0	0	2	0	.083
den Dekker, PH	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.271
TEAM TOTALS	29	1	6	1	1	7	1
BATTING: 2B: Zimmerman (13) HR: Ramos (7) RBI: Ramos (28) HBP: Ramos

Chicago Cubs
PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Arrieta	6.0	3	0	0	1	5	0	4.39
Rondon	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	2.84
Russell	0.2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.63
Strop (L, 1-1)	0.1	1	1	1	0	1	1	0.83
TEAM TOTALS	8.0	6	1	1	1	7	1

Washington Nationals
PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Scherzer	8.0	3	0	0	2	6	0	1.33
Thornton (W, 1-1)	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0.44
TEAM TOTALS	9.0	3	0	0	2	7	0

Sim Games Recap:
Nationals Game 1 – Washington spotted Ryan Zimmerman 5 runs in the bottom of the 1^st and never looked back as they beat the Cubs 9-6. Anthony Rizzo (4-5 HR, 5 RBI) did everything he could to bring the Cubs back, but it wasn’t enough as the Nationals collected 15 hits on the day. Kyle Hendricks (4.1 IP, 9 H, 7 R) fell to 4-3 and his ERA inflated to 5.23 on the season.

Nationals Game 2 – The Cubs built an early 3-0 lead with 2 runs in the 1^st on a Kris Bryant home run, and a RBI double from Starlin Castro in the 5^th. Jon Lester cruised through 6 innings, but allowed 3 runs, 2 earned, in the 7^th before being relieved by Neil Ramirez. Ramirez gave up the lead after a walk and a RBI double from light-hitting catcher Jose Lobaton. The Cubs couldn’t respond and fell 4-3 to the Nationals.