All the Way, Again: A Chicago Cubs Franchise.

[OldHossRadbourn]

Quote: Originally Posted by Gagnon39

May 22, 2020 | MILWAUKEE, WI The Cubs scored twice in top of the first inning but the Brewers came back with three runs of their own in the bottom of the inning on their way to a 9-5 win. The loss snaps the Cubs six-game winning streak. Jon Lester was shaky from the get-go, surrendering seven earned runs on eight hits through just five innings of work. Lester took the loss and fell to 5-3 on the year. The Cubs pulled within one run after an RBI double by Willson Contreras in the top of the third a a solo homer by Kris Bryant in the top of the fourth, his 10th of the year. However, the Brewers touched the Cubs up for a pair of runs in the fifth and the sixth pushing their lead to four and the Cubs were unable to respond. Christian Yelich went 3-for-3 including a two-run homer and Lorenzo Cain continued to torch Cubs pitching. With a win the Cubs would have pulled even in the NL Central division with the Brewers, but the loss moved them 2.0 games back. The Cubs will look to bounce back tomorrow as Kyle Hendricks (6-2, 3.96) takes the hill. The Brewers will toss Corbin Burnes (4-1, 6.23). The Cubs have beat the Brewers just once out of six games so far in 2020 and manager David Ross knows that sooner or later his club is going to have to find a way to beat the top teams in the division if they hope to compete down the stretch. "We've done a lot of good so far this season and our record reflects that," said Ross. "But we have to find a way to stay competitive in big games... these guys have been there before and I have little doubt that they're capable. We just need to find consistency, especially on the mound." Cubs pitching continues to be an area of concern for president of baseball operations Theo Epstein. "We're going to have to take a good hard look at where we are and evaluate what the best direction is moving forward," said Epstein. The Cubs currently have the 13th highest team ERA in the National League at 4.62 and have allowed 487 hits in their 52 games.

Any free agents interest you? Henderson Alvarez and Arodys Vizcaino are out there many times. Injury concerns are an obvious issue but they might the able to help?

[Gagnon39]

Quote: Originally Posted by OldHossRadbourn

Any free agents interest you? Henderson Alvarez and Arodys Vizcaino are out there many times. Injury concerns are an obvious issue but they might the able to help?

For sure. I’ve been, “in talks,” with Viscaino, but I’m not sure about signing him to a 2-3 year deal, which is what he wants. I want him for a one year deal, on the cheap. Ha.


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

[Gagnon39]

FINALL beat these guys. Ha. I didn't feel good about it until two outs in the ninth...
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MAY 23, 2020 | MILWAUKEE, WI

Kyle Hendricks allowed just three hits as the Chicago Cubs pulled within one game of the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers with a dominant 7-1 victory at Miller Park Saturday night. Hendricks improved to 7-2 with the win and is the only Cubs pitcher to earn a victory over the Brewers, a task which he's accomplished twice.

Corbin Burnes was slated to start for the Brewers but was a last minute scratch due to an undisclosed injury. Reliever Alex Claudio made his first start of the season and shut the Cubs out through the first three innings. But the Brewers southpaw ran into trouble in the top of the fourth giving up a pair of runs. But the big blow came in the top of the sixth when Cubs slugger Kris Bryant belted a two-out grand slam off of the first pitch out of the bullpen from Brewers hurler Ray Black.

Brad Weick, who has been one of the lone bright spots since being called up from Triple-A Iowa on May 14th. The hard-throwing lefty completed the final two innings against the Brewers, not allowing a hit or run and striking out two. Weick has yet to allow a run in 6 1/3 innings in six appearances.

The Cubs will wrap up their extended, 10-game road trip tomorrow at Milwaukee as they look to pull even with the Brewers in the NL Central division. Jose Quintana (3-2, 4.28) will make his 11th start of the year while the Brewers turn to Brett Anderson (2-1, 4.40). The Cubs will be off Monday and travel home to open up an eight-game homestand against the Miami Marlins.

Cubs skipper David Ross has been very pleased with his team's performance on the road trip and hopes that they can end on a high note. "You'd love to come back home tied for first in the division, obviously," said Ross, who is in his first year as manager with the Cubs. "We've had a good run on the road here and showed a lot of poise in some tough games."

The Cubs are are currently 7-2 on the road trip which began on May 14th.

[Gagnon39]

MAY 24, 2020 | MILWAUKEE, WI

The Chicago Cubs wrapped up their ten-game road trip with a 5-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. The win moves the Cubs into a first place tie with Milwaukee in the NL Central division. The Cubs finished with an impressive 8-2 record on the extended road trip and will be off tomorrow before returning home to face the Miami Marlins on Tuesday.

"It was a great couple weeks for us but we're all excited about getting back to Wrigley," said Cubs slugger Kyle Schwarber. "We played some really good baseball on this stretch and we need to bring that energy back home." Schwarber finished the game 3-for-4, including a two-run homer in the top of the third.

Jose Quintana, who has been inconsistent throughout 2020 thus far, tossed a gem earning his fourth win of the year. The Cubs southpaw allowed just one run on five hits while striking out seven over his six innings of work. The one blemish on Quintana's line was a solo homer by Christian Yelich in the bottom of the first, his 17th of the year.

The Cubs knocked out Brewers starter Brett Anderson early. After a pair of runs to start the game in the top of the first, the Cubs followed it up with two more off of Schwarber's homer in the third and pushed the lead to 5-1 after Albert Almora's pushed across another run. Anderson took the loss and fell to 2-2 on the year.

The Brewers were able to bring the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth in the form of Christian Yelich. But Craig Kimbrel got the Brewers star to go down swinging at a knuckle curve to end the game, notching his 12th save of the year.

When the Cubs return home Tuesday they will begin a 10-game home stretch. While the Cubs would undoubtedly like to improve withing the Friendly Confines, their road record has been nothing short of spectacular so far this season. The Cubs are 21-9 on the road while at home they've posted an 11-13 mark.

Tyler Chatwood (3-1, 4.61) is slated to start against the Marlins Tuesday night against Jose Urena (1-4, 6.23).

[Gagnon39]

May 31, 2020

The Chicago Cubs are hoping to find some much-needed help in the bullpen by signing a pair of arms. Southpaw Tim Mayza and former Cub Arodys Viscaino both agreed to one-year deals with the Cubs and could be used at the Major League level sometime in June.

Mayza, 27, has spent the last three seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays organization and has appeared in 124 games for Toronto. The Pennsylvania native has tossed 104 innings at the big league level posting a 4.67 ERA. At just $900K for this season, Mayza is considered a low-risk, high yield possibility.

Viscaino, 29, spent the last five seasons with the Atlanta Braves and has appeared in 206 games over seven seasons. In 2014 Viscaino appeared in five games with the Cubs posting a 1.60 ERA, striking out 37 hitters over 33 2/3 innings pitched. The hard-throwing Viscaino came with a heavier price tag but Theo Epstein and the Cubs will only be on the hook financially until the end of the season.

Both pitchers have significant strikeout potential, which is something Cubs management has been looking to add, especially to the bullpen.

"We've done our research and [Mayza and Viscaino] are the smartest moves for us at this time," said president of baseball operations, Theo Epstein. "We like the potential they bring with the limited risk that's involved on our end."

Rumors have swirled about the Cubs seeking bullpen or back-end rotation help since last year's Winter Meetings. However, as the season nears June it is becoming clear that the once prospect-rich Cubs just don't have the farm system required to acquire a big-name arm. With limited mobility in the trade market and not much room to work with financially in the existing budget Mayza and Viscaino are the Cubs best bet at improving down the stretch.

[Gagnon39]

May 31, 2020 | CHICAGO, IL

The Chicago Cubs allowed a 3-0 lead to slip away in the sixth inning as they fell to the Cincinnati Reds by a final score of 4-3 Sunday afternoon at Wrigley Field. The loss snaps the Cubs modest four-game winning streak but a Brewers loss to the Rays allows the Cubs to keep their 0.5 game lead in the NL Central division.

Javier Baez hit a solo homer in the bottom of the second inning, his 18th of the year, off of Reds ace Anthony DeSclafani to give the Cubs an early lead. Kris Bryant followed suit in the bottom of the fifth with a two-run blast off of the Reds hurler to push the lead to 3-0. But the Cubs were unable to hold the lead.

After a three-run top of the sixth, Eugenio Suarez belted a ball into the left field basket at Wrigley to give the Reds their first lead of the game in the top of the seventh. The Cubs were unable to answer. Former Cub Pedro Strop struck out the side in order in the ninth to earn his 16th save of the year for the Reds.

[Gagnon39]

[Gagnon39]

JUNE 2, 2020 | CHICAGO, IL

A pair of two-run doubles by Steven Souza Jr. helped the Cubs earn a 8-4 victory over the visiting Baltimore Orioles Tuesday night at Wrigley Field. Souza finished the game 3-for-3 with 4 RBIs as the Cubs hold on to a slim lead in the NL Central division over the Milwaukee Brewers.

Jon Lester was solid through the first four innings but allowed a run in the fifth and two in the sixth as the Orioles were able to tie the game at three. Lester earned a no decision, allowing 9 hits while striking out just 4. Casey Sadler tossed a scoreless seventh inning and notched the win improving to 2-0 on the year.

The Cubs jumped out to an early lead in the first inning as they batted around, taking a 3-0 lead. Tied 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh, Steven Souza Jr. smacked his second two-run double of the game with the bases loaded to put the Cubs back on top. The Cubs plated five runs in the seventh to take a commanding 8-3 lead.

The Cubs wrap up the quick two-game set with the Orioles tomorrow as Kyle Hendricks (7-2, 4.03) takes the hill. Alex Cobb (1-8, 4.88) will start for the Orioles.