Last Game: Cubs 8, Reds 5

Up Next: Cubs @ Reds, 5:40 CST, Marquee

Game Recap

Another great performance by a starter, another diversified offensive onslaught, and another shaky bullpen performance.

But most important of all… another win for the 1st place Chicago Cubs.

Thankfully, the rotation and offense has been clicking early, giving the club some time to work through their bullpen issues.

Top Performers

• Words to describe Javier Baez at his best often fall short.
• Alec Mills came through with six important innings, a night after the Cubs nearly emptied their pen. He gave the pen a breather and the offense gave them a cushion. And Mills managed to do it by relying heavily on his slow curve. Seventeen of his 77 pitches registered less than 70 mph on the gun.

• Thank you, Kyle Ryan, for throwing a scoreless inning of relief. You are the Cubs most trusted arm in the pen, just like you were last year.
• Nico Hoerner: the Cubs best contact/situational hitter. And he’s been the organization’s best option in runner on third and less than two out situations since the moment the ink dried on his pro contract.

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

• A maintenance day kept Willson Contreras out last night, but the lineup was also without Kris Bryant, who sat with a sore left elbow. Ross indicated Bryant has maybe been bothered by a couple other nagging injuries which have prevented him from getting his timing down at the plate. Perhaps a day or two of rest can get KB back on track.
• After opening the year in South Bend because he was behind the other relievers, Ryan Tepera was used in back-to-back games by David Ross last night. It is a good sign Tepera is nearly caught up with the rest of the group, or nearly there anyway. The righty has flashed a filthy slider but has also seemed to tire a bit and lose command the further he’s gone in his two outings.

Javy Highlight Corner

His two home runs are likely what showed up in highlight packages, but before Javy hit either blast last night he had already showed off the array of traits which make him so special:

New Rules

• DH count: Caratini 2, Contreras 1, Schwarber 1, Kipnis 1

Trust Levels

I haven’t quite worked out how I want to depict my current trust level with each member of the Cubs bullpen. I want to have a little fun with it, but my first couple of attempts didn’t work out how I wanted, so for now I’m just going straight forward…

High leverage: Ryan, Wick?

Shaky, but trending in right direction: Wick?, Jeffress, Tepera, Sadler, Brothers?

We gotta pitch somebody: Brothers?, Winkler

There’s hope, but not earning it: Underwood Jr., Norwood, Maples

Need a 3+ run cushion: Kimbrel