OSS: Three run homers FTW.
Three up
1. Miguel Montero is busting out of his slump with back to back three run homer games. He also added a walk and a single. Maybe this game is merging with the blowout in Detroit in my head, but I was surprised to see that the Cubs only scored six.
2. Speaking of players that have been a little slump-y, Dexter Fowler also had a multi-hit game, including a solo shot to help rebuild the Cubs lead after the Reds pitcher tripled in a few runs. I feel like pitcher XBHs should reduce their ERA somehow.
3. Props to the bullpen, who relieved an ineffective Wada and put up six innings of shutout ball. They retired fifteen or so straight baserunners between the second batter of the fifth and the second to last batter of the ninth.
Three down
1. Wada’s been as lousy in his first two starts as he was good in his first three. He has a 4.19 ERA and a 4.30 FIP on the year, which seems fair, but I think he’s a little closer to what we’ve seen the last few starts than what we saw when he joined the rotation. Which is still better than what we’ve seen from Travis Wood this year, unfortunately.
2. While Fowler and Montero are showing signs of breaking out of their slumps, no such luck for Castro. He was 0-4 with two strikeouts and his double play issues this year led to an IBB in front of him to try to get out of the inning. Merely striking out there feels like a victory right now. That said, I’m being unfair here. Castro is .281/.324/.469 in the month of June, which only goes to show the power of #narrative.
3. Not news from today’s game, but things aren’t looking great for a quick Baez return. We’ll probably see him in September, but that’s likely it for this year.
Next game: Johnny Cueto vs Jason Hammel, 3:05 PM CT. Yay, a game I can watch at work! Cueto had an injury scare a week or so ago, but it hasn’t seemed to affect him on the mound.