OSS: Gerrit Cole is good at throwing baseballs.
Three up
1. Miguel Montero went 3-4 and had the Cubs lone RBI of the day. The Cubs took advantage of a strange inning of glovework by Pedro Alvarez, which saw a throw go completely through his glove and another pickoff throw get botched with his replacement glove. Sandwiched in the middle was an infield single that glanced off his glove.
2. The defensive miscues helped, but I was feeling pretty good about the Cubs chances in this game early on against Cole. IIRC he had nearly 50 pitches at the end of the second inning and it looked like they’d chase him really early, but he settled down and mowed through the Cubs lineup for the rest of his start.
3. EJax was the only Cubs pitcher not to give up a run in this game. He struck out three in two innings and looked pretty good. I don’t think he should be coming into games in the middle of innings, but I think he’s a better option out of the pen than Cubs fans/coaches are giving him credit for.
Three Down
1. Kyle Hendricks had a uncharacteristic night, issuing three walks including two to the OBP-challeneged Starling Marte. He had some great movement on his sinker and threw some good changeups, but it seems like his control so far isn’t as good as it was last year, and he walks on a knife edge with his stuff.
2. I thought Maddon/Bosio took way too long to get the pen warmed up when Hendricks started to struggle in the fifth. He didn’t have his best stuff tonight, and would have loved to see Germen warming up as soon as a baserunner got on. Clearly the coaching staff has more faith in Hendricks than I do though.
3. The Cubs bottom play by WPA was a tough luck Jorge Soler double play in the first inning. Soler literally hit it right to the second base bag while Fowler was in motion.
Next game: Jon Lester vs Wily Peralta, 1:20 PM CT on Friday.