Hendricks Shows His Two Sides Perfectly, Suzuki Keeps Making Noise, and Other Cubs Bullets

Just to reiterate today, because I want to make sure everyone is on fair notice: please see the commenting policy note from yesterday’s Cubs Bullets if you haven’t already. The short version is that our commenting policy has always prohibited jerk-like behavior, but I have been lax in enforcing it. Not gonna be lax anymore.

•   If Kyle Hendricks on Opening Day was basically the version you would absolutely hope to see this year (better than anything we saw in 2021), then Kyle Hendricks in Pittsburgh was basically the version you would absolutely hope to never see this year (a carbon copy of the issues that plagued him last year). He knows it, and he knows how bad this is:

•   The four-seamer being up there is generally fine (though I would guess he was throwing it that often only because he couldn’t locate the sinker). And the sinker at the top of the zone was something he and the Cubs played around with last year, but just didn’t work out. So, yeah, when the sinker is up like that, not only is it going to get battered around, but nothing else is going to work off of it. Recipe for a disaster like yesterday on the batted ball front, AND he won’t get many strikeouts, AND if he’s extra wild, he gives up uncharacteristic walks. Just the perfect opposite of everything he showed against the Brewers.

•   Thanks to Michael Rucker for taking 2.1 innings in that loss, which preserves more of the bullpen for this four-game set in Colorado. Gonna need guys to be fresh. The Cubs also don’t have another off-day until April 25.

•   More of Seiya Suzuki accomplishing things:

•   Obviously that’s one of those picked-some-things-in-a-brief-window stats that doesn’t actually MEAN that much, but I still find them to be fun. It just kinda means that we rarely get to see a new Cubs player do this much “stuff” immediately. Grudzielanek, whose name was one of the best to hear Harry Caray say, went on to hit .314/.366/.416 (108 wRC+) that year, and was a key part of that 2003 team’s success. Oh, and if you were wondering: that statistical streak for Grudzielanek ended in game six, as he got a hit and scored two runs (reached once via error), but that hit was the only time he reached base in the way this fake record is counting. BREAK THE RECORD TONIGHT, SEIYA!!!

•   This was 98 mph and moving in toward his hands, and I don’t really understand how this turns into a monster pulled home run:

•   The Pirates agreed to a two-year deal with Bryan Reynolds to avoid arbitration (and arbitration next year) at $6.75M per year.

•   Obviously:

written by

Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

more cubs news

Latest Power Rankings Have the Cubs Inside the Top Ten, With a First Month MVP

I thought this installment of power rankings from The Athletic was a bit more interesting than most, because not only did they do the, you know, power rankings part, they added a first month MVP for each team. The Cubs...

Hector Neris Has Four Straight Saves, But I Don’t Think He Can Stay in That Role Much Longer

I don't want to get into too much exposition here on the history, so I'll try to keep this brief: Despite blowing just three saves last season, Cubs closer Adbert Alzolay had already let four games slip away by April...

Cubs Injury Updates: Justin Steele, Seiya Suzuki, Cody Bellinger, Julian Merryweather

Last night, Megan Montemurro (before the game) and Taylor McGregor (on the broadcast), provided a series of updates on five key Cubs players on the injured list: Justin Steele, Cody Bellinger, Seiya Suzuki, Kyle Hendricks, and Julian Merryweather. I know...

The Chicago Cubs Have Set a New Franchise Wins Record

Sure, sure, you have to get to the context quickly enough, but for a moment, it's just fun to appreciate that we've seen Cubs history this month. With last night's dramatic win, the Cubs set a new franchise record for...

MLBits: Let’s Fix the ASG Uniforms, Mike Trout on His Up-and-Down Start, Brice Turang’s Leap, More

MLB Notes — MLB, Fanatics, and Nike have committed to fixing some of the more egregious mistakes they made in designing their new "performance wear" Nike Vapor Premier uniforms in Major League Baseball. Among other things, the undersized numbers that...

Cubs Farm Report | April 30, 2024: Stars of the Week

The Cubs minor league affiliates were off on Monday, so it's time to take stock of some of the recent hot performers down on the farm in today's Cubs Farm Report. Cubs Farm Report | April 30, 2024 Triple-A Iowa...

The First Place Cubs, Banking Wins, Taillon Delivers, Morel, Murray, and Other Cubs Bullets

Don't forget, Mother's Day is less than two weeks away (May 12). If you're looking for an easy win, we have a partnership with Gourmet Gift Baskets that should do the trick. Hope that helps. Don't look now, but ......

Cade Horton is Reportedly Being Promoted to Triple-A Iowa

THERE it is. It felt like it should be coming for a long time (I couldn't help but discuss it multiple times), and now it's here: top Chicago Cubs pitching prospect Cade Horton is getting the bump to the next...

The Brewers Lost on a Rare – But Correct! – Batter Interference Call

You no doubt remember that crazy Game 5 of the 2017 NLDS, with the Cubs rallying to beat the Nationals and then holding on at the end. Freaking awesome game. The Cubs probably shouldn't have won it, though. The part...

Wake Up and Watch the Cubs Turn a Near No-Hit Loss Into a Thrilling Win

On the heels of a disappointing weekend in Boston, the Chicago Cubs were on the verge of an especially disappointing first night in New York. Mets starter Luis Severino was no-hitting them into the 8th inning. Ugly. But not only...

Latest News

Carolina Panthers 2024 NFL Draft Grade: Finding their Roar with Xavier Legette & Jonathon Brooks

The Carolina Panthers were a team on a mission in the 2024 NFL Draft. After a disappointing 2-15 season in 2023, new GM Dan Morgan and Head Coach Dave Canales weren't afraid to take some calculated risks. Despite trading away...

DJ Moore and Caleb Williams are Already Hitting It Off

It isn't taking long for the Caleb Williams and core pieces of the Chicago Bears to hit the ground running. And it sure sounds like DJ Moore is impressed with the Chicago's new QB1. Moreover, there is one specific takeaway...

Latest Power Rankings Have the Cubs Inside the Top Ten, With a First Month MVP

I thought this installment of power rankings from The Athletic was a bit more interesting than most, because not only did they do the, you know, power rankings part, they added a first month MVP for each team. The Cubs...

Caris LeVert Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Magic – NBA Playoffs Game 5, Tuesday, April 30, 2024

On Tuesday at 8:00 PM ET, the Cleveland Cavaliers meet the Orlando Magic in Game 5 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, and Caris LeVert's 3-pointer prop for this matchup requires only one trey.Caris LeVert's Three-Pointer Prop Odds...

Donovan Mitchell Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Magic – NBA Playoffs Game 5, Tuesday, April 30, 2024

At 8:00 PM ET on Tuesday, in Game 5 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, it'll be the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Orlando Magic, with Donovan Mitchell needing three trifectas to beat his 3-pointer over/under.Donovan Mitchell's Three-Pointer Prop...

Tyrese Haliburton Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Bucks – NBA Playoffs Game 5, Tuesday, April 30, 2024

The Indiana Pacers meet the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday at 9:30 PM ET in Game 5 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, and if the Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton makes three 3-pointers, he'll beat his over/under.Tyrese Haliburton's Three-Pointer Prop...

Pascal Siakam Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Bucks – NBA Playoffs Game 5, Tuesday, April 30, 2024

On Tuesday at 9:30 PM ET, the Indiana Pacers play the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 5 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, and Pascal Siakam's 3-pointer over/under for this matchup requires just one trey.Pascal Siakam's Three-Pointer Prop Odds...

Franz Wagner Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Cavaliers – NBA Playoffs Game 5, Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Franz Wagner must make two 3-pointers to beat his prop when the Orlando Magic play the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday at 8:00 PM ET, in Game 5 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs.Franz Wagner's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs....

Myles Turner Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Bucks – NBA Playoffs Game 5, Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Myles Turner needs to make three 3-pointers to beat his over/under when the Indiana Pacers play the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday at 9:30 PM ET, in Game 5 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs.Myles Turner's Three-Pointer Prop Odds...

Bobby Portis Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Pacers – NBA Playoffs Game 5, Tuesday, April 30, 2024

The Milwaukee Bucks meet the Indiana Pacers at 9:30 PM ET on Tuesday, in Game 5 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, and one of the 3-pointer over/unders available for this clash requires two triples from Bobby Portis.Bobby...

more cubs news

Latest News