It was a wild, split-squad day for the Chicago Cubs, who simultaneously lost to the Reds 9-5, and whooped the Rockies 18-4. So, really, the Cubs beat the Reds and Rockies today 23-13. Only in Spring Training.
What with the games not being televised and me doing some family time stuff with my son and my mom, I don’t have much in the way of first-hand observations, but here are the high points …
Not only did Jake Arrieta dominate in his four innings against the Rockies, he also clubbed a no-doubter and a double. And get this: his home run was the Cubs’ only home run in a game in which they scored 18 runs.
Kris Bryant went 4-5 in the game, with a double. That’s two straight games without a homer. Hopefully he’s out of this slump by late April.
Matt Szczur, who is trying to win a bench job, had a hit and a walk and scored three times, though he did strike out three times, as well. Ditto Junior Lake on the hit and the strikeouts, but no walks for him to day. Ditto Ryan Sweeney on the hit, but not the walks or strikeouts.
Although he had just one hit on the day, from the sound of things, Addison Russell remains highly impressive with the glove.
The Cubs were an hilarious 11 for 26 with runners in scoring position against the Rockies. Just bananas.
Drake Britton was the first in after Jake Arrieta in the Rockies game, and he pitched a scoreless frame, allowing a hit and striking out one. Given his upside and his lack of options, I strongly suspect the Cubs are still considering carrying a second lefty (Phil Coke being the first), and holding onto Britton.
Zac Rosscup, also being considered as a second left, also pitched a scoreless inning and struck out two. The rub for Rosscup is that he does have options left.
It appears that Jason Motte once again didn’t have his command, walking two and giving up a three-run homer after giving up a solo homer.
Javy Baez did strikeout once today, but he also notched a couple more singles. He did have a throwing error in the field.
The game against the Reds was entirely staffed by minor leaguers (staff, meaning pitching staff), so there’s not a ton to take away from it, at least in terms of big league roster projections, which tends to be my focus in these things.
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.
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