Weekend Catch-Up: Heyward Relief, Ramirez DFA, Arrieta Dominance

bn baseball featureThe weekend is over, the week is here. Catch yourself up on the former so that you’re not missing any conversational tidbits for use in the latter.

Friday, May 20

  • Among other Bullets on Friday, a discussion about the best pitchers in baseball.
  • Josh Reddick, plausible trade candidate, now has a broken thumb.
  • The battle over the plaza at Wrigley Field continues.
  • So far this year, Wrigley Field has been very unkind to hitters.
  • Eloy Jimenez is breaking out in a big way.
  • The Cubs’ playoff odds have increased by more than all but four other teams from the start of the year (and remember how high they were to start the year).
  • The Cubs comfortably took out the Giants 8-1, but it came at the cost of a scary Jason Heyward injury.
  • Saturday, May 21

  • Even if the Cubs lose an outfielder right now for a stretch of time (in the context, in this instance, of Jason Heyward’s injury), it still probably won’t be Albert Almora getting the call – not just yet, anyway.
  • Jake Arrieta said he had his “B stuff” on Friday, but he looked incredible all the same.
  • Also incredible? Jorge Soler had a fantastic night.
  • We waited all morning and afternoon for word on Heyward’s injury, which was ultimately as good as anyone could have hoped.
  • And because that meant the Cubs needed another position player for a little while, at least, they activated Matt Szczur from the disabled list … and had to DFA Neil Ramirez to make space.
  • Fun with the Cubs’ homer party from Friday night (into Saturday morning).
  • Jon Lester’s rough performance dug the Cubs an early hole from which they could not climb outagainst Matt Cain?
  • Sunday, May 22

  • Luke checked in around the farm system, where the Cubs had some comebacks and the South Bend Cubs are big-timin’ it.
  • Jon Lester lasted just 2.2 innings on Saturday, but there are a number of reasons I’m not concerned.
  • Luis discussed Hector Rondon’s further breakout this season.
  • Checking in with two of the Cubs’ biggest upper level prospects, Dan Vogelbach and Jeimer Candelario – lots to discuss on each.
  • If you were thinking of Sonny Gray as a Cubs trade target, he’s now on the DL.
  • Madison Bumgarner and killer Giants defense kept the Cubs at zero last night.
  • 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.

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