The Cubs dropped today’s opener to the Rockies by a comfortable and Rockies-at-Coors-like margin. So much for getting extra rest last night.
If you went hit by hit (and accounted for a key error), you could certainly explain away much of Jake Arrieta’s terrible results today (which has actually been the case all year). That said, several of the hits were well struck, and we know that’s been an issue for him this year, even as the K/BB numbers have generally been OK. He’s not quite getting that same elite level of soft contact (and reduced hard contact). Like all the other starters, it has not been a pleasant start to this season for Arrieta, and we’ll have to keep digging to figure out exactly why.
At least the Cubs got a chunk of innings eaten capably by newly-called up reliever Dylan Floro. It might not buy him a long stretch on the big league team, but it did preserve the bullpen nicely for game two of the doubleheader. Here’s hoping the late-inning arms are actually necessary this time. Or maybe not necessary by virtue of a blowout in the other direction. The Cubs might have to do better than 2-14 with runners in scoring position (yup, still happening).