Weekend Catch-Up: Taking It to the Rockies, Questions for Yu, Baez Unbelievable, Much More

Take a series from the Rockies at Coors Field? That alone makes for a good weekend. And if you throw in the cascade of possible injuries the Cubs seemed to avoid yesterday, and it was all the better.

Friday, April 20

  • Among Friday’s Bullets, enjoying the Cubs spraying the ball all around.
  • Taking a closer look at Jon Lester fantastic performance against the Cardinals.
  • Cubs pitching prospect Oscar De La Cruz finally had a start befitting his stuff.
  • Old friend Jake Arrieta had one of the best starts of his career.
  • Jon Heyman took an early look at the top free agents coming, and where they might wind up.
  • Javy Baez is producing incredibly well this year, which yielded yet another player comp: Manny Ramirez.
  • Eddie Butler hit the DL with a groin strain, and the Cubs brought up Luke Farrell.
  • Bits from around the league, including MLB wanting to get in on the gambling pie (if it’s legalized, that is).
  • The Cubs roasted the Rockies 16-5 to open up their series. That included a three-run shot by Kyle Schwarber, and an oppo shot by Javy Baez that looked just like the one he had in his big league debut.
  • Saturday, April 21

  • Enjoying Javy Baez’s four-hit night, and the big swing the game had on the Cubs’ offensive prospects for the year.
  • Pitching prospect Adbert Alzolay had also had a good night on Friday, taking a no-hitter into the 6th in his AAA debut.
  • Among Saturday’s Bullets, the excellence – but impermanence – of the Javy-Albert duo at the top of the lineup.
  • Ben Zobrist headed to the disabled list, and the Cubs called up utility prospect David Bote.
  • One horrible inning blew things up for the Cubs, who lost to the Rockies 5-2.
  • The game did have a couple nice moments, though, including the first career hit for David Bote and an awesome over-the-shoulder catch for Albert Almora.
  • Sunday, April 22

  • On the prospect front, yet another quality pitching prospect with a good outing (Javier Assad).
  • Among the Bullets on Sunday, Willson Contreras offered a surprising theory on what happened to Yu Darvish in the 5th inning.
  • The Cubs managed to hold off the Rockies 9-7 in one of the stranger games you’ll see. And they won it on a “walk-off” wild pitch overturned call.
  • The game featured incredible catches by Albert Almora.
  • It also featured Kris Bryant taking a 96 mph fastball off the head, which forced him from the game. Early signs, though, did not indicate a concussion.
  • 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

    CRAAAAAP: Cody Bellinger to the Injured List (UPDATES)

    So much for all those words of optimism and negative X-rays. After colliding with the outfield wall last night, Cody Bellinger fractured his rib (Update: It's actually TWO fractured right ribs) and will hit the injured list today. Chicago Cubs...

    Chicago Cubs Lineup: What is it, June 2023?

    CUBS LINEUP — The Chicago Cubs took Game 1 against the Houston Astros in convincing fashion last night. So tonight, they'll go for the quick series win against Spencer Arrighetti at Wrigley Field (it'd be a good idea to win...

    Bellinger Optimistic Post-Injury, Busch’s Defense, Almonte Stock Rising, Tauchman Slugging, and Other Cubs Bullets

    Ed. Note: Since this article was published, a CT scan revealed a rib fracture for Cody Bellinger, who is now on the Injured List. You can find all the details of that news in our most recent article right here....

    Cubs Outfield Prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong Coming Up

    With Cody Bellinger headed to the Injured List with a rib fracture, the Cubs are in need of another outfielder: center field prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong is coming back up to the big leagues for the second time. https://twitter.com/670TheScore/status/1783217891195625709 Crow-Armstrong, 22,...

    Is Mike Tauchman the Best Player in Baseball? An Exploration

    Hey, we're just having some early-season fun. So allow me to present the 'Mike Tauchman Is Clearly Better Than' list. As of this moment, Mike Tauchman has ... ... a higher wRC+ (151) than Pete Alonso, Fernando Tatis Jr., and...

    Cubs Farm Report | April 24, 2024: Kevin Alcántara Cannot Miss Right Now

    Name a player hotter than Kevin Alcántara right now. Go ahead, I'll wait. (He's already raking again today. Literally as I type this.) More on Alcántara's big day and the Smokies home run parade last night in today's Cubs Farm...

    Oof: Blake Snell to the Injured List Just Three Horrible Starts into His Giants Career

    Just three starts into his San Francisco Giants career, Blake Snell is heading to the injured list with a left-adductor strain. Oof. You hate to even say it — and who really knows if this was related — but early...

    It’s Gotten Impossible to Not Comment on the White Sox Making Futility History

    In 1997, I was a miserable Chicago Cubs fan. I mean, that was true a lot of the time, but I mean it in a very specific way that year: the Cubs had started the season 0-14. They had literally...

    My God, Jordan Wicks … Save Some Awesomeness for the Rest of us!

    Cubs rookie starter Jordan Wicks has been impressing us all season long with his apparent offseason transformation (which led to more velocity on his heater and movement on his slider). But last night against the Astros? That was a whole...

    Cardinals Demote Uber Prospect Jordan Walker Back to Triple-A

    On Wednesday, the St. Louis Cardinals announced that infielder José Fermín and LHP John King would be coming to join the big league squad in place of LHP Zack Thompson and ... uber outfield prospect Jordan Walker. You just hate...

    Latest News

    2024 Zurich Classic Tee Times, TV Channel, Live Stream

    The fleur-de-lis flags are flying, and the beignets are hot! The 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans tees off this Thursday, bringing back the PGA Tour's electrifying two-man team format. TPC Louisiana is set to be buzzing with a unique...

    Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese Officially Introduced, And She Sounds Motivated

    The new face of the Chicago Sky franchise officially arrived on Wednesday. Angel Reese met with media members at the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield. The former LSU standout and NCAA National Champion is only nine days removed from hearing...

    Cubs Outfield Prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong Coming Up

    With Cody Bellinger headed to the Injured List with a rib fracture, the Cubs are in need of another outfielder: center field prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong is coming back up to the big leagues for the second time. https://twitter.com/670TheScore/status/1783217891195625709 Crow-Armstrong, 22,...

    Jonas Valančiūnas Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Thunder – NBA Playoffs Game 2, Wednesday, April 24, 2024

    On Wednesday at 9:30 PM ET, the New Orleans Pelicans meet the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 2 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, and Jonas Valančiūnas' 3-pointer prop for this clash requires just one trifecta.Jonas Valančiūnas' Three-Pointer...

    CRAAAAAP: Cody Bellinger to the Injured List (UPDATES)

    So much for all those words of optimism and negative X-rays. After colliding with the outfield wall last night, Cody Bellinger fractured his rib (Update: It's actually TWO fractured right ribs) and will hit the injured list today. Chicago Cubs...

    And Now Penei Sewell Has Signed a MASSIVE Extension With The Lions

    Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes is hard at work today! It's fitting that just a day before the 2024 NFL Draft kicks off in Detroit, the Lions have locked up two franchise, homegrown cornerstones just hours apart. This morning,...

    San Jose Sharks Fire Head Coach David Quinn

    When you finish with the worst record in the NHL, it's hard to keep your job. Even when the front office strips your roster to the bare bones, apparently. And on Wednesday, David Quinn found out the San Jose Sharks...

    Chicago Bulls Contracts: Decisions That Have to Be Made This Offseason

    While the NBA offseason will not officially start until June, it still can't hurt to familiarize ourselves with the Chicago Bulls' summer outlook. The organization finds itself at quite the crossroads, and it's not only because they disappointed fans with...

    Take a Look at the New Chicago Bears Stadium Renderings

    The Chicago Bears unveiled plans for their downtown lakefront stadium proposal on Wednesday. And as you might expect, it is very kind on the eyes: https://twitter.com/ChicagoBears/status/1783185834490888461 The Bears even gave the project a code name — The Burnham Park Project: The...

    CJ McCollum Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Thunder – NBA Playoffs Game 2, Wednesday, April 24, 2024

    CJ McCollum needs to make four 3-pointers to beat his prop when the New Orleans Pelicans play the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday at 9:30 PM ET, in Game 2 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs.CJ McCollum's Three-Pointer...

    more cubs news