NEWSLETTER
There is a possibility that Jen-Ho Tseng will be the starter for the Cubs today, now that Yu Darvish is on the disabled list. Tseng was the scheduled starter yesterday for Iowa, but was scratched very late, forcing Iowa into a bullpen day (and possibly setting Iowa up with a pitching conundrum of their own today). So what can we expect from Tseng?
If he gets through five innings while the Cubs still have a reasonable chance to win the game, celebrate. That is really all we can hope for – after a fantastic 2017 in which he was named the organization’s minor league pitcher of the year, this year has not been kind to Tseng.
Tseng, 23, has given up at least four runs in every game he has started other than his first start. He gave up seven in his last start, and four in each of the two before that. He currently sports an 8.04 ERA. The peripheral numbers aren’t much better. His walk rate is high (3.73 BB/9), his home run rate is really high (1.72 HR/9), and his line drive rate is at a career high (25.5%). Based on how he has been pitching lately, I don’t think Tseng would have been the Cubs’ first choice for a spot starter. Unfortuantely, sometimes teams can’t be picky.
For the optimists out there, I’d focus your thinking on three areas. First, he’d be facing a Marlins team that is the worst team by wOBA in baseball (.279). By pretty much any standard, Miami is in the running for worst hitting team around. That’s good for Tseng.
Second and third, there are a couple positive numbers. His groundball rate is decent at 47.1%, and he is striking a minor league career high 9.19 K/9 this season. So if he can get plenty of weak grounders into the Chicago’s excellent infield defense, and if he can pick up a double handful of strikeouts along the way, then maybe any contact he does give up will be on the soft side by virtue of the fact that the Marlins just aren’t very good hitters.
Then again, this is baseball we’re talking about, so don’t be surprised if he carries a perfect game into the eighth. That sort of thing seems like it happens all the time.
Triple A: Iowa Cubs
Iowa 6, Round Rock 5
THREE GAME WINNING STREAK!!!
Double A: Tennessee Smokies
Tennessee 3, Jacksonville 0
This was probably the best game of Clifton’s career.
High A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Myrtle Beach 3, Down East 0
That’s the second time this month the Pelicans have won a shutout.
Low A: South Bend Cubs
South Bend 5, Burlington 3
The Cubs got five excellent innings from their starter and a semi-normal looking outting from Albertos in relief.
Other Notes
