Tonight’s intrasquad game was a rematch of the Cubs’ two possible Opening Day starters, with Yu Darvish and Kyle Hendricks each going around three/four innings, and then the bullpen – Rowan Wick, Trevor Megill, and Ryan Tepera among them.
And hey, the Cubs won 5-1 in six innings:
Sim game ends with a familiar tune: pic.twitter.com/yj6x2rcC5l
— Maddie Lee (@maddie_m_lee) July 10, 2020
Each of Darvish and Hendricks was mostly just too good for the bats (tons of strikeouts, no walks, very few hits), though Kyle Schwarber did get Hendricks for an oppo shot in his final inning of work:
https://twitter.com/NBCSCubs/status/1281387655972958213
One of the hits off of Hendricks came from new-arrival, Hernan Perez:
Hernán Pérez hits a singe off Kyle Hendricks in Pérez’s first intrasquad game of Summer Camp: pic.twitter.com/lL9Qdy9ulP
— Maddie Lee (@maddie_m_lee) July 9, 2020
Darvish’s portion of the night featured an absolutely excruciating 30 seconds:
Trainers checked in with Yu Darvish on the mound.
He finished the inning and was back out the next inning. pic.twitter.com/iOO8OBagmd
— Cubs Talk (@NBCSCubs) July 10, 2020
Darvish stayed in the game, though, and the Cubs later announced it was an unconcerning fingernail issue.
Also scary, but probably fine:
Bryant fouls pitch off foot, took plenty of time before returning to batter's box. Finishes at-bat by hitting hard grounder past Baez, who couldn't make backhanded stop.
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) July 10, 2020
If the Cubs carry a third catcher out of the gate – which is indeed possible on a 30-man roster – Phegley would be the guy:
Josh Phegley takes Rowan Wick deep in the intrasquad game's 5th inning. Did an air handshake with the 3B coach on his way home. It's a 1-1 ballgame.
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) July 10, 2020
Willson Contreras put one out on Waveland off of Trevor Megill:
https://twitter.com/NBCSCubs/status/1281394144649322498
I love this. Rizzo sitting out in the bleachers by himself, watching his teammates play an intrasquad game. This is 2020 baseball:
Anthony Rizzo, bleacher creature. pic.twitter.com/gdJrwvtIs9
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) July 10, 2020
Big Cubs fan. pic.twitter.com/q0zdnPL3DZ
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 10, 2020
Jon Lester isn’t pitching in intrasquads just yet, but he did do his first session of live BP yesterday, which seems to have gone well:
#Cubs Jon Lester live BP against Kyle Schwarber pic.twitter.com/kPK1WI00OI
— Taylor McGregor (@Taylor_McGregor) July 8, 2020
Jon Lester threw live BP today. pic.twitter.com/Gh3RqLkiir
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) July 8, 2020
Hottovy on Lester: for first time, a lot of good things to take away. Next step to face batters in game Sunday, then a normal five day schedule
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) July 9, 2020