The losing streak stops at one, eh? Clearly these Cubs are just too good.
The year has been unkind to Jason Heyward (or the reverse, however you want to frame it), but it was nice to see him get a chance to play the hero tonight. My feelings on his role haven’t changed, but he’s out there, so why not hit the balls hard? Tonight’s was hit very hard and very far, and walked the Cubs off in the 10th.
Alec Mills allowed the obligatory Wrigley Field homer to Joey Votto, but that was it. Just a bunch of crummy contact from the Reds. It was Mills when he’s right.
The guy has been on some kind of roll, for the most part, and has certainly made his case for a spot in the 2022 rotation at this point. Mills’ ability to swing in and out of the rotation is not something you want to undervalue, but if he’s pitching like this – if he’s figured out how to have much more success against lefties – then I don’t know how you could justify keeping him out of the rotation. He’s been the Cubs’ best starting pitcher this year. Still gonna need some rotation additions in free agency, but we’ll cross that bridge when the offseason comes.
From there, the bullpen was just about perfect, with the Reds never really threatening. Tonight’s installment was made up entirely of two, two-inning appearances from Rowan Wick and Codi Heuer. Loved to see that.