Cubs lose and split the short series in Pittsburgh. That’s disappointing.
Even against a bad team, splitting a two-game series on the road is not, in isolation, a crushing thing. Just kinda something that happens when you run the numbers. But I think the lack of offense in both games is what stands out more than the split, and while it’s not like we didn’t expect some offensive up and downs with a group constructed as this one has been, it just feels like there should’ve been more productivity against the Pirates’ pitchers.
Bad day for Kyle Hendricks out there, not just in the results column but also in how he looked. There were some sequencing bummers in the outing – as is often the case when you give up the runs on two big hits with two outs – but it’s not like Hendricks was at his best and simply got unlucky. It was a very 2021 outing, with a mix of spotty command (way too many pitches located belt-high) and lost control (you rarely see Hendricks get that wild). If you’re into digging too deeply on a single start, and his Opening Day start gave you heart, then today’s should give you pause.
Meanwhile, Willson Contreras had a nice day, and Seiya Suzuki keeps doing impressive things:
Suzuki walks. That’s a hit, a walk and an RBI. He’s reached at least twice and scored or driven in a run in first five games as a Cub. One of only two Cubs since at least 1901 to do that.
Also: Mark Grudzielanek (2003).
— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) April 13, 2022
And the bullpen was also impressive again today, with 4.1 innings of scoreless relief. Good to see Rowan Wick’s velocity tick back up, good to see Michael Rucker eat some innings, and Scott Effross looks GOOD.
A bit of credit where it is due, and probably for years to come: