Another low-scoring game, and this time the Cubs come out on the bottom. No sweep this weekend.
The Cubs did not even get a runner to SECOND base today until the 9th inning. So, yeah, the offense was not there. Not a ton to say on that front. Mostly you can credit Jesus Luzardo, who looks fantastic with the Marlins (when he’s been healthy enough to pitch). The Marlins got him for a Starling Marte rental, man. Remember that?
Adrian Sampson had another one of those games where it was totally passable overall (qualified as a quality start!), and even would’ve registered as “really good” if not for a couple homers. Sampson doesn’t have an egregiously high HR/9 rate this year or anything, but it just seems like that’s been what’s gotten him when something has gotten him. He remains so hard for me to get a read on.
Kervin Castro threw a scoreless inning this time out (bringing his ERA under 20). Sean Newcomb followed with a scoreless frame of his own (I guess he’s back in short relief?), and then Anderson Espinoza did his normal thing in the 9th (i.e., no idea where any pitches are going, but generally around the strike zone enough to get results somehow).