NEWSLETTER
The Atlanta Braves are loving the Chicago Cubs tonight. And, since I still kinda hate the Mets, I’m good with it.
The Cubs played spoiler tonight with a comfortable win over the Mets on the strength of dominance from the pitching, and big nights from Rafael Ortega and Zach McKinstry. Well all right.
What a night for Javier Assad, who not only put up great numbers, but he was also showing some really good looking stuff against a very strong lineup. He wound up getting 12 whiffs on his 95 pitches, and posting a 29% CSW, in addition to the whole 1 ER over 6 IP with 6 K.
The bullpen maybe TRIED to do its thing late in this one, with Mark Leiter Jr. and Manny Rodriguez giving up a couple singles and a walk to load the bases with nobody out in the 8th. But then Rodriguez got a strikeout, and Brandon Hughes came in for a couple fly outs to end the inning. No runs scored. How shameful for the Mets. (In that mix? Dan Vogelbach was the walk to load the bases, and he was pinch run for by the pitcher, Mychal Givens.)
Outside of a solo homer to Francisco Lindor in the 9th – he’ll get his – the bullpen ultimately held up fine. Couple that with Assad’s great start, and you’ve got yourself a really nice pitching night in New York.
