NEWSLETTER
CHICAGO CUBS WIN IN OCTOBER!
The Cubs not only keep winning – they keep winning in a very similar way: solid starting pitching, good relief pitching, and just enough offense. That equation will need a little improvement heading into next season, but we’ll get there when we get there.
For today, it meant a one-run win over the Reds courtesy of a 7th inning Seiya Suzuki shot, and an earlier run-scoring triple from Nelson Velazquez:
As for the starting pitching, it was Drew Smyly returning from a week-and-a-half off to rest a sore shoulder. His outing was short but effective, and now it’s time to start thinking about a new deal with the Cubs.
Back-filling for Smyly was a fantastic outing by Adbert Alzolay, who was perfect for three with four strikeouts. His return to the Cubs this year has gone as well as you could have realistically hoped, showing what he can be when he’s healthy, and what the Cubs might get out of him next year in multi-inning relief. It’s a limited role, yes, but he could be a stud.
Wade Miley also got a couple innings of relief work, which you love to see for him – it means he didn’t really suffer much of an oblique injury, and he could be heading toward the offseason having shown some health. He’ll be signed by some team, because when he’s been healthy this year, he’s still been very good.
That’s six in a row for the Cubs and 10 of 11. I’d say 75 wins is looking VERY possible, which hey, that’s something.
