Stroman Keeps It on the Ground, the Defense Assists, Thompson and Heuer, and Other Cubs Bullets

Brett Taylor

May 25, 2023

Chicago Cubs

Ambitious crossover event: ‘Succession’ meets the Chicago Cubs.

Cousin Greg is about to fumble his way up to Assistant GM:

Cousin Greg? pic.twitter.com/ENrTTFvg0M
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) May 25, 2023

Ah, but what does it MEAN for Sunday’s series finale …

It’s going to be so nice to see Kyle Hendricks back on the mound for the Chicago Cubs tonight at Wrigley Field. I’m realistic about how it might go from a results standpoint – and, good or bad, it’s just one outing – but it’s impossible not to root for him. Both for the connection to the last great Cubs team, and for the work he put in to get himself back on the mound over the last year.

When a guy talks about how he wants to lean on his sinker because of the quality defense behind him on the infield (sanker gonna be sankin’ and all), you love to see a night like that from Marcus Stroman. He got 15 groundballs, two of which turned into double-plays – so a whopping 17 outs on the ground. That’s how you go 8.0 innings of two-run ball with only three strikeouts. And look at this outstanding location:

Marcus Stroman threw 53 sinkers today. That was 60% of his pitches — up from 41.6% this season overall.

It's the most sinkers he's featured in an outing since April 21, 2018 (54). pic.twitter.com/YK0ZnYoCFP— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) May 25, 2023

Speaking of which, the Cubs remain just about as good as they hoped they’d be defensively on the infield:

Most Defensive Runs Saved – Infields
1. Rays
2. Blue Jays, Brewers, Cubs, Cardinals
6. Rangers
7. Diamondbacks, Padres

27. Guardians
28. Athletics
29. Phillies
30. Reds

You can calculate that here:https://t.co/pk5rqqGpqa— SIS_Baseball (@sis_baseball) May 24, 2023

When you dig in, no surprise that shortstop (+7) and second base (+7) are carrying the load there (first base is 0, which is fine, and third base is -1, which isn’t terrible). Interestingly, the Cubs are just 10th overall in DRS because the outfield rates brutally. Center field is -1, which you’d expect to be in positive territory with Cody Bellinger making most of the starts, and each of the corners are -6, which is among the worst numbers in the league. I would not say Ian Happ has looked as good this year as he did last year, and I still see Seiya Suzuki’s performance in right field as mixed, but among the worst in baseball? That just doesn’t quite track for me. Always keep in mind – both good and bad – that small-sample advanced defensive metrics are tricky, and anything short of at least a full season is a pretty small sample.

If you missed it, Stroman, himself is pretty outstanding on defense, too. Look at the lead he gave Dansby Swanson on the double-play he started:

.@STR0 my goodness! pic.twitter.com/QKCWSi4gfO
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) May 25, 2023

And the jump throw play was just magnificent:

pic.twitter.com/gnLXhCSHu6
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) May 25, 2023

Keegan Thompson arrived at Iowa to get himself back on track and, uh, well:

Keegan Thompson with a rough first outing with the @IowaCubs this season. Thompson, who was recently demoted, gave up 4 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks in 0.2 innings of work at Nashville.— Tommy Birch (@TommyBirch) May 25, 2023

Before we freak, I think there has to be a little grace for any guy who gets demoted when he wasn’t expecting it – when he thought maybe he was a locked-in, full-time big leaguer now. Don’t get me wrong, you’d rather see a guy go down and dominate right away, but I don’t know that a terrible initial outing necessarily says much more than this is a guy who needs to get himself re-settled. Plus, you never know what a guy has been asked to work on – mechanically or pitch mix – down there, and that can take some adjustment. We see that all the time. Of note, Thompson threw his cutter last night half of his pitches, which is dramatically more than usual.

In better reliever news from that Iowa game:

Codi Heuer passed another test tonight for the @IowaCubs.

More than an inning of work, scoreless outing.

1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 K. Last fastball struck out Luke Voit at 97.5 mph. Topped out at 98.9 mph.

He is a bullpen-changing arm.— Alex Cohen (@voiceofcohen2) May 25, 2023

Although Jed Hoyer wouldn’t say this week that Heuer will return to the big league team as soon as he’s eligible to be activated off the 60-day IL (five days from now), he’s pitching on a regular schedule, he’s gone over an inning, and he’s throwing 97-99 mph. That seems like a guy who’s just about ready to return after a long Tommy John recovery (though he would notably be returning ahead of schedule – his recovery period was expected to be longer than usual because of a more involved version of the surgery). Best bet is that he makes one more appearance at Iowa in the coming days, and then comes to join the Cubs at Wrigley Field so they can get a final check-in with him in a bullpen session. Then a decision will be made on when to activate him.

And in non-Cubs-reliever news, Jhoan Duran remains unbelievable. Each of these three pitches – the combination of velocity and/or movement – should not be humanly possible:

Jhoan Duran's Obscene Stuff. 😳

-100.3mph Splinker with THAT movement.
-Fastball touching 104.6mph.
-90.2mph Curveball. pic.twitter.com/icOa1OoJ8o
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 24, 2023

If you missed it last night, one of the Cubs’ big bonus prospects from last year’s IFA class, Josefrailin Alcántara, is no longer in the organization, and is being sought by police in the Dominican Republic in connection with a shooting death.

written by

Brett Taylor

Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

more cubs news

Chicago Cubs

Cubs Add a Fresh Arm as the 27th Man for Today’s Double Header vs Miami

Per multiple reports, Luke Little will be the 27th man for today's double-header against the Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field. Luke Little Is Back (For Today) Little, you'll recall, made the team out of spring training and had some nice...

Michael Cerami

Apr 20, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Jameson Taillon’s Postgame Comments Make Me Feel Even Better About His 2024 Debut

After missing all of spring training and the start of the season with a back injury, Jameson Taillon returned to the Chicago Cubs rotation yesterday against the Marlins in impressive fashion: 5.0 IP, 3H, 0BB, 4Ks. He looked good, he...

Michael Cerami

Apr 20, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Now We Know Why Ian Happ Was Removed Mid-game

In the top of the seventh inning of today's 8-3 win over the Miami Marlins, Alexander Canario trotted out to left field in place of Ian Happ. At first, we thought (or maybe just hoped) that Craig Counsell was giving...

Michael Cerami

Apr 19, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 8, Marlins 3 – April 19, 2024

And just like that the Chicago Cubs are the first team in the NL Central to reach 12 wins! They're not technically in first place yet because the Brewers (11-6) have played fewer games, but we're talking about a matter...

Michael Cerami

Apr 19, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson with Back-to-Back Slick Defensive Plays

With a lefty Marlins starter on the mound this afternoon, Nico Hoerner lead off today's game for the Chicago Cubs. And he did it in style, ripping a leadoff double to the left-center field wall, before coming into score a...

Michael Cerami

Apr 19, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Pre-Gamin’: Marlins at Cubs – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

*The Cubs were rained out yesterday, but today? Today, we've got a Friday 1:20 start at Wrigley Field, and that means all is right in the world. Before you take a look at the Cubs lineup against Miami, check out...

Michael Cerami

Apr 19, 2024

Chicago Cubs

MLBits: The White Sox Might be the Worst Team Ever, What Games I’m Watching this Weekend, More

Happy Friday! Well, for everyone except for the pilots who were supposed to be manning the Colorado Rockies flight last week but instead allowed a member of the Rockies coaching staff to hop in the pilot's seat for a fun...

Patrick K. Flowers

Apr 19, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Can I Interest You in a Positive Injury-Update on Justin Steele?

Justin Steele, arguably the single most irreplaceable player on the Chicago Cubs 2024 roster, went down with a hamstring injury just 4.2 innings into his Opening Day start against the Rangers on March 28. In his place, the Cubs sixth...

Michael Cerami

Apr 19, 2024

Chicago Cubs

FAA Reportedly Investigating How a Passenger on Colorado Rockies Team Flight Was Seen Accessing the Cockpit

If you do this job long enough, it's really wild to see the range of topics that can somehow become attached to sports. That is to say, I did not envision myself at some point writing about flight safety, cockpit...

Brett Taylor

Apr 19, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Cubs Farm Report | April 19, 2024: Kevin Alcántara is Heating Up!

The Iowa Cubs were rained out, but the rest of the farm was in action, and so was Kevin Alcántara, who picked up four hits and now has seven in his last three games as he breaks out of an...

Patrick K. Flowers

Apr 19, 2024

Picks

Caris LeVert Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Magic – NBA Playoffs Game 1, Saturday, April 20, 2024

Caris LeVert's Cleveland Cavaliers meet the Orlando Magic on Saturday at 1:00 PM ET in Game 1 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, and to beat his 3-point prop, he needs to make two from downtown.Caris LeVert's Three-Pointer...

Data Skrive

Apr 20, 2024

Picks

Donovan Mitchell Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Magic – NBA Playoffs Game 1, Saturday, April 20, 2024

At 1:00 PM ET on Saturday, in Game 1 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, it'll be the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Orlando Magic, with Donovan Mitchell needing four treys to beat his 3-pointer over/under.Donovan Mitchell's Three-Pointer Prop...

Data Skrive

Apr 20, 2024

Picks

Franz Wagner Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Cavaliers – NBA Playoffs Game 1, Saturday, April 20, 2024

On Saturday at 1:00 PM ET, the Orlando Magic play the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, and Franz Wagner's 3-pointer over/under for this clash requires two treys.Franz Wagner's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs....

Data Skrive

Apr 20, 2024

Picks

Devin Booker Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Timberwolves – NBA Playoffs Game 1, Saturday, April 20, 2024

On Saturday at 3:30 PM ET, the Phoenix Suns play the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, and Devin Booker's 3-pointer prop for this clash requires three treys.Devin Booker's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs....

Data Skrive

Apr 20, 2024

Picks

Cole Anthony Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Cavaliers – NBA Playoffs Game 1, Saturday, April 20, 2024

The Orlando Magic meet the Cleveland Cavaliers at 1:00 PM ET on Saturday, in Game 1 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, and one of the 3-pointer over/unders available for this matchup requires only one make from Cole...

Data Skrive

Apr 20, 2024

Picks

Karl-Anthony Towns Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Suns – NBA Playoffs Game 1, Saturday, April 20, 2024

Karl-Anthony Towns must make two 3-pointers to beat his prop when the Minnesota Timberwolves meet the Phoenix Suns on Saturday at 3:30 PM ET, in Game 1 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs.Karl-Anthony Towns' Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs....

Data Skrive

Apr 20, 2024

Picks

Kevin Durant Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Timberwolves – NBA Playoffs Game 1, Saturday, April 20, 2024

The Phoenix Suns play the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday at 3:30 PM ET in Game 1 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, and if the Suns' Kevin Durant makes three 3-pointers, he'll beat his over/under.Kevin Durant's Three-Pointer Prop...

Data Skrive

Apr 20, 2024

Picks

Joel Embiid Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Knicks – NBA Playoffs Game 1, Saturday, April 20, 2024

Joel Embiid must make two 3-pointers to beat his over/under when the Philadelphia 76ers meet the New York Knicks on Saturday at 6:00 PM ET, in Game 1 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs.Joel Embiid's Three-Pointer Prop Odds...

Data Skrive

Apr 20, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Cubs Add a Fresh Arm as the 27th Man for Today’s Double Header vs Miami

Michael Cerami

Apr 20, 2024

Picks

Tyrese Maxey Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Knicks – NBA Playoffs Game 1, Saturday, April 20, 2024

Tyrese Maxey needs to make three 3-pointers to beat his prop when the Philadelphia 76ers meet the New York Knicks on Saturday at 6:00 PM ET, in Game 1 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs.Tyrese Maxey's Three-Pointer Prop...

Data Skrive

Apr 20, 2024

Stroman Keeps It on the Ground, the Defense Assists, Thompson and Heuer, and Other Cubs Bullets

Read More

more cubs news

Latest News

more cubs news

Most Popular

Most Popular

Latest News

Most Popular

Most Popular