Justin Steele is 1st in baseball in wins (16), 2nd in ERA (2.55), and 15th in WHIP (1.14). Cubs are 19-7 in his starts including 9 straight wins.
Justin Steele is now the favorite for the NL Cy Young Award.
This is a great photo of Happ and Contreras courtesy of USA Today. What a dumb decision by Mikolas that essentially determined the fate of the game in the 1st inning
Cubs and Dodgers are the front runners for Shohei Ohtani, according to Bruce Levine this morning on 670 The Score.
“This is not a pipe dream. The Cubs are in.”
Ohtani will likely make a decision during the winter meetings Dec. 4-7.
Bruce Levine said on 670 The Score tonight the Cubs “are going to do everything they can” to trade for Pete Alonso, and added they would like to pair Alonso *with* Cody Bellinger
Hayden Wesneski just said on 670 The Score that the Cubs pitchers call Héctor Neris “Heart Attack Héctor.”
🤣Say what you want, but at least these guys are having fun with it🤣
Kyle Hendricks ERA is 7.84 with Tucker Barnhart catching (10.1 IP). Hendricks ERA is 2.53 with Miguel Amaya (32 IP). Why start the second half with Barnhart?
If the Cubs take on the full salary of Juan Soto, then Christopher Morel might be enough in a 1-for-1 trade with the Padres, according to Bruce Levine this morning on 670 The Score
The Cubs are one of the best stories in baseball in 2023. They are 62-58 now but they were 26-36 on June 9 and 43-50 on July 18. Well, here is what happened:
36-22 since June 9
19-8 since July 18
All this team does it fight.
The four pitchers who have made the most starts for the Cubs - Imanaga, Assad, Steele, Taillon - have combined for a 2.67 ERA, which would rank 1st in baseball by a lot.
Cubs have a total starters ERA of 3.44, which ranks 5th in baseball and 2nd in the NL.
MLB dot com’s Mark Feinsand thinks the Cubs will be the most active team at the Winter Meetings this week.
“They didn’t bring in manager Craig Counsell to sit by and watch the Hot Stove season pass them by.”
Jon Morosi just reported on 670 The Score that the Cubs are signaling to teams that they are open to selling later this month.
No trade talks are imminent. Bellinger, Happ, and Taillon all mentioned as candidates to clear money while refreshing the roster.
Matt Shaw is slashing 455/500/773 with 4 HR in 12 games at Double-A since the All-Star break.
Meanwhile, at Triple-A, they have been starting three non-prospects at 2B/SS/3B, one who went unsigned until June and one who signed out of indy ball in June.
Shaw to Triple-A!?
Marcus Stroman is tracking to return as a relief pitcher for the Cubs, according to Bruce Levine this morning on 670 The Score.
Not enough time to build back up to start, but can and wants to contribute in bullpen role.
There is no way around saying this: The Cubs are one of the worst teams in baseball. Worst records since April 27:
Angels 18-27
Rockies 18-27
Marlins 17-27
Cubs 17-29
White Sox 15-29
A’s 15-31
Since April 27, the Cubs are last in baseball in batting average at .198. They have averaged 3.1 runs per game.
The last 7 games they are hitting .148 with 16 total runs.
NL executive to Jon Heyman on the Cubs possibly signing pitcher Jordan Montgomery:
“Monty would be perfect for the Cubs. They can afford him.”
Here is the latest:
Craig Counsell just went back-and-forth with reporter Jesse Rogers in postgame presser.
Rogers: "Looked like (Morel) was swinging for the lake (in the 7th inning).
Counsell: "C'mon Jesse. That's your comment? He was swinging for the lake? That's a bad take. That's a bad take."
Justin Steele just had a GREAT quote on his emotions walking off the field after the 3rd inning:
“I love every single person in that locker room. I know how good we can be. It comes from a place of love and passion. I want to win baseball games.”
If it wasn’t clear already, then it is now: Craig Counsell despises this bullpen. Doesn’t trust it, at the very least. Wonder if him and Jed Hoyer are on the same page on the bullpen.
Updated NL Central win totals from FanDuel:
Cubs 85.5
Cardinals 83.5
Brewers 82.5
Reds 80.5
Pirates 77.5
Cubs also now the favorite to win the division at +210.
The Cubs signed pitcher Adrian Houser today (under the radar!) and he just went 2.2 innings at Triple-A. Pitching depth for the rest of the season.
Houser was released by the Mets last week and spent the last six years with Counsell on the Brewers.
If PCA is being demoted, then why not call up Brennen Davis? Davis is the hottest hitter in the organization with 7 HR in last 9 games.
Davis in LF, Tauchman at DH, and Happ to the bench for another reset.
Pete Crow-Armstrong is 10-for-19 with 4 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 3 SB in his four games back at Triple-A.
PCA is not eligible to be called up until Thursday 5/30. Position players have to spend 10 days in the minors from when they were optioned (unless someone is placed on IL).
Pete Crow-Armstrong went 9-for-25 with 2 HR last 6 games. Would be GREAT to see him get a chance in CF and there might not be a better debut spot than Coors Field this week
Jed Hoyer with a good quote today on 670 The Score: “All the answers can’t be external. We have to play better as a group. That’s going to lead us to where we need to go.”
The core group (Happ, Suzuki, Bellinger, Morel, Swanson, Hoerner) needs to produce!
The Cubs are 39-47 and have the worst record in the NL since April 27 at 22-38. They are 12 GB in the division and 5.5 GB of the third wild card spot.
They are DONE.
New episode here:
This is a brutal lineup for all sorts of reasons (these games are biggest for Cubs in years).
Tauchman is better than Mancini offensively AND Tauchman in CF and Bellinger at 1B is the better defensive option.
Carter Hawkins just said on 670 The Score that Jed Hoyer frequently thinks about how prospects like PCA and Cade Horton could help the Cubs in the playoffs.
Love it. Bring those dudes up in September in small roles.
Justin Steele should be in the All-Star Game again for the Cubs.
2.95 ERA in 79.1 IP this season. Last 8 starts: 54 IP, 37 H, 10 R, 12 BB, 54 K, 1.67 ERA.
Tommy Hottovy just told 670 The Score that Ben Brown is “available for a big chunk” of tonight’s game. Luke Little could also pitch into the 2nd inning.
“Getting guys through the game and hopefully back to a normal routine is the plan more than anything.”
Cubs likely in play for these remaining free agents. Beyond this list would be surprising and/or minor addition.
CF/1B Cody Bellinger
3B Matt Chapman
1B/3B/DH Justin Turner
1B/DH Brandon Belt
LRP Scott Alexander
LRP Brad Hand
Roster moves for the Cubs tomorrow? Madrigal, Mervis, and Palencia all have options and could be swapped out. Brewer could be DFA.
Two possibles for promotion: Infielder Luis Vazquez and reliever Porter Hodge.
Vazquez is slashing 333/411/505 + Hodge 1.59 ERA/19 K in 11.1 IP.