Spring Training Game Twenty-Six: Cubs (ss) (10-14-1) vs. Rockies (13-11-2)
- Game Time – 3:05pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: None – Radio: WBBM 780-AM
- Location – Sloan Park, Mesa
Jake Arrieta (2-1, 5.40, 1.70) vs. Jonathan Gray (0-1, 2.08, 0.92)
Spring Training Game Twenty-Seven: Cubs (ss) (10-14-1) vs. Reds (11-10-3)
- Game Time – 3:05pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: None – Radio: MLB.com
- Location – Goodyear Ballpark, Goodyear
Gonzalez Germen (0-0, 11.57, 2.79) vs. Aroldis Chapman (0-0, 3.60, 1.10)
The Cubs will spend the last Saturday in the Cactus League in two different ballparks, Sloan Park in Mesa and Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear.
The Cubs’ fourth and final split squad games of the spring are against two teams Maddon’s men will face in back-to-back series (games four-nine) when the season starts. The Cubs are 3-2-1 in the first six split squad games of the spring
The Cubs split the first two Cactus League games against the Reds and lost to the Rockies in Scottsdale during the first weekend of the exhibition season.
The Cubs will see the Rockies and Reds in April. After starting the season with three at Wrigley against the Cardinals, the Cubs make the trip to Denver for three with the Rockies. The Cubs return home for a six game homestand that begins with three against the Reds. And Joe Maddon’s team makes the trip to Cincinnati at the end of April (April 24-26) where Kris Bryant could be making his big league debut.
Jake Arrieta makes his first appearance in a Cactus League game since March 18 and it appears a bullpen day is on tap in Goodyear with the starting match-up of Gonzalez Germen and Aroldis Chapman.
This afternoon all starts with Jake Arrieta in Mesa and Gonzalez Germen in Goodyear …
Spring Training Game Twenty-Six: Cubs (ss) (10-14-1) vs. Rockies (13-11-2)
Jake Arrieta returns to Cactus League action this afternoon. Arrieta pitched in a minor league game last Monday and reportedly threw around 80 pitches. Other details of that outing were not posted by the mainstream media. Arrieta stayed on schedule with the minor league outing during the off day. And if something would have been anything but positive, the reporters would have been all over it.
Jake Arrieta makes his fourth Cactus League start today. It’s been a rather inconsistent spring for Arrieta from a mechanical and command standpoint. Numbers are meaningless in the spring, the players working out the kinks and preparing for the season is the focus. It would be good to see Arrieta have a complete outing today, regardless of what the line looks like afterwards.
The Dodgers beat up Arrieta his last ‘official’ spring start. Arrieta gave up five runs on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts over four innings.
In three Cactus League starts, Jake Arrieta has allowed seven runs, six earned, on 12 hits with five walks and 10 strikeouts in 10 innings.
Jonathan Gray makes his sixth appearance and third start in the Cactus League this afternoon. Gray has been very good and is making his case to begin the year in the Rockies rotation. Gray will face a Cubs’ lineup that features Kris Bryant, the player the Cubs drafted instead of Gray almost two years ago.
Gray is coming off an excellent start against the Brewers. Gray gave up two hits over four scoreless innings with two strikeouts and no walks.
Jonathan Gray has allowed three runs (all in one outing) on 11 hits with a walk and nine strikeouts in 13 innings.
Justin Morneau, Daniel Descalso and Charlie Culbertson are expected back in the Rockies lineup today. And John Axford, Rafael Betancourt, Scott Oberg and Rex Brothers are scheduled to follow Gray to the hill this afternoon.
Spring Training Game Twenty-Seven: Cubs (ss) (10-14-1) vs. Reds (11-10-3)
It looks like a bullpen day for the Cubs in Goodyear with Gonzalez Germen getting the start. Germen was with the team on a non-roster invite. Germen has already been re-assigned to minor league camp and will begin the season in Triple-A Iowa’s bullpen.
Germen has struggled this spring. In five appearances, 4 2/3 innings, Germen has allowed six runs on eight hits with five walks and four strikeouts. Germen has shown signs he could be a bullpen option, if needed, during the season in between having issues with his command.
The first three batters in Dave Martinez’s lineup have the pleasure of facing Aroldis Chapman in the first inning. The Reds are starting their closer this afternoon, so it should be a rather quick top of the first for the Reds.
Chapman hasn’t been perfect in six appearances in the Cactus League and actually pitched two innings in four straight outings. Chapman has allowed four runs on eight hits with three walks and 13 strikeouts in 10 innings.
Chapman is starting the bullpen day for the Reds instead of Mike Leake, who will pitch in a minor league game instead of facing the Cubs. Manny Parra, Tony Cingrani and Nate Adcock are scheduled to pitch for the Reds this afternoon.
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …