It is fairly safe to say that Tuesday was a good day for the Cubs. Joe Maddon’s team won both games of the day-night doubleheader against the Cardinals. It was just one day and two games, but the Cubs showed they could not only play with the Cardinals but they could actually beat them. Maddon must make sure his team builds on Tuesday and does not have a letdown in the series finale Wednesday night or over the weekend against the White Sox.
Anthony Rizzo went a combined 2-for-5 with a home run, three RBI, a sac fly, two walks and he was hit by a pitch for the 18th time this season in Tuesday’s doubleheader. And Rizzo did most of his damage against left handed pitchers. Rizzo hit an opposite field home run, through the wind, off lefty Randy Choate in game one and plated Addison Russell with a sac fly in game two against southpaw Kevin Siegrist.
Rizzo’s season totals are .293/.407/.547 with 24 doubles, two triples and 16 home runs for a .953 OPS. Rizzo has walked 42 times in 82 games with 43 strikeouts. And he is hitting at another level against southpaws.
Anthony Rizzo is 22-for-65 with five doubles, two home runs, seven HBP and 10 walks with seven strikeouts against lefties for a .338/.470/.508 slash line with a .978 OPS.
According to ESPN Chicago, Rizzo is putting up rare numbers against left handed pitchers.
The league is going to catch up to the fact that batting against southpaws does not affect Rizzo and actually plays to his advantage. But until teams make the adjustment, watching Anthony Rizzo hit lefties is just about as good as it gets.
Mike Olt
Mike Olt went 1-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored in Iowa’s 8-3 win over New Orleans on Tuesday. And Olt needed the hit because he has been struggling. Olt snapped a four game skid in which he went without a hit and struck out four times.
Mike Olt is 10-for-52 in 14 games with the I-Cubs and is nearing the end of his rehab assignment. Olt is batting just .192/.222/.327 with four doubles, one home run, two walks and 15 strikeouts.
Cubs – White Sox Pitching Matchups
The pitching matchups for the first round of the Crosstown series with the White Sox were released Tuesday.
The series starts Friday and it will be Kyle Hendricks versus lefty Carlos Rodon. Jon Lester and Chris Sale square off Saturday. And the series is scheduled to wrap up with Jake Arrieta taking on Jose Quintana. The Cubs will face three lefties in the last series before the All-Star break.
The Cubs have not decided how they will lineup the rotation after the break.
Gonzalez Germen
RHP Gonzalez Germen is no longer in the Cubs’ organization. Three days after the Cubs designated Germen for assignment, the Rockies claimed Germen off waivers and optioned him to Triple-A Albuquerque.
Germen pitched in six games for the Cubs this season and allowed five runs on eight hits with five walks and eight strikeouts in six innings (7.50 ERA, 2.17 WHIP). Germen spent a majority of the season with the Iowa Cubs. In 24 games out of the I-Cubs’ pen, Germen was 5-1 with a 3.78 ERA and 1.38 WHIP. The 27-year old right hander allowed 16 runs, 14 earned, on 29 hits with 17 walks and 27 strikeouts in 33 1/3 innings.
Cubs Rumors Links Corner
• The Sun-Times questioned if the Cubs have the financial flexibility to make an impact trade before the deadline. Crane Kenney said Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer have the money to make deals to improve the team on The Kap & Haugh Show.
News, Notes and Rumors
• Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant would like to participate in the Home Run Derby. Joe Maddon would prefer his two All-Stars do not take part in the derby. Cubs’ coach Franklin Font would pitch to Rizzo in the derby and for Bryant, it would be his father Mike tossing him batting practice.
• Anthony Rizzo was hit by a pitch for the 18th time on the season during the second game of Tuesday’s doubleheader. Rizzo set the Cubs modern record for the most hit by pitches in a single season.
• Joe Maddon told the beat writers prior to game one that RHP Rafael Soriano topped out at 92 mph with his fastball Monday night. Maddon added it “could climb a tick.”
• According to Jon Heyman, there are at least six teams in the market for a starting pitcher and the Cubs are not of them. Heyman said the Astros, Blue Jays, Royals, Dodgers, Pirates and Yankees “are looking into the starters’ market.”
• ESPN Chicago took a look at where the Cubs stand at the halfway point of the season. And Jesse Rogers explained why the Cubs are looking for starting pitching and not offense right now.
• According to Susan Slusser, Ben Zobrist received the Starlin Castro treatment from the New York media. With the A’s in town to play the Yankees, Zobrist was grilled about both New York teams who reportedly covet Zobrist. The Cubs remain one of the teams with a lot of interest in Zobrist, along with the Nationals, according to Slusser.
• Kris Bryant has reached base in 26 of his last 27 games at Wrigley and has hit safely in 23 of those games.
• Jake Arrieta and Joe Maddon talked about Arrieta not being selected for the NL All-Star team and both handled the questions the right way according to reports from ESPN Chicago and the Sun-Times.
• From Christopher Kamka: Tuesday was the first time a Cubs starting pitcher had a basehit in both games of a doubleheader since Sept. 19, 2003 (Carlos Zambrano and Juan Cruz). Jake Arrieta had two hits in game one and Dallas Beeler doubled in two trips to the plate in Tuesday’s nightcap.
• If the Padres decide to sell, according to Jon Paul Morosi, outfielder Will Venable would be a perfect fit for the Cubs.
• The Tribune reported Joe Maddon supports the Cubs’ coaching staff.
• Rest and relaxation prescribed for Cubs’ Addison Russell according to the Tribune.
• According to Comcast SportsNet, the Cubs belief in Addison Russell paid off against the Cardinals.
And last, but not least, a lost helmet did not kill the Cubs rally according to ESPN Chicago.
This Day In Cubstory
2013 – Cubs traded Scott Hairston and cash to the Washington Nationals for Ivan Pineyro
2011 – Cubs released Fernando Perez
2008 – Cubs acquired Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin from the A’s for Josh Donaldson, Sean Gallagher, Matt Murton and Eric Patterson
2008 – Ryan Dempster improved to 10-0 at Wrigley Field with a 7-3 win over the Reds. Dempster’s home start to the season is the best for a Cubs’ pitcher since Rick Reuschel in 1977
1987 – Josh Harrison, born
1973 – Astros purchased Juan Pizarro from the Cubs
1969 – At Shea Stadium, Ron Santo roundly criticized teammate Don Young for his two misplays in centerfield that helped the Mets score three runs in the ninth that resulted in a 4-3 walk-off win over the Cubs. The loss reduced the Cubs lead over the Mets to four games. Santo apologized the next day for his remarks, but was booed by fans at Wrigley Field the first game back after the incident.
1965 – Jerome Walton, born
1964 – Ken Patterson, born
1956 – Monte Irvin hit a grand slam in the ninth and gave the Cubs a 10-6 win over the Braves at County Stadium
1952 – Hank Sauer’s two-run homer off Bob Lemon in the fourth inning gave the National League a 3-2 victory over the American League in a rain-shortened All-Star Game at Shibe Park. The Cubs Bob Rush was the winning pitcher
1947 – Wrigley Field hosted its first All-Star Game
1945 – Cubs beat the Phillies 12-6 and 9-2 in a doubleheader and moved into first place in the National League. The Cubs spent the rest of the summer atop the NL and won the pennant.
1942 – Cubs purchased Lon Warneke from the Cardinals for $7,500
1933 – Al Spangler, born
1909 – Frank Chance, the Cubs first baseman and manager, angered at Brooklyn fans for throwing pop bottles at his team, threw them back and cut one fan in the leg. The Cubs won 5-0 behind Mordecai Brown and Chance left the park in an armored vehicle accompanied by three police officers to escape the mob
1880 – The Chicago National League Ball Club beat Providence 5-4 behind Larry Corcoran at Lakefront Park. It was the team’s 21st straight win, the streak ended the next day