Jake Arrieta received another award Wednesday for the incredible year he put together on the field. Arrieta won the ESPY for the Best Breakthrough Athlete.
ESPN reported Jake Arrieta edged MMA star Conor McGregor, three-time gold-medal-winning snowboarder Chloe Kim and NBA Rookie of the Year Karl-Anthony Towns for the award. Arrieta did not attend the ESPYs. Lindsey Vonn and J.J. Watt accepted the ESPY on Arrieta’s behalf.
Jake Arrieta, the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, was 22-6 in 33 starts last season with a 1.77 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 2.35 FIP. Arrieta put together an historic second half in which he was 12-1 in 15 starts with a 0.75 ERA and 0.72 WHIP and threw his first no-hitter.
Arrieta picked up in April this season pretty close to where he left off last September. Arrieta tossed his second no-hitter and was the best pitcher in the NL for the first month of the season. Arrieta began the season 5-0 in five starts with a 1.00 ERA and 0.77 WHIP.
Jake Arrieta was named an All-Star for the first time in his career. Arrieta did not play in the game and makes is first start after the break on Monday against the Mets at Wrigley Field. For the season, Arrieta is 12-4 in 18 starts with a 2.68 ERA and 1.09 WHIP.
• Complete List of ESPY Winners
Cubs-Rangers Series – Probable Pitchers
The Cubs begin a six-game homestand Friday with the first of three against one of the best teams in the American League, the Texas Rangers (July 15-17). The homestand concludes Wednesday after three games with the Mets.
The Rangers announced Wednesday that Yu Darvish will be activated from the DL and start Saturday at Wrigley Field. The Cubs will have a very challenging three games with the Rangers before welcoming the Mets to the old ballyard.
Here are the pitching matchups for the Rangers series:
- Friday, July 15 (1:20pm CDT) – RHP Kyle Hendricks vs. LHP Martin Perez
- Saturday, July 16 (1:20pm CDT) – RHP Jason Hammel vs. RHP Yu Darvish
- Sunday, July 17 (1:20pm CDT) – RHP John Lackey vs. LHP Cole Hamels
Cubs-Mets Series – Probable Pitchers
The Mets make their annual regular season trip to Wrigley next week for a three-game series that begins Monday. The Cubs should be more prepared to take on the Mets this time around after being embarrassed in New York.
The Mets announced Wednesday that lefty Steven Matz will start the opener at Wrigley on Monday. And Noah Syndergaard is scheduled to make his first start out of the break on Tuesday. Unless the two teams change their rotations, Syndergaard and Lester will square off in the middle game of the series.
Here are the pitching matchups for the three games:
- Monday, July 18 (6:05pm CDT) – RHP Jake Arrieta vs. LHP Steven Matz
- Tuesday, July 19 (6:05pm CDT) – LHP Jon Lester vs. RHP Noah Syndergaard
- Wednesday, July 20 (1:20pm CDT) – RHP Kyle Hendricks vs. Bartolo Colon
The Mets have not announced the starting pitcher for the finale with the Cubs. Terry Collins has Bartolo Colon pitching the first game out of the break followed by Logan Verrett and Jacob deGrom against the Phillies. If Collins does not make any changes to his rotation, the Cubs will see Colon in the series finale on Wednesday afternoon.
The Cubs announced Kyle Hendricks will start the finale of the three-game series and the homestand July 20.
Dan Vogelbach, Armando Rivero and the Triple-A All-Star Game
Dan Vogelbach and Armando Rivero played in the Triple-A All-Star Game.
The International League topped the Pacific Coast League 4-2 in the Triple-A All-Star Game on Wednesday night in Charlotte.
The Red Sox Chris Marrero was named the game’s MVP two days after winning the Triple-A Home Run Derby. Marrero extended the International League’s lead to 4-2 in the eighth with a mammoth solo homer over the wall in center off Armando Rivero.
Rivero faced only two batters as PCL skipper Wally Backman tried to make sure all of the pitchers got into the game. Rivero struck out one and allowed one run on one hit (solo home run) in a third of an inning.
Dan Vogelbach started the game for the PCL at first base. Vogelbach hit eighth and went 0-for-2 with a strikeout.
Oscar De La Cruz
Oscar De La Cruz made his first appearance of the 2016 season on Wednesday. De La Cruz pitched three innings for the AZL Cubs. And while the box score doesn’t look good, at least he was on the hill.
De La Cruz allowed three runs, two earned, on three hits with a walk and two strikeouts. Two of the three runs scored on a home run by Jacob Cooper in the third inning.
News, Notes and Rumors
• The Cubs begin a stretch of 22 games after the break in which Joe Maddon’s team does not have to board a plane. Bob Nightengale pointed out, the Cubs only road games are Milwaukee (July 22-24) and White Sox (July 25-26) from July 15-August 3.
• According to Buster Olney, the Indians “are sleepers” for Andrew Miller or Aroldis Chapman if the Yankees decide to trade either reliever. The Indians have a need and “prospects to make a deal.”
• The Pirates are sending Francisco Liriano (Friday), Gerrit Cole (Saturday) and Chad Kuhl (Sunday) to the hill in the three-game series against the Nationals.
• The Des Moines Register reported Wednesday that there were no plans for Dexter Fowler to report to the Iowa Cubs on Thursday to continue his rehab assignment.
• Bob Nightengale reported the latest crop of young shortstops are taking over the game.
• Jayson Stark posted his midseason awards on ESPN.com.
Short of getting the W, it was a good week for the #Cubs All-Stars.https://t.co/1vs1gkQJXf
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 14, 2016
This Day in Cubstory
2013 – The U.S. Team beat the World Team in the Futures Game, 4-2. Arismendy Alcantara hit a solo home run for the World Team.
2012 – Ryan Dempster tied the Cubs franchise record by extending his scoreless streak to 33 innings in a 4-1 win over the Diamondbacks. Dempster tossed six scoreless before leaving the game and tied Ken Holtzman’s record that was set in 1969
2011 – Cubs signed free agent Dave Bush
2002 – Cubs signed amateur free agent Clay Rapada
1997 – In the longest night game at Wrigley Field, five hours and 19 minutes, the Cubs lost to the Astros 9-7 in 15 innings. Ricky Gutierrez singled in the go-ahead run (The John Baker Game in July 2014 passed this game for the longest in franchise history)
1990 – Jack Leathersich, born
1988 – Cubs traded Dave Martinez to the Expos for Mitch Webster
1970 – Jim Hickman drove in Pete Rose with a single in the 12th inning as the NL beat the AL 5-4 at the All-Star Game at Riverfront Stadium. Rose bowled over Ray Fosse at the plate when he scored the final run.
1969 – At Wrigley Field, Bill Hands and the Cubs edged Tom Seaver and the Mets 1-0. After the last out was made, Ron Santo jumped up and clicked his heels for the first time.
1969 – Jose Hernandez, born
1968 – Derrick May, born
1965 – In the second game of a doubleheader at Wrigley, the Cubs turned a triple play in the second inning on a bunt by Woody Woodward of the Braves. The play went from catcher Ed Bailey to shortstop Don Kessinger to pitcher Bill Faul to second baseman Glenn Beckert. This is the only time the Cubs have turned a triple play on a bunt. The Cubs lost game two 6-3 after winning game one 5-2.
1954 – Chuck Rainey, born
1947 – Steve Stone, born
1882 – The Chicago National League Ball Club beat Detroit 23-4 behind Larry Corcoran at Lakefront Park. George Gore, Mike Kelley and Ed Williamson each drove in three runs and scored three runs.