LOS ANGELES DODGERS NOTES:
TONIGHT’S STARTER at CUBS: RHP MICHAEL GROVE (0-1, 9.00 ERA in 3 GS)
2023 SEASON NOTES:
• Twirled a career-high 5.2 innings in his last start on April 15th against the Cubs…allowed just one earned run on two hits with six strikeouts
• Made his 2023 debut against the Rockies on April 3, where he hurled four innings, giving up three runs on two hits, two walks and punching out four
• Allowed career-highs in runs (9) and hits (12) in his start against the D-Backs on April 9
• Started six games during Spring Training, posting a 0-1 record with a 5.40 ERA (10 ER/16.2 IP) and 17 strikeouts against just three walks…produced a 1.03 WHIP
• Named to his first Opening Day roster as a Major Leaguer after making his big league debut last season on May 15 against the Phillies
VS. CUBS:
• Will face the Cubs at Wrigley Field for the first time in his career
• In his last and only start against Chicago, he held the Cubbies to just two hits, one walk and a run across 5.2 innings of work while punching out 6…his 5.2 innings pitched was a career high
CHICAGO CUBS NOTES:
CUBS CELEBRATE NO. 42: The Chicago Cubs, fresh off a 5-1 road trip at the Dodgers (2-1) and Athletics (3-0), tonight celebrate the life and legacy of baseball legend Jackie Robinson, and honor his contributions to the game of baseball, as the team plays the first of four games against the Dodgers at Wrigley Field. © For today’s celebration, head basketball coach from Simeon Career Academy Robert Smith will throw out the ceremonial first pitch and former NBA player and current college basketball analyst Stephen Bardo will sing the seventh-inning stretch.
Among the many ways the Cubs will pay tribute to the baseball icon during the Jackie Robinson Celebration at Wrigley Field, the team will fly “42” flags around the Wrigley Field Marquee and roofline.
5-1 IN THE CALIFORNIA SUN: The Cubs, winners of a season-high four-straight games, yesterday completed a three-game sweep of the Oakland Athletics with a 12-2 victory, putting a bow on a 5-1 road trip that started with a series win at Dodger Stadium last weekend … Chicago in the six-game sojourn batted .297 (66-for-222) with 38 runs scored (6.33 runs per game) while pitching to a 1.34 ERA (8 ER/53.2 IP).
The Cubs allowed two or fewer runs in all six games of the trip … the previous time the club held opponents to two or fewer runs in six-straight games of a road trip was Sept. 12-17, 1952, with two contests each against Philadelphia, Boston and New York.
Chicago outscored the Dodgers and Athletics by a combined 29 runs on the just-completed trip … the last time the Cubs outscored the opposition by more runs in six games, all on the road, was from Aug. 11-15, 1945 (The Cubs scored 49 runs while allowing only 18 – a difference of 31 against the Braves, Phillies and Dodgers) … thanks to Ed Hartig for his research assistance.
CURRENT EVENTS: Chicago has started the season 11-6, winning at least 11 of its first 17 games for the first time since 2020 (13-4) and for the seventh time since 2000.
Thanks in part to a 12-run outburst yesterday in Oakland, the Cubs have plated 10 or more runs in five of their first 17 games … it’s the third time since 1901 Chicago has recorded five 10-run games within its first 17 season contests, also done by the 2004 and 2019 clubs.
Chicago has won four-consecutive series (2-1 vs. TEX, 2-1 vs. SEA, 2-1 @ LAD, 3-0 vs. OAK) and aims to win five-straight series (of two or more games) for the first time since Aug. 5-21, 2022 (2-1 vs. MIA, 2-1 vs. WSH, 2-1 @ CIN, 2-1 @ WSH, 2-1 vs. MIA).
Tonight is the first of a four-game set against the Dodgers … following an off day Monday, this seven-game eight-day ‘stand continues with three games against the Padres.
YOU GO, NICO!: Nico Hoerner in the season’s early going is hitting .347 (26-for-75) with 16 runs scored, five doubles, four RBI and nine stolen bases, having reached base safely in 16 of 17 games played … his nine stolen bases lead the N.L. while his 16 runs scored are tied for third, his 26 hits are tied for fourth and his .347 average is sixth.
© Hoerner has reached base safely in 15-straight games since April 2, tying his
career high also done July 7-26,2022 … the 15-game stretch having reached
base safely ranks sixth-longest among active streaks.
© Hoerner has gone 28-straight plate appearances without a strikeout, the
longest active streak in the majors.
NOBODY BEATS THE WIZ: Patrick Wisdom has at least one extra-base hit in each of his last six games, the first Cub to turn that trick since Frank Schwindel had seven-consecutive games with an extra-base knock Aug. 12-18, 2021.
Wisdom homered in each of the first four games of the just-completed road trip, including a multi-homer effort Monday in Oakland … he is the first Cub with five homers in four games since Willson Contreras did it Aug. 3-6, 2017, and the seventh to do it since 2000 (combined 17 occurences).
Wisdom’s eight homers thus far are tied for the major league lead … he hit the eight homers in his first 15 games, making him the fourth Cub to hit at least eight homers in the first 15 games of a season (also Lee Walls, 1958; Hank Sauer, 1954; and Gabby Hartnett, 1925).
ABOUT THE BATS: Cubs hitters rank second in the majors with a .286 average (172- for-601) while the team’s 5.82 runs per game rank third behind only Tampa Bay (7.00) and Texas (6.22).
Ian Happ batted .385 (10-for-26) with four doubles, a homer and seven RBI on the road trip … his eight doubles this season rank tied for second in the N.L. while his .423 OBP and 10 extra-base hits are both eighth.
Dansby Swanson ranks sixth in the N.L. with a .432 OBP while his .333 average is tied for ninth..
Cody Bellinger in his last 13 games since April 4 is hitting .346 (18-for-52) with 13 runs scored, three doubles, two homers, eight RBI and five walks, contributing to a .397 on-base percentage.
ABOUT THE ARMS: Cubs pitching has posted a 3.24 ERA (55 ER/152.2 IP) this season, the fifth-best mark in the majors … the rotation has a 2.96 ERA (30 ER/91.1 IP), the third-best mark in baseball while the bullpen has posted a 3.67 mark (25 ER/61.1 IP).
Mark Leiter Jr. this season has made eight appearances (7.1 IP) without allowing a run and has surrendered just three hits while striking out 14 batters … 11 of his 14 punchouts have come against lefties, which are tied for the lead among all major league relievers.
Starting Pitcher – #72 RHP Javier Assad (0-1, 12.46)
Last Time Out
Javier made his first start of the campaign with Triple-A Iowa, April 14 vs. Omaha … allowed two runs in the first inning before retiring five of his final six batters.
Date Opp. Result IP H R ER BB SO PC-S Left
4/14 OMA ND, 8-11 2.2 2 2 2 1 2 47-29 2-2
2023 Splits and Season Notes
W-L ERA G GS IP H R ER BB SO
Home 0-1 12.56 2 0 4.1 6 6 6 2 5
Road – – – – – – – – – –
AVG vs. LHB: .333 (3-for-9) / AVG vs. RHB: .300 (3-for-10)
Javier will be recalled from Triple-A Iowa to make his third appearance (first start) with the Cubs in 2023 … owns a 2.95 ERA (12 ER/36.2 IP) in eight career starts, compared to an 11.81 career ERA (7 ER/5.1 IP) as a reliever (3 games)
Pitched in three games (one start) in spring training, posting a 2.57 ERA (2 ER/7.0 IP).
Pitched for Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic, tossing 5.2 scoreless innings with six strikeouts in two relief appearances.
