CHICAGO CUBS NOTES:
Cubs vs. Yankees
The Cubs and Yankees play a three-game set at Yankee Stadium after previously meeting here last June 10- 12 in a three-game sweep by New York … prior to last night’s win, Chicago had dropped seven-straight games against New York after it’s previous victory May 20, 2014, at Wrigley Field (6-1 win).
THE J-MO SHOW IN THE BIG APPLE: Jameson Taillon last night allowed one hit and two walks in 8.0 shutout innings, Cody Bellinger homered and scored twice and Adbert Alzolay picked up the save with a scoreless ninth to preserve a 3-0 victory in the series opener against the Yankees in New York … the win was the Cubs first-ever in the Bronx, having entered last evening 0-8 here in regular season play and 0-4 between the 1932 and 1938 World Series games.
ESPN Stats & Info reports that Taillon is the first pitcher with at least 8.0 innings and one or fewer hits allowed on the road at Yankee Stadium since Baltimore’s
Daniel Cabrera did so in 2006.
Stats Perform reported that Taillon is the first former Yankee to go a least 8.0 frames and all no more than one hit in a game at Yankee Stadium (old or new).
Last night marked Chicago’s 10th shutout of the season, tied for the most in the majors with Toronto … the Cubs recorded 11 shutouts in 2022.
PITCHING IN: Jameson Taillon last night became the fourth Cub this season to pitch at least 7.2 shutout innings with one hit allowed, joining Drew Smyly (April 21 vs. LAD), Marcus Stroman (May 29 vs. TB) and Kyle Hendricks (June 10 at SF) … just two others in the majors have turned that trick: the White Sox Michael Kopech (May 19 vs. KC) and the Yankees Domingo Germán (no-hitter, June 28 at OAK).
Just one other season since 1901 has Chicago recorded four outings of at least 7.2 innings with one or no hits allowed … that would be in 1972 when Burt Hooton (no-hitter), Fergie Jenkins, Bill Hands and Milt Pappas (no-hitter) did so.
CURRENT EVENTS: Today is the second of three games against the Yankees to close out the season’s “first half” … this seven-game trip started with a four-game series split in Milwaukee in which all four games were decided in a team’s final at-bat.
Chicago is 4-8 in its last 12 games since June 25 following a stretch in which it went 11-2 in 13 contests from June 9-24.
This is the 12th (4-7) of 13-straight gamedays leading into the All-Star break.
The Cubs are the only N.L. Central Division club with a positive run differential (+26) … Pittsburgh is at -47, St. Louis -37, Milwaukee -11 and Cincinnati -11.
FIRST THING FIRST: Including Cody Bellinger’s third-inning solo homer last night at Yankee Stadium, the Cubs have scored first in each of the first five games of this sojourn, which began with a four-game set in Milwaukee.
Chicago has scored first in just over half (44) of its first 87 games, going 26-18 (.591) in those contests … the .591 winning percentage in games in which the team scored first is fourth-lowest in the majors.
A BAKER’S DOZEN: Cody Bellinger enters today with a career-high 13-game hitting streak, surpassing two 12-game runs (most previously May 24-June 5, 2019) … the left-handed hitting Bellinger is batting .479 (23-for-48) with a 1.167 OPS, three doubles, two homers, 12 runs scored and seven RBI during this 13-game run dating to June 24 … his .479 average since June 24 leads the majors … Houston’s Corey Julks is second with a .439 mark.
Bellinger’s 13-game hitting streak is tied for the longest by a Cub this season with Christopher Morel (May 9-24) … the last Cub with a hitting streak of at least 14 games in a single season? … Javier Báez’s 15-game hitting streak, May 1-17, 2019.
In 18 games since being activated from the injured list on June 15, Bellinger is hitting .373 (25-for-67) with 14 runs, four doubles. two homers and nine RBI.
INTERLEAGUE INTERLUDE: Chicago is 14-14 in interleague play thus far, including 4-3 in its last seven games dating to June 16 … Chicago is 5-2 against the A.L. East including 2-1 series wins vs. Tampa Bay (May 29-31) and vs. Baltimore (June 16-18).
Chicago opens the season’s “second half” with a 10-game homestand that begins with three games against the Red Sox, July 14-16.
Mike Tauchman, who played 141 regular season games for the Yankees in 2019-20, has reached safely in each of his last 10 interleague contests dating to May 30 of this season.
AMONG THE BEST: The Cubs are the only team in the major leagues in 2023 to sport three starting pitchers (min. 8 GS) with ERAs below 3.00 (Justin Steele – 2.56, Kyle Hendricks – 2.64 and Marcus Stroman – 2.96).
STARTING STUFF: Cubs starting pitchers have posted a 3.95 ERA (205 ER/466.2 IP) this season, the third-best mark among N.L. starting rotations and eighth-best in the majors … the rotation’s 53 home runs allowed are tied for third-fewest in the majors, while their 1.20 WHIP is sixth.
Kyle Hendricks is 3-1 with 1.95 ERA (7 ER/32.1 IP) in his last five starts since June 10 … his 1.95 ERA since June 10 is the fourth-lowest mark in the N.L.
Chicago has 40 quality starts, tied for the most in the N.L. with San Diego and tied for sixth in baseball.
WHAT A RELIEF!: The Cubs bullpen has a 2.02 ERA (17 ER/75.2 IP) in the team’s last 22 games since June 13, the second-lowest mark in the majors in that span behind Philadelphia (1.77).
Julian Merryweather since April 17 has pitched to a 1.76 ERA (6 ER/30.2 IP) with one win and allowed 26 hits and 17 walks with 45 strikeouts in 32 appearances.
Michael Fulmer in 16 games since May 28 has pitched to a 0.98 ERA (2 ER/18.1 IP) with eight walks and 16 strikeouts.
Adbert Alzolay has posted a 1.90 ERA (5 ER/23.2 IP) in his last 20 games since May 6, walking three, striking out 25 and posting a 0.93 WHIP
Starting Pitcher – #11 LHP Drew Smyly (7-5, 4.10)
Last Time Out
Drew received a no decision and pitched 3.2 innings for the second-straight start July 3 at Milwaukee, which is tied for his second-shortest outing of 2023 … allowed three runs in the outing, his fewest since June 8 at the Angels … after allowing seven or more hits in four-straight starts, has allowed four or fewer in two of his last three … has received five runs or support or more in four-straight starts … was just the fourth time in his career that he has made back-to-back starts of 3.2 innings or fewer.
Date Opp. Result IP H R ER BB SO PC-S Left
7/3 at MIL ND, 6-8 3.2 4 3 3 3 5 73-40 3-6, 2 on
2023 Splits and Season Notes
W-L ERA G GS IP H R ER BB SO
Home 3-2 5.36 8 8 40.1 39 24 24 11 39
Road 4-3 3.08 9 9 49.2 49 21 17 19 37
AVG vs. LHB: .307 (23-for-75) / AVG vs. RHB: .237 (65-for-274)
Drew is scheduled to make his 18th start of the season today, his 10th on the road … has a 7.36 ERA (15 ER/18.1 IP) in his last four outings after starting the season with a 3.27 ERA (26 ER/71.2 IP) in his first 13 starts … will make 10th career appearance and seventh start of his career agains the Yankees … overall, has a 3-0 record and a 1.85 ERA (9 ER/43.2 IP) in his career against New York-A.L … as a starter, has a 2.13 ERA (9 ER/38.0 IP) vs. New York-A.L … has three career starts of 6.0 innings or more and one run or fewer allowed against the Yankees … opposing batters are hitting .210 (38-for-181) with 56 strikeouts against his curveball.
Completed his 1000th career inning in the first inning May 28 vs. Cincinnati.
Allowed two-or-fewer runs in nine-straight starts from April 10-May 27, posting a 2.13 ERA (12 ER/50.2 IP) during the run, the fourth-lowest ERA in the majors
(min. 9 GS).
April 21 vs. Los Angeles (N.L.) retired the first 21 batters of the game, becoming the first Cub to take a perfect game bid into the eighth inning since José Guzmán
(April 6, 1993 vs. Atlanta) … was the first Cub to record a start of 7.0-plus innings with one hit, no runs, no walks and at least 10 strikeouts since Kerry Wood’s 20-strikeout game (May 6, 1998 vs. Houston).
Went 0-2 with a 6.06 ERA (11 ER/16.1 IP) with a 13:2 SO:BB ratio during Cactus League play.
NEW YORK YANKEES NOTES:
AT A GLANCE: The Yankees continue their seven-game homestand today with the second game of a three-game set vs. the Chicago Cubs (0-1 thus far), their final series
before the All-Star break…are 2-3 on the homestand after splitting their four-game series vs. the Baltimore Orioles.
Have lost three straight games after winning five of their previous seven games and seven of their previous 10 games.
Have won or split four of their last five completed series, 12 of their last 17 completed series (since 5/8) and 13 of their last 19 completed series (since 5/1).
YESTERDAY’S NEWS: The Yankees fell to the Cubs, 3-0, in their series opener on Friday at Yankee Stadium…LHP Carlos Rodón (5.1IP, 4H, 2ER, 2BB, 2K, 1HR, 1WP) made his Yankees debut and took the loss despite allowing just 2ER in 5.1IP… Yankees batters were shut out for the fourth time this season and recorded a season-low 2H…2B Gleyber Torres (1-for-4) hit a single in the first inning, the Yankees’ only hit over the first eight innings of the game…RF Franchy Cordero (1-for-3) singled in the ninth inning…RHP Ian Hamilton (0.2IP, 1BB) retired 2-of-3BF…RHP Ron Marinaccio (1.0IP, 2H, 1ER, 1K) allowed a run in the seventh inning on an RBI double to Patrick Wisdom…RHP Tommy Kahnle (1.0IP, 1H, 1K, 1WP) tossed a scoreless eighth inning…RHP Clay Holmes (1.0IP, 1BB, 3K) tossed a scoreless ninth inning.
BLANK SPACE: Yankees batters were shut out for the fourth time this season on Friday (also 4/29 at Texas, 5/17 at Toronto and 5/31 at Seattle)…only five other Major
League teams have been shut out fewer times this season (Arizona: once; Atlanta: twice; Toronto, Los Angeles-AL and Los Angeles-NL: three times).
NATIONAL TREASURE: The Yankees are 13-8 (.619) in 21 Interleague games this season…marks the fifth-best record in Interleague play this year, trailing only Miami (20- 7, .741), Toronto (16-7, .696), Philadelphia (19-10, .655) and Cincinnati (17-10, .630).
NOBODY BEATS THE RIZZ: INF Anthony Rizzo has reached base safely in 20 of his last 22 games (since 6/11).
Is batting .367/.449/.483 (22-for-60) with 4 doubles, 1HR, 8BB and 1HP vs. left-handed pitchers this season… among Major League left-handed batters, his .449 OBP is the highest vs. left-handed pitchers and his .367 BA is the second-highest…among all Major League hitters, is second in OBP (second in AL) and fourth in BA (first in AL) vs. left-handed pitchers.
DARTH BADER: OF Harrison Bader is hitting .293/.333/.488 (12-for-41) with 5R, 5 doubles, 1HR, 9RBI, 2BB, 1HP and 1SF over his last 11 games (since 6/24)…has reached base multiple times in six of his last 10 games.
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK: INF Anthony Volpe is batting .356/.370/.578 (16-for-45) with 10R, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 2HR, 3RBI, 1BB and 1SB over his last 12 games (since 6/25).
Has multiple hits in six of his last 11 games.
Has reached base in 17 of his last 22 games (since 6/13), batting .315/.375/.534 (23-for-73) with 13R, 5 doubles, 1 triple, 3HR, 5RBI, 7BB and 2SB over that span.
WATCHING UP: The Yankees are 15-5 all-time vs. the Cubs in the regular season…are 11-2 in their last 13 games vs. the Cubs (since 6/18/11)…are 8-1 vs. the Cubs in the Bronx and 5-1 at the current Yankee Stadium.
COLE TRAIN: RHP Gerrit Cole will make his 19th start of the season today vs. the Cubs…will mark the eighth time this season that Cole has started after a Yankees’ loss… the Yankees are 7-0 in those games with Cole going 4-0 with a 1.87 ERA (43.1IP, 9ER) in those starts.
Is 8-2 with a 2.79 ERA (109.2IP, 34ER) and 118K in 18 starts this season…has allowed 2R-or-fewer in 14 of his 18 starts…his 14 such starts are tied with Chicago-NL’s Marcus Stroman and Tampa Bay’s Shane McClanahan for the most in the Majors.
Is tied for sixth in the Majors in winning percentage (.800, third in AL), ranks seventh in ERA (2.79, fourth in AL) and is tied for 10th in innings pitched (109.2, tied for fourth in AL)…is tied for fifth in the AL in wins (eight) and ranks sixth in strikeouts (118).
Has tossed at least 6.0 innings in 13 of his 18 starts…his 13 such starts are tied for the third-most in the AL and tied for the seventh-most in the Majors.
The Yankees are 13-5 in his starts this season…the Yankees’ 13 wins are tied for the third-most by a club in a pitcher’s starts this season, trailing only Atlanta’s
Spencer Strider (club is 15-2 in 17GS) and Tampa Bay’s Shane McClanahan (club is 14-3 in 17GS).
His 2.79 ERA is the sixth-lowest ERA by a Yankees starter through his first 18 games of a season in the last 24 years (since 2000), trailing only Luis Severino’s 1.98 ERA in his first 18GS in 2018, Nestor Cortes’ 2.48 ERA in his first 18GS in 2022, Masahiro Tanaka’s 2.51 ERA in his first 18GS in 2014, his own 2.68 ERA in his first 18GS in 2021 and Hiroki Kuroda’s 2.77 ERA in his first 18GS in 2013.
Is 10-3 with a 2.53 ERA (96.0IP, 27ER) in 15 career starts vs. the Cubs…14-of-15 starts have been quality starts…has allowed 2R-or-fewer in 10 of those starts… as allowed just 3HR to 378BF vs. the Cubs…his 10 wins are his most against any Major League opponent.
Was named to his sixth career All-Star team via the player ballot, his fifth as a member of the American League and third with the Yankees (also 2015 with Pittsburgh, 2018-19 with Houston and 2021-22 with the Yankees).
HOLMES SWEET HOLMES: RHP Clay Holmes tossed a scoreless ninth inning on Friday…has not allowed a run in 23 of his last 25 games (since 5/6), going 4-0 with six saves, a 0.71 ERA (25.1IP, 2ER) and 34K in that span…his 0.71 ERA in that span is the second-lowest among all Major League pitchers (min. 20.0IP).
31 of his 37 appearances this season have been scoreless.
BIG DADDY KANE: RHP Tommy Kahnle tossed a scoreless eighth inning on Friday…has not allowed a run in 15 appearances this year, posting a .125 opponents’ BA (6-for-48)…owns a career-high 19.2 scoreless inning streak (since 9/24/22).
His 15-game scoreless streak to start the season is the third-longest in franchise history, trailing only Lee Guetterman’s 19-game streak in 1989 and Andrew Miller’s 17-game streak in 2015.
HAWAIIAN PUNCH: INF/OF Isiah Kiner-Falefa is batting .359/.413/.564 (14-for-39) with 9R, 2 doubles, 2HR, 8RBI, 5BB, 2SF and 1SB over his last 13 games (since 6/22).
GLEYBER DAY: INF Gleyber Torres has reached base in 24 of his last 27 games (since 6/8-G1).
PEN PALS: Yankees relievers have posted a 3.08 ERA (339.1IP, 116ER), the second-lowest bullpen ERA in the Majors this season…also rank second in the Majors with a .219 opponents’ BA this season.
FUN IN THE SUN: The Yankees are 23-9 (.719) in day games this season, the best record by any Major League team in day games this season.
GOT YOUR NUMBER: INF Josh Donaldson has batted .500/.565/1.100 (10-for-20) with 3 doubles, 3HR and 3BB in his career off Chicago-NL’s LHP Drew Smyly.
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP GERRIT COLE (8-2, 2.79 ERA)
RHP Gerrit Cole will make his 19th start of the season today vs. the Cubs…the 32-year-old will pitch on extended five days’ rest…last started on Sunday at St. Louis and took his second loss of the season despite allowing just 2ER in 6.0IP in the Yankees’ 5-1 defeat (6H, 2BB, 5K, 0HR, 1HP)… is 8-2 with a 2.79 ERA (109.2IP, 34ER) and 118K in 18 starts this season …was named to his sixth career All-Star team via the player ballot…reached 10 years of Major League service on 5/29…recorded his 2,000th career strikeout on 5/23 vs. Baltimore (Jorge Mateo swinging), becoming the third-fastest pitcher in Major League history to reach the milestone (in terms of games and innings pitched)…has allowed 2R-orfewer in 14 of his first 18 starts, tied for the most such starts in the Majors…the Yankees are 13-5 in his 18 starts this season…his Major League-leading 257K last season were the most by a Yankees pitcher in a single season in franchise history, surpassing Ron Guidry’s previous record of 248K in 1978…the six-time All-Star (2015, ’18-19, ’21-23) has finished in the top-five of Cy Young Award voting five times (second in 2021, fourth in 2020, second in 2019, fifth in 2018, fourth in 2015)…his career 10.47 K/9.0IP ratio (2,048K/1,759.2IP) is the eighth-highest in Major League history (min. 1,000.0IP)…in 93 starts with the Yankees, is 44-21 with a 3.19 ERA (564.2IP, 200ER) and 712K…since 2018, leads the Majors in wins (79) and strikeouts (1,314), ranks second in K/9.0IP (12.10) and innings pitched (977.1), third in opponents’ BA (.206) and WAR among pitchers (25.6 – FanGraphs), fourth in winning percentage (.718, 79-31, min. 60 decisions), fifth in WHIP (1.01) and K/BB (5.19), and sixth in ERA (2.97)…was originally selected by the Yankees in the first round (28th overall) of the 2008 MLB First-Year Player Draft but did not sign and went on to play at UCLA for three seasons (2009-11)…was the first overall pick of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft, the 15th pitcher (and 11th right-hander) to be chosen first…is the fifth player selected first overall to play for the Yankees, joining Alex Rodriguez, Darryl Strawberry, Tim Foli and Ron Blomberg…signed a nineyear contract extending through the 2028 season with a player opt-out following the 2024 season on 12/18/19.
LAST START: Last started on Sunday at St. Louis and took his second loss of the season despite allowing just 2ER in 6.0IP in the Yankees’ 5-1 defeat (6H, 2BB, 5K, 0HR, 1HP)… allowed both runs in the fourth inning on an RBI single to Jordan Walker and an RBI single to Andrew Knizner.
