CHICAGO CUBS NOTES:
Cubs vs. Mets
The Cubs and Mets play six games spanning two series this season … the teams first met at Wrigley Field May 23-25, which saw the Cubs take two of three games … Chicago has won the last five season series against the Mets dating to 2017 and gone 11-3 at Citi Field since 2018, including sweeps in 2018 (4 G), 2019 (3 G) and 2022 (3 G)
NEW YORK STATE OF MIND: The Chicago Cubs tonight play the Mets for the first contest of a six-game, seven-day road trip at New York (three games) and Toronto (three games starting Friday) … Chicago yesterday beat the Braves 6-4 in the series rubber match … the club has now won six-straight series for the first time since May 14-June 2, 2021 (at DET, 2-1; vs. WSH, 3-1; at STL, 2-1; at PIT, 3-0; vs. CIN, 2-1; and vs. SD, 3-0) … Justin Steele yesterday picked up his 13th win of the season and is now tied for the league lead in victories. … the Cubs tied their season highs in both walks (8) and outfield assists (2).
The Cubs are 15-4 in their last 19 games since July 18 … following play on July 20, the Cubs sat 7.0-games out of a wild-card spot and 8.5-games back of the division lead … the club enters today in the third wild card spot and 1.5-games back of division-leading Milwaukee.
Starting today, Chicago will play 13 of its next 18 contests on the road.
Today marks the 14th (10-3) of 16-straight gamedays through August 9.
The Cubs (+75) are the only N.L. Central Division club with a positive run differential (Pittsburgh, -78; St. Louis, -28; Cincinnati, -29; Milwaukee, -8).
NIFTY FIFTY: The Cubs are 32-18 over their last 50 games dating to June 9 … the last time the Cubs had a better record over a 50-game span in a season was in 2017 When they ended the campaign on a 33-17 run … in this stretch, Chicago batters are hitting .270 with 65 home runs, 310 runs scored and a .345 OBP, and Cubs pitchers have posted a 4.06 ERA (203 ER/447.0 IP) with 21 quality starts and 12 saves.
DEFENSIVE PROWESS: According to FanGraphs, Chicago’s 31 defensive runs saved are tied for third-most in the majors and tied for second in the N.L. … Dansby Swanson leads the N.L. and ranks second in the majors among shortstops with 13 defensive runs saved (Tampa Bay’s Wander Franco paces the majors with 16).
Ian Happ’s eight outfield assists, tied for his career high, rank tied for eighth in the major leagues and second behind Toronto’s Dalton Varsho among left fielders.
FUN WITH FULMER: Since May 28, Michael Fulmer has pitched to a 1.20 ERA (4 ER/30.0) with a 3-1 record, 32 strikeouts and a 1.07 WHIP in 27 appearances (one start) … in his last three outings combined (3.2 IP) he has struck out seven batters, surrendered just one hit and not allowed any free passes … among pitchers with at least 25 appearances since May 28, Fulmer’s 1.20 ERA ranks third and his .173 opponent average ranks 10th.
SINCE THE BREAK…: Entering today, in 23 games since the All-Star break, Chicago has scored 164 runs, the most in the majors, leading the second-place Dodgers by 34 runs (130) … the Cubs’ .296 team average (236-for-798) since the break is the highest in the majors by 22 points (Cardinals – .274), while the club’s .885 OPS during that span also leads the majors.
Chicago’s 16-7 record (.696 winning percentage) since the break is tied for the best in the major leagues (also Baltimore).
Stats Perform noted that the Cubs’ 150 runs in the first 20 games after the break after Thursday’s game is tied for the second-most since the All-Star break first took place in 1933, trailing the California Angels (161 in 1995).
SCORE EARLY, SCORE OFTEN: Since the All-Star break, the Cubs lead the majors with 62 runs scored in innings one through three (the Reds are second with 49) and are tied for fourth in first inning runs scored (17).
THE ‘PEN IS BULLISH: The Cubs bullpen has thrown at least 4.0 innings in four of the team’s last five games … the ‘pen has pitched to a 2.35 ERA (14 ER/53.2 IP) in the last 13 games dating to July 25, compared to a 5.11 ERA in the previous 17 games … the relievers’ 2.35 ERA since July 25 ranks third in the N.L. and sixth in the majors in that span and their 53.2 innings pitched are the most in baseball.
In that same time frame, Chicago’s bullpen has 57 strikeouts which pace the majors and its 0.95 WHIP ranks third.
IT’S BEEN A WHILE: Jeimer Candelario Saturday hit his first home run since returning to the Cubs via trade on July 31, his second home run as a Cub … his first Long ball as a Northsider came June 29, 2017, in his first stint with the club, six years and 37 days earlier … the gap between homers is sixth-longest in Cubs franchise history among position players … Billy Jurges owns the longest span between homers (for non-pitchers), who went nine years, 22 days between homers August 2, 1938 through August 24, 1947. (credit: Ed Hartig)
Candelario hit safely in five of his first six games with the Cubs this season, going 12-for-21 (.571) with four doubles, one home run, eight runs scored, a .640 OBP and a 1.545 OPS … he leads the majors in average and OBP and ranks third in OPS to start the month of August.
YOU BETTER BELLI-EVE IT: Cody Bellinger, July’s N.L. Player of the Month, this season is batting .326 (100-for-307) with 18 doubles, one triple, 16 homers, 53 RBI and 17 stolen bases … entering play today, Bellinger, Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr. and Los Angeles’ Freddie Freeman are the only three major leaguers to have at least a .315 average, 15 home runs and 15 stolen bases.
In 44 games since being reinstated from the injured list on June 15 (left knee contusion), Bellinger is hitting .374 (61-for-163) with nine doubles, nine homers, 33 RBI, a .414 OBP and a .595 slugging percentage.
Starting Pitcher – #11 LHP Drew Smyly (8-7, 4.71)
Last Time Out
Drew received a no decision August 2 vs. Cincinnati, making his first start since July 17 … has allowed four or more earned runs in three-straight starts and in five of his last six outings … gave up three home runs in a start for the second time this season (last, June 14 vs. Pittsburgh) … has walked one or no batters in four-straight starts and in five of his last seven.
Date Opp. Result IP H R ER BB SO PC-S Left
8/2 CIN ND, 16-6 4.2 6 5 5 0 7 88-60 3-5
2023 Splits and Season Notes
W-L ERA G GS IP H R ER BB SO
Home 3-3 6.26 11 10 54.2 59 39 38 13 58
Road 5-4 3.26 11 10 58.0 56 26 21 24 46
AVG vs. LHB: .327 (32-for-98) / AVG vs. RHB: .243 (83-for-342)
Drew will make his 21st start of the season, his 12th at Wrigley Field … has pitched to a 7.24 ERA (33 ER/41.0 IP) in his last nine games (seven starts) since June 14 … began the season with a 3.27 ERA (26 ER/71.2 IP) in his first 13 starts … in his career against the Mets, is 4-0 with a 2.17 ERA (7 ER/29.0 IP) … Sept. 7, 2019, tossed 7.0 scoreless innings at New York, earning the win and striking out six … opposing batters are hitting .214 (49-for-229) with 73 strikeouts against his curveball.
Pitched a combined 8.0 innings out of the bullpen in two outings July 22-28, posting a 5.63 ERA (5 ER/8.0 IP) while striking out 11 batters.
Recorded his 1000th career strikeout in the second inning (Kiner-Falefa looking) July 8 at New York (A.L.).
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 METS NOTES:
No team release available.
