BOSTON RED SOX NOTES:
No team release available.
CHICAGO CUBS NOTES:
Cubs vs. Red Sox
The Cubs and Red Sox meet at Wrigley Field for the second-straight season as the Cubs took two of three from Boston here last July 1-3 … the teams last met at Fenway Park in 2017, with Boston taking two of three from Chicago April 28-30 … the clubs have played series at the Friendly Confines in 2005, 2012 and 2022.
SATURDAY AT THE PARK: The Chicago Cubs today play the second of three games against the Boston Red Sox to open the season’s “second half” after dropping last night’s series opener 8-3 … this is the second of a 10-game homestand against Boston (0-1), Washington (three games starting Monday) and St. Louis (four games Beginning Thursday).
Chicago finished the “first half” with a 42-47 record … the team was 35-57 in the “first half” of 2022.
The Cubs are 4-4 in their last eight games and 5-10 in their last 15 contests since June 25 following a stretch in which it went 11-2 in 13 contests from
June 9-24.
The Cubs are the only N.L. Central Division club with a positive run differential (+21) … Pittsburgh is at -48, St. Louis -33, Milwaukee -12 and Cincinnati -10.
THE MOREL OF THE STORY: Including a 3-for-4 game last night vs. Boston, Christopher Morel has hit .314 (11-for-35) with three doubles, a homer, four RBI and six runs scored in his last nine games since July 2.
Since he was recalled by Chicago May 9, Morel is tied for seventh in the N.L. with 15 home runs, seventh with a .576 slugging mark and ninth with 38 RBI.
BELLI AT BAT: Cody Bellinger in 22 games since being reinstated from the injured list on June 15 (left knee contusion) has batted .359 (28-for-78) with 17 runs, four doubles, four home runs, 11 RBI and an .959 OPS … he has a 7.0% walk rate and 15.1% strikeout rate in this span.
Bellinger enjoyed a career-high 13-game hitting streak from June 24-July 7, a stretch in which he hit .479 (23-for-48) with three doubles, two homers, seven
RBI and a 1.167 OPS.
Bellinger owns a .441 average (26-for-59) since June 24, the second-best mark in the majors in that span behind Boston’s Jarren Duran (.468).
Since making his major league debut in 2017, his 16 multi-homer efforts are third-most among left-handed hitters behind Kyle Schwarber (20) and Matt Olson (17).
TOP TIER: The Cubs returned from the All-Star break with two pitchers in the top-five of N.L. ERA qualifiers for the first time since 1963 … Justin Steele’s 2.56 ERA ranked second in the N.L. while Marcus Stroman’s 2.96 ERA ranked fourth … in 1963, Dick Ellsworth’s 2.02 ERA ranked fourth and Larry Jackson’s 2.07 ERA ranked fifth … thanks to Elias.
PESKY AT THE PLATE: Cubs batters are averaging 4.06 pitches per plate appearance, the highest rate in the majors ahead of Milwaukee (4.01) and Seattle (3.98) … Seiya Suzuki’s 4.35 pitches per plate appearance ranks fifth in the majors among qualified hitters … Ian Happ’s 4.33 mark ranks seventh.
Nico Hoerner’s 13.1% swing-and-miss rate is the third-lowest in the majors among qualified hitters behind only the Marlins’ Luis Arraez (7.6%) and Cleveland’s Steven Kwan (12.1%).
MUSINGS ON THE ROTATION: Cubs starting pitchers posted a 3.86 ERA (60 ER/140.0 IP) in 25 June contests, allowing 1.29 home runs per 9.0 IP while walking 42 and striking out 102 … in 10 July games, the starting rotation has posted a 5.53 ERA (33 ER/53.2 IP) with 1.84 homers allowed per 9.0 IP, 16 walks and 51 strikeouts.
On the season, Cubs starting pitchers have put up a 4.08 ERA (218 ER/481.0 IP) in 90 games … that’s the fifth-best ERA among N.L. starting rotations and 11th in the majors.
Chicago has 40 quality starts, second-most in the N.L. (San Diego, 43) and seventh in baseball.
INTERLEAGUE INTERLUDE: Chicago is 15-16 in interleague play thus far, including 5-5 in its last 10 games dating to June 16 … Chicago is 6-4 against the A.L. East including 2-1 series wins vs. Tampa Bay (May 29-31), vs. Baltimore (June 16-18) and vs. New York (July 7-9).
Mike Tauchman has reached safely in each of his last 13 interleague contests dating to May 30 of this season.
WHAT A RELIEF!: The Cubs bullpen has a 2.27 ERA (22 ER/87.1 IP) in the team’s last 25 games since June 13, the best mark in the majors in that span ahead of Atlanta (2.36) and Philadelphia (2.44).
Julian Merryweather since April 17 has pitched to a 1.69 ERA (6 ER/32.0 IP) with two wins and allowed 25 hits and 19 walks with 46 strikeouts in 33 appearances.
Michael Fulmer in 17 games since May 28 has pitched to a 0.93 ERA (2 ER/19.1 IP) with eight walks and 17 strikeouts.
Adbert Alzolay has posted a 1.82 ERA (5 ER/24.2 IP) in his last 21 games since May 6, walking three, striking out 25 and posting a 0.89 WHIP.
Starting Pitcher – #0 RHP Marcus Stroman (9-6, 2.96)
Last Time Out
Marcus tossed 5.0 innings while allowing four hits and four runs on July 6 at Milwaukee … walked a season-high-tying four batters … has allowed four or more runs and three or more earned runs in three-straight starts for the first time since May 1-11, 2019 when a member of the Blue Jays.
Date Opp. Result IP H R ER BB SO PC-S Left
7/6 @MIL L, 5-6 5.0 4 4 4 4 6 94-56 1-4
2023 Splits and Season Notes
W-L ERA G GS IP H R ER BB SO
Home 5-4 2.81 9 9 57.2 34 18 18 17 54
Road 4-2 3.11 10 10 55.0 50 23 19 24 44
AVG vs. LHB: .187 (42-for-225) / AVG vs. RHB: .228 (42-for-184)
Marcus is scheduled to make his team-high 20th start of the 2023 season today, his 10th at Wrigley Field … dating to Aug. 30, 2022, has allowed two runs or fewer in 19 of his last 26 starts, pitching to a 2.73 ERA (47 ER/154.2 IP), the lowest ERA in the majors during that span (min. 26 GS) … his 14 quality starts are tied for the major league lead this season and his 23 such outings since the All-Star break of last season are tied for the most in the majors … his .187 average allowed (42-for-225) against left-handed hitters is the third-lowest among major league starters … his 2.96 ERA (37 ER/112.2 IP) is the fourth-lowest in the N.L. among qualified pitchers while his .205 average against is the fifth-lowest in the majors among qualified pitchers … his 112.2 IP is tied for seventh in the N.L.
Started the Cubs’ second game in London vs. the Cardinals, suffering the loss (3 ER/3.1 IP) … left in the fourth inning with a blister on his right index finger.
Had a seven-start winning streak from May 19-June 20, the longest streak in the major leagues this season and longest in a single season since Justin Verlander also recorded a win in seven-straight starts, June 24-Aug. 4, 2022 … was the longest by a Cubs starting pitcher since Kyle Hendricks earned a win in eight-straight starts, May 16-June 22, 2021.
Was named the N.L. Player of the Week for May 29-June 4 … allowed one run (no earned runs) on five hits in 15.0 innings with 14 stirkeouts in two starts during the week, earning a win in both outings.
May 29 vs. Tampa Bay tossed his second career complete game shutout (also Sept. 8, 2014 vs. Cubs), the Cubs first complete game since Alec Mills’ no-hitter, Sept. 13, 2020 at Milwaukee … took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning for the second time in his career (also July 24, 2014 vs. Boston).
Recorded his 1,000th career strikeout April 23 vs. Los Angeles (N.L.), retiring Freddie Freeman looking in the third inning.
Became the second Cubs starting pitcher since 1901 (also Jake Arrieta, 2016) with three outings of at least 6.0 scoreless innings in the team’s first 16 games.
Became the third Cubs starting pitcher since 1901 to allow two or fewer combined runs over his first four starts of a season (also Steve Stone, 1976; Jason Hammel, 2016).
Posted a 14.0-inning scoreless streak to begin the season, the fourth-longest by a Cubs pitcher since 1901.
Made his third career Opening Day start March 30 vs. Milwaukee (0 ER/6.0 IP), earning the win … improved to 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA (3 ER/21.0 IP) in his three career Opening Day starts.
In three Cactus League starts with the Cubs, went 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA (1 ER/10.0 IP) and 10 strikeouts.
Made two starts for Team Puerto Rico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, posting a 3.00 ERA (3 ER/9.0 IP).
