CHICAGO CUBS NOTES:
Cubs vs. Reds
The Cubs and Reds play 13 games spanning four series … following this series the teams meet for three games at Wrigley Field May 26-28 … Chicago last season went 11-8 vs. the Reds, its first season series victory over Cincinnati since going 11-8 in 2018.
CUBS HEAD TO QUEEN CITY: The Chicago Cubs tonight play the first of three games in Cincinnati against the Reds, the team’s first road series of the season after opening the year by dropping two-of-three at home against the Brewers … the Cubs won Opening Day’s tilt, 4-0, before losing the next two contests by scores of 3-1 and 9-5 … following this three-game set against the Reds, the Cubs return home for a Thursday off day prior to a six-game homestand against the Rangers (3 games starting April 7) and Mariners (3 games beginning April 10).
The Cubs open the season with 16 of their first 25 games through April 27 at Wrigley Field … of those first 25 tilts, just six are against their own division, the N.L. Central: the just-completed Brewers series and this series against the Reds … in fact, after this series the Cubs play 29-straight games outside of the division until hosting the Cardinals for three games, May 8-10.
What’s even more odd? … following this series in Cincinnati the team’s next road series against an opponent in its own division is not until June 19-21 for three games in Pittsburgh.
MANY HAPPY RETURNS: Cubs catcher Tucker Barnhart returns to Great American Ball Park for the first time since he spent eight seasons with the Reds…he made his major league debut with Cincinnati in 2014 and was with the club through 2021 before he landed with Detroit for the 2022 season.
Barnhart won two N.L. Gold Gloves while with the Reds, earning the honor in 2017 and 2020 … he played 744 games for the Reds.
HAPP COMFY IN CINCY: Ian Happ, who was the first University of Cincinnati Bearcat to be selected in the first round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft when he was picked ninth overall by Chicago in the 2015 draft, has batted .290 (81-for-279) with 26 homers and 63 RBI in 89 games against the Reds.
In 43 games at Great American Ball Park, Happ has hit .313 (45-for-144) with a 1.140 OPS thanks in part to 27 extra-base hits including 16 homers.
WORD TO THE WISE: Patrick Wisdom yesterday recorded his sixth career multi-homer effort, going 2-for-4 with two solo shots against the Brewers at Wrigley Field … since the start of the 2021 season, Wisdom has averaged one home run every 14.80 at bats, the second-best rate among N.L. hitters with at least 900 plate appearances (Kyle Schwarber leads with one homer every 12.04 at-bats).
SEVEN IN THE FIRST THREE: Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson collected seven hits in his first three games with the club this past weekend vs. the Brewers .. the seven hits are tied for fifth-most among any player in their first three games as a Cub since 1901.
Swanson has reached safely in eight of his first 13 plate appearances to begin the season, collecting seven hits and a walk thus far.
PITCHING IN: After Marcus Stroman spun 6.0 shutout innings with eight strikeouts on Thursday’s Opening Day, Justin Steele matched him with 6.0 scoreless innings and eight strikeouts on Saturday … this marked the first time since the mound was moved to 60’6” in 1893 that the Cubs began the season with back-to-back starts of at least 6.0 shutout innings … thanks to Ed Hartig for his research assistance.
Cubs pitching started this season with 16.0 scoreless innings … that is the team’s longest stretch to start a season since 1876 and the first games played by the Cubs in the National League.
DEBUT DANDIES: The Cubs had five players in their Opening Day starting lineup making their team debuts: Cody Bellinger, Eric Hosmer, Trey Mancini, Miles Mastrobuoni and Dansby Swanson … team historian Ed Hartig notes that just twice in the franchise’s first 21,932 regular season games have more players made their Cubs debut in a game … April 25, 1876, the Cubs first N.L. game, saw nine Cubs make their debuts .. April 2, 2001, eight players made their Cubs debut.
Along with the aforementioned five newcomers in the Opening Day starting lineup, seven others have made their Cubs debut (Barnhart, Boxberger, Fulmer, Merryweather, Rios, Taillon and Torrens) to bring the Cubs all-time regular season roster to 2,212 players since 1876.
ROSSY AT THE HELM: David Ross is in his fourth season as manager of the Cubs after he was named the 55th manager in franchise history, October 4, 2019, replacing Joe Maddon … this is Ross’ 26th professional baseball season … he played 15 major league seasons as a catcher, including his final two with Chicago (2015-16) … is a two-time World Series champ with Boston (in 2013) and Chicago (2016). © Ross in 2020 led the Cubs to the N.L. Central Division title … the 2021 club was 71-91, a season in which Chicago utilized a MLB single-season record 69 players, and last year went 74-88.
Starting Pitcher – #11 LHP Drew Smyly (0-0, 0.00)
Last Time Out
Drew in his final Cactus League outing, Mar. 28 vs. Chicago (A.L.) allowed five runs (four earned) on 10 hits … finished Spring Training with a 13:2 SO:BB ratio
2022 Splits and Season Notes
Drew in 2022 made 22 starts for Chicago and went 7-8 with a 3.47 ERA (41 ER/106.1 IP), striking out 91 batters compared to 26 walks … his 2.20 walks per nine innings was his lowest season rate since 2013 (2.01).
Tossed 9.2 scoreless innings in his first two outings of the season, becoming the fourth Cub starter since 1893 to not allow a run over his first two starts with the club (also, Randy Wells, Bill Lee and Mike Prendergast).
2022 marked the first time in his nine-year career that he registered a scoreless start in his first outing of the season.
Was on the 15-day injured list from May 31-July 10 with a right oblique strain … left his start in game two of the doubleheader May 30 vs. Milwaukee before the fourth inning.
Recorded the win at the at MLB’s Field of Dreams game in Dyersville, Iowa Aug. 11 … tossed 5.0 scoreless innings with four hits, two walks and nine strikeouts.
His nine strikeouts marked his most since he struck out 10 batters Sept. 27, 2020 at San Diego.
In five starts in Aug., he went 2-1 with a 0.90 ERA (3 ER/30.0 IP) … his ERA was tied for the second-lowest among qualified major league pitchers that month.
In that same span among National League pitchers, his 0.93 WHIP ranked seventh, .275 opponent slugging percentage was tied for seventh and his
opponent OBP of .256 ranked eighth.
Beginning Aug. 6, allowed two or fewer runs in eight of his final nine starts, pitching to a 2.28 ERA.
Career Notes
Drew is in his second season with the Cubs after he was re-signed to a two-year contract in December of 2022 … joined the Cubs on a one-year contract for the 2022 season, beginning his second stint in Chicago … spent the 2018 season on the Cubs injured list while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.
Is 53-47 with a 4.10 ERA (430 ER/943.2 IP), one complete game shutout and three saves over 239 career major league games (156 starts).
Has pitched in all or parts of nine major league seasons with Detroit (2012-14), Tampa Bay (2014-16), Texas (2019), Philadelphia (2019), San Francisco (2020), Atlanta (2021) and the Cubs (2022).
Won his first World Series championship with Atlanta in 2021 … was one of three Braves pitchers with 10-plus wins and one of four to start 20-plus games, going 11-4 with a 4.48 ERA (63 ER/126.2 IP).
Underwent Tommy John surgery in July 2017 … would miss the rest of 2017 and the entire 2018 season while rehabbing.
Set career highs in starts (30), innings (175.1) and strikeouts (167) with Tampa Bay in 2016.
Has been traded three times in his career, including as a part of the five-player, three-team deal that sent David Price from Tampa Bay to Detroit in July 2014.
Was selected in the second round of the 2010 MLB First-Year Player Draft by Detroit.
Pitched three seasons at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
CINCINNATI REDS NOTES:
REDS HOTS
• In yesterday’s 3-1 win vs Pit, in the Reds’ third game of the season, RHP Graham Ashcraft threw 7.0 innings (4h, 1er, 1bb, 6k, Bryan Reynolds solo HR)…in 2022, RHP Hunter Greene was the first Reds starter to finish 7.0 innings, on 5/15 at Pit in the team’s 35th game (7.1ip, 0h).
• With a 2-1 record, the Reds are over .500 for the first time since last season’s 6-3 win at Atl on 2022 Opening Day…haven’t been at least 2 games over .500 since finishing the 2021 season at 83-79.
TONIGHT’S GAME
• Is Game 1 of 3-game series vs David Ross’ Cubs and Game 4 of a 6-game homestand that included a season-opening 2-1 series win vs the Pirates.
• Following this series the Reds will travel to Phi (3g) and to Atl (3g) for their first road trip, including the Phillies’ home opener on Thu.
SERIES NOTES
• The Reds in 2022 went 8-11 vs Cubs, including 5-4 at Great American Ball Park, 3-6 at Wrigley Field and a 4-2 “home” loss on 8/11 in the Field of Dreams game in Dyersville, Iowa.
• The teams met in the final 6 games of the 2022 championship season (3g at Wrigley Field, 3g at Great American Ball Park), the longest continuous stretch of games between the Reds and Cubs since they played 7 straight games from 8/29-9/5, 1931…@EliasSports.
WELCOME HOME
• After the top of the first inning of tonight’s game, the organization will salute former Red and current Cubs C Tucker Barnhart.
• Selected in the 10th round of the June 2009 first-year player draft, from 2014-2021 Barnhart made 744 apps for the Reds.
• In each of 6 consecutive seasons from 2016-2021, he led Reds catchers in starts and innings caught.
• In 2017 and 2020 he won Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, joining Johnny Edwards (1963, 1964) and 10-time winner and Cooperstown Hall of Famer Johnny Bench (1968-1977) as the only catchers in Reds history to earn Major League Baseball’s most prestigious honor for defensive excellence.
• Holds the franchise career record for consecutive errorless apps by a catcher (161g, 7/28/19 – 8/18/21).
• In a 3-0 win on 5/7/21 at Cle caught Wade Miley’s no-hitter.
• Is 1 of only 5 Reds catchers with at least 561 hits, 115 doubles and 51 HR (Johnny Bench, Ernie Lombardi, Joe Oliver, Eddie Taubensee).
• In 2018 and 2020 was Cin’s nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award.
• In 2016 and 2019 won the Joe Nuxhall Good Guy Award in voting of the local chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
REHABBING
• 1B Joey Votto (8/19/22, surgeries to repair the left biceps and torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder) is rehabbing with Louisville (2g, 2-8, solo HR, 1bb, 4k)…the Bats are off today…in the opener of Sat’s DH at Nashville, he hit a solo HR off Caleb Boushley on the first pitch he was thrown. • IF/OF Nick Senzel (11/14/22 surgery to repair a sesamoid fracture in his left great toe) has been rehabbing at the Reds’ player development complex in Goodyear…could begin a rehabilitation assignment this week.
• RHP Tony Santillan (low back Pars stress fracture) has been rehabbing in Goodyear…could begin a rehabilitation assignment this week.
• RHP Lucas Sims (low back spasms) has been rehabbing in Goodyear… could begin a rehabilitation assignment this week.
• RHP Luke Weaver (right elbow flexor strain) has been rehabbing with the team in Cincinnati…could begin a rehabilitation assignment this week.
THE SKIPPER…: David Bell is in his fifth season as a Major League manager (253-296, .461, 2020 Wild Card)…was hired on 10/22/18…on
9/22/21, the club announced a 2-year contract extension through the 2023 season.
• David and his father, Buddy, is the fourth father-son duo to serve as Major League managers, joining George & Dick Sisler, Bob & Joel Skinner and Bob & Aaron Boone…Buddy managed Det (1996-1998), Col (2000-2002) and KC (2005-2007).
• David previously spent 4 seasons in the Reds organization’s player development department as a manager, at Class AA Carolina from 2009-2011 and at Class AAA Louisville in 2012.
Tonight’s Pitcher – #71 Connor Overton, RHP
• Tonight is making his first appearance of the season in the Reds’ fifth game…will be his second career appearance and first start vs the Cubs.
• Last season, from 5/23-9/22 missed 110 games while on the 60-day injured list with a stress reaction in his lower back.
• Went 1-0, 1.82 in 4 starts before the injury…twice was the victim of blown saves.
• Made 2 apps after he was reinstated from the 60-day IL on 9/23 (8.1ip, 6h, 5er, 4bb, 4k, 1hr)…both times pitched in relief of starter Graham Ashcraft.
• Was a non-roster invitee to 2022 Major League spring training camp.
• Began the 2022 season at Louisville, where in 2 starts and 2 relief apps he went 2-1, 2.84 before he was promoted to make his season and Reds debut in a start on 4/30 at Col…left that 4-3 loss with a 2-0 lead and was the victim of a blown save.
• In the 4-0 win on 5/12 at Pit, earned his first Major League victory…in the team’s 32nd game, became the first Reds pitcher this season to throw at least 6.0 innings…the Reds’ 31 games to begin a season in which the starting pitcher failed to pitch at least 6.0 innings are the most in the Major Leagues since 1893, when the mound was moved to its current distance.
• Made his last appearance before the injury in the 10-inning, 5-4 win on 5/17 at Cle…threw 7.2 innings, the most by a Reds pitcher to that point in the season, and left with a 2-1 lead…was the victim of a blown save when Owen Miller’s 2-run HR in the ninth off Art Warren tied it at 4-4…retired 17 of his last 19 batters, including 15 straight heading into the eighth inning.
• Was scratched from a scheduled start on 5/22 at Tor…the next day went on the 60-day injured list with the lower back injury.
• Didn’t pitch again for the Reds until a relief outing on 9/24 vs Mil, following rehab apps on 9/13 & 9/18 for Louisville.
• With 2 outs in the third inning of the 6-1 loss on 9/30 at Wrigley Field, in his final appearance of the season, entered the game for starter Graham Ashcraft and threw 5.1 scoreless innings in the longest relief appearance of his career…walked his first batter but then retired 13 straight until Ian Happ singled to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning.
• Pitched in 2 seasons in the independent leagues, for the American Association’s Sioux City Explorers in 2016 and in the Atlantic League for the Lancaster Barnstormers in 2019.
• Spent most of the 2016 season pitching for Sioux City but did make 1 appearance, on 8/13, for the Giants’ Class A San Jose affiliate…didn’t pitch again the rest of that season because of a right elbow injury.
• Missed the entire 2017 season following “Tommy John” surgery to repair the torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.
