CHICAGO CUBS NOTES:
Cubs vs. Pirates
The Cubs and Pirates play 13 games spanning four series this season … Chicago swept Pittsburgh in two-straight three-game series June 13- 15 at Wrigley Field and June 19-21 at PNC Park … the Cubs have won the last eight season series against Pittsburgh dating to 2015, including a 10-9 mark in 2022.
NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN: The Chicago Cubs today play game one of a four-game set in Pittsburgh after yesterday defeating the Detroit Tigers, 6-4, in the rubber match of the three-game series … Yan Gomes went 2-for-4 with the game-winning RBI-single in the eighth inning, breaking a 4-4 tie … Jameson Taillon (4 ER/5.2 IP) carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning, while Julian Merryweather (0 ER/1.1 IP) picked up his fifth win of the season and Adbert Alzolay (0 ER/1.0 IP) recorded his 19th save.
Chicago is 9-1-1 in its last 11 series dating to July 17.
Today marks game four (2-1) of this seven-game road trip and is the seventh (4-2) of 13-straight gamedays through Aug. 30 … the Cubs had three off days in an eight-day span through Aug. 17.
The Cubs are 10-6 in their last 16 games, 13-7 in their last 20 and 24-10 in their last 34 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 second wild card spot (0.5-game ahead Cincinnati) and 3.5-games back of division-leading Milwaukee.
This is the 15th game (8-6) in a stretch that sees Chicago play 13 of 18 games on the road through Aug. 27.
The Cubs +66 run differential ranks third in the N.L. behind the Braves (+214) and the Dodgers (+138).
THE STEELE CITY: Justin Steele enters his outing tonight having gone six-straight starts since suffering his last loss July 16 vs. Boston … his five-straight wins during the run are one shy of his career high (6), done from April 8-May 10, 2023.
Tonight, Steele aims to become the first Cub to record 15 wins in his first 24 starts of a season since Jake Arrieta did so in 2016.
His 14 wins are tied for the most in the majors, while his 2.80 ERA (41 ER/132.0 IP) ranks second.
AGAINST THE BUCCOS: The Cubs are 6-0 against the Pirates in 2023 and have won seven-straight dating to Sept. 25, 2022 … the Cubs six-straight wins against the Pirates are the club’s most to start a season vs. Pittsburgh since 2008 (7-0).
Pittsburgh native Ian Happ has reached safely in each of his last 36 games vs. the Pirates since April 10, 2021, batting .350 (49-for-140) with 15 doubles, two triples, five home runs, 28 RBI and a 1.028 OPS … Happ has reached base safely in each of his last 52 starts against the Pirates dating to Sept. 26, 2018.
SEIYA LATER!: Seiya Suzuki has hit safely in six-straight games, one game shy of his season-high (7 G, April 29-May 5), and in 11 of his last 12 since Aug. 9, batting .381 (16-for-42) with two doubles, one triple, four home runs and seven RBI … Suzuki, who has played in 103 games this season (111 in 2022) is approaching multiple offensive career-highs … here’s a look at Suzuki’s 2023 season, compared to his 2022 campaign.
Year G AVG AB H 2B 3B HR RBI OBP SLG OPS
2023 103 .263 380 100 18 3 13 44 .336 .429 .765
2022 111 .262 397 104 22 2 14 46 .336 .433 .770
SAVED BY THE BELL-INGER: Cody Bellinger, July’s N.L. Player of the Month, this season is batting .320 (115-for-359) with 21 doubles, one triple, 20 homers, 67 RBI and 17 stolen bases … Bellinger and Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr. are the only major leaguers to have at least a .320 average, 20 home runs and 17 stolen bases this season.
Bellinger’s .320 average ranks fifth in the N.L. while his .552 slugging percentage and .919 OPS are both sixth.
In 50 games since June 26, Bellinger is hitting .379 (72-for-190), becoming the first Cub since Aramis Ramirez (73-for-192/.380) to hit at least .379 over a 50-
game span (May 30-July 25, 2005).
THE CANDY MAN CAN: Jeimer Candelario has recorded 58 extra-base hits (37 doubles, three triple, 18 home runs), the sixth most in the N.L. … on Tuesday he recorded his ninth game this season with multiple extra-base hits, tied for the sixth-most in the N.L.
Candelario’s 37 doubles are second-most in the N.L. trailing only Freddie Freeman (45).
Candelario is hitting .348 (26-for-75) with a .427 OBP and a .576 SLG in his first 19 games with the Cubs after he was acquired from the Nationals July 31 … the
.348 average since August 1 is the fifth-highest in the N.L.
SLAM THE DOOR: Adbert Alzolay has converted his last 15 save chances since July 5, the most in the majors during that stretch … the 15-straight converted save opportunities are the most by a Cub since Craig Kimbrel converted 16 consecutive save chances May 18-July 25, 2021.
Alzolay has recorded those 15 saves in the span of 42 team games since July 5, becoming the first Cub since Craig Kimbrel to accomplish that feat (per Ed Hartig, Kimbrel did so in 40 team games, May 8-June 20, 2021).
Alzolay’s 19 saves on the season are tied for the eighth most in the N.L.
‘PENNING SOME THOUGHTS: The Cubs bullpen has posted a 3.93 season ERA (195 ER/446.1 IP), while its 446.1 innings pitched are third-fewest in the N.L. … just Philadelphia (424.0 IP) and Milwaukee (433.2 IP) have needed fewer innings from its bullpens.
Mark Leiter Jr.’s 23 holds are the third-most in the N.L. and the sixth-most in the majors.
Julian Merryweather since July 22 has pitched to a 1.80 ERA (3 ER/15.0 IP) with 22 strikeouts in 13 appearances.
Starting Pitcher – #35 LHP Justin Steele (14-3, 2.80)
Last Time Out
Justin earned his major league-high-tying 14th win of the season Aug. 19 vs. Kansas City … made his 13th start of at least 6.0 IP while allowing two earned runs or fewer … has struck out seven-plus batters while walking none in back-to-back starts, marking the fourth time in his career he accomplished the feat … has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 12-straight starts since May 31 (2.82 ERA).
Date Opp. Result IP H R ER BB SO PC-S Left
8/19 KC W, 6-4 6.0 6 2 2 0 7 99-72 6-2
2023 Splits and Season Notes
W-L ERA G GS IP H R ER BB SO
Home 10-2 2.65 14 14 78.0 78 32 23 18 73
Road 4-1 3.00 9 9 54.0 48 20 18 10 54
AVG vs. LHB: .247 (23-for-93) / AVG vs. RHB: .248 (97-for-391)
Justin is scheduled to make his 24th start of the 2023 season today, his 10th on the road … has posted a 2.40 ERA (45 ER/168.2 IP) since July 22, 2022, the lowest ERA in the majors during the run (min. 30 GS) … tonight, aims to become the first Cub to record 15 wins in his first 24 starts of a season since Jake Arrieta did so in 2016 … has not suffered a loss in six-straight starts dating to July 16 … his 13 starts of 6.0-plus IP while allowing two or fewer earned runs are tied for the seventh-most in the N.L. … his 14 wins are tied for the most in the majors, while his 2.80 ERA (41 ER/132.0 IP) is the second-lowest in the majors among qualified starters … is 8-7 with a 4.01 ERA (61 ER/137.0 IP) in 30 career games (25 starts) vs. N.L. Central opponents.
July 21 vs. St. Louis, recorded his 10th win of the season, the first time in his career that he has reached double-digit wins.
Earned his first career All-Star nod and pitched a scoreless fifth inning, allowing one hit with one strikeout in the N.L.’s 3-2 victory.
Started the Cubs’ first game in London, June 24 vs. St. Louis, earning the win (1 ER/6.0 IP).
Posted a 53.0-inning stretch without allowing a home run from April 14-June 17, which was the longest active streak in the majors.
Left his start May 31 vs. Tampa Bay after 3.0 perfect innings with left forearm tightness … was placed on the injured list June 3 (retroactive to June 1) and was activated June 17.
Had a 17-start streak of allowing three earned runs or fewer at Wrigley Field from April 24, 2022-May 10, 2023 … pitched to a 2.20 ERA (23 ER/94.0 IP) during the run … his 2.20 home ERA during the stretch was the third-lowest in the N.L.
Went eight starts before suffering his first loss of the season May 16 in Houston … allowed a season-high five runs in the outing … at the time of his first Loss, was the only pitcher in the N.L. with at least six wins and zero losses.
Allowed two or fewer earned runs in 14-straight starts from July 22, 2022-May 5, 2023, tied for the second-longest stretch in Cubs franchise history (since 1901), behind Jack Taylor’s streak of 15 games June 13-Aug. 14, 1902 (tied with Jake Arrieta, 14 G, 7/30/15-4/4/16).
Went 1-1 with a 2.63 ERA (4 ER/13.2 IP) with 13 strikeouts in four Cactus League starts in 2023 … started and tossed the first 2.0 innings of the Cubs combined no-hitter, March 3 at San Diego.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES NOTES:
THE PIRATES:..lost 6-4 yesterday afternoon against the Cardinals after winning clinching a series win on Tuesday…Have gone 16-16 in their last 32 games since losing each of their first five games following the All-Star break.
ROSTER MOVES: The Pittsburgh Pirates today selected the contract of left-handed pitcher Rob Zastryzny from Triple-A Indianapolis…Right-handed pitcher Yohan Ramirez has been optioned to Indianapolis to make room for Zastryzny on the active roster…Left-handed pitcher Angel Perdomo has been transferred from the 15- to 60-day injured list to make room for Zastryzny on the 40-man roster.
CUTCH CLOSING IN ON 300: Andrew McCutchen is just one home run shy of 300 in his career… McCutchen, who has gone deep twice in his last five games, ranks fourth all-time in Pirates history with 215 home runs…His next blast will make him one of 12 active players with at least 300 career home runs.
SETTING UP THE SERIES: The Pirates will close out this seven-game homestand with this four-game series against the Cubs…The Cubs swept a three-game series at PNC Park in the last series between the two teams from June 19-21…The Pirates were also swept in a three-game series at Wrigley Field from June 13-15.
THE BEAR FACTS: Andrew McCutchen has recorded 103 career RBI against the Cubs (his most vs. any team)…McCutchen has hit safely in each of his last seven games against the Cubs, going 7-for-22 (.318)…Connor Joe is a lifetime .357 hitter (20-for-56) with six doubles, a triple and three home runs in 17 games against Chicago…Ke’Bryan Hayes took Justin Steele deep in the last game the two faced each other on June 23, 2022, at PNC Park…Bryan Reynolds is hitting at a .429 clip (12-for-28) with three doubles and a pair of home runs in his last eight games against the Cubs.
ABOUT TONIGHT’S STARTER: Lefthander Rob Zastryzny will become the 14th different pitcher to start a game for the Pirates this season (the Royals and Athletics have used a Major-League leading 20 different starters)…Zastryzny’s only other start in his career came against the Pirates here at PNC Park when he was a member of the Cubs on September 29, 2016…That was the last time a Pirates game ended in a tie after the game was called in the top of the sixth inning with the score tied 1-1.
TAKE TWO: The Pirates doubled 14 times in their most recent series against the Cardinals, marking just the fourth time since 1901 the team recorded 14-plus doubles in a single three-game series (the most was 15 times from July 16-18, 2010 vs. Houston)…The Pirates are tied for the fifth-most doubles (42) in MLB this month (the Dodgers lead the way with 45)…Individually, Connor Joe is tied for the fourth-most doubles in all of MLB this month with eight…Los Angeles’ Freddie Freeman is pacing MLB with 10 two-baggers this month.
KE’S TO THE GAME: Ke’Bryan Hayes connected for his ninth home run of the season on Wednesday while also doubling in his second at-bat…Hayes has hit safely in 11 of his last 13 starts, going 20-for-57 (.351) with five doubles, a triple, four home runs, 13 RBI and a 1.078 OPS.
REYNOLDS ROLLING: Bryan Reynolds has hit safely in each of his last four and seven of his last eight games, going 10-for-38 (.263) with three doubles, one triple and one home run…Since July 30, Reynolds ranks 13th in all of MLB with a .604 slugging percentage and seventh overall with 58 total bases.
GO JOE: Connor Joe has reached base safely in each of his last 10 games, going 11-for-34 (.324) with eight doubles, five home runs, four RBI, .465 OBP, .529 slugging percentage and .994 OPS…Joe ranks 10th among all National League players this month with a .410 OBP.
LOVE FOR LIOVER: Liover Peguero went 2-for-4 with a run scored in the series finale yesterday against the Cardinals…Since July 29, Peguero ranks third among National League rookies with a .275 average behind Milwaukee’s Brice Turang (.301) and Philadelphia’s Johan Rojas (.277).
STARTING PITCHER – 62 – LHP ROB ZASTRYZNY
ROB ZASTRYZNY: The 31-year-old lefthander will make his 19th appearance and first start of the season with the Pirates today after being promoted from Indianapolis.
VS. CHICAGO (NL): 0-0 with a 10.13 ERA in two relief appearances this season…Tossed 1.0 scoreless inning of relief on 6/15 while also allowing three runs in 1.2 innings of relief on 6/15 at Wrigley Field.
