CHICAGO CUBS NOTES:
CALIFORNIA SUNSHINE: The Chicago Cubs last night started a six-game road trip in California with an 8-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers … the Cubs win was their first against the Dodgers since June 24, 2021, following 10-straight losses.
LHP Justin Steele got the start and threw 7.0 innings, allowing two runs on three hits with one walk and eight strikeouts … Steele is the first Cubs lefty to limit the Dodgers to two or fewer runs while pitching at least 7.0 innings and striking out at least eight at Dodger Stadium since Ken Holtzman did so on Aug. 12, 1966.
Gomes (2), Happ, Suzuki and Wisdom all hit home runs last night … the last time the Cubs hit five or more long balls in a game was May 31, 2021, vs. San Diego.
Happ last night tallied nine total bases (a home run, two doubles and a single) … with those nine bases, he surpassed the 1,000 total base milestone, bringing his total to 1,005.
POWER AND SPEED: Yan Gomes last night against the Dodgers recorded three hits, two of which were home runs, and a stolen base … he became the first Cubs catcher (since 1901) to deliver at least two home runs and a stolen base in the same game … in fact, he is just the 10th catcher in MLB history (since 1901) to acheive the feat, and the first since Brian McCann (ATL) did it on July 25, 2008.
What’s more? … to find the last Cubs catcher to record three hits, with one home run, and a stolen base we have to go back to Smoky Burgess who did it on May 26, 1951.
CROSS THIS ONE OFF THE LIST: Today’s starting pitcher Jameson Taillon will pitch at Dodger Stadium for the first time in his career … he has pitched on the road against 28 of MLB’s 30 teams and in 30 different stadiums – he has faced Texas and Toronto in two different parks … the only other team he has yet to face away from home is Detroit.
SCORE MORE: The Cubs have scored 5.75 runs per game, which ranks third-highest in the majors trailing only Tampa Bay (7.43) and the Dodgers (5.79) … Nico Hoerner is tied for second in the majors, and tied for first in the N.L., with 13 runs scored. SO FAR, A RELIEF: Cubs hitters have posted a .302 average (52-for-172) against relief pitchers this season, the highest mark in the majors … Chicago’s .363 on-base percentage against bullpen arms ranks fourth-best in the majors.
ABOUT THE ROTATION: Cubs starting pitchers have a 3.50 ERA (24 ER/61.2 IP) in the season’s early going, the third-best mark in the N.L. and sixth in the majors … through the first 12 games of last season, the rotation had a 6.10 ERA (and a 5.98 ERA through the first 13 games of last year).
WORD TO THE WISE: Patrick Wisdom last night blasted a solo home run as part of the Cubs three-homer inning against the Dodgers … since the start of the 2021 season, Wisdom has averaged one home run every 14.84 at-bats, the third-best rate among N.L. hitters with at least 900 plate appearances (Kyle Schwarber, 11.95, and Pete Alonso, 14.58).
Wisdom’s 57 homers since the start of the 2021 season are tied for 11th-most among N.L. hitters.
WILD WILD WEST: Chicago is in a stretch of 19 games (5-2) all against A.L. or N.L. West teams that started on April 7 against Texas and ends on April 27 against San Diego … in fact, the Cubs are in the seventh game (5-2) of 29-straight games outside of the division until hosting the Cardinals for three games, May 8-10.
Cubs vs. Dodgers
The Cubs and the Dodgers face off seven times this season, with all of the games coming in a 10-day span … they start the season series with this 3-game set in Los Angeles (April 14- 16), then will meet in Chicago for four games next week (April 20-23) … the Dodgers have won seven of the last 10 season series.
Starting Pitcher – #50 RHP Jameson Taillon (0-2, 7.00)
Last Time Out
Jameson suffered his second-straight loss April 9 vs. Texas … has allowed six-plus hits in four-straight starts … has walked two or fewer batters in 12-straight outings dating to Aug. 8, 2022 … marked his 19th career start with seven-plus strikeouts while walking one or fewer.
2022 Splits and Season Notes
W-L ERA G GS IP H R ER BB SO
Home 7-2 3.47 16 16 90.2 87 36 35 16 88
Road 7-3 4.36 16 16 86.2 81 42 42 16 163
AVG vs. LHB: .235 (69-for-293) / AVG vs. RHB: .253 (99-for-391)
Jameson in 2022 made 32 starts for the Yankees, going 14-5 with a 3.91 ERA (77 ER/177.1 IP) … tied his career high in wins (also 2018) and starts (also 2018) … the 14 wins marked a team high.
Allowed three or fewer earned runs in 25 of his 32 starts, two or fewer in 18, one or fewer in 10 and made four scoreless starts.
Walked just 32 batters, the fourth-fewest in the A.L. and fifth-fewest in the major leagues (min. 150.0 IP) … his 1.62 walks per 9.0 IP ratio was the fifth-best mark in the A.L. and seventh-best in the major leagues.
Made 13 starts with no walks, tied with Ross Stripling for the second-most in the MLB, trailing Corey Kluber (15).
Posted a 9-1 record in his first 15 starts of the season … per Elias, was the sixth Yankees pitcher since 1961 to have a 9-1 record-or-better in his first 15 starts of a season (last Kevin Brown – 2004).
Career Notes
Jameson signed a four-year contract with the Cubs in December 2022 … is 51-37 with a 3.87 ERA (343 ER/796.2 IP) in 145 career major league starts with Pittsburgh (2016-19), Yankees (2021-22) and Cubs (2023).
Among N.L. pitchers with at least 450 IP from 2016-20, ranked ninth with a 1.66 ground ball to fly ball ratio, 10th with a 32.7 outside the zone swing percentage, 11th with a 48.2% ground ball rate and 14th with a 19.5% soft contact rate.
January 24, 2021, was traded from Pittsburgh to New York (A.L.) for RHP Roansy Contreras, INF Maikol Escotto, OF Canaan Smith-Njigba and RHP Miguel Yajure.
Had Tommy John Surgery twice, missing the 2014, 2015 and 2020 seasons.
In 2017, was placed on the injured list May 6 with groin discomfort and was diagnosed with testicular cancer on May 8 … underwent surgery May 8 and resumed light baseball activities May 15 … June 12, was reinstated from the injured list and started vs. Colorado, tossing 5.0 scoreless innings.
Was selected by Pittsburgh in the first round (second overall) in the 2010 FirstYear Player Draft.
Is a 2010 graduate of The Woodlands (Tex.) High School.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS NOTES:
HOME RUNS TO THE MAX: The Dodger offense collected just three hits last night, two of which were by the red-hot Max Muncy, who finished the game going 2-for-4 with a solo homer, his sixth of the season. Muncy picked up right where he left off in San Francisco, where he netted an historic 11 RBI in the threegame series. His six home runs are tied with Pete Alonso, Ryan Mountcastle and Rafael Devers for the most in the Major Leagues while his 14 RBI are tied for second in the NL, trailing only Francisco Lindor (15).
NOW THAT’S A START: Dodger rookie outfielder James Outman pinch-hit and grounded out last night and on the season is slashing .282/.429/.667 with a 1.095 OPS. He has walked in nine of his 13 games with an at-bat this season and has reached base safely in 11 of his 13 games with an AB this year. His 10 RBI ranks fourth on the team, trailing just Max Muncy (14), Will Smith (12) and Trayce Thompson (11) while his nine walks are tied with Freddie Freeman for third on the squad, trailing just Miguel Vargas (13) and Mookie Betts (11). Dating back to 2022, Outman has appeared in 16 career games with an at-bat and in those contests has racked up 37 total bases. According to Sportradar, his 1.173 OPS is through his first 17 career games with an AB is the fourth highest all-time in Los Angeles Dodgers history, behind Yasiel Puig (1.251) and Will Smith (1.175).
WALK THIS WAY: The Dodgers walked just once last night and now rank second in baseball with 73 walks, three shy of the New York Mets. Los Angeles has recorded five or more free passes in 11 of its 14 games this season and the 73 walks are tied for the second most in L.A. Dodger
history through 14 games, trailing the 1960 squad (74). The Dodgers also walked 73 times through 14 games in 1977 and 2009.
DIGGING THE LONGBALL: The Dodgers belted two more homers Friday night, solo shots by Chris Taylor and Max Muncy. The club has recorded five 3+ homer games this season and their 26 homers lead the National League, trailing only the Rays (34) for the most in baseball. Los Angeles also leads the National League with 81 runs scored, six triples (T-1st, ML), 54 extra-base hits, a .482 slugging percentage and an .827 OPS.
TODAYS STARTER vs. CUBS: RHP MICHAEL GROVE (0-1, 14.73 ERA in 2 G (2 GS) in 2023)
2023 SEASON NOTES:
• Made his 2023 debut against the Rockies on April 3rd where he hurled four innings, giving up three runs on two hits, two walks and punching out four.
• Allowed career-highs in runs (9) and hits (12) in his last start against the D-Backs
• Started six games during Spring Training, posting a 0-1 record with a 5.40 ERA (10 ER/16.2 IP) and 17 strikeouts against just three walks…produced a 1.03 WHIP
• Named to his first Opening Day roster as a Major Leaguer after making his big league debut last season on May 15 against the Phillies
VS. CUBS:
• Will face the Cubs for the first time in his career
2022 NOTES:
• Split the season between Double-A Tulsa (5 GS), Triple-A Oklahoma City (14 G, 12 GS), and the Los Angeles Dodgers (7 G, 6 GS)
• Started the season with Double-A Tulsa, going 0-1 in five starts with an ERA of 2.76 (5 ER/16.1 IP)…gave up 11 hits, one home run, and five walks as he punched out 22 batters while holding hitters to a .180 average
• Appeared in 14 games (12 starts) with Triple-A Oklahoma City with a 1-4 record and a 4.07 ERA (27 ER/ 59.2 IP)…struck out 68 batters while giving up 56 hits, 32 runs, 10 homers, and 21 walks
• Finished the season with the Dodgers, recording one win and no losses over four stints…posted a 4.60 ERA (15 ER/ 29.1 IP) on 32 hits, 10 walks and 24 strikeouts
• Made his Major League debut on May 15, 2022, against Philadelphia, tossing 3.2 innings and giving up four hits, four runs, and three walks while striking out three while not factoring in the decision… recorded his first Major League strikeout on the second batter he faced, Alec Bohm, in six pitches
• Recorded his first Major League win on September 25 vs. St. Louis, allowing three hits, one earned run, one walk, and punching out three in 5.0 innings
• Ended the season on an 18-game streak of having at least one strikeout (since June 7)
