LOS ANGELES DODGERS NOTES:
TODAY’S STARTER at CUBS: LHP JULIO URĺAS (3-1, 1.90 ERA in 4 GS)
2023 NOTES:
• In his start against the Rockies on April 4, he hurled six innings of shut-out baseball, tabbing his 600TH career strikeout against Kris Bryant
• Tossed six innings on Opening Day against the Diamondbacks, giving up four hits and two earned runs while sitting down six…was his first Opening Day nod of his career
• El Culichi is tied for first in the National League in wins (3) and tied for sixth in the NL with 26 strikeouts
• Garnered a 1-1 record over three starts in Cactus League play, producing a 3.86 ERA (5 ER/11.2 IP) with six strikeouts against just three walks
• Key participant in the World Baseball Classic for Team Mexico, firing 9.0 innings in two starts against Colombia and Puerto Rico…struck out
nine batters and walked three while allowing just one earned run on two hits
VS. CUBS
• Suffered his first loss of the season in his last outing against the Cubbies on April 16, giving up a season high eight hits, two home runs, three runs (two earned), and one walk while punching out six
• The Southpaw looks to his first start at Wrigley Field since June 2, 2016 and his third overall appearance at the stadium…last outing occurred on April 23, 2019 where he pitched 2.0 scoreless relief innings with four strikeouts
• Allowed a season-high five runs in 2.0 innings against the Cubs last season…he is 1-2 with a 4.66 ERA (15 ER/29 IP) and 37 strikeouts in seven career games against the Northsiders
CHICAGO CUBS NOTES:
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 … the clubs met last weekend for a three-game set in Los Angeles, with the Cubs taking two of three … the Dodgers have won seven of the last 10 season series.
FRIDAY MATINEE AT THE FRIENDLY CONFINES: The Chicago Cubs today play the second of a four-game set against the Los Angeles Dodgers after last night dropping the series opener, 6-2 … the setback snapped Chicago’s season-high four-game winning streak … still, Chicago has won 10 of its last 14 games dating to April 4.
Today is the second of a four-game set against the Dodgers … following an off day Monday, this seven-game, eight-day ‘stand continues with three games against the Padres.
Chicago has won four-consecutive series (2-1 vs. TEX, 2-1 vs. SEA, 2-1 @ LAD, 3-0 vs. OAK) and aims to win five-straight series (of two or more games) for the first time since Aug. 5-21, 2022 (2-1 vs. MIA, 2-1 vs. WSH, 2-1 @ CIN, 2-1 @ WSH, 2-1 vs. MIA).
The Cubs won their 11th game of the season on Wednesday in Oakland … the team did not reach 11 victories in 2022 until May 11 in its 30th game.
RISPY BUSINESS: Chicago was 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position last night and in four games against the Dodgers is 5-for-35 (.143) with RISP … in the team’s 14 other contests this season, the Cubs are hitting .356 (48-for-135) with RISP.
Chicago’s .312 season average (53-for-170) with RISP leads the N.L. and is fourth in baseball behind Texas (.360), Minnesota (.339) and Tampa Bay (.335).
Cubs pitching has faced 166 batters with RISP, tied for the fifth-fewest in the majors behind Minnesota (146 BF), Tampa Bay (149 BF), Milwaukee (151 BF) and Detroit (160 BF).
A WALK IN THE PARK: Dansby Swanson has coaxed seven walks in his last four games, striking out twice in that span that covers 19 plate appearances … after striking out a career-high five times April 14 at the Dodgers, Swanson has walked eight times compared to five strikeouts in his last six contests.
THOU SHALL NOT STEAL: The Cubs have surrendered just six stolen bases this season, second-fewest in the majors (Milwaukee, five) … catchers Tucker Barnhart and Yan Gomes have combined to throw out four of 10 baserunners looking to steal on the season.
YOU GO, NICO!: Nico Hoerner in the season’s early going is hitting .338 (27-for-80) with 16 runs scored, five doubles, five RBI and nine stolen bases, having reached base safely in 17 of 18 games played … his nine stolen bases lead the N.L. while his 16 runs scored and 27 hits are both tied for fifth and his .338 average is ninth.
Hoerner has reached base safely in 16-straight games since April 2, surpassing his previous career mark of 15 games done July 7-26 of last season … the 16- game stretch having reached base safely ranks tied for fourth-longest among active streaks.
Hoerner has gone 33-straight plate appearances without a strikeout, the longest active streak in the majors (Texas’ Marcus Semien is second, 27).
APRIL 21 HAS BEEN A GOOD DATE: On this date in 1966, the Cubs traded Larry Jackson and Bob Buhl for three players, including future Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins … Jenkins woul go on to win 20 or more games six-straight seasons starting in 1967.
On this date in 2016, Jake Arrieta tossed his second career no-hitter in a 16-0 rout over the Reds in Cincinnati … Cubs manager David Ross was the catcher for that gem.
Most importantly, it’s Edwin Ríos’ 29th birthday … happy birthday, Edwin!
NOBODY BEATS THE WIZ: Patrick Wisdom’s eight homers are tied for second-most in the majors (Pete Alonso, 9) while his .708 slugging mark ranks second in the N.L., his 46 total bases are tied for second, his 1.032 OPS ranks sixth and his 15 RBI are tied for eighth with a plethora of others.
Wisdom homered in each of the first four games of the just-completed road trip, including a multi-homer effort Monday in Oakland … he is the first Cub with five homers in four games since Willson Contreras did it Aug. 3-6, 2017, and the seventh to do it since 2000 (combined 17 occurrences).
Wisdom’s eight homers came in the team’s first 15 games, making him the fourth Cub to hit at least eight homers in the first 15 games of a season (also Lee Walls, 1958; Hank Sauer, 1954; and Gabby Hartnett, 1925).
ABOUT THE BATS: Cubs hitters rank second in the majors with a .282 average (178-for-632) while the team’s 5.61 runs per game rank third behind only Tampa Bay (7.00) and Texas (6.22).
Ian Happ’s eight doubles this season rank tied for second in the N.L. while his 10 extra-base hits are tied for ninth.
Dansby Swanson ranks fourth in the N.L. with a .449 OBP while his .338 average is eighth.
Cody Bellinger in his last 14 games since April 4 is hitting .352 (19-for-54) with 14 runs scored, three doubles, three homers, nine RBI and five walks, contributing to a .419 on-base percentage and .574 slugging mark.
ABOUT THE ARMS: Cubs pitching has posted a 3.40 ERA (61 ER/161.2 IP) this season, the third-best mark in the N.L. and seventh in the majors … the starting rotation has a 3.05 ERA (32 ER/94.1 IP), the third-best mark in baseball behind Tampa Bay (2.31) and Minnesota (2.68).
Cubs relievers have pitched to a 3.88 ERA (29 ER/67.1 IP) while averaging 11.09 strikeouts per 9.0 innings, the top mark in the majors (White Sox are second with a 10.83 rate) … all told the bullpen’s 83 strikeouts are fourth-most in the majors behind the Yankees (87), Rockies (84) and Cardinals (84)
Starting Pitcher – #11 LHP Drew Smyly (1-1, 4.70)
Last Time Out
Drew earned his first win of the season April 16 at the Dodgers, tossing 5.2 innings of one-run ball wile allowing four hits and two walks, while striking out three … earned his first win since Sept. 14, 2022 at New York (N.L.).
Date Opp. Result IP H R ER BB SO PC-S Left
4/16 LAD W, 3-2 5.2 4 1 1 2 3 81-50 3-1
2023 Splits and Season Notes
W-L ERA G GS IP H R ER BB SO
Home 0-0 1.80 1 1 5.0 2 1 1 1 7
Road 1-1 6.10 2 2 10.1 13 8 7 4 6
AVG vs. LHB: .308 (4-for-13) / AVG vs. RHB: .244 (11-for-45)
Drew is scheduled to make his fourth start of the season today, his second at Wrigley Field … will look to allow one earned run or fewer for the third-straight start, a feat which he has accomplished four other times in his career (last, Sept. 9-Oct. 1, 2022) … his career high is four-straight starts in 2012. © Went 0-2 with a 6.06 ERA (11 ER/16.1 IP) with a 13:2 SO:BB ratio during Cactus League play.
