SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS NOTES:
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CHICAGO CUBS NOTES:
Cubs vs. Giants
The Cubs and Giants play two series spanning six games this season… Chicago took two of three from San Francisco at Oracle Park June 9-11 … it was the team’s first series win at San Francisco since 2013 … the Cubs previously took a season series against the Giants in 2019 (4-2).
CUBS COME BACK TO TAKE SERIES: The Chicago Cubs today play the final contest of a three-game set against the San Francisco Giants after taking the first two games by scores of 5-0 and 11-8 … Chicago last night erased a 6-4 deficit with a six-run seventh inning … it marked the 34th come from behind victory for Chicago, tied for 10th-most in the majors … this seven-game homestand continues tomorrow with the first of four games against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Following this homestand, the Cubs embark on a six-game seven-day sojourn through Colorado (3 games starting Monday) and Arizona (3 games beginning Sept. 15). Including this series victory against the Giants, Chicago is now 12-1-2 in its last 15 series dating to July 17. Today marks the 10th of 14-straight games against teams either holding a division lead or sitting within a few games of an N.L. Wildcard spot … Chicago is 6-3 thus far. The Cubs are 19-10 in their last 29 games and 34-13 in their last 47 games since July 18 … following play on July 20, the Cubs sat 7.0-games out of a wildcard spot and 8.5-games back of the division lead … the club enters today in the second wild card spot (1.5 games behind Philadelphia for the top WC spot and 3.0-games ahead of Cincinnati in the third WC spot) … Chicago is 2.5-games back of division-leading Milwaukee.
WICKS ON THE BUMP: Jordan Wicks today makes his third career start and his first at Wrigley Field, having gone 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA (2 ER/10.0 IP) … he’s the first Cubs starting pitcher to win his first two career games since Geremi González did so May 27-June 1, 1997.
BIG INNINGS ABOUND: Chicago last night plated four runs in the third inning and six in the seventh, and now has posted four or more runs in a frame 42 times this season … Chicago last season scored four-plus runs in an inning 29 times … in fact, the last time the Cubs produced more four-run innings in a season was in 2019 (48 times).
COMPARE AND CONTRAST: Monday’s shutout was Chicago’s 12th of the season, tied for fourth-most in the N.L. … last season, the Cubs recorded 11 shutouts. On the other end of the spectrum, Cubs batters have logged 22 games with at least 10 runs scored, tops in the N.L. and second in the majors behind the Rangers (23) … Chicago’s 22 games reaching 10 runs are its most in a season since doing so 24 times way back in 1935.
ABOUT THE RECORD: The Cubs sit a season-high 11-games over .500 at 75-64 … Chicago was 26-36 following play on June 8 and this marks the first time in franchise history that the club reached 10 games over .500 in a season in which it sat at least 10 games under .500. Since waking up June 9 sitting at 26-36, the Cubs are 21-games over .500 at 49-28 (.636), the third-best mark in the N.L. and fourth in the majors behind Atlanta (52-23/.693), the Dodgers (48-26/.649) and Baltimore (49-27/.645). The team’s 75 victories this season already surpasses its output from all of last year in which the club finished 74-88.
BRING THEM AROUND, BELLI: Cody Bellinger has driven in 25 runs in his last 18 games dating to August 19, with 38 RBI since August 1 (33 games) and 62 RBI since July 1 (59 games) … he tallied 59 RBI in a 55-game span from July 1-September 12 for the first time in his career … he is the first Cub to acheive the feat since Sammy Sosa did so August 3-October 7, 2001 (61 RBI in 55 games) and just the second player in the majors this season to do so (also Matt Olson). His 62 RBI since July 1 lead the majors (Kyle Tucker is second with 51). This season, Bellinger’s .319 average is sixth in the majors, his .910 OPS ranks seventh and his .546 slugging percentage ranks eighth.
A RESURGENT SEIYA: Seiya Suzuki in his last 19 games since Aug. 18 is hitting .375 (27-for-72) with a .425 on-base percentage and a .736 slugging mark … in that span, his nine doubles and 15 extra-base hits lead the majors while his 53 total bases are tied for fifth.
COMFORTS OF HOME: Chicago has won nine of its last 12 home games since Aug. 5 and in its last 23 home contests dating to July 18 has posted a 17-6 record … Cubs pitching has posted a 3.91 ERA (90 ER/207.0 IP) in its last 23 home games while the offense has posted a .280/.351/.494 slash line in that span.
GOMES AT THE DISH: Yan Gomes in his last two games has five hits, including two doubles, and three RBI … his 13 doubles since July 23 are tied for fourth-most in the majors in that span … he is batting .297 (33-for-111) with the 13 doubles, one homer and 16 RBI during the run. Gomes’ .275 season average is fourth among major league catchers with at least 300 plate appearances.
START STRONG: Chicago’s 62 quality starts rank tied for fourth in the majors behind only Minnesota (69), Seattle (66) and San Diego (65) … Cubs starting pitching had 48 quality starts in 2022, 23rd in MLB. Justin Steele is tied for the major league lead in victories with Atlanta’s Spencer Strider and is second in the majors with a 2.55 ERA, trailing only San Diego’s Blake Snell (2.50).
Starting Pitcher – #36 LHP Jordan Wicks (2-0, 1.80)
Last Time Out
Jordan in game one of the doubleheader on Sept. 1 in Cincinnati earned his second win in as many starts since making his major league debut Aug. 26 … beacme the first Cub since Geremi González (May 27-June 1, 1997) to win each of his first two career major league starts … joined Javier Assad (2022) and Randy Wells (2009) as the lone three Cubs pitcher to allow one run or fewer in both of his first two major league starts since 1985 … the start came on his 24th birthday.
Date Opp. Result IP H R ER BB SO PC-S Left
9/11 @CIN W, 6-2 5.0 5 1 1 3 3 90-51 3-1
2023 Splits and Season Notes
W-L ERA G GS IP H R ER BB SO
Home — — — — — — — — — —
Road 2-0 1.80 2 2 10.0 7 2 2 4 12
AVG vs. LHB: .000 (0-for-4) / AVG vs. RHB: .219 (7-for-32)
Jordan today makes his third career start, his first vs. San Francisco … is making his Wrigley Field debut this afternoon … opponents are 0-for-14 (.000) with six strikeouts against his changeup. Became the first Cub since Geremi González (May 27-June 1, 1997) to win each of his first two career major league starts … joined Javier Assad (2022) and Randy Wells (2009) as the lone three Cubs pitcher to allow one run or fewer in both of his first two major league starts since 1985. Had his contract selected from Iowa Aug. 26 … made his major league debut that night in Pittsburgh … by virtue of earning the 10-6 win, became the first Cubs starting pitcher to win his major league debut since Ryan O’Malley did so Aug. 16, 2006, at Houston. Elias noted that Wicks became the first Cub to record at least five-straight strikeouts in his MLB debut in the live-ball era (since 1920). Elias also pointed out that Wicks became the first Cubs pitcher in the expansion era (since 1961) to retire at least 15-straight batters in their major league debut. Went a combined 7-0 with a 3.55 ERA (36 ER/91.1 IP) and 99 strikeouts in 20 starts between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa. Began the season with Tennessee and was promoted to Iowa June 27.
