Cubs update: Seiya Suzuki, Moisés Ballesteros, Michael Busch
The Cubs had a 5-2 week, which on its face is superb.
The method it ended, with two losses to the Dodgers after sweeping the Phillies and mounting a stirring comeback Friday in Los Angeles, wasn’t nice. But this group remains to be exhibiting that it might compete with anybody, even with a number of bullpen accidents.
Here’s who was scorching and never for the Cubs over the previous week.
It took some time for Suzuki to start out hitting, which is not stunning as he missed most of Spring Training with an damage suffered within the World Baseball Classic.
Despite going 0-for-4 in Sunday’s loss, Suzuki batted .400/.483/.880 (10-for-25) over the week with 4 dwelling runs, three walks and 6 RBI. He’s received an opportunity to be named NL Player of the Week later in the present day.
In addition to his good hitting week, Suzuki additionally made a number of good defensive performs, together with two sliding grabs on Sunday. Here’s the first of those [VIDEO].
Moisés Ballesteros is a hitting machine
Craig Counsell remains to be defending Ballesteros from dealing with left-handed pitching, for probably the most half, as he is simply 1-for-4 with a stroll vs. LHP this yr.
Overall, although, he’s crushing baseballs irrespective of which right-hander he faces. For the week, Ballesteros batted .500/.588/1,000 (7-for-14) with 4 doubles, a house run and three walks.
Eventually, I suppose, the league will alter to him. Then it is going to be as much as Ballesteros to regulate again. I’m fairly certain he’ll.
Michael Busch lastly began to hit
After being in a droop for the season’s first three-plus weeks, Busch broke out with a 333/.394/.600 week (10-for-30) towards the Phillies and Dodgers, with two doubles, two dwelling runs and eight RBI.
You knew a man who hit 34 dwelling runs final yr could not be held down too lengthy, so hopefully it is a signal of higher issues to return for Busch.
H/T to Nico Hoerner and Pete Crow-Armstrong for enjoying sturdy protection all week.
Colin Rea received hit exhausting by the Dodgers
Rea had been actually strong all yr, it doesn’t matter what position he was requested to carry out, however the Dodgers hit him actually exhausting — six hits, 4 walks and 6 runs over simply 3.1 innings.
Hopefully, that is only a glitch. Rea has been actually good for the Cubs during the last year-plus. Assuming the rotation stays so as, his subsequent begin can be Friday at Wrigley Field towards the Diamondbacks. Small pattern measurement, however Rea has been higher at dwelling (2.79 ERA, 9.2 innings) than on the highway (5.60 ERA, 17.2 innings). He was additionally considerably higher at Wrigley final yr. Hopefully the house subject can be pleasant to him on Friday.
Javier Assad additionally had a tough time in LA
Assad additionally has a pronounced dwelling/highway cut up this yr, once more in a really small pattern measurement, however that 10.95 ERA in 12.1 highway innings is fairly ugly, and it consists of six walks. He’s walked nobody in 6.2 innings at Wrigley this yr. Maybe strive the glasses once more, Javier?
The bullpen accidents are mounting
It’s getting troublesome to even know who’s within the Cubs bullpen every day. Right now, solely three relievers who have been within the pen on Opening Day are nonetheless there — Ben Brown, Hoby Milner and Jacob Webb. (Colin Rea, who was within the Opening Day bullpen, is now within the rotation.)
Hunter Harvey, Riley Martin, Phil Maton, Daniel Palencia, Ethan Roberts and Caleb Thielbar, all guys who’ve contributed this yr, stay on the IL, together with Jordan Wicks, who’s at the moment on rehab project. Roberts’ damage was a laceration, not something with an elbow or shoulder, and he might be again quickly. Maton might be activated as quickly as in the present day. And there’s potential excellent news about Palencia:
So, maybe a rehab project for Palencia might observe.
And even with all of the accidents, the Cubs reeled off 10 straight wins. Impressive.
