The Cubs have lost five of seven since the last update of this series, were shut out twice, scored a run another time (and won that game!) and were outscored 27-17 overall in the seven games.
Now, allowing 27 runs in seven games is just 3.86 per game; That’s pretty good, and if the Cubs had an offense that could actually generate runs, a lot of teams could win four or five of seven by allowing that many runs.
But they didn’t. However, I’ll do my best to find three good things from the past week of Cubs games. (The “three down” will be much easier to find, if not swallow.)
three up
Shōta Imanaga, still fantastic
Imanaga pitched in two of the seven games. He pitched 12 innings total, allowing 11 hits and four walks, striking out 15 and allowing zero runs.
All he got for that was a couple of no decisions. Imanaga has been a revelation all year, not only because of his pitching but because of his embrace of Cubs culture. He has become a real fan favorite.
Here are the eight Ks of Imanaga from the Braves from last Monday (VIDEO).
Javier Assad, keeping the pace
Assad pitched six scoreless innings against the Braves on Wednesday, helping the Cubs to their only win of the series in Atlanta. He struck out seven and here they are (VIDEO).
While nothing has been officially announced yet, Assad should be on track to start the series opener against the Braves on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field.
The collective bullpen
Yes, believe it or not, the Cubs relievers had a good week, at least keeping the team in games.
The bullpen totaled 24 innings in the seven games, allowing 18 hits and eight walks (1.083 WHIP) and four earned runs (1.50 ERA).
Now if only the offense could come back when the bullpen keeps games close.
three down
all the offense
During the seven games, in which the Cubs finished 2-5, the offense hit .180/.263/.290 (39 for 217), scored only 17 runs and struck out 63 times, almost one in every four appearances in the plate (247 Keynote USA in total). This has to improve.
But let’s break it down a little further…the catchers aren’t hitting at all.
Miguel Amaya and Yan Gomes combined to hit .095/.095/.238 (2-for-21) in the seven games, and the SLG is that “high” because one of the hits was an Amaya home run.
Combined this year, the Cubs’ catchers (and they’re all Amaya and Gomes) are hitting .181/.216/.288 (29-for-160) with four home runs… and 50 strikeouts. The .504 OPS is the second-worst among all MLB teams in terms of catchers. Only the Marlins (.422) are worse.
This will have to change, especially since Amaya and Gomes aren’t ruling out potential base stealers either. Opponents have stolen 36 bases against the Cubs and only seven have been caught. (Admittedly, this is partly because Cubs pitchers don’t hold runners well.)
The Cubs could consider exploring the trade market for a catcher soon.
Ian Happ…what’s going on?
Happ was benched for a couple of days during the Atlanta series last week, presumably for a “reset.”
He returned to the starting eleven and did so in his first PA (VIDEO).
So, that’s good!
What’s not good is that Happ’s slump resumed after that at-bat. He went 0-for-12 the rest of the Pirates series with four strikeouts.
It’s true that Happ’s career consists of long stretches of him doing what he’s done so far this year, only to have sudden, crazy streaks. It would be nice if one of the latter started tomorrow.
Survey
How many games will the Cubs win against the Braves and Cardinals this week?
Keynote USA
For the Latest Sports News, Follow @Keynote USA Sports on Twitter.