What You Need To Know: On a day that felt like trying to walk through a carwash filled with chicken noodle soup, Kyle Hendricks was basically untouchable. Certainly untouchable to a Reds team that looks like it already has the bus running on the season. Nothing is going right for Homer Bailey, and that continued early today as the Cubs tagged him for three runs in the first, which is all they would need. They piled up more just for the fun of it. It all adds up to a four-game sweep, a good feeling after the week of angst that was the solo homer festival, and leaves the Cubs on their toes with Thor and deGrom on deck.
Next Level: This is Baseball Prospectus, so we look for reasons and numbers to explain lots of things. But in baseball especially, it feels like there is something spiritual or mysterious that can follow a bad team or a good team.
Take the first inning, where the first four Cubs didn’t get the ball out of the infield and yet they plater a run. Daniel Murphy belched a two-strike splitter up the third-base line where no one was. Javy Báez reached on an error. Anthony Rizzo grounded out, and then Willson Contreras grounded out, and the Cubs had a lead. That’s how it’s been going for Bailey all year and the Reds lately. Then the first hard-hit ball of the inning, Jason Heyward’s liner to center, saw Billy Hamilton channel the outfielder from your little league team and fall down as it streaked over his head to the wall. I’m fairly sure Hamilton fell down because he so badly misjudged it and was trying to violently adjust, but the look on Bailey’s face said it all. Like he wasn’t surprised by anything any more, or he completely died inside.
These things happen to bad teams. These things happen for good teams. It’s in the air, people.
It was the start of a good day for Heyward, as he went 4-for-4 and rediscovered the left side of the field, which was the key to his successful June. Funny how he has a big day in a week where Kris Bryant returns and ABs might become valuable things to everyone on the roster not named Rizzo or Contreras or Báez.
-Your Man Of The Match was The Cerebral Assassin of course, Kyle Hendricks. No runs on a hot day where a mere hint of a fly ball could travel out, one walk, and a whole lot of contact that wouldn’t register on any decibel level. He’s been pretty excellent for the past month or so.
-David Bote sent one nearly to Kenmore to make it 5-0. The Cubs would have something of a lineup headache in a week or so when Bryant arrives. Bryant can play some outfield, but the second base ABs that Bote took some of the time are probably unavailable now. Will Kyle Schwarber lose out? Heyward? Albert Almora with Heyward moving to center? It’s going to be quite the juggling act, but that’s what Joe Maddon does.
Five is better than four.
Top WPA Play: Bote’s rip into time and space in the 3rd (+.098).
Bottom WPA Play: A Barnhardt single in the 5th. Nope, that’s it. That’s how good Hendricks was (-.036).
Onwards…
Lead photo courtesy Matt Marton—USA Today Sports