What you need to know:
Early home runs from Willson Contreras and Randal Grichuk along with an RBI double from old friend Dexter Fowler had things knotted up through four and a half innings. That’s when Anthony Rizzo stepped to the plate and drove in a run to give the Cubs the lead. That is, until the Cardinals stepped to the plate in the eighth and slugged their way to a nine-run inning that all but sealed the victory for the redbirds.
Next Level:
Carl Edwards Jr.’s one weakness is allowing walks. When he did so against back-to-back hitters to load the bases, things started to look murky for the Cubs, who were clinging to a one run lead. Edwards then gave way to Hector Rondon, who wasn’t sharp either. It took a third pitcher in the inning, Justin Grimm, to finally tally three outs. Each of those three relievers allowed two walks and multiple runs.
It was one of those stinker games that causes fans to overreact. Every team has games where things meltdown at the end. The Cubs are not excluded from such matters of fate. While allowing nine runs in a single inning is never a good thing, it shouldn’t cause the team to panic and strive to add to the bullpen. Going into the game, Chicago had the 4th best bullpen ERA in baseball. They were also 6th in strikeout rate and 10th in fWAR. It certainly hasn’t been a major concern for a Cubs team looking to make their way back into the playoff picture.
On the brighter side of things, Willson Contreras hit a home run in the first inning. That was his 14th home run on the season and second in as many games played. That jives well with what Zack Moser wrote today about Contreras’ growth this season. Continued offensive production from the backstop gives the Cubs an advantage that not many teams have.
Top WPA play:
Willson Contreras’ home run in the first inning (+.177) gave the Cubs a 2-0 lead. It was important for obvious reasons. The Cubs grabbed an early lead with one of their better pitchers on the mound. Usually, that should end with a positive outcome.
Bottom WPA play:
Willson Contreras grounded into a double play (-.122) in the fifth inning with runners on the corners and one out. It was a chance for the Cubs to extend the lead Rizzo had just given them, but instead the inning was over. Perhaps if the Cubs score a couple more runs there the rest of the game goes differently. Regardless, more runs are better, and Contreras limited the runs they scored during a crucial opportunity.
Lead photo courtesy David Banks—USA Today Sports