Jake Arrieta struggled a bit in his last few outing since the no-hitter, but today he looked much more like the dominant pitcher fans have grown to love over the past 11 months. Except for the fourth inning, Arrieta was on top of his game; he had great movement and controlled the strike zone, yielding […]
Tag: PIttsburgh Pirates
GAME 34 RECAP: CUBS 9 PIRATES 4
Top Play (WPA): It’s always a wonderful day when Addison Russell hits a baseball in this manner, but it’s especially good when it carries a massive WPA along for the ride. Pirates starter Francisco Liriano has always been a thorn in the Cubs’ side (see below)—and the first three innings today were no exception to this—but […]
Series Preview: Cubs vs. Pirates, May 13–15
After a three-game sweep of the Pirates in their first meeting of the year, the Cubs again face the Bucs starting today, this time at home. They’re coming off a Padres series that ended with a not only the first consecutive losses of the year, but two losses in the same day. The day off yesterday […]
Game 24 Recap: Cubs 7 Pirates 2
For the first time since that glorious Wild Card playoff game last October, the Cubs returned to PNC Park to play Pittsburgh. And in what can only be termed the oddest bit of nostalgia of the entire 2016 season thus far, Clint Hurdle and the Pirates decided to throw back to that playoff by plunking […]
Series Preview: Pittsburgh Pirates, May 2-4
This beginning of the week series marks the first time the Cubs and Pirates have seen each other since last October’s fateful wild card game—a night those in the Steel City are likely still scrubbing from their memories, especially Sean Rodriguez. The Cubs head to Pittsburgh from a rainy week at home where they won […]
Know Your (2016) Enemy: Pittsburgh Pirates
If marriage has taught me anything, it is the importance of expectations. If on a weeknight, I surprise my wife by breaking out of the mold of my boring old self and recommend we go to our favorite gastropub for burgers and drinks—rather than staying home and working as I am inclined to do—it is guaranteed that […]
Why Aren’t the Cubs Shifting All That Much?
In the fourth game of the 2015 National League Championship Series, down 3-0 in the series, the Cubs had their backs against the wall. And in the top of the first inning, Lucas Duda set the tenor of the game when he drilled a three-run shot into center field on a full count offering from starter Jason […]
State of the NL Central: Cardinals and Pirates
With six weeks left in the season, there is little doubt that the NL Central is MLB’s best division. Even after the Cubs’ recent three-game losing streak, the division is home to three of baseball’s best four teams by winning percentage in the Cardinals (77-43), Pirates (71-47), and Cubs (67-51) (the other best team is […]