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<\/p>\nScore one for numerology. The Cubs win game number 80 by a score of 8-0. <\/p>\n
This game feels like the sports equivalent of turning your computer off and back on again. The system rebooted and things rolled back to an earlier boot of this season. I don\u2019t have delusions that this just magically fixes what\u2019s been wrong for this team in recent weeks. But, it sure was nice to break the constant stress of the last few weeks and just have an easy win. <\/p>\n
While it most certainly doesn\u2019t flip some switch and make everything great again, it is heartening to see all of the things that put this team on top early. Pitching, defense, offense. They all clicked and contributed. Everyone who played (other than Jon Berti getting a token plate appearance) made at least some contribution. <\/p>\n
I know some of you are discouraged. But the team we fell in love with is still there. Matthew Boyd shaking off that scary line drive and some bruising and soreness in his pitching shoulder was terrific. He was outstanding Wednesday night. Thursday afternoon\u2019s game with the return of Sh\u014dta Imanaga is another big step. If he can make some impact, that\u2019s going to be a huge lift for the team. <\/p>\n
Let\u2019s stay with bullet pointing some recent themes:<\/p>\n
Poor Starting Pitching: there\u2019s a reason this is top of the list. A good start changes everything. Boyd\u2019s start was in the upper tier of those made by Cub starters this year, Six scoreless. Three hits, no walks, three strikeouts.
\nPoor Relief Pitching: this has been absent all series long. Three relievers, all notably spent time on the injured list this year, each threw a scoreless inning. One hit, no walks between them.
\nHomer Happy Offense: half of the eight runs scored on homers. Let\u2019s be clear, no one is saying that homers are bad. Ignore any jokes you\u2019ve ever heard about them being rally killers. A homer always helps. But, you do need to be able to score without them. The team drew four walks, had two doubles on top of three homers, stole three bases. They had 12 hits. All of the ingredients for scoring and shocker, they posted eight runs.
\nThird Base Production: Interesting day for Matt Shaw. A walk, a run, a run batted in and a stolen base. A reminder of the range of talents. The offense needs an upgrade, it\u2019s almost certainly going to have to come at third base.
\nDansby Swanson: batted fifth again. Single, double, two runs scored. Two strikeouts. He did reach on a wild pitch on one of the two strikeouts and that led to a run. Still managed to strike out with runners on second and third with two outs in the eighth. He\u2019s been terrible with runners and scoring position. <\/p>\n
Pitch Counts: <\/p>\n
Cubs: 106, 32 BF (8 IP)
\nCardinals: 153, 44 BF<\/p>\n
This one should get a small asterisk in your thinking. The Cubs saw 150 pitches over eight innings and 41 batters faced. The Cardinals waved a white flag and the Cubs went up swinging in the ninth. The Cubs really worked the Cardinals hard through eight innings. 20 pitches an inning really exerts immense pressure on the other team. The Cubs were under 20 but over 19. <\/p>\n
The Cubs pitchers were terrific. The Cardinals worked at bats in the ninth, so they didn\u2019t wave any white flags offensively. But the Cubs really held the Cardinals offense in check start to finish. <\/p>\n
John King threw 37 pitches and Matt Svanson 35 of them. They are possibly the last two arms in the Cardinal pen, or at least two of their lower tier arms. But they are probably both unavailable tomorrow. The biggest impact of that is always visible if the Cubs can ambush the Cardinals starter tomorrow. Facing games all the way through Sunday, they\u2019ll probably have to roll at least four or five innings with their starter. Probably a remote possibility, but as tonight shows, when the offense explodes, it explodes. <\/p>\n
Three Cubs relievers topped out at 13 pitches. I\u2019m not sure how likely the Cubs are to use Porter Hodge right away. Otherwise, looks like a full pen available for the Cubs on Thursday. Michael Fulmer and Ryan Brasier have each thrown twice in the series. All other Cub relievers have thrown once each. The Cubs have done extremely well at balancing out their pitching over this last month where they\u2019ve been playing basically every day. <\/p>\n
Three Stars:<\/p>\n
I said it above, six innings, three hits, no walks, no runs. Matthew Boyd gave the Cubs a good start and they won. Go figure.
\nIan Happ started things right with a homer on the first pitch. A pair of hits, a walk, three runs batted in. Every year features a long Happ cold stretch, people going off about how terrible he is, and the inevitable reversion to his very consistent career numbers. Still a little slug under. At 20.2 bWAR, he\u2019s fifth among all players drafted in the first round in 2015. I guess it\u2019s a shame the Cubs didn\u2019t sign Alex Bregman who is first, because they already have Dansby Swanson and Kyle Tucker who are second and third. Not bad for the ninth overall choice.
\nKyle Tucker gets the third spot. A homer, a single, a walk, a run, a run driven in, a stolen base. The man knows how to fill a box score. <\/p>\n
Game 80, June 25: Cubs 8, Cardinals 0 (47-33)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Fangraphs<\/p>\n
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.<\/p>\n
THREE HEROES:<\/p>\n
Superhero: Ian Happ (.138). 2-4, HR, BB, 3 RBI, R<\/p>\n
Hero: Matthew Boyd (.137). 6 IP, 22 BF, 3 H, 0 BB, 0 ER, 3 K (W 7-3)<\/p>\n
Sidekick: Ryan McGuire (.127). 1-4, HR, 2 RBI, R<\/p>\n
THREE GOATS:<\/p>\n
Billy Goat: Nico Hoerner (-.023). 1-4<\/p>\n
Goat\/Kid: Seiya Suzuki\/Pete Crow-Armstrong (-.020). Suzuki: 0-4, BB; PCA: 1-5, 2B<\/p>\n
WPA Play of the Game: Reese McGuire\u2019s two-run homer with two outs in the second to make it 4-0. (.149)<\/p>\n
*Cardinals Play of the Game: Yohel Pozo\u2019s lead off double in the third inning with the Cardinals down five. (.036)<\/p>\n
Cubs Player of the Game: <\/p>\n
Poll
\n Who was the Cubs Player of the Game?<\/p>\n
This poll is closed<\/p>\n
\n 0%\n <\/p>\n
Michael Busch (3-5, RBI, 2 R, SB)<\/p>\n
(1 vote)<\/p>\n
\n 0%\n <\/p>\n
Someone else (leave your suggestion in the comments)<\/p>\n
(0 votes)<\/p>\n
186 votes total<\/p>\n