*Course: Sportswriting (JOUR381W; Spring 2021)*
Chicago Cubs (4-3) at Pittsburgh Pirates (1-6), April 10, 6:35 p.m. RHP Zach Davies (1-0, 3.18 ERA) vs. RHP Mitch Keller (0-1, 9.00 ERA) PNC Park, Pittsburgh
SATURDAY STRENGTH: Anthony Rizzo has hit 33 home runs during Saturday games since his Cubs tenure began in 2012 … Since 2005, only Alfonso Soriano (39) and Aramis Ramirez (36) have hit more home runs for Chicago on the week’s final day … Hit 3 of his 11 home runs in 2020 on Saturdays … Ranks eighth on the franchise’s all-time home run leaderboard with 229, two behind Gabby Hartnett.
DAZZLING DAVIES: Zach Davies pitched 5.2 innings of four-hit ball in a 4-3 victory over Pittsburgh on April 4 … Acquired from the San Diego Padres on Dec. 29, 2020, in exchange for Yu Darvish and Victor Caratini … Ranked second in National League in wins (seven) and fifth in ERA (2.73) in 2020 … Pitched for the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers from 2015 to 2019.
HAPP-Y TO BE HOME: Ian Happ returns to his hometown of Pittsburgh … Graduate of nearby Mt. Lebanon High School was selected ninth overall in the 2015 MLB Draft … Batting .287 with four home runs and 12 RBIs in 87 career at-bats at PNC Park … Hit a solo home run in the club’s April 4 win over the Pirates.
TURN BACK THE CLOCK: Craig Kimbrel has struck out nine batters in 4.2 innings of work to begin the season … Has yet to allow a baserunner this year … Posted an ERA below 3.00 in 8 of 9 seasons from 2010 to 2018 … Has appeared in seven MLB All-Star Games during his career … Struck out three Pirates in 1.2 innings of relief in a 4-2, series-opening victory on April 8.
PITCHING PROWESS: Through seven games, the Cubs pitching staff has posted a 2.95 ERA … Team ERA has ranked in the league’s top 10 in every season since 2015 … Four pitchers have yet to allow an earned run, while 10 of 14 utilized pitchers have an ERA below 4.00 … Opponents are batting just .200 versus Chicago … Staff is averaging 10.4 strikeouts/game.
JOC JAMS: Joc Pederson joins the Cubs after seven seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers … Batted .382 with two home runs and eight RBIs in 34 postseason at-bats to help the Dodgers win the 2020 World Series … Posted a career-best 36 home runs in 2019 … Recorded two RBIs in three games against Pittsburgh at Wrigley Field to open the 2021 campaign.
STRANGE TIMES AT PNC: Since the start of the 2016 season, the Cubs are 23-22 at PNC Park … Won 17 of 28 games in Pittsburgh between 2016 and 2018 … Lost 11 of 16 games in stadium over the past two seasons … Teams played to a rain-induced tie (did not count toward each team’s final record) at PNC Park on Sept. 29, 2016, the league’s only tie since 2005.
MODEL OF CONSISTENCY: The Cubs have earned a postseason berth in 5 of the past 6 seasons and will try to make it 6 out of 7 years in 2021 … Since 2015, only the Dodgers (six), Houston Astros (five) and New York Yankees (five) have as many or more playoff berths … The Cubs are 1 of just 3 National League teams to have an above-.500 record in each of the past six seasons, joining the Dodgers and the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals.
Comments