Bullpen helps Chicago Cubs turn things around

Posted April 18, 2019 1:00 am

By Bruce Miles

Just as it was no time to panic a few days ago when the Chicago Cubs were 2-7, there's no reason to get overly giddy about a three-game sweep over the Miami Marlins this week.

But things are looking up for the Cubs, who take a record of 8-9 into this weekend's series against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field.

One of the biggest reasons for the reversal in fortunes is the turnaround of the bullpen, which got off to a rocky start after having a good season last year.

To wit:

• The Cubs' bullpen has posted an 0.93 ERA (3 earned runs in 29 innings pitched) and .520 OPS against in its last 9 games starting April 7 after putting up a 9.51 ERA (31 earned runs in 29⅓ innings) and 1.041 OPS against in its first 8 games from March 28-April 6.

• Steve Cishek has turned in 4 scoreless outings (4⅔ innings) following his April 3 outing in Atlanta in which he walked the first three batters he faced.

• Brandon Kintzler, who is looking more and more like the pitcher the Cubs thought they were getting last year, has held the opponent scoreless in 7 of 8 outings, including each of his last 4 (5 innings). For the season, Kintzler has a WHIP of 0.69.

• Pedro Strop has turned in 4 scoreless outings (4 innings) after allowing runs in each of his first 2 games. Strop has the team's only save, as save opportunities have been few and far between. He is filling in for injured closer Brandon Morrow, would could be back in May following an off-season elbow cleanup.

Help should be on the way, too. Lefty Mike Montgomery, on the injured list since April 6 with a lat strain, pitched 2 innings, giving up 1 hit and striking out four Wednesday for Class A South Bend in his first minor-league rehab appearance.

In the meantime, call-ups Allen Webster, Tim Collins and Kyle Ryan have held their own.

The starting rotation has done its share, too, and that has taken some of the strain off the bullpen. Jose Quintana and Cole Hamels turned in back-to-back scoreless starts of 7 innings each. Of the Cubs' 7 quality starts, Hamels has 3, Quintana 2 and the injured Jon Lester 2.

In quality-start games, the Cubs are 6-1, with the starters having an ERA of 1.34. When the Cubs don't get a quality start (at least 6 innings and no more than 3 earned runs), they're 2-8, and the starters have an ERA of 7.24 in those games.

The offense has been solid despite a slow start from third baseman Kris Bryant (.219/.324/.438 with only an opening-day home run) and Anthony Rizzo (.159/.312/.381).

Javier Baez, the MVP runner-up last year, is at .324/.351/.784 with 6 homers and 16 RBI. The Cubs are going to find it tough moving him off shortstop, if that's what they choose to do, when Addison Russell comes off the suspended list next month.

Catcher Willson Contreras proved he was serious about his stepped-up off-season work as his line of .319/.458/.957 with 6 homers and RBI attest.

The most surprising start belongs to outfielder Jason Heyward, who is at .353/.444/.706 with 4 homers and 11 RBI. Heyward had 8 homers all of last season.

Scouting report

Cubs vs. Arizona Diamondbacks

NBC Sports Chicago Friday and Sunday; ABC 7 Saturday

<h3 class="breakHead">Radio:</h3>

WSCR 670-AM

<h3 class="breakHead">Pitching matchups:</h3>

The Cubs' Kyle Hendricks (0-3) vs. Merrill Kelly (1-1) Friday; Yu Darvish (1-2) vs. Zack Greinke (2-1) Saturday; Jose Quintana (2-1) vs. Robbie Ray (0-1) Sunday. All games 1:20 p.m.

<h3 class="breakHead">At a glance: </h3>

The Cubs were 4-3 against the Diamondbacks last year, 2-2 at Wrigley Field. The two teams will play each other next weekend in Phoenix. The D'backs got a seventh-inning, 2-run homer Thursday from Christian Walker to sweep the Braves. Walker has a line of .300/.373/.867 with 6 homers and 11 RBI. David Peralta is at .367/.412/.722 with 2 homers and 10 RBI. Arizona is in an early fight with the Padres and Dodgers for the top spot in the NL West. The Cubs still have only 1 save this season, with an 8-9 record and having scored several lopsided wins.

Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field, Tuesday-Thursday

- Bruce Miles

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