The small-market San Diego Padres have a $249 million payroll, way more than the $188 million the big-market Chicago Cubs spent on gamers.
The Padres lineup at Wrigley Field on Thursday included three gamers with contracts greater than $280 million and one other in Juan Soto who ought to command $400 million or extra when he arrives at free company after 2024.
The Cubs, in the meantime, had one participant of their lineup with a contract of $177 million and except for Dansby Swanson no gamers with offers of over $86 million.
But within the battle of the massive West Coast spenders and their extra frugal Midwest rivals, the Cubs got here out with a 5-2 win earlier than 26,588 on a cool however snug afternoon at Wrigley Field.
The Cubs ended their seven-game homestand in opposition to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Padres, two of the National League preseason favorites, at 3-4. They improved to 14-10 with their fifth collection win over the past six and clinched a profitable report for April with three video games remaining.
“At the end of the day the most important thing is the guys in tis locker room, no matter who we play, I feel we match up well because we’re going to go out and play our game,” Swanson mentioned. “The more we can keep the focus and the energy going in that direction, just improving as a group, collectively and individually, that’s the most important thing for us.”
Last season the Cubs completed 8-13 in April, basically making the ultimate 5 months an audition for youthful gamers attempting to show themselves and veterans who could be dealt on the commerce deadline. That appeared like a distant reminiscence, even because the Cubs nonetheless have a solution to go to show they’re reputable contenders.
The largest purpose for optimism is that they weren’t irrelevant by the point the Bears made their first-round draft decide.
Hayden Wesneski (2-1) allowed one run over 5 innings to get the win, and the Cubs scored all of the runs they wanted within the third inning on back-to-back dwelling runs from Eric Hosmer and Nelson Velázquez and an RBI single from Tucker Barnhart that middle fielder Trent Grisham misplaced within the solar.
Swanson poked one into the left-field basket within the seventh, his first dwelling run as a Cub, to make it 5-1.
“I felt like I got a good glimpse of what Wrigley wind can do,” Swanson mentioned. “It was obviously cool. It’s a special place, and I get the first one out of the way. It’s a good feeling.”
Swanson celebrated within the dugout prefer it was the primary dwelling run of his profession. He got here into the sport hitting 0.95 (2-for-21) on the homestand and 0-for-15 within the final 4 video games. He admitted he had been “grinding” on the plate however mentioned everybody within the dugout was supportive, which made the house run really feel that a lot better.
“Everyone is always so positive and believes in each and every guy on this team,” he mentioned. “When you have a group full of guys like that, it’s easy to root for one another. It was just kind of one of those moments you’re able to enjoy with your teammates.”
The Cubs bullpen did its job as effectively. Struggling co-closer Michael Fulmer threw a scoreless sixth inning, and Mark Leiter Jr., Keegan Thompson and part-time nearer Brad Boxberger completed it out. It wasn’t as crisp as you’d like, with all 4 relievers strolling at the least one hitter.
“I’ve got to be honest, we’ve been better pitching,” supervisor David Ross mentioned. “I don’t think that was our best performance, pitching-wise, and when you can say that and still come away with a win. … To make pitches when you had to, that’s the thing that stood out for me today.”
Seiya Suzuki was busy in proper, making six catches from the second via the fifth and robbing Fernando Tatis Jr. within the fifth. Nick Madrigal additionally made a pleasant play at third within the seventh with Tatis hitting and two males on with two outs. Ross referred to as it a “game-saving play.”
The Cubs have performed 16 of their first 24 video games at dwelling, going 8-8. It’s one thing they’ll have to enhance upon in the event that they hope to contend, however a 6-2 street report has mitigated the lackluster mark at Wrigley Field.
On Friday the Cubs start a seven-game journey to Miami and Washington, groups at totally different phases of their rebuilds. It ought to be a significantly simpler stretch than going through the Dodgers and Padres, whilst each NL West groups have gotten off to mediocre begins.
The Cubs consider they’re on the fitting path and are slowly constructing the type of quiet confidence that profitable groups exude. They’re 13-7 after beginning 1-3 and haven’t misplaced greater than two straight video games since April 3.
“We’ve been riding the good momentum, and then if we have a game that’s not ideal, I think we’re good at washing it and showing up with a great attitude the next day,” Trey Mancini mentioned. “I think that is sustainable.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com