The Chicago Cubs’ Brexit went easily after splitting their two-game sequence towards the St. Louis Cardinals in London.
The group arrived again in Chicago late Sunday night time, then had Monday off to attempt to shake the jet lag as they ready for Tuesday’s begin of a six-game homestand towards the Philadelphia Phillies and Cleveland Guardians.
The Athletic referred to as the London Series a “smashing success,” although it was arduous to grasp how anybody got here to that conclusion from watching the video games on Fox Sports and ESPN.
Both the Cubs and Cardinals have been sub-.500 groups who regarded the half. Neither recreation was notably aggressive, and the fielding was lackluster. ESPN botched the names of Cubs gamers and by no means corrected themselves. An ESPN pregame present even mispronounced the identify of Bruce Sutter, a Hall of Famer who performed for each groups throughout his profession.
There additionally was no prompt traditional second, like Tim Anderson depositing a walk-off house run right into a cornfield within the 2021 Field of Dreams recreation in Iowa. Even the backdrop, which regarded like all generic sports activities stadium inbuilt North America within the final twenty years, was nothing particular.
Either manner, the long-awaited journey that was 4 years within the making lastly ended, and now it’s time for the Cubs to re-focus on the duty at hand — profitable the National League Central and returning to the playoffs for the primary time since Rebuild 2.0 started.
Here’s what to search for this week.
Blister watch
Cubs supervisor David Ross eliminated Marcus Stroman within the fourth inning of Sunday’s begin with a growing blister on his proper index finger. Stroman was optimistic he would make his subsequent begin, which is perhaps Friday or Saturday towards the Cleveland Guardians, relying on how Ross adjusts his rotation.
Stroman’s significance to the Cubs can’t be understated. He’s the Cubs’ greatest probability at being chosen to the National League All-Star squad, although he sounded Sunday as if he’d favor to not pitch to relaxation up for the second half. If Stroman couldn’t pitch, that might open the door for Justin Steele, who additionally deserves an invitation. Cubs starters on Monday ranked first within the National League, and fifth general, with a 3.77 ERA.
Quest for .500
The Cubs can’t take into account themselves true contenders with out being over .500, and start the homestand two video games underneath at 37-39. Considering they have been 10 video games underneath at 26-36 after being swept by the Los Angeles Angels on June 8, the final three weeks have been like night time and day.
According to Cubs historian Ed Hartig, solely two Cubs groups that fell 10 video games underneath .500 reached the even mark: the 1968 group that began 35-45 and received to 51-51 earlier than ending with 84 wins; and the ‘96 group that went from 21-31 to 51-51 earlier than regressing and ending the season at 76-86.
Schwarbomb alert
Phillies left fielder Kyle Schwarber led the NL in house runs final season with 40 and has 98 homers with three groups in 2 1/2 seasons for the reason that Cubs non-tendered him after 2020. Of all of the gamers from the 2016 champions whom Hoyer both traded or let go away, Schwarber has confirmed to be his largest mistake. But his .754 OPS this season is his lowest since a .701 OPS in 2020, and the Phillies have struggled to regain the shape they confirmed throughout final October’s postseason run to the World Series.
Either manner, Schwarber will likely be greeted with a heat ovation at Wrigley, as occurs each time he comes again. The solely lively stars from the 2016 champs who’ve but to expertise their Wrigley homecoming are the New York Yankees’ Anthony Rizzo and the Detroit Tigers’ Javier Báez. Barring a Cubs-Yankees or Cubs-Tigers World Series, each must wait till 2024.
Countdown to Aug. 1
Chairman Tom Ricketts insisted in London the Cubs could be in “buy mode” on the Aug. 1 commerce deadline, which suggests President Jed Hoyer gained’t transfer Stroman or Cody Bellinger, their two largest commerce chips who can depart as free brokers after 2023.
The rotation is ready, regardless of Jameson Taillon’s disappointing first half. Journeyman Mike Tauchman earned a beginning spot in heart. Christopher Morel has been their largest energy supply since his call-up from Triple-A Iowa, however wants the DH spot as a rule for the reason that Cubs don’t belief his protection at third. Trey Mancini’s protection at first, in the meantime, has been indefensible, as he admitted Sunday in London. But if Bellinger stays at first for the subsequent six weeks, the one apparent locations of want are at third base and within the bullpen, the place each contender wants one other arm or two.
The query Hoyer must ask himself is whether or not the Cubs can nonetheless win a nasty division with out making a big transfer. Nick Madrigal clearly lacks energy at third, however has posted a .413 on-base share in 13 video games since his return from Iowa, which is strictly what Ross wants from him. Anthony Kay has been their solely left-handed reliever of late, restricted to a .146 common towards Mark Leiter Jr., the second-lowest mark of any pitcher.
Look for the Cubs so as to add depth in the event that they proceed to carry out as they’ve in June. Whether they’ll make a splashy transfer is anybody’s guess.
Sportsbook opening
The DraftKings sportsbook, which was constructed on the web site of the previous Captain Morgan Club close to the appropriate area nook of Wrigley, is scheduled to open this week, at the same time as early as Tuesday. Cubs President of Business Operations Crane Kenney advised WSCR-AM 670 the two,000 square-foot TV within the sportsbook is way bigger than the 600-square-foot condominium he rented when he first moved to Chicago.
Kenney’s rags-to-riches story apart, the enormous display even makes Madrigal look huge. But the Cubs have but to obtain their sports activities betting license, so for now it’s only a sports activities bar related to Wrigley Field the place you’ll be able to guess in your cellphone and watch quite a lot of video games. Ticket holders should go away the park to get inside, and won’t be allowed to travel throughout video games.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com