Wrigley Field has been chilly since the Chicago Cubs opened their home slate on Monday, but the Cubs’ bats have kept the team red-hot.
Chicago has scored 35 runs over its first four home games, all starting with temperatures no higher than 43 degrees.
“The conditions probably make it all the more impressive,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said on Friday. ” … It’s certainly something that’s fun to watch.”
Chicago’s potent offense has the Cubs on a five-game winning streak ahead of Saturday’s rematch with the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers in the second contest of a three-game series.
Counsell’s lineup on Friday produced from top to bottom as Chicago powered past Los Angeles 9-7.
Leadoff hitter Ian Happ lined a two-run triple, Dansby Swanson went 2-for-4 with a home run batting fifth, and Nick Madrigal added two singles and an RBI batting eighth. The Cubs finished with nine hits, drew six walks and struck out just four times, just once after the first inning.
“It’s a sign of the at-bats that we’re taking and how guys are grinding them out,” Counsell said. “Swinging at the right pitches, putting the right pitches in play, fouling off the tough pitches … It’s certainly a formula for success.”
After knocking out Dodgers starter Bobby Miller in 1 2/3 innings on Friday, Chicago on Saturday will step in against right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto (0-1, 7.50 ERA). He will be making his third start since signing with Los Angeles out of Japan’s professional league.
The 25-year-old surrendered two hits and struck out five in five shutout innings on March 30 against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals.
Yamamoto will be backed by an offense that has been historically potent to begin the season, even with Friday’s loss.
Behind a fearsome top third of the order spearheaded by former MVPs Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman, the Dodgers have scored at least five runs in each of their first 10 games, a franchise record.
Only the 1932 Yankees have scored at least five runs in more games (13) to begin a season since 1900.
Ohtani has shaken off his slow start to collect a third of his 12 hits this season over Los Angeles’ last two games. He has homered in two straight contests, and manager Dave Roberts said the left-handed slugger is looking increasingly more in sync at the plate.
“He’s on the fastball (and) breaking balls,” Roberts said. “He’s taking balls down below the zone, which, earlier on, he was swinging at those. … Timing, mechanics — he’s seeing the baseball really well.”
Teoscar Hernandez has collected five hits and driven in five runs over his last two games, while Will Smith had four hits on Friday to match Betts with 17 on the season, the most in the majors going into Saturday.
Roberts was pleased with the Dodgers’ production on Friday, particularly in how they chipped away at the Cubs’ lead after falling behind 6-2.
Los Angeles cranked out 12 hits, but they repeatedly failed to capitalize with runners on base. The Dodgers went 3-for-16 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine, including runners on second and third and trailing by two to end the game.
Roberts’ squad faces Chicago left-hander Jordan Wicks (0-0, 4.50 ERA), who will make his first career start against Los Angeles.
Wicks pitched four innings in his season debut on Sunday against the Rangers in Texas. He allowed five runs — two earned — on five hits, struck out six and walked three.
–Field Level Media
