Chicago Baseball – August-September 2018 Issue by Chicago Baseball

GEARING UP Cubs Face Grueling Stretch Run

Best Case Worst Case

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018

Cub Scouts

Profile: Javier Bรกez Vol. 23, No. 4

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INSIDE YOUR GUIDE TO CUBS BASEBALL

August/Sept. 2018 • Vol. 23, No. 4

Matt Smerge Publisher & Editor Steven Cline Contributing Editor

Allen Yanong & Mark Sliwinski Staff Writers

Marty Plesha Circulation Director Laura Otto Art Director & Website Manager

6 6. 8. 10. 12. 14. 16. 18. 20. 21.

Left Field Media

Out of Left Field/The Foul Pole Unorthodox Stance/Point-Counterpoint Destiny’s Chi Cubs Best Case, Worst Case Cubs Cub Scouts This Day in Cubs History Player Poster: Kyle Schwarber Cubs 2018 Schedule Kids Clubhouse Fun Page by Jim Siergey

22. 24. 26. 28. 30. 32. 34. 36. 38.

Perillo Collision & Service Scorecard Back of the Baseball Card 2018 Predictions Chicago Cubs 40-Man Roster PREVIEW: Chicago Cubs PREVIEWS: Cincinnati Reds & New York Mets PREVIEWS: Milwaukee Brewers & Pittsburgh Pirates PREVIEW: St. Louis Cardinals Player Profile: Javier Báez 2018 Chicago Cubs Player Cards

Cole Otto Social Media Manager Jay Roper Founder ••••••• www.ChicagoBaseballMag.com Email: win1908@aol.com Now in its 23rd year, Chicago Baseball is the #1 independent publication about the Chicago Cubs. It is available outside Wrigley Field prior to home games. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the expressed, written consent of the publisher. Opinions expressed in Chicago Baseball are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Team logos used herein are the property of the individual teams and/or Major League Baseball and are used solely for identification and editorial purposes. © 2018 Left Field Media, LLC

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OUT OF LEFT FIELD

Nothing Compares to 2016

By Matt Smerge

n baseball everybody loves a comp, as in comparison (although the kind at Gibsons are nice, too). Early on Cubs scouts and even Theo Epstein liked to compare Kyle Schwarber to Babe Ruth. Postseason heroics aside those comparisons have died down as Schwarber has slimmed down. Joe Maddon has compared Javy Baez to Manny Ramirez, although finding a true comp for Baez may be a fruitless exercise. Baseball Reference uses Similarity Scores to compare players from different eras. Did you know Schwarber is most similar to 1990s journeyman Melvin Nieves through his age 24 season? Okay, so maybe it’s not an exact science. We also look for comps and similarities between the seasons. Since winning the World Series in 2016, Cub fans want to compare every season to that one. Why aren’t the Cubs dominating from start to finish like they did in ’16? Why can’t the rotation perform like it did two years ago? Why has Addison Russell regressed at the plate the last two campaigns? No season will compare to that one. When the Cubs eventually win another World Series, they’ll follow a much different script. It’s inevitable. Epstein has remarked how dissimilar each of his three Red Sox world championships felt during his tenure in Boston. Cub fans should be so fortunate to experience those feelings here. So let’s try not to panic if everything feels different this year. There are multiple routes to October glory and the Cubs seem content

The Foul Pole

PAGE 6

to explore every last possibility. Case in point – their epic comeback win over the Washington Nationals on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball on August 12. 25-year-old rookie David Bote hit the first walk-off grand slam in major league history in which a team was trailing 3-0 and down to its final out. It had never happened in 140 years. A few days later the Cubs posted back-to-back 1-0 shutout wins on solo home runs for the first time in franchise history and became the third team in baseball annals to turn seven double plays in a nineinning game. They’ve also earned victories on a walk-off walk and Baez scoring all the way from first on a steal of second base to name a couple more. What other ways can they find to win? Repeating 2016 is not going to happen. But the young core of brilliant players is still here and will be for some time. And the resiliency the Cubs have gleaned over the past several seasons makes them a perennial favorite in the National League no matter the current state of their rotation. The Cubs rank 20th in the majors in quality starts and 22nd in home runs yet still lead the NL in victories. Like Baez, there may be no good comp for the 2018 Cubs especially if they can find a way to win another Fall Classic.

by Jim Siergey

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UNORTHODOX STANCE

Listening to Baseball’s Rhythm

By Steven Cline

read a story recently about how wristwatches are making a comeback—as pure jewelry. We all have a clock at the ready whenever we look at our phone—and when aren’t we looking at our phone? A wristwatch as a timepiece has been redundant for years. The line of the story that really caught my attention was about how clocks—and eventually wristwatches—were originally an attempt to harness time. I had never thought about it that way. I thought clocks were just a way to measure what is. Actually, they are a framework that we have put on what is. The sun rises and falls each day, but never at the exact same time. We may be slaves to the second hand, but life isn’t. Clocks don’t reflect reality. They simply allow us to put a number on when things happen—or when we would like for them to happen. That brings us to baseball. The sport has a funny relationship with time. Wrigley Field displays a clock atop its iconic scoreboard, but it does not rule the game. For those 7:05 starts, it simply reminds you how tired you’ll be the next day. All other team sports have a clock, not just any clock but a game clock. Not baseball. Time doesn’t really matter between the white lines. It’s not just the games themselves that ignore time. The season—all 162 games worth, plus another month’s worth of playoffs—seems to go on forever. Baseball follows a completely different rhythm than the

rest of our lives. As much as I love the game, this can be a struggle. After a particularly bad series—like splitting a four-game set against the lowly Padres at home, let’s say—I get frustrated. I have to remind myself that it is a long, long, long season. One game means little. You have to look at the big picture. Joe Maddon has mastered this perspective. It’s one of the reasons he is among the best managers in the game. He has embraced baseball time, a kind of timelessness. Critics say that baseball has to change. The slow pace, long season and unpredictability of extra innings contribute to a waning popularity, especially with young people. But instead of speeding up the game, maybe we need to learn from baseball. Maybe the game is a good counter balance to the frenetic news cycle and short attention spans, the overtime hours and rushhour traffic and cramming 30 hours of activities into a 24-hour frame. Baseball is a way to relax, to breathe, to not be a prisoner of the clock. But we need to be open to its slower rhythm, not find a way to speed it up. When we invented the clock the intention might have been to harness time, but it seems as though we are the ones caught in the trap.

POINT - COUNTERPOINT

Should MLB Add a 26th Player and Limit September Rosters?

Yes.

By Mark Sliwinski

Rewind to Labor Day, 2017. Los Angeles Angels’ skipper Mike Scioscia utilized a record 12 pitchers in a 11-9 win over the Oakland A’s. During the course of the 4 hour and 48 minute battle of attrition, Scioscia did just about everything short of recruiting the Angels’ most famous neighbor, Mickey Mouse, to help them win the game. In another September 2017 game, Colorado’s Bud Black and San Francisco’s Bruce Bochy combined to use 20 pitchers in a nineinning game. To put that in perspective, a combined seven or eight pitchers is typical for a nine-inning game. Even though rosters in September can be expanded up to 40, most teams don’t. Last season, the Los Angeles Dodgers expanded to 39 while the Miami Marlins checked in at 30 and the San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox only reached 29. That’s the difference between a big market team headed for the postseason and a fiscally conscious, rebuilding team auditioning some kids. It’s an unfair advantage to have an opponent with an endless parade of relievers. Roster sizes need to match and there is really no need to go beyond 30 in September. The snag is the players’ union. They are concerned about the loss of total service time for all their members. This is the great negotiating tool for players working towards salary arbitration and free agency. Thus, expanding rosters to 26 from April through August makes sense to help keep combined service time about the same and pitchingchange-happy managers at bay come September. PAGE 8

No.

By Allen Yanong

But there needs to be some tweaking to the number of active “daily” players. September call-ups have provided a beneficial feature to the game. Having the ability to expand to the 40-man roster gives MLB squads a chance to showcase their young talent. Teams out of contention can keep their fan base interested and hopeful for next year. Meanwhile, clubs still in the race have a chance to bring up young phenoms who might help them get to the postseason - think Francisco Rodriguez with the 2002 Angels. And above all, youngsters get to experience their first cup of coffee - the chance to audition for the big show is invaluable. The problem with the expanded rosters is the potential abuse of teams loading up their bench and bullpens with extra players. Quick hooks for relievers become the norm and games inevitably lengthen with incessant pitching changes. For a sport that has worked hard the past few years to shorten games, this becomes a strange inconsistency during the final month of the season. The solution could be to limit the number of active players on the daily roster. The active roster can still be set at 40 but each day the manager would need to turn in an active “daily” roster (much like the NHL) with the total not to exceed the 25-man limit. In essence then, the integrity of the game would be maintained throughout the regular season while still allowing young players a chance to break in during September. CHICAGO BASEBALL

FEATURE STORY

Destiny’s Chi Cubs

By Matt Smerge

here are many reasons to doubt the Cubs will be able to maintain their division lead and win a third straight NL Central crown. The underachieving rotation, the overworked bullpen and the key injuries are three major areas of concern. Not to mention the budding Brewers and surging Cardinals who are hanging around long enough to keep things interesting, possibly well into September. But it’s hard to get too worried about the 2018 Cubs. Just when you think they’re heading towards a losing streak, they find another way to win. Maybe it’s destiny. Or maybe it’s depth. Or maybe it’s both. Let’s examine a few reasons why despite all their issues the Cubs figure to be hosting Game 1 of the Division Series on October 4. Comeback Kids The North Siders lead the majors in come from behind wins, notching 37 through their first 120 games. More than half of their 70 wins were of the comeback variety. The feeling that they’re rarely out of games has served the Cubs well all season - never more so than on a recent Sunday night at Wrigley Field against Washington on national TV. Being shut out through the first 26 outs and down 3-0, David Bote’s implausible pinch hit, walk-off grand slam turned the game completely around David Bote, #13

on one knee-high fastball. That moment encapsulated the Cubs’ 2018 season to date and provides a strong argument that no matter what they simply won’t be denied the division title this year. And that came just 17 days after Bote had tied a game against Arizona with a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth, promptly followed by an Anthony Rizzo walk-off dinger. Call that supporting evidence. Cole for Christmas in July Team Theo (Epstein and Jed Hoyer, et al) made one of the shrewdest moves at the trade deadline when they acquired Cole Hamels from Texas for Eddie Butler and a bag of Kyle Schwarber’s dilapidated batting practice balls. Hamels struggled in Texas to the tune of a 6.41 ERA at Globe Life Park this season. However, the lefty has thrived in his return to the National League, going 3-0 over his first four starts in a Cubs uniform while posting a 0.72 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 25.0 innings. The 34-year-old won the World Series MVP with the Phillies against Joe Maddon’s Rays a decade ago. Hamels, who hasn’t notched a postseason victory since 2011, is anxious to return to the big stage. Considering the Cubs rotation woes, Hamels should play an important role in their playoff run. The Cubs also have a club option on Hamels for 2019. Bolstering the Bullpen The Cubs front office made two other moves in July to upgrade the bullpen, adding Jesse Chavez and Brandon Kintzler. A 2017 AllStar with the Twins, Kintzler owns 48 career saves and possesses a hard sinker that is tough on lefties. Chavez, who has pitched for eight other teams during an 11-year MLB career, was stellar in his first 10 appearances as a Cub holding opponents to a .189 average. But the biggest addition to the pen would be the return of closer Brandon Morrow. Morrow converted 22 of 24 save opportunities before heading to the DL on July 19 with right biceps inflammation. He started long toss in mid-August and could be activated sometime in September, although he says he’ll still likely need to pitch through some discomfort and his workload could be limited. Meanwhile, Pedro Strop has stepped right in and done the job as closer, notching eight saves in nine chances and providing reason to believe the Cubs could win the Central and advance deep in the postseason with Strop as the stopper if need be. Depth makes all the difference. KB or Not to Be? It’s a testament to the Cubs depth that they rank atop the NL in runs scored despite the absence of Kris Bryant from their lineup for the better part of two months. It helps that Bote stepped in out of nowhere to put up an OPS over .900 while delivering some huge hits and playing a solid third base. Bryant must be starting to feel a bit like Wally Pipp while nursing his sore shoulder. He could return before September 1 but will he be able to regain his power stroke with a bum shoulder that could

PAGE 10

CHICAGO BASEBALL

require offseason surgery? Either way the Cubs would appear to have the positional depth to survive in the Central, including leading MVP candidate, Javier Baez. But without Bryant at full strength they’d be hard-pressed to win another World Series. Fortunately, that’s for another story. Murphy’s Bleachers In a surprise move Team Theo acquired Cub killer Daniel Murphy in a trade waiver deal with the Nationals on August 21 to help jumpstart a slumping offense that had only mustered four runs in its previous four games. Murphy is a career .413 hitter at Wrigley Field with nine doubles and seven home runs in 104 at-bats. The 33-year-old provides another lefty bat in the lineup and extra infield depth while Bryant and Addison Russell heal up. Murphy could also be a valuable weapon come October. He has slashed .323/.407/.613 during the postseason, including .529 with four homers and six RBIs against the Cubs for New York in the 2015 NLCS. Rotation Roulette It’s astounding to think the Cubs could potentially coast to another division title considering their starting rotation has been in a state of utter disarray for most of the season. The North Siders had one win to show for Yu Darvish’s $21 million salary this year. Darvish is out for the season with a “stress reaction at the tip of his elbow.” And that may be just the tip of the iceberg for “Mr. Setback.” Will he be able to bounce back in 2019? A “stress reaction” would better describe Cubs fans pain watching

him struggle early in the season and then striking out in one comeback bid after another while rehabbing the mysterious injury. The rotation was thrown for another loop when Mike Montgomery landed on the DL with left shoulder inflammation in mid-August, forcing Tyler Chatwood to start again and resume his relentless pursuit of the big leagues’ bases on balls title. On the bright side Kyle Hendricks and Jose Quintana continue to take the ball every time but the results for both have been middling, mostly trading good starts with subpar ones. Even ace Jon Lester has had a tough go, posting an 8.65 ERA over seven starts in July and August. The 2018 All-Star’s metrics had predicted a second half regression but it resembled a depression instead. Yet despite all of this, the Cubs seem to get just enough pitching to give the offense an opportunity to outlast their opponents, most often in come from behind fashion of course. Dynasty Destiny Drawing from the success of the last three seasons and exploiting their unparalleled depth amongst NL contenders, the Cubs seem poised to overcome a myriad of challenges and come out on top. This stretch run could provide their toughest test, even greater than overcoming last season’s World Series hangover to advance all the way to the NLCS. That said, we’re expecting the same results this September. Bottom line – don’t make any plans for October 4.

Cole Hamels, #35

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER ‘18

PAGE 11

FEATURE STORY

Best Case, Worst Case Cubs

ere we are, heading down the home stretch of the season, and we still have little idea what to expect from these Cubs. Will they win their third straight Central Division title? Will they be a wild card team for the first time since 2015? Will they be shut out of the playoffs altogether? Will the offense produce double digit runs or get shut out? Who is batting leadoff? Who’s the closer? Who can we count on for a consistent start? Who knows? Things can go any which way for these Cubs. The best we can do is offer best case and worst case scenarios. Here goes. COLE HAMELS Best case: Hamels has been a World Series MVP. He is used to pitching and winning the most important games. From his first handful of starts with the Cubs, it looked as though recapturing at least some of that magic is possible. That makes him a playoff starter the Cubs can lean on. Worst case: He regresses into the Hamels of 2018 in Texas. Trending: Best case THE OFFENSE Best case: In their quest to reach another World Series, the Cubs are going to face tough pitching. This year’s offense is much better suited to manufacture runs and win a 1-0 or 2-1 game than last year’s boom-orbust squad. In 2017, the Cubs were third in the National League in home runs and sixth in strikeouts. This year, they are eighth in home runs and tenth in strikeouts while leading the league in runs scored and batting average. Worst case: Even with an increase in efficiency, the bats have gone cold a baffling number of games. Do that in the playoffs and there’s a good chance you are headed home. Trending: Best case BRYZZO Best case: The Cubs are loaded with talent, but the heart of the team remains Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo. Get those two clicking and the Cubs offense reaches a whole other level. Worst case: Pretty much what we’ve

PAGE 12

By Steven Cline had so far this season. A shoulder issue has limited Bryant to fewer than 400 at bats. If his shoulder flares up again, he could be a non-factor. Rizzo has been healthy, but he’s produced 1.3 WAR and won’t reach his 201517 averages of 31 home runs and 106 RBIs. Trending: Worst case THE BULLPEN Best Case: Brandon Morrow gets healthy and resumes his dominant ways. Mike Montgomery returns to the pen to give the team a lefty it can count on. Tyler Chatwood finds a way to contribute. Newcomers Brandon Kintzler and Jesse Chavez enhance a bullpen that has carried the team for much of the season. Worst case: All those innings add up. Morrow gets hurt again, forcing Pedro Strop to close and moving everyone else from their usual role. Brian Duensing and/or Justin Wilson are given the ball in key situations. Trending: Best case SEPTEMBER Best case: The Cubs navigate a tough September schedule featuring seven series against potential playoff teams, winning

every series. They methodically pull away from the Brewers and Cardinals, clinching their third consecutive division title, this time on the South Side. A full house of Cubs fans brings life to the cemetery known as Guaranteed Rate Field for at least one night. The final two series at home are mere formalities as the Cubs set up their starting rotation and rest key position players for a deep playoff run. Worst Case: The Cubs, Brewers and Cardinals take turns occupying first place and the race comes down the final weekend. While the Cubs play St. Louis, Milwaukee hosts the Tigers who started booking their offseason travel plans during the All Star break. Detroit players wear flip flops during the games and the Brewers sweep the three games to claim the division title. St. Louis finishes out of the playoffs for the third year in a row but has the satisfaction of knowing it prevented their bitter rival from winning the division. The Cubs face Philadelphia and Jake Arrieta in the wild card game. Arrieta gets sweet revenge by beating Jon Lester, 1-0, to end the Cubs season. Trending: Worst case

Kris Bryant, #17

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FEATURE STORY

Cub Scouts

couting is an integral part of baseball. Whether searching for amateur and international prospects or helping determine defensive alignments, scouts play critical roles. Under Theo Epstein’s able direction, the Cubs scouting department has grown exponentially over the past seven years. Here at Chicago Baseball we have also stepped up our efforts to provide readers with the most insightful scouting reports available. Here are some recent scouting summaries covering the 2018 Cubs. Albert Almora Jr. – Coming into his own. Future Gold Glove winner. Needs to drop the Junior to improve marketability.

By Matt Smerge Victor Caratini – Capable backup. Has more power potential than he’s letting on. Too short to play first base on a regular basis. Tyler Chatwood – Control issues are out of control. What he lacks in command he doesn’t make up for in any other way. His stuff is practically unhittable (since it’s 12 inches off the plate). Jesse Chavez – Journeyman has a good cutter and cool sunglasses. Steve Cishek – Devastating on righties. Bringing sidearmers back. Kent Tekulve’s love child needs to borrow Chavez’s shades.

Javier Baez – What can’t he do? Has all the tools except maybe TV pitchman. Jim Hendry actually got one right.

Willson Contreras – Toolsy catcher possesses a rocket arm that could be his best asset. Needs to stay away from sliders off the plate, loaded baked potatoes and lewd porn stars.

David Bote – Shouldering third base while Kris Bryant is disabled. Major league skills and All-Star clutch. Trade value skyrocketed with walk-off grand slam.

Yu Darvish – Handle with care. No known cure for this head case. Could be forever lost in translation. How do you say “setback” in Japanese?

Kris Bryant – Bum Shoulder is a real bummer. May not see the real Kris Bryant again until 2019. His boyish good looks belie an inner sadness.

Carl Edwards Jr. – This Junior may never be the man.

Ian Happ, #8

Cole Hamels – Returning to form in the National League. 34-year-old journeyman has plenty of gas in the tank. Looking good in traveling grays. Ian Happ – Role player making the most of his limited playing time. Helping fill the void at third. Needs to smile more. Kyle Hendricks – Only showing glimpses of past dominance. If he’s not a top three starter, Cubs are in trouble. World Series chances may sink or swim with his slumping sinker. Jason Heyward – Bat speed is back to respectability along with his average. His glove never slumps except when he loses a ball in the lights. Brandon Kintzler – Cubs are his third team in 12 months. Reports that he’s a clubhouse cancer are greatly exaggerated or so he says.

PAGE 14

To m m y L a S t e l l a – P i n c h h i t t e r extraordinaire could be a starter on some teams. 25th man in name only. Too short to play pickup basketball. Jon Lester – Sometimes pitches like an ace, other times an arse. Prefers Tolstoy’s original title, “War, What Is It Good For?” Mike Montgomer y – Unprecedented workload could spell trouble beyond short DL stint. Monty got a raw deal. Brandon Morrow – Unable to stay healthy long enough to win that Rolaids Relief Man Award thing. Oh, wait, do they still give that out? Daniel Murphy – Former Cub killer misses facing Cubs pitching. Jose Quintana – Takes the ball every fifth day and then promptly lets it get pounded all around the diamond. The other four days he’s the “Q” guy that Donald Trump supporters/deranged conspiracy cultists look to for guidance. Anthony Rizzo – All around good guy who needs to hit the ball the other way a little more often. Too tall to bat leadoff on a regular basis. Addison Russell – Sore right hand has limited his power and production. Cold sore on his lower lip has limited his ability to pick up chicks. Kyle Schwarber – Improving by leaps and bounds in left field but still can’t master the leaping catch. Swings like Ruth, misses like Dunn. Pedro Strop – Senior statesman in bullpen showing an ability to close out games. Justin Wilson – Still not the reliable lefty out of the pen that he was purported to be. Ben Zobrist – The Christian gentleman has a rebellious streak, willing to stand up for his rights to wear black shoes and replace umpires with robots. Pray for him. CHICAGO BASEBALL

THE TEAM YOUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;LL NEVER TRADE

FEATURE STORY

This Day in Cubs History By Matt Smerge August 23, 1981 – The Cubs shrink the Giants 6-5 on a bases loaded walk issued to Leon Durham before 14,737 at Wrigley Field. Ivan de Jesus collects three hits and two RBIs in the game.

September 24, 1984 – Rick Sutcliffe tosses a two-hitter and earns his 14th consecutive win and 20th overall as the Cubs down the Pirates 4-1 to clinch the NL East at Three Rivers Stadium.

August 24, 1969 – A four-run eighth inning rally caps the Cubs comeback as they beat the Astros 10-9 at Wrigley after once trailing 8-2. Ernie Banks blasts two homers in the game.

September 25, 2003 – Sammy Sosa becomes the first National League player to drive in 100 runs in nine straight seasons in a 9-7 loss to the Reds at Great American Ball Park.

August 25, 1922 – The Cubs and Phillies combine for the most runs in a nine-inning game during a 26-23 Chicago win at Wrigley.

September 26, 1989 – Greg Maddux notches his 19th win and Mitch Williams gets the final out as the Cubs edge the Expos 3-2 at Olympic Stadium to win their second NL East title in five years.

August 26, 1998 – Kerry Wood strikes out 16 batters in eight innings as the Cubs roll over the Reds 9-2 at Cinergy Field. August 27, 1941 – Charlie Root tosses 8.2 innings in relief and delivers a game-winning, two-run single in the 9th to lift the Cubs over the Braves 6-4 in Boston. The win is Root’s 200th career victory, all in a Cubs uniform. August 28, 1990 – Ryne Sandberg clubs his 30th dinger in a 5-2 win over Houston at the Astrodome, becoming the first second baseman to homer 30 times in consecutive seasons.

September 27, 1993 – Randy Myers earns his 50th save, becoming the first NL pitcher to reach that mark, as the Cubs beat the Dodgers 7-3 at Dodger Stadium. September 28, 1938 – Gabby Hartnett’s legendary “Homer in the Gloamin’” is the walk-off winner as the Cubs top the Pirates 6-5 at Wrigley. They would clinch the pennant three days later. September 29, 1945 – The Cubs clinch the NL pennant with a 4-3 victory over the Pirates at Wrigley.

August 29, 1918 – The Cubs clinch the NL pennant with a doubleheader sweep of the Reds at Weeghman Park. MLB shortened the season due to the war effort. They will face Babe Ruth and the Red Sox in the World Series a week later.

September 30, 1933 – Guy Bush posts his 20th win and Babe Herman hits for the cycle as the Cubs drub the Cardinals 12-2 at the Friendly Confines.

September 10, 1968 – Billy Williams slams three homers and collects six RBIs in an 8-1 rout of the Mets at Wrigley.

Gabby Hartnett

September 11, 1935 – Stan Hack collects three hits and four RBIs as the Cubs win their eighth straight game, pummeling the Braves 15-3 at Wrigley. September 12, 2006 – Cesar Izturis drives in the winning run in the 11th as the Cubs outlast the Dodgers 9-8 in Los Angeles. The Cubs strand 21 runners in the contest and overcome six errors, including three by second baseman Freddie Bynum. September 14, 1902 – Joe Tinker, Johnny Evers and Frank Chance turn their first double play during an 8-6 loss to the Reds in Cincinnati. September 15, 1884 – The Cubs beat the American Association’s Louisville club 11-7 before an estimated 22,000 fans at Louisville’s Eclipse Park. The attendance figure was stunning for its time and still dwarfs what the White Sox typically draw today. September 16, 1965 – Sandy Koufax enters the game in the 9th and earns the save in a 2-0 Dodgers win before just 550 fans (no, that isn’t a typo) at Wrigley Field. PAGE 16

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2018 CUBS 40-MAN ROSTER

No. Pitchers

Player

B/T

Ht.

Wt.

Birthdate

Adbert Alzolay

R/R

6’0”

180

3/1/95

Tyler Chatwood

R/R

6’0”

185

12/16/89

Jesse Chavez

R/R

6’2”

175

8/21/83

Steve Cishek

R/R

6’6”

215

6/18/86

Jorge De La Rosa

L/L

6’1”

215

4/5/81

Brian Duensing

L/L

6’0”

200

2/22/83

Carl Edwards Jr.

R/R

6’3”

170

9/3/91

Luke Farrell

L/R

6’6”

210

6/7/91

Cole Hamels

L/L

6’4”

205

12/27/83

Kyle Hendricks

R/R

6’3”

190

12/7/89

Brandon Kintzler

R/R

6’0”

195

8/1/84

Jon Lester

L/L

6’4”

240

1/7/84

Dillon Maples

R/R

6’2”

225

5/9/92

Cory Mazzoni

R/R

6’1”

210

10/19/89

Alec Mills

R/R

6’4”

190

11/30/91

Mike Montgomery

L/L

6’5”

215

7/1/89

Brandon Morrow

R/R

6’3”

205

7/26/84

James Norwood

R/R

6’2”

215

12/24/93

Jose Quintana

R/L

6’1”

220

1/24/89

Randy Rosario

L/L

6’1”

200

5/18/94

Drew Smyly

L/L

6’3”

190

6/13/89

Pedro Strop

R/R

6’1”

220

6/13/85

Jen-Ho Tseng

L/R

6’1”

195

10/3/94

Duane Underwood Jr.

R/R

6’2”

210

7/20/94

Justin Wilson

L/L

6’2”

205

8/18/87

Rob Zastryzny

R/L

6’3”

205

3/26/92

Victor Caratini

S/R

6’1”

215

8/17/93

Willson Contreras

R/R

6’1”

210

5/13/92

Javier Baez

R/R

6’0”

190

12/1/92

David Bote

R/R

6’1”

210

4/7/93

Kris Bryant

R/R

6’5”

230

1/4/92

Tommy La Stella

L/R

5’11”

180

1/31/89

Catchers Infielders

Daniel Murphy

L/R

6’1”

220

4/1/85

Anthony Rizzo

L/L

6’3”

240

8/8/89

Addison Russell

R/R

6’0”

200

1/23/94

Ben Zobrist

S/R

6’3”

210

5/26/81

Albert Almora Jr.

R/R

6’2”

190

4/16/94

Ian Happ

S/R

6’0”

205

8/12/94

Jason Heyward

L/L

6’5”

240

8/9/89

Kyle Schwarber

L/R

6’0”

235

3/5/93

Mark Zagunis

R/R

6’0”

205

2/5/93

Outfielders

PAGE 26

CHICAGO BASEBALL

2018 CHICAGO CUBS

Chicago Cubs

Nevertheless, the Cubs Persisted

Two out of three ain’t bad. That should be the Cubs’ mantra for the second half. The goal is to withstand injuries and survive a WRIGLEY FIELD rugged schedule over the next few weeks. 1060 W. Addison St. Winning or splitting series and avoiding Chicago, IL 60613 prolonged losing streaks has been the Cubs Capacity: 41,649 modus operandi since the All-Star break. They managed to win or split eight of CUBS STAFF their first nine series after the break while Theo Epstein, President losing no more than two straight games. Jed Hoyer, Exec. VP/GM The resulting 16-14 record wasn’t earth #70 – Joe Maddon, Mgr. shattering but enough to extend their lead #58 – Mike Borzello in the NL Central. #55 – Brian Butterfield Not bad considering they’ve been #63 – Juan Cabreja without their best hitter for most of the #30 – Chili Davis past two months. However, the loss of Kris #65 – Franklin Font Bryant has been softened by the emergence #19 – Andy Haines of rookie David Bote and the ascension of #48 – Jim Hickey Javier Baez to upstart MVP candidate. #16 – Brandon Hyde Bryant figures to return from his #95 – Chad Noble shoulder injury in time for the September #35 – Lester Strode stretch run and should give the feast or #25 – Will Venable famine lineup a big lift even if he’s not quite the same Bryant. MINOR LEAGUE The Cubs have also been without closer AFFILIATES Brandon Morrow since the break. Morrow, Iowa Cubs (AAA) suffering from right biceps inflammation, Tennessee Smokies (AA) is expected back in September. Fortunately, Myrtle Beach Pelicans (A) Pedro Strop has filled in admirably as closer. South Bend Cubs (A) But the rotation remains the biggest Eugene Emeralds (A) cause for concern. The front office filled one hole when they acquired Cole Hamels from the Rangers in late July, but injuries to Yu Darvish and Mike Montgomery along

Pos. 2B SS 3B 1B C LF RF CF

THE STARTING LINEUP No. - - #9 #17 #44 #40 #12 #22 #5

Player Daniel Murphy Javier Baez Kris Bryant Anthony Rizzo Willson Contreras Kyle Schwarber Jason Heyward Albert Almora Jr.

THE ROTATION

Pos.

Pedro Strop, #46

2018 FIRST HALF RECORD: 55-38 At Home: 28-15 Runs Scored: 476 On Road: 27-23 Runs Against: 362 In X-tra: 6-6 Differential: +114 In One-Run: 11-16

PAGE 28

LHP RHP LHP LHP LHP

No.

#34 #28 #62 #35 #38

Pitcher

Jon Lester Kyle Hendricks Jose Quintana Cole Hamels Mike Montgomery

Salary $17,500,00 $657,000 $10,850,000 $7,285,714 $604,500 $604,500 $28,166,667 $584,500 Salary

$27,500,000 $4,175,000 $8,850,000 $22,500,000 $570,500

2018 CUBS FIRST HALF BATTING LEADERS Batting Average

Albert Almora Jr. (.319)

HR RBIs

with the self-destruction of Tyler Chatwood have left manager Joe Maddon still one starter short. This doesn’t bode well as the Cubs head into their most grueling stretch of the season in which they’ll play 23 straight games without an off day from August 21 to September 12. The Cubs are hoping Montgomery’s sore left shoulder only costs him two or three turns. It will also be a tough test for an overworked bullpen, which is pitching close to four innings per game on average. Team Theo (Epstein and Jed Hoyer) obtained righties Jesse Chavez and Brandon Kintzler and lefty Jorge De La Rosa as reinforcements for the pen, but even that might not be enough. The North Siders may need to slug their way past opponents in more games than not. That could be a challenge for an offense that tends to score runs in bunches and then go cold. The recent addition of left-handed hitting Daniel Murphy should help. If the Cubs can get through that nightmare stretch in decent shape, things will ease in the final three weeks when they’ll play 16 of their final 19 contests in Chicago (including three on the South Side) and have two off-days. They’d like to have the division wrapped up before the never say die Cardinals come to town for the final weekend series. - by Matt Smerge

Key Stat Has a lifetime .413/.440/.702 slash line at Wrigley Field First Cub since Corey Patterson in 2004 to record 20+ HRs & SBs Hitting .361 vs. lefties, .255 against righties this year Batting .311 at home, .228 on the road this season Hitting .211 with RISP in 2018, .363 in 2017 Each of his first 22 HRs came against righties this year Hitting .326 with RISP this season Hit .319 in first half, .208 since the All-Star break Key Stat

Has a 4.23 ERA at home, 3.18 on the road this year Has yielded a career-high 20 HRs this season Has a 5.56 ERA in day games, 3.09 at night this year Lefties are batting .158 against him since joining Cubs Has a 4.43 ERA at home, 2.96 on the road in 2018

2018 CUBS FIRST HALF PITCHING LEADERS ERA

Jon Lester (2.58)

Javier Baez (19)

Wins

Jon Lester (12) Jon Lester (88)

Javier Baez (72)

Strikeouts

OBP

Kris Bryant (.384)

Saves

Brandon Morrow (22)

Runs

Javier Baez (61)

Holds

Steve Cishek (11) CHICAGO BASEBALL

CUBS vs. CINCINNATI REDS...August 23-26, Sept. 14-16

Managing Up

GREAT AMERICAN BALL PARK

100 Joe Nuxhall Way Cincinnati, OH 45202 Capacity: 42,076 REDS STAFF

Walt Jocketty, President/GM #35-Jim Riggleman, Manager REDS BENCH

#38-Curt Casali, C #4-Brandon Dixon, UTIL #15-Dilson Herrera, INF #46-Mason Williams, OF REDS BULLPEN

#34-Homer Bailey, RHP #50-Amir Garrett, LHP #37-David Hernandez, RHP #48-Jared Hughes, RHP #26-Raisel Iglesias, RHP #21-Michael Lorenzen, RHP #36-Keury Mella, RHP #53-Wandy Peralta, LHP #55-Robert Stephenson, RHP

One of sport’s never-ending arguments revolves around the true value of a coach or manager. Call it the Phil Jackson conundrum. Can just about anyone manage a team with superior talent to victory or does the bench leader actually make a difference in terms of wins and losses? Jim Riggleman’s effect on the Cincinnati Reds is a strong argument in favor of a manager’s value to a team. With virtually the same roster, Riggleman transformed baseball’s ultimate loser into a respectable club. When Riggleman took over from Bryan Price in mid-April, the Reds were 3-15, the worst in the sport. From that point until August 10, the Reds went 49-50. Some of that success

THE STARTING LINEUP

THE ROTATION

Pos. SS 1B 2B 3B RF LF C CF Pos. RHP RHP RHP RHP RHP

No. #9 #19 #4 #7 #27 #12 #16 #6

No. #32 #28 #34 #58 #47

Player Jose Peraza Joey Votto Scooter Gennett Eugenio Suarez Phillip Ervin Preston Tucker Tucker Barnhart Billy Hamilton

Pitcher Matt Harvey Anthony DiSclafani Homer Bailey Luis Castillo Sal Romano

has been at the Cubs’ expense. The Reds swept a four-game series in Cincinnati in June to grab a lead in the season series. Cincinnati added Matt Harvey, who has been a solid starter for them after flaming out in New York, but otherwise Riggleman has basically transformed the team from this year’s Baltimore Orioles into the San Francisco Giants. So much for the manager being unimportant. Of course, that dreadful start put the Reds in such a hole that they will miss the playoffs for the fifth straight season. But with the schedule tilted in favor of division games down the stretch, Cincinnati will have a big say in which team or teams from the Central make the playoffs. - by Steven Cline

Salary $540,000 $22,000,000 $2,525,000 $595,000 $540,000 $540,000 $575,000 $2,625,000

Key Stat New single-season high for runs already this season .422 OBP leads team, but is below career .428 figure Among the top 5 in NL BA for most of the season Among MLB leaders in RBIs; also leads team in HRs Hit 1st 3B of his MLB career on 7/31/18 @DET Hit 1st HR as a Red on 8/15/18 vs. CLE 43 BB vs. 69 SO through first 350 ABs this year Will likely fall short of fifth straight season of 50+ SBs

Salary $4,325,000 $860,000 $19,000,000 $555,000 $545,000

Key Stat Posting a positive WAR w/CIN, first time since ‘15 Earned win vs. CHC 6/23/18, allowing 3 hits over 6.1 IP Posting third straight season w/ERA above 6 Allowed 20 HRs in first 23 starts, 11 HRs in 15 starts last year Allowed 21 HRs in first 22 starts, worst on team

CUBS vs. NEW YORK METS...August 27-29

Rotten in the Big Apple

CITI FIELD

1023-01 Roosevelt Avenue New York, NY 11368 Capacity: 45,000 METS STAFF

Sandy Alderson, GM #36-Mickey Callaway, Manager METS BENCH

#16-Austin Jackson, OF #12-Juan Lagares, OF #7-Jose Reyes, INF #26-Kevin Plawecki, C METS BULLPEN

#49-Tyler Bashlor, RHP #39-Jerry Blevins, LHP #65-Robert Gsellman, RHP #67-Seth Lugo, RHP #63-Tim Peterson, RHP #62-Drew Smith, RHP #38-Anthony Swarzak, RHP #61-Bobby Wahl, RHP

The rationale behind so many of the moves the New York Mets have made in recent years appears sound. Starting pitching is often cited as the foundation for success. The Mets concentrated on developing a formidable starting rotation: Noah Syndergaard, Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Steven Matz and Zach Wheeler. You need a star, especially in New York. A four-year, $110 million contract for Yeonis Cespedes seemed like a good investment in 2016, especially after he had led the team to the 2015 World Series. Just look at this team now, though. It’s a total disaster. Cespedes had surgery on his ailing heels in August. The earliest he’ll return is mid-season next year. He probably won’t

Pos. SS CF LF 1B 2B 3B RF C Pos. RHP LHP RHP RHP LHP

THE STARTING LINEUP No. #1 #9 #30 #4 #68 #21 #11 #29

Player Amed Rosario Brandon Nimmo Michael Conforto Wilmer Flores Jeff McNeil Todd Frazier Jose Bautista Devin Mesoraco

THE ROTATION No. #48 #32 #34 #45 #40

Pitcher Jacob deGrom Steven Matz Noah Syndergaard Zack Wheeler Jason Vargas

PAGE 30

ever be the same dynamic force in the middle of the lineup. The dream rotation never materialized. Harvey is in Cincinnati. His own health issues and declining performance led to his release. Syndergaard has been hurt. Matz has been hurt. Wheeler has been hurt. Same with deGrom. It’s tough to keep starting pitchers healthy. The Mets are on pace to lose 95 games, their worst showing since 2003. Cespedes’ contract hamstrings their payroll flexibility. There are no young, ascending stars. Add in the fact that the Yankees are among baseball’s best teams and look to remain that way for a decade, at least, and these are tough times for the Mets and their beleaguered fans.

Salary $548,940 $555,968 $605,094 $3,400,000 $535,000 $8,000,000 $535,000 $13,000,000

Key Stat Hitting .211 at home, .262 on the road this season 8 3Bs in first 340 at bats in 2018 Hitting .184 at home, .281 on the road this season 102 BB in over 1,780 career ABs in 6 seasons Hit first MLB HR on 7/31/18 @WAS Scored the 500th run of his career on 8/10/18 @MIA Posted career-high 7 RBIs on 8/16/18 @PHI RBI total most since driving in 80 w/CIN in 2014

Salary $7,400,000 $577,000 $2,975,000 $1,900,000 $7,000,000

Key Stat 1.81 ERA led all of baseball through mid-August Allowed career-high 17 HRs in 107.2 IP 518 SO in 459 IP in his four-year career Led the team in wins w/8 through mid-August 87-89 w/4.32 ERA over a 13-year career

- by Steven Cline

CHICAGO BASEBALL

CUBS vs. MILWAUKEE BREWERS...September 10-12

Brewers Looking for Finishing Kick

Last September was painful for the Milwaukee Brewers. They saw the division title and then a wild card berth slip away. To avoid a repeat this year, they will need a stronger finishing kick. A far more balanced and powerful lineup may just do the trick. MILLER PARK The Brewers didn’t exactly collapse last year. They went 15-12 1 Brewers Way in both August and September. The Cubs were 15 games over Milwaukee, WI 53214 .500 during those two months, though, to win the division going Capacity: 41,900 away. Colorado edged the Brewers for the second wild card spot by a single game. BREWERS STAFF To flip the script, Milwaukee will lean on an offense powered David Stearns, General Manager #30-Craig Counsell, Manager by two key off-season acquisitions. Lorenzo Cain (5.2 WAR) is a legitimate MVP candidate, and Christian Yelich (3.7 WAR) is BREWERS BENCH

#3-Orlando Arcia, INF #8-Ryan Braun, OF #15-Erik Kratz, C #14-Hernan Perez, Util

BREWERS BULLPEN

#50-Jacob Barnes, RHP #39-Corbin Burnes, RHP #71-Josh Hader, LHP #37-Adrian Houser, RHP #32-Jeremy Jeffress, RHP #43-Dan Jennings, LHP #46-Corey Knebel, RHP #25-Jordan Lyles, RHP #54-Taylor Williams, RHP

THE STARTING LINEUP

THE ROTATION

Pos. CF LF 3B 1B 2B RF SS C Pos. RHP RHP RHP RHP RHP

No. #6 #22 #18 #24 #21 #7 #5 #9 No. #57 #45 #27 #41 #51

Player Lorenzo Cain Christian Yelich Mike Moustakas Jesus Aguilar Travis Shaw Eric Thames Jonathan Schoop Manny Pina Pitcher Chase Anderson Jhoulys Chacin Zach Davies Junior Guerra Freddy Peralta

the favorite to win his first batting title. Last year, Travis Shaw led Brewers’ position players with 3.9 WAR. The Brewers bolstered an already formidable lineup with trade deadline acquisitions Mike Moustakas and Jonathan Schoop. They added former Royals and White Sox closer Joakim Soria to the bullpen and also obtained starter Jordan Lyles from San Diego after the deadline to enhance their pitching depth. For additional help, the Brewers can draw on one of baseball’s best farm systems. Look for some of that young talent, particularly on the mound, to make a key contribution down the stretch and get Milwaukee into the postseason. - by Steven Cline

Salary $14,000,000 $7,000,000 $5,500,000 $557,200 $567,400 $5,333,333 $515,000 $560,100

Key Stat .387 OBP is highest of career (.363 in 2017) .310 BA is highest of his career (.300 in 2015 w/MIA) Hit .286 in first 50 ABs w/MIL; career high average is .284 28 HRs in 337 ABs this year; 16 HRs in previous 337 ABs Will set a new single season career high w/his 61st walk .519 OBP this season is highest of his career 6 SBs in 645 games, none this season 2 3Bs in 240 ABs this season, 0 in previous 420 ABs

Salary $5,000,000 $8,750,000 $572,000 $545,000 $545,000

Key Stat 14 HRs allowed in 141.1 IP last year; 23 in 125.1 IP this season Opponents batting .227, lowest average since 2010 Injuries have limited him to just 8 starts through mid-August Has set new career high for IP with 122+ 13 SO in MLB debut on 5/13/18 @COL

CUBS vs. PITTSBURGH PIRATES...September 24-27

Not Waving the White Flag

PNC PARK

115 Federal Street Pittsburgh, PA 15212 Capacity: 38,362 PIRATES STAFF

Neal Huntington, GM # 13 - Clint Hurdle, Mgr. PIRATES BENCH

#32-Elias Diaz, C #26-Adam Frazier, UTIL #15-Adeiny Hechavarria, INF #19-Colin Moran, INF #3-Sean Rodriguez, UTIL PIRATES BULLPEN

#53-Buddy Boshers, LHP #30-Kyle Crick, RHP #45-Michael Feliz, RHP #35-Keone Kela, RHP #48-Richard Rodriguez, RHP #37-Edgar Santana, RHP #73-Felipe Vazquez, LHP

Contending in a small market means taking risks and hitting on the majority of them. The Pittsburgh Pirates made a pair of risky moves this winter, trading the face of the franchise and their top starter. Early on, it looked like those moves backfired. In July, the Pirates were eight games below .500 and 12.5 games out of first. They then won 15 of 18, including 11 in a row, to get into at least the fringes of the wild card race. Jettisoning Andrew McCutchen was a shrewd move. The five-time All Star and former MVP is on the downside of a stellar career. Pittsburgh is getting better production from Corey Dickerson, acquired this offseason from Tampa Bay. Drafting and developing players is also key for a team

THE STARTING LINEUP

THE ROTATION

Pos. LF CF RF 3B C 1B 2B SS Pos. RHP RHP RHP RHP RHP

No. #12 #6 #25 #23 #29 #55 #5 #10 No. #46 #59 #50 #24 #57

Player Corey Dickerson Starling Marte Gregory Polanco David Freese Francisco Cer-velli Josh Bell Josh Harrison Jordy Mercer Pitcher Ivan Nova Joe Musgrove Jameson Taillon Chris Archer Trevor Williams

PAGE 32

like the Pirates. Home-grown talents like Gregory Polanco, on pace to hit 30 home runs, and Starling Marte contribute to a lineup that ranks fourth in the National League in batting average and fifth in slugging percentage. While Jameson Taillon is having the best season of his young career, Pittsburgh does not have a true No. 1 starter, though. That makes the decision to trade Gerrit Cole all the more confusing. The Pirates did get four players for one, but Cole has posted a 2.75 ERA and 0.99 WHIP for Houston. The Pirates are going to have to take more risks and improve their batting average on them if they are going to contend again in the loaded National League Central. - by Steven Cline

Salary $3,025,000 $5,333,333 $1,600,000 $3,000,000 $9,000,000 $507,500 $7,750,000 $4,325,000

Key Stat Hit 6 3Bs this year to tie single season high Will establish new single-season high w/20th HR Will establish new single-season high w/23rd HR Has not hit .290 or better since 2012 w/STL .483 SLG would be highest mark of his career 26 HRs last year; 8 in 370 ABs this season Batting .268 vs. righties, .218 vs. lefties in 2018 Batting .249 vs. righties, .298 vs. lefties in 2018

Salary $7,666,667 $543,400 $555,500 $2,750,000 $544,000

Key Stat Has started 30 games just once in first 8 seasons 3.49 ERA over first 13 starts this year Set a new single-season high for IP (134) in August 54-68 career record before being traded to PIT Has won 10+ games for first time in his career

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CUBS vs. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS...September 28-30

Here Come the Cardinals

BUSCH STADIUM

700 Clark Ave. St. Louis, MO 63102 Capacity: 43,975

CARDINALS STAFF

John Mozeliak, SVP & GM #83-Mike Shildt, Manager

CARDINALS BENCH

#25-Dexter Fowler, OF #35-Greg Garcia, INF #62-Yairo Munoz, INF #41-Tyler O’Neill, OF #46-Francisco Pena, C

CARDINALS BULLPEN

#21-Brett Cecil, LHP #53-John Gant, RHP #68-Austin Gomber, LHP #49-Jordan Hicks, RHP #43-Dakota Hudson, RHP #59-Mike Mayers, RHP #26-Bud Norris, RHP #62-Daniel Poncedeleon, RHP #33-Tyson Ross, RHP #40-Chasen Shreve, LHP

For a franchise known for its conservative approach, the St. Louis Cardinals have really shaken things up this year. The big move came just before the All-Star break when St. Louis fired manager Mike Matheny along with his hitting coach and assistant hitting coach. Then, instead of acquiring a big name at the trade deadline, the Cardinals sent out established players for a return of prospects in dealing outfielder Tommy Pham to Tampa Bay and reliever Sam Tuivailala to Seattle. They also released veteran reliever Greg Holland, who signed a one-year, $14 million deal at the beginning of the season. Finally, in early August, St. Louis added starter Tyson Ross from San Diego in a waiver wire deal.

Pos. 1B C RF LF SS 3B CF 2B Pos. RHP RHP RHP RHP RHP

THE STARTING LINEUP No. #13 #4 #38 #23 #11 #3 #48 #40

Player Matt Carpenter Yadier Molina Jose Martinez Marcell Ozuna Paul DeJong Jedd Gyorko Harrison Bader Kolton Wong

THE ROTATION No. #18 #32 #52 #39 #7

Pitcher Carlos Martinez Jack Flaherty Michael Wacha Miles Mikolas Luke Weaver

Many of those moves look more like the actions of a team playing for the future. Yet, the Cardinals put together a solid winning streak in early August to get back in the playoff race. St. Louis has been led by Matt Carpenter, who established a new personal single-season career high with his 29th dinger on August 5 and leads the National League in home runs and slugging percentage. With the majority of their games against the National League Central down the stretch, the Cardinals will have a good chance to earn their first postseason berth since 2015 and make all those moves pay off. - by Steven Cline

Salary $14,083,333 $22,000,000 $535,000 $9,000,000 $1,500,000 $9,166,666 $545,000 $4,200,000

Key Stat Homered in 3 straight games twice in August Has not been walked intentionally all year .310 BA through first 680 career ABs Hit over .300 in August after .210 BA in July Batting .254 against righties, .214 vs. lefties this year HR total has declined in each of 3 seasons w/STL Batting .250 against righties, .317 vs. lefties this year .236 BA is lowest since his rookie year

Salary $11,800,000 $545,000 $5,300,000 $7,500,000 $550,800

Key Stat Will pitch fewer than 170 innings for first time since 2014 Limiting lefties to a .188 BA this season Has never allowed more than 19 HRs in a season Trails only deGrom, Scherzer and Nola in NL ERA Lefties are batting .295 against him this year

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PLAYER PROFILE

Javier Baez, #9

Born:

December 1, 1992 in Bayamon, Puerto Rico

Drafted:

1st Round (9th overall pick) in 2011

MLB Debut:

August 5, 2014 with Cubs vs. Colorado Rockies

Nickname:

El Mago (Spanish for “The Magician”)

Career Highlights:

• All-Star (2018) • World Series Champion (2016) • NLCS MVP (2016) • World Baseball Classic All-Tournament Team (2017)

Fun Facts:

• Hit a 12th-inning, game-winning HR in his major league debut.

• Has four career steals of home (three regular

season and one in Game 1 of the 2016 NLCS vs. LAD). • First child Adrian Javier Baez Marquez born on June 29, 2018. • Has more than a dozen tattoos spanning his body, which symbolize family members, baseball and his native country, Puerto Rico.

PAGE 36

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