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The Chicago Cubs have won five in a row and ended April atop of the NL Central Division standings 0.5 a game ahead of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Despite a slow start, there have been several great performances so far in 2018 by the Cubs and here are the very best.
If you want to give out a team MVP award for April on the Cubs it is definitely Javier Baez. Here’s what he did heading into Monday night’s game against the Colorado Rockies.
Javier Baez's April numbers: decent pic.twitter.com/rEpVH0il8t
— Aldo Soto (@AldoSoto21) May 1, 2018
Unlike his unreal series at Coors Field, where Cubs fans filled the stadium cheering his name…
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#Cubs fans chanting "Javy, Javy, Javy" in Colorado just gave me goosebumps. pic.twitter.com/ok8s3e6jMh
— Aldo Soto (@AldoSoto21) April 21, 2018
… Baez couldn’t add on to those incredible numbers on Monday, going 0-for-4. However, El Mago still has some impressive stats.
Javier Baez Is En Fuego
(NL Ranks)
- 26 RBIs – 1st
- 3 Triples – 1st
- .630 slugging % – 3rd
- 63 total bases – 3rd
- 18 extra base hits – 3rd
Not too shabby to go along with his seven home runs.
Yet, this is by far the most impressive Baez stat through April. Yes, everyone loves the .630 slugging, but remember when Baez made his MLB debut in 2014 and had a strikeout rate of 41.5% in 52 games? Well, he’s come a long way from that.
So far in 108 plate appearances, Baez has a 22.2% strikeout rate, which is down 6.1% from 2017. Of course it’s only a 26-game sample size, but if Baez has actually somewhat learned not to chase that slider a foot outside, then the Cubs have another elite bat in the lineup.
Speaking of elite bats, Kris Bryant is off to another great season.
Kris Bryant On-Base Machine
It’s pretty crazy that Bryant keeps getting better year after year, but it’s true. He’s striking out less, making harder contact and as always continues to get on base at a high rate.
The 2016 MVP only has two home runs, but that hasn’t affected the rest of his game. Bryant’s .441 OBP ranks fourth-best in the National League.
Now let’s head over to the bullpen that has been equally or even more important to the team’s success after 26 games.
The Cubs bullpen ranks third in the NL with a 2.56 ERA, but let’s focus on two guys. First, Carl Edwards Jr.
Carl Edwards Jr. Is Still Nasty
The slender righty has 23 strikeouts in 13.2 innings out fo the bullpen this season, but we’ve always known Edwards can strike out the very best with ease. His most impressive stat is the number of walks.
There’s nothing more frustrating than seeing a reliever come in with a lead and then he starts walking guys. It’s incredibly maddening and Edwards has been one of those relievers for the Cubs. Last year he had a 14.5% walk rate. Awful.
Through 13 appearances in 2018, Edwards has walked five batters in 13.2 innings, a 9.4% walk rate. If he keeps that up the Cubs will have two shut down relievers to close out games in October and that’s because Brandon Morrow has been freaking great.
Brandon Morrow Is NSFW
I mean, just look at this pitch.
Brandon Morrow, Wicked 98mph Sinker. 😳 pic.twitter.com/ydyM7xIf0T
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 29, 2018
If you were worried about losing Wade Davis and no longer having a shut down closer, then Morrow has more than answered any doubts.
He’s pitched in 11 games, allowing only six hits and three walks in 10 innings.
Morrow still hasn’t given up a run, while striking out nine batters.
The man puts up zeros and does it quickly too.
Brandon Morrow vs. Ryan Braun
98 mph
99 mph
99 mph #Cubs win! pic.twitter.com/rQZzeLPR7A— Aldo Soto (@AldoSoto21) April 27, 2018
Morrow is 7-for-7 in save opportunities.
Finally, one more thing to point out from the pitching staff.
So, the starting rotation was pretty brutal at the start of April, but the starters have carried the team for the last week. It began with Tyler Chatwood.
Tyler Chatwood Is Effectively Wild
The Cubs swept the Milwaukee Brewers, shutting them out for the fifth time on Sunday and it was also the sixth straight quality start for the Cubs. Chatwood pitched seven scoreless innings, striking out four and walking three.
Chatwood actually started that streak of quality starts against the Cleveland Indians, allowing only one run in six innings on April 24. The one thing that stands out about Chatwood is obviously his ridiculously high amount of walks.
In 28.2 innings, Chatwood has walked 22 hitters and that includes at least three in four of his five starts. However, despite the walks Chatwood has a 2.83 ERA, which is second behind Jon Lester on the Cubs.
I still remember his first start against the Cincinnati Reds, as he walked six guys. It wasn’t just how many he was walking, but who and when. Not once, but twice Chatwood walked two straight in front of Joey Votto. That’s usually a recipe for disaster, but both times Chatwood retired Votto and got out of the inning with no runs allowed.
His starts have been painful to sit through, but there’s a sense of calm coming from Chatwood when he’s on the mound even when he’s walking the everyone in the ballpark. There’s never panic coming from Chatwood.
So, the 2.83 ERA is impressive because walking 22 in five starts is obviously playing with fire, but Chatwood has definitely been effectively wild.
