There has been a common theme in the Chicago Cubs’ recent losses: an inability to produce with runners on base. It’s something the Cubs will look to rectify on Saturday when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates in the third matchup of a four-game set.
The Cubs stranded nine runners and went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position in a 2-1, 10-inning loss on Friday. In a 7-2 defeat to the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday, they left seven on base and were 1-for-7 with a chance to score. The loss before that (4-3 in 11 innings against Philadelphia on Monday) saw Chicago leave eight on base while going 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
“Look, we want to have a good process, that’s what you can control,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “But that always involves swinging at balls — the right pitches — so that doesn’t change no matter who’s pitching, it’s always the same.”
Seiya Suzuki was the only Cubs batter to connect for multiple hits on Friday, with six others accounting for the rest.
One of those was Pete Crow-Armstrong, who has a hit in nine of 11 games in June. The center fielder has not gone more than two games without a hit this season.
The 23-year-old isn’t afraid to go after pitches outside the zone, with a 43.9 percent chase rate, well above the major league average (28.5 percent). And it hasn’t hurt him at the plate, as he doesn’t have a high strikeout rate.
“There’s really no clear way to attack him,” Chicago pitcher Jameson Taillon said after Crow-Armstrong homered in the Cubs’ 3-2 win against Pittsburgh. “We all thought he was going to hit in the big leagues, but the power is crazy. He’s putting balls way back in the seats against good, tough pitches.”
Matthew Boyd (5-3, 2.89 ERA) will take the mound for the Cubs on Saturday.
The left-hander, who gave up two runs (one earned) on eight hits in six innings during a no-decision against the Phillies on Monday, will be looking for his first career win against the Pirates. He is 0-3 with a 6.53 ERA in six career starts vs. Pittsburgh. Boyd threw five innings of two-run ball in a no-decision at Pittsburgh on April 30.
The Pirates, meanwhile, will be looking to keep up a successful stretch that has seen them win seven of their past 10 games. Four of those wins were decided by a run.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa connected for the game-winning run on Friday, driving in automatic runner Adam Frazier with a 10th-inning sacrifice fly. Back at shortstop this season after spending a lot of time last year either at second or third, the 30-year-old veteran is starting to find his way after a right hamstring strain sidelined him in early May.
“We got a long way to go,” Kiner-Falefa said. “Working on it every day, still getting used to being back at shortstop. So, anytime you have those games and make some plays, just build off the momentum. Just doing the best I can out there, and I think it’ll get better.”
Mike Burrows (1-1, 5.00 ERA) will get the nod for the Pirates. It will be the first career appearance against the Cubs for the right-hander, in his sixth major league game (his fifth this year).
–Field Level Media
