CHC (9-10): RHP Tyler Chatwood (0-0, 6.00 ERA)
ARZ (11-10): LHP Robbie Ray (0-1, 4.64)
First pitch 1:20pmCDT

Chatwood makes his first start of 2019 after having the earlier opportunity yoinked away by a rain out. The official line is that the Cubs are playing the matchups by using Chatwood against ARZ and pushing Quintana back. But AZ Phil suggested they might also intend for ARZ to get a look at Chatwood for a potential trade. The key for Chatwood continues to be commanding his fastball.

Jake Slaughter (two-run double) and Dalton Hurd (RBI triple) stroked back-to-back two-out run scoring XBH to highlight a three-run 8th inning rally that gave the Cubs a 3-2 lead, but the A's took advantage of two errors to plate the tying run in the bottom of the 9th, as the Cubs "A" team and the Athletics Green squad battled to a 3-3 tie in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Saturday morning on Field #4 at the Lew Wolff Training Complex at Fitch Park in Mesa, AZ. 

SP Danis Correa and five relievers combined to hurl a four-hitter for the Cubs. In fact, Cub pitchers retired the first 13 A's batters they faced before allowing a baserunner (a walk), and then did not allow a hit until one out in the bottom of the 6th.  

Correa was especially impressive in his two innings of work, easily retiring all six batters he faced (K, K, F-7, 3-1, 4-3, K) while showing off his 93-96 MPH FB and a much-improved CV (CH still needs work, though). Along with Yovanny Cruz, Jose Albertos, Eduarniel Nunez, Jeremiah Estrada, Yunior Perez, and Kohl Franklin, Correa is smack dab in the middle of the competition for 2019 starting rotation jobs at Eugene.  

The game was pre-planned as an eight inning contest, but was extended an extra half-inning so that all of the Cubs pitchers who were scheduled to throw could get their work. 

Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only): 

CHC (9-9): RHP Yu Darvish (1-2, 6.11 ERA)
ARZ (10-10): RHP Zack Greinke (2-1, 5.79 ERA)
First pitch 1:20pmCDT

Yesterday's win brought the record to .500. The division standings now resemble pre-season expectations, with the top four teams within 2.5 games of each other.

Ghordy Santos tripled and scored, Jean Pena belted an RBI triple, and SP Sonny Vargas and five relievers combined on a five-hitter, as the Giants Black squad edged the Cubs "B" team 2-1 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Friday morning on Field #2 (AKA "Jim Davenport Field") at Indian School Park in Scottsdale, AZ.   

The Cubs spoiled the Giant shutout in the top of the 9th. Rochest Cruz walked with one out, advanced to 3rd on a two-base E-1 on a pick-off attempt, and scored on a Carlos Morfa RBI single drilled through the 3.5 hole into RF.  

Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only): 

CHC (8-9): RHP Kyle Hendricks (0-3, 5.40 ERA)
ARZ (10-9): RHP Merrill Kelly (1-1, 3.79 ERA)
First pitch at 1:20pmCDT

Kyle Hendricks will take the mound to open the six-game homestand. Nothing has looked right for the changeup artist in the early going. His strikeouts are down, his walks are up, he’s not getting enough groundballs, and the results have been what you’d expect with those peripherals. The current Diamondbacks roster has struggled against him to the tune of 11 hits, 2 walks, and no homeruns in 55 ABs. So far, the Diamondbacks have a middle-of-the-pack team offense. They are 9th in the NL in wRC+ and 7th in wOBA.

Ricardo Verenzuela tripled, singled, scored two runs, and threw out a runner on the bases, and Carlos Morfa and Ervis Marchan drilled consecutive RBI singles to highlight a four-run 4th inning, leading the Cubs "B" team to a 5-1 victory over the Cubs "A"  team in Extended Spring Training intrasquad game action Thursday morning on Field #6 at the Riverview Baseball Complex on John Arguello Way in Mesa, AZ. 

The game was pre-planned as a five-inning contest. 

RHRP Tony Barnette (on Cubs MLB 10-day IL with right shoulder inflammation) hurled a 1-2-3 ten-pitch 2nd inning (K, P-3, F-8), and RHRP Junichi Tazawa tossed a scoreless 3rd (allowed a single, runner erased by a CS) for the "A" team. 

RHP Manuel Espinoza made his pro debut for the Cubs "A" team, allowing a run on one hit (a triple) with one strikeout in one inning of work. The 18-year old Mexican was signed by the Cubs in July 2017, but he did not pitch in 2018 while his signing was under investigation by MLB. (He signed the same day as fellow Mexican RHP Florencio Serrano Jr, whose contract was voided by MLB last June).   

Prior to the game on Field #6, three of the four youngest Cubs pitchers at EXST (Manuel Espinoza is the other one) threw "live" BP on Field #5 (two "innings" - 30 pitches each). 17-year old Venezuelan RHP Richard Gallardo (the Cubs #1 IFA signing in the current ISP) got swings & misses with a 91-93 MPH FB and a plus-CV, and he also threw a couple of decent CH; 17-year old Venezuelan LHP Joel Machado was sitting 85-86 with his FB, but he had a solid CV and so-so CH that he was able to mix & match with his FB; and 18-year old 6'3 210 Dominican RHP Willy Cabrera's FB was impressive at 92-94 MPH (T-95) in addition to an 88-90 MPH CH and a sharp-breaking CV, but he had difficulty commanding his stuff (not too surprising considering he walked 50 in just 25.2 IP in the DSL in 2018!).

Here is the box score from the game:

UPDATED 4-18-2019

As things stand right now...