Cubs @ Padres (Games 10-12)
The Cubs took two of three against the Dodgers. Although they were held in check by Yamamoto, the offense was able to break through against the youngsters Miller and Stone along with the Dodger's relief corps. The Cubs begin a West Coast road trip with a three game series in San Diego. See below for matchups.
Game 10, Monday, April 8, 8:40 pm central
CHC: RHP Javier Assad (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
SDP: RHP Yu Darvish (0-1, 2.30 ERA)
Assad delivered six scoreless innings and struck out five Rockies in his first start. The Cubs could use another of those after losing Imanaga to the rain delay Sunday and going into a bullpen day on Tuesday.
Darvish has allowed four earned runs in 15.2 innings. He's struck out 16 batters in three starts and walked five. The righty has maintained his velocity well, which is good news for the Padres; they have the thirty-seven year old under contract through 2028. Having not kept track of Yu since the Cubs traded him away, I can only assume he throws at least 13 distinct pitches by now.
Game 11, Tuesday, April 9, 9:05 pm central
CHC: RHP Ben Brown / bullpen day
SDP: RHP Joe Musgrove (1-1, 6.28 ERA)
Last time through the pitching rotation, the Cubs gave Luke Little the opener role and the handed things over to Ben Brown. He struck out five in four innings, allowed one earned run, and hasn't pitched since (as of writint this, prior to the Monday game). This game likely belongs to Brown and an assortment of relievers. Shota Imanaga threw only 43 pitches before Sunday's game entered a delay--but is also new to the league and to the five-pitcher rotation. Would the Cubs take a chance so early in the season?
Musgrove improved in his third start following two in which he was knocked around by the Dodgers and then the Giants. He collected a win after completing six innings and allowing the Pirates one earned run.
Game 12, Wednesday, April 10, 5:40 pm central
CHC: RHP Kyle Hendricks (0-1, 11.74 ERA)
SDP: RHP Dylan Cease (0-1, 3.38 ERA)
Hendricks has allowed five earned runs in each of his starts so far. He was bailed out last time by the Cubs hitter, who chased the Dodger's Bobby Miller in the second inning.
The Padres traded for Cease only two weeks before the season started. This came well after they had made the mammoth decision to send Juan Soto to the Yankees. He's made two starts for them so far, striking out thirteen and allowing four earned runs in 10.2 innings pitched.
The Cubs will be off on Thursday and resume the road trip in Seattle this weekend.
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