Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates preview, Sunday 5/9, 1:20 CT
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Sunday notes.
IT’S BEEN A WHILE: The Cubs go for a homestand sweep this afternoon. The last time a Cubs team swept an entire homestand of six games or longer was August 6-13, 2015, when they did it in a seven-game homestand, a four-game sweep of the Giants followed by a three-game sweep of the Brewers.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Cubs reliever Dillon Maples turns 29 today.
STARTING SOMETHING: Through the five four games of this homestand, Cubs starting pitchers have posted a 1.69 ERA (five earned runs in 26⅔ innings) with seven walks, 22 strikeouts, a .222 opponent batting average (22‐for‐99) and a .630 opponent OPS
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Off-days are for the birds, baby.
With no game for the big league Cubs tonight, Marquee Sports Network has decided to cover and broadcast the Triple-A Iowa Cubs game against the Indianapolis Indians. Cory Abbott is taking the mound for the Cubs in this one, marking his Triple-A debut.
Abbott, the Cubs second round pick back in 2017, was Bleacher Nation’s 10th ranked prospect coming into this season, and this is what Bryan had to say about him at the time:
Skill Set: Cubs love the edge he plays with, and he benefits from an attack-attack-attack mentality on the mound. I believe the slider is more plus than it gets credit for, a belief that is backed up by the results (as a reminder, hitters went 25-for-213 in his last 11 AA starts). Can pitch backwards off his two breaking balls, or pitch conventionally, as the command of his fastball is generally above-average.