The Cubs have lost nine of their last 16 games, raising concerns about their season. The loss of pitcher Cade Horton is significant, impacting the performance of other key players. The team may need to acquire new talent to stay competitive.
Reminder: Iâm on vacation all this week and will be a little briefer than usual this week. Thanks for your patience.
At least once in every season, a baseball fanâs faith will be tested. Losing nine of 16 games is not particularly a sky-is-falling stretch. The easiest example that hits close to home is the 2016 Cubs losing 15 of 20 in one stretch. That isnât to say that an early season stretch like this canât be damaging. It certainly can be.
Losing Cade Horton for the season is a trajectory-altering occurrence. The seasons of Jameson Taillon, ShĆta Imanaga, Javier Assad, Colin Rea, Justin Steele and Ben Brown now have all taken on added significance. Imanaga and Rea look to be on the right track. Will they stay there? How many of the others will get on track? That group has to somehow patch together enough innings to pair with a very good Cubs defense to get them on track as a team. This organization should have the financial and prospect capital to grab an impact player or two this summer. But, the guys in the clubhouse have to position them into the race if thatâs going to happen.
Monday night, Javier Assad was just not the pitcher we saw in his season debut a week ago. This looked more like the numbers he put up in two starts for Iowa. Frustratingly, had the Cubs cut bait on him earlier, maybe the game wasnât out of reach. If the game had sequenced differently, no doubt Philadelphia would have approached their side of the equation differently. But, this one got a heck of a lot closer at the end.
It isnât often that you lose by six and can say also that the game wasnât as close as the final score.
Three Positives:
Dansby Swanson had a homer, drew a walk, scored twice and drove in two.
Moises Ballesteros had two hits in two at bats, one a double. He scored one and drove one in.
Miguel Amaya had a pair of hits. He was also hit by pitch and had one run scored.
Game 16, April 13: Phillies 13, Cubs 7 (7-9)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
**Billy Goat:**Javier Assad (-.362). 4.1 IP , 26 BF, 11 H, 2 BB, 9 ER, 3 K (L 1-1)
Goat:Â Ian Happ (-.103). 2-5, 2B, R, DP
Kid:Â Pete Crow-Armstrong (-.097). 1-5, RBI, R
WPA Play of the Game: Dansby Swansonâs two-run homer in the fourth cut it to 4-2. (.117)
*Phillies Play of the Game: In the top of the fifth, Ian Happ batted with runners on first and second and one out, the Cubs down two. He grounded into an inning ending double play. (.113)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Up Next: Game two of the series Tuesday night. Colin Rea (1-0, 3.18, 11.1 IP) should get the bulk of the innings, following Riley Martin (0-0, 0.00, 3.1 IP) as an opener. Aaron Nola (1-1, 3.63, 17.1 IP) gets the start for the Phillies.
Q&A
What impact does losing Cade Horton have on the Cubs' season?
Losing Cade Horton for the season is a major setback that alters the trajectory of the Cubs, affecting the performance and significance of other pitchers.
How many games have the Cubs lost recently?
The Cubs have lost nine out of their last 16 games, which has raised concerns among fans and analysts.
What are the prospects for pitchers Jameson Taillon and ShĆta Imanaga after recent performances?
Jameson Taillon and ShĆta Imanaga are seen as key players whose performances have taken on added significance, especially in light of recent struggles.
Will the Cubs make any trades to improve their roster this summer?
The Cubs have the financial and prospect capital to potentially acquire impact players this summer, but their current performance will determine if that happens.
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