Yu Darvish, Jon Lester Make Case To Start Opening Day

One day after Yu Darvish created a bit of a scare by tweeting while waiting to see a doctor, it turned out to be more of a false alarm than anything else. The Cubs pitcher just wanted to be sure he was not in the clubhouse if he had something contagious.

Chicago-N Official Site

Yu Darvish Feeling Better After Missing Start

Cubs manager David Ross has been tight-lipped when it comes to naming his pick for the Opening Day starter assignment. Yu Darvish has been an obvious candidate, but a minor setback on Thursday caused a disruption for his schedule.

Chicago-N Official Site

Yu Darvish Debuts With Six Different Pitches

If you ask most pitchers what they’re trying to accomplish in their first appearance of the spring, they’ll probably say they just want to keep things simple. But not Cubs starter Yu Darvish.

Chicago-N Official Site

Jeremy Jeffress Shines In Debut

If Jeremy Jeffress remains healthy and can bounce back from a tough 2019 season, he could be the Cubs’ primary setup man ahead of closer Craig Kimbrel this year.

Chicago-N Official Site

Yu Darvish Would Be 'Honored' To Get Opening Day Nod

Yu Darvish conducts his interviews in English, but he often has an interpreter nearby in case assistance is required for an unfamiliar word or two. Following his live batting-practice workout on Monday, Darvish held a discussion with reporters on his own.

Chicago-N Official Site

Yu Darvish Has Not Intentional Of Waiving No-Trade Clause

Bob Nightengale Twitter

Yu Darvish Will Not Opt Out From Cubs

Jon Heyman Twitter

Cole Hamels To Start Saturday With An Eye Toward 2020

Cole Hamels wants to take the mound one last time for the Cubs not only for this season, but also with next year in mind.

Chicago-N Official Site

The Cardinals Ended The Cubs 'Dynasty' In The Most Humiliating Fashion

I had the seven games the St. Louis Cardinals had scheduled against the Chicago Cubs the last 10 days of the season circled before the 2019 season even began.

Cheap Seats

Unsatisfied Cardinals Believe Playoff Spot Is Only The Beginning

The walking tour of Wrigley Field that winds through this stadium hours before the first pitch includes a stop in the second-deck seats high above the third-base line, the perfect vantage point for a lesson about the history that lives on the outfield walls.

BenFred

Series Preview: Weekend At Wrigley Could Make Or Break Cardinals Postseason Hopes

It's time.

KMOV

Mike Leake's Sinker Is Sinking His Season

All around baseball, pitchers are abandoning the sinker in favor of the four-seam fastball and the slider. Pitchers like Lucas Giolito and Gerrit Cole have elevated their game by getting rid of the pitch. Of course, there are exceptions. Sandy Alcantara has bucked trends and found success. Julio Teheran has done the same. Mike Soroka and Patrick Corbin have both utilized the sinker effectively. Then there’s Mike Leake whose sinker has been one of the worst pitches in baseball this season.

Beyond The Boxscore

Yu Darvish K's 14 As Cubs Keep Pace With Wild Card Race

Yu Darvish gave the up-and-down Cubs exactly what they needed on Thursday afternoon.

Chicago-N Official Site

The Cardinals Have Control Of Their Own Destiny, But Must Keep Fighting

A month ago things were hopeless.

Cheap Seats

Yu Darvish Scratched From Start With Right Forearm Tightness

Bruce Levine Twitter

Yu Darvish Adds Knuckle-Curve To Diverse Repertoire

It took Cubs closer Craig Kimbrel a long time to learn, develop and hone the knuckle-curve that he uses as a swing-and-miss weapon. Rookie reliever Rowan Wick learned it during Spring Training and is still gaining trust, feel and consistency with the pitch.

Chicago-N Official Site

Bryce Harper's Epic Blast Faster Than Speed Of Slam

Bryce Harper placed his hand on his heart before he stepped into the batter’s box with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth inning Thursday night at Citizens Bank Park. He felt no heartbeat.

Philadelphia Official Site

Jack Flaherty Is Reaching His High Expectations

Before the season started, expectations for Jack Flaherty were pretty high. After posting a 3.86 FIP, a 3.34 ERA, and 2.4 WAR in 151 innings in his first full season in 2018, projections expected Flaherty to be even better with a 3.74 FIP. After a rough start in Seattle on July 2 in which Flaherty failed to make it out of the fifth inning by walking four and giving up four runs including a homer, the season looked to be a step back rather than a step forward. With a 4.82 FIP and 4.90 ERA on the year, Flaherty’s stats represented a half season of below-average numbers.

Fangraphs

Cardinals Need More From Their Veterans, Or A Rebuild Is In Order

Whenever management fails to upgrade its talent for the stretch run, we ask the same question: How can team executives look their players in the eye after standing pat?

Gordo

Top Five Most Dangerous Players Going Into Cardinals Vs. Cubs Series

The best rivalry in baseball gets even better when you take a glance at the standings – as the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs are tied for first in the NL Central. They meet for a three-game series starting Tuesday night at Busch Stadium.

KMOX