107

Holy cow! The first place Cubs won their 6th in a row, 2-0, as they one-hit the Dodgers. Jason Hammel left after 2 IP with a hamstring cramp, but the bullpen combined for 7 innings of perfect relief.

Hector Rondon picked up his 9th save of the year and lowered his ERA to 1.04 (nevermind his 0.63 WHIP!). Rizzo and Heyward tallied the Cubs' two RBIs.

The MLB-best Cubs continue the series against LA tomorrow at Wrigley.

Let's go!

Image Credit: Chicago Cubs

NL Central Standings
Team        W   L    PCT    GB

Cubs       35  14   .714    --
Pirates    29  21   .580   6.5
Cards      27  25   .519   9.5

108

No updates?  Something something long weekend.  Cubs sweep the Phillies! Pirates lose!

NL Central Standings
Team        W   L    PCT    GB

Cubs       33  14   .702    --
Pirates    28  21   .583   5.5
Cards      26  25   .510   6.5

113

The Cubs scored their second series win over the rival Cardinals with a win in today's rubber game. Jake Arrieta and the Cubs tied the record for consecutive wins behind a start with the 23rd win.

The Cubs took a commanding lead with a six run second and went on to score another three. Fowler, Heyward, Bryant, Zobrist, and Russell all had RBIs to help power past the Cards eight runs.

The best in baseball Cubs have tomorrow off and will come home to face the Phillies on Friday.

Photo Credit: Chicago Cubs

NL Central Standings
Team        W   L    PCT    GB

Cubs       31  14   .685    --
Pirates    26  19   .578   5.0
Cards      24  23   .511   8.0

115

The Cubs had a rough weekend in San Francisco, dropping two consecutive games to the Giants and scoring only 3 runs in 2 games after putting up 8 on Friday.

Kyle Hendricks, Travis Wood, and Pedro Strop held the Giants to one run on Sunday, but got outdueled by Madison Bumgarner (7.2 IP) and the SF bullpen in the 1-0 loss.

The Pirates dropped a game on Saturday, lowering the CMN to 115, and were rained out on Sunday.  

The first-place Cubs head to St. Louis Monday to start a three-game set against the Cards before heading back to the Friendly Confines for a ten-game homestand.

Let's go!

116

Hey hey! The first place Cubs beat the Giants 8-1 at AT&T Park. Jake Arrieta tossed another quality start: 7 IP, 8 K, 1 ER.

Dexter "You Go, We Go" Fowler reached base in 2 of 5 plate appearances and scored a run. Hip Hip Jorge Soler went 2-for-4 with 2 R and a HR, and Kris Bryant went 2-for-5 with 4 RBI.

The bad news of the night was right torso/abdomen injury to Jason Heyward on a fantastic running catch in the first inning. He left the game immediately and was being evaluated by Cubs' medical staff.

Game two of the three-game series is tomorrow in San Francisco.

Let's go!

Image Credit: Chicago Cubs

NL Central Standings
Team        W   L    PCT    GB

Cubs       29  11   .725    --
Pirates    23  18   .561   6.5
Cards      22  20   .524   8.0

Here's a statisticians' take on the 2016 Cubs. Enjoy.

117

Plenty of late inning drama at Miller Park tonight, as the Cubs beat the Brewers 2-1 in 13. The Cubs tied the game in the top of the 9th to take the game to extras.

Travis Wood kept the Cubs in the game by pitching out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the bottom of the 12th inning, and then drew a bases-loaded walk in the top of the 13th to give the Cubs a 2-1 lead.

Dexter "You Go, We Go" Fowler reached base in 3 of 6 plate appearances, and Ben Zobrist went 3-for-5 with an RBI, BB, and SB. The Chicago bullpen held the Brewers scoreless for the last 7 innings, after Lackey held them to one run over the first 6.

The first place Cubs wrap up the series with Milwaukee tomorrow afternoon before heading to San Francisco for a weekend series against the Giants.

Let's go!

NL Central Standings
Team        W   L    PCT    GB

Cubs       28  10   .737    --
Pirates    21  18   .538   7.5
Cards      21  19   .525   8.0

I'm still loving the statisticians' take on the 2016 Cubs. 

119

There are no words to describe Jake Arrieta!

Today's 8-2 win against the second place Pirates dropped the magic number by two and continued the Cubs franchise record of 21 wins in a row after an Arrieta start. Jake is now 18-0 since August 1, and he has an NL best 7 wins this season. He held the Pirates to just 3 hits and 2 runs and presented them with 11 strike outs.

Arrieta was backed up by the big bats. The team combined for 11 hits, and both Rizzo and Addison homered with Rizzo raking up 4 RBIs. Jason Heyward also had a great day with three hits and two runs. Hopefully that signals an end to his slump.

Jon Lester will take the mound tomorrow for the final game in this home stand. Be on the lookout for some brooms at Wrigley.

Photo Credit: Chicago Cubs

NL Central Standings
Team        W   L    PCT    GB

Cubs       27   8   .771    --
Pirates    18  17   .514   9.0
Cards      19  18   .514   9.0

Brewers    15  22   .405  13.0

Reds       14  22   .389  13.5

The Cubs remain the best team in baseball. 538 agrees. 

121

After a rough series with the Padres, the Cubs got their groove back against the Pirates. Powered by two three-run homers by Addison Russel and David Ross and a two-run homer by Kris Bryant, the Northsiders took the first game of the series 9 to 4.

The bats weren't all that were hot in Wrigley. Jason Hammel went 6 and 2/3 innings and took his fifth win of the year. His ERA is now down to 1.77!

The Cubs will see Pittsburgh twice more this weekend before heading to Wrigley North to face the Brewers.

Photo Credit: Chicago Cubs

NL Central Standings
Team        W   L    PCT    GB

Cubs       26   8   .806    --
Pirates    18  16   .529   8.0
Cards      19  17   .528   8.0

Reds       14  20   .412  12.0

Brewers    14  21   .400  12.5

The Cubs remain the best team in baseball. 538 agrees. 

123

Holy cow! Cubs hold off the Padres 8-7 at Wrigley to win their eighth straight game. Jon Lester picked up the win and kept his season ERA below 2.00 with 6 IP, 4 K, and 3 ER.

NL Player of the Week Ben Zobrist continued his hot streak, going 4-for-4 with 2 RBI and 3 runs scored. MLB OBP leader Dexter "You Go, We Go" Fowler reached in 3 of 5 plate appearances, and Addison Russell went 2-for-3 with 3 RBI.

And, the MLB-best Cubs didn't screw the closer today, as Hector Rondon earned his 7th save in 7 chances.

The first place Cubs play the Friars twice Wednesday -- a noon game to make up Monday's rainout and the regularly scheduled 7 pm series finale.

Let's go!

NL Central Standings
Team        W   L    PCT    GB

Cubs       25   6   .806    --
Pirates    17  15   .531   8.5
Cards      16  15   .500   9.5

It's only May, but you've gotta like the statisticians' take on the 2016 Cubs. 

124

Hey hey! The MLB-best Cubs & Padres got rained out on Monday in Chicago -- but the Pirates lost, dropping the CMN to 124.

The first place Cubs face off against San Diego on Tuesday night at Wrigley. Jon Lester takes the hill for the Cubs; Cesar Vargas pitches for the Friars.

The rainout will be made up on Wednesday as part of a day / night doubleheader.

Let's go!

NL Central Standings
Team        W   L    PCT    GB

Cubs       24   6   .800    --
Pirates    17  15   .531   8.0
Cards      16  15   .500   9.0

It's only May, but you've gotta like the statisticians' take on the 2016 Cubs. These numbers don't hurt:

• Hitting: best in runs scored, OBP, and walks taken.
• Pitching: lowest in runs allowed & ERA, hits allowed & BAA, and WHIP.

125

HOLY COW! The Cubs sweep the Nationals! Javy Baez hit a walk-off solo HR in the bottom of the 13th inning as the first place Cubbies won 4-3. Travis Wood picked up the W with a scoreless inning of relief in the top of the 13th.

Both teams' bats were hot, combining for 25 hits, but the Nats left 21 on base and the Cubs left 13. Kris Bryant went 3-for-6 with 2 RBI and the bullpen combined for EIGHT scoreless innings in relief of starter Jake Arrieta, who didn't pick up a quality start but still kept the Cubs in the game with 5 IP, 7 K, and 2 ER.

The MLB-best Cubs ride a seven-game winning streak Monday night to they kick off a three-game set against the Padres at Wrigley.

Let's go!

Image Credit: Chicago Cubs

NL Central Standings
Team        W   L    PCT    GB

Cubs       24   6   .800    --
Pirates    17  14   .548   7.5
Cards      16  15   .500   9.0

It's only May, but you've gotta like the statisticians' take on the 2016 Cubs. These numbers don't hurt:

• Hitting: best in runs scored, OBP, and walks taken.
• Pitching: lowest in runs allowed & ERA, hits allowed & BAA, and WHIP.

126

Hey hey! The Cubs beat the Nats again at Wrigley, 8-5. Today's win was a true team effort, as they overcame deficits three times in this comeback win.

Addy Russell went 2-for-4 with a walk and 3 RBI, including a game-winning 2 RBI double off of Bryce Harper's glove in the RF corner. The MLB leader in OBP Dexter "You Go, We Go" Fowler reached base in 3 of 5 plate appearances while both scoring and driving in a run.

Pedro Strop struck out the side in the 8th and Hector Rondon tossed a 1-2-3 9th for his 6th save of the season for the MLB-best North Siders.

The first place Cubs finish the four-game set with Washington tomorrow at the Friendly Confines.

Let's go!

Image Credit: Chicago Cubs

NL Central Standings
Team        W   L    PCT    GB

Cubs       23   6   .793    --
Pirates    16  14   .533   7.5
Cards      16  15   .516   8.0

128

The Cubs continued to prove why they are the best team in baseball with another win over the second best Washington Nationals. John Lackey gave a stellar performance that included his 2,000th career strike out. His line of 7 innings, 6 hits, 2 earned runs, 1 walk, and 11 strikeouts gave the Cubs what they needed to bring the win home even after a a scary eighth inning where the Nats scored 4 runs. Along with Lackey's pitching, Ben Zorbrist continued his dominant offense with 2 hits, 3 runs, and 4 RBIs. Heyward, Rizzo, and Ross also got into the scoring column.

The Northsiders are now an amazing 16 games over 500! They will see the Nats two more times this week before welcoming the Padres to Chicago. 

Photo Credit: Chicago Cubs

NL Central Standings
Team        W   L    PCT    GB

Cubs       22   6   .786    --
Pirates    16  13   .552   6.5
Cards      15  15   .500   8.0

---

Ninja edit. Beautiful day at Wrigley. -Mister pickles

129

Holy cow! Cubs beat the Nats 5-2 at Wrigley to kick off a ten-game homestand! Kyle Hendricks picked up the win with 6 IP, 2 H, 4 K, 2 BB, and 0 ER while Ben Zobrist went 2-for-4, homering and knocking in 4 RBI.

The bullpen combo of Richard, Grimm, Strop, Wood, and Rondon allowed only one hit in 3 IP, and Tommy LaStella went 3-for-4 and scored twice.

The first place Cubs bring the best record in baseball back to Wrigley Friday for game two of the series vs. Washington. John Lackey faces off against Max Scherzer.

Image Credit: Chicago Cubs

NL Central Standings
Team        W   L    PCT    GB

Cubs       21   6   .778    --
Pirates    15  13   .536   6.5
Cards      15  14   .517   7.0

130

Cubs SWEEP the Pirates with a 6-2 win at PNC Park!

Jon Lester picked up the win with 0 ER & 5 K in 5 2/3 IP while Javy Baez & Anthony Rizzo each went 3-for-5. Ben Zobrist added a 3-R HR.

The first place Cubs now bring the best record in MLB back to Wrigley for a ten-game homestand; the Nats come to town tomorrow to start a four-game set.

Let's go!

132

Hey hey! Cubs beat the Pirates, 7-1. Jake Arrieta continued his streak of dominance, picking up another quality start with this line: 7 IP, 5 K, 2 BB, 2 H, and 0 ER. 

Recent call-up Tim Federowicz caught Arrieta & Cahill and went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Six different Cubs picked up an RBI each, including Arrieta. Bryzzo went a combined 5-for-9 with 2 RBI and 2 R apiece.

The first place Cubs bring the best record in MLB to the finale of the three-game series with the Bucs tomorrow afternoon in Pittsburgh.

Let's go!

Image Credit: Chicago Cubs

NL Central Standings
Team        W   L    PCT    GB

Cubs       19   6   .760    --
Pirates    15  12   .556   5.0
Cards      13  14   .481   7.0

134

Holy cow! Cubs beat the Pirates 7-2 at PNC Park. Jason Hammel got the win (5 IP, 3 K, 2 ER) and "Grandpa" David Ross & Ben Zobrist each knocked in 2 RBI.

Dexter "You Go, We Go" Fowler reached base in 3 of 5 plate appearances, raising his MLB-best OBP to .476, while the bullpen was nails: Warren, Grimm, Strop, and Wood combined for 0 ER, 6 K, 2 BB, and 2 H over 4 IP.

The first place Cubs face the Bucs in game two of the three-game series Tuesday night in Pittsburgh, when April's NL Player of the Month, Jake Arrieta, squares off against Jonathan Niese.

Let's go!

Image Credit: Chicago Cubs

NL Central Standings
Team        W   L    PCT    GB

Cubs       18   6   .750    --
Pirates    15  11   .577   4.0
Cards      13  13   .500   6.0

136

After a rainout Saturday and a tough extra-innings loss Sunday, the first place Cubs got a little help from the Reds as they knocked off the Pirates 6-5 in 11 innings.

The Cubs bring the best record in baseball to Pittsburgh on Monday to face the Pirates at PNC Park.

Let's go!

NL Central Standings
Team        W   L    PCT    GB

Cubs       17   6   .739    --
Pirates    15  10   .600   3.0
Cards      12  13   .480   6.0