107

The first place Cubs closed out the series against the Astros with a win on Wednesday before Thursday's off day.

The North Siders wrap up the road trip with a weekend set in St. Louis and then return to the Friendly Confines for a seven-game homestand against the Angels (rainout makeup), Rox, and Cards. 54 games down, 108 to go.

Go Cubs go!

108

The Cubs beat the Reds 8-6 Saturday as Tyler Chatwood notched his third career save.  Jose Quintana will face off against Tanner Roark Sunday.

111

112

Hey hey! The homer-happy, first place, comeback Cubs downed the Phillies 8-4 at Wrigley on Wednesday night behind Albert Almora's first-ever grand slam, massive homers from Tony & El Mago, and four solid innings of relief from Tyler Chatwood.

The series wraps up on Thursday at the Friendly Confines before the Reds come to town for a weekend series. 47 games down, 115 to go.

Go Cubs go!

Image Credits:  Chicago Cubs

113

Bucs lose.  Cubs up 8-4, top 9 at Wrigley.  Stay tuned.

114

Hey hey! The comeback Cubs scored two in the bottom of the 9th on Tuesday night to beat the Phillies 3-2. Jose Quintana tossed a quality start (6 IP, 0 ER, 4 K) and Kris Bryant continued his hot streak with a 3-for-4 night.

El Mago drove in Rizzo to plate the winning run to give Kyle Ryan his first win of the year for the first place North Siders.

The series continues Wednesday night at Wrigley. 46 games down, 116 to go.

Go Cubs go!

Image Credits:  Chicago Cubs

116

Hey hey! The first place Cubs won another series by knocking off the Nationals 6-5 on Sunday in DC. Anthony Rizzo homered and Kyle Schwarber knocked in two to set the pace for the North Siders.

Albert Almora had a 3-for-3 night with a walk and two runs scored, and Jason Heyward went 2-for-4 while also scoring twice. Steve Cishek threw 2 1/3 innings of scoreless ball to pick up the save.

The Cubs return to Wrigley on Monday to start a four game homestand:  four with the Phillies and three with the Reds. 44 games down, 118 to go.

Go Cubs go!

Image Credits:  Chicago Cubs

117

The Cubs offense exploded for 14 runs against the Nationals last night and it didn't take long to get started as Javy Baez had an RBI double in the first to extend his career high 15 game hitting streak and then Albert Almora Jr took Max Scherzer deep on an 0-2 pitch that went 445 feet for the longest HR of his career.

The real fireworks started in the 7th as Bryant went deep. Schwarber then went deep in the 8th on the 13th pitch of the at bat as he fouled off several close pitches before hitting an opposite field HR.  The 2016 MVP was not done there though as he would go back to back with Schwarber in the 8th and homer in the 9th for the second three homer game of his career. 

Cole Hamels gave up two runs in five IP and moved to 4-0 on the season.  Jon Lester squares off against Stephen Strasburg at 6:15 CST.

119

The first place Cubs dropped a tough one to the Reds in extras on Wednesday night, but Pittsburgh also lost, dropping the CMN.

Some good news despite the loss: Yu Darvish struck out 11 batters in 5 1/3 innings while not giving up a walk. Darvish left the game with a 3-2 lead, but unfortunately, the Chicago bullpen gave up 4 earned runs.

Almora and Russell each went 2-for-4 with a HR, and Schwarber also homered for the Cubs.

The series wraps up in Cincinnati on Thursday before the North Siders head to DC for a three-game weekend set versus the Nationals. 40 games down, 122 to go.

Go Cubs go!

120

Holy cow! The Cubs beat the Reds 3-1 on Tuesday night behind a dominant start from Kyle Hendricks (8 IP, 1 ER, 7 K), who also went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI. That makes three dominant starts in a row for the Professor, who's allowed just one earned run in the 25 (!) innings of those starts. That's Cub.

The North Siders' team ERA now stands at 3.38, just below Cincinnati's NL-best 3.35. Kris Bryant extended his on-base streak to 23 consecutive games, and his season OBP now sits at .406.

The series continues Wednesday at the Great American Ballpark. 39 games down, 123 to go.

Go Cubs go!

Image Credits:  Chicago Cubs

121

The NL-best, first place Cubs had Monday off, but the Pirates' loss dropped the CMN by one since they have the fewest losses of any NL Central opponent. The North Siders kick off a six-game road trip Tuesday at Cincinnati.

38 games down, 124 to go.

Go Cubs go!

122

Holy cow! The NL-best, first place Cubs knocked off the Brewers 4-1 at Wrigley on Sunday behind a quality start from Jon Lester (6.2 IP, 0 ER, 6 K) and a 3-for-4 day from Kris Bryant. KB's two-run homer in the 7th put the icing on the cake.

Javier Baez's 2-for-4 day raised his season average to .323, and Kintzler & Cishek combined for 2.1 innings of scoreless, no-hit relief. That's Cub.

The North Siders have Monday off before heading to Cincinnati to kick off a six-game road trip with the Reds and Nationals. 38 games down, 124 to go.

Go Cubs go!

Image Credits:  Chicago Cubs

123

Hey hey! Cubs win! Cubs win! Cubs win! Willson Contreras's walkoff homer gives the first place Cubs a 2-1 win over MIL in 15 innings on Saturday. Cole Hamels set the pace for the North Siders with a dominant start (7 IP, 1 ER, 5 K). 

The rubber game of the series is on Sunday at Wrigley. 36 games down, 126 to go.

Go Cubs go!

125

Holy cow! The first place Cubs downed the Marlins 4-1 on Thursday to take the series three games to one. Homers from Bryzzo and a stellar return by Mike Montgomery (5 IP, 0 ER, 3 K) set the pace for the North Siders.

KB and Tony reached base in 5 of 8 combined plate appearances while knocking in three, and Almora added the fourth RBI for the Cubs.

The Cubs have now won seven consecutive series, three games in a row, and nine of their last ten. That's Cub.

The second place Brewers head to Wrigley for a three-game weekend series starting Friday. 35 games down, 127 to go.

Go Cubs go!

Image Credits:  Chicago Cubs

126

Holy cow! The comeback Cubs did it again at Wrigley on Wednesday night, knocking off Miami 3-on Jason Heyward's walk-off home run to lead off the 11th!

Kyle Hendricks had another dominant start (8 IP, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K) and CJ Edwards picked up his first win of the 2019 season after closing the door on the Marlins in the top of the 11th (1 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 ER, 2 K). That's Cub.

The series wraps up on Thursday afternoon at the Friendly Confines. Milwaukee comes to town Friday for a three-game set. 34 games down, 128 to go.

Go Cubs go!

Image Credits:  Chicago Cubs

127

Hey hey! Kris Bryant's walk-off, three-run homer broke a 2-2 tie and gave the Cubs a victory over Miami on Tuesday night at Wrigley, 5-2.

Jon Lester's quality start (6 IP, 0 ER, 6 K) set the pace for Chicago, and the bullpen rebounded nicely with three scoreless innings of relief (3 IP, 0 ER 1 H, 6 K).

Despite a stiff wind blowing in from center, both Almora and Bryant managed to hit HRs. KB and Almora each had 2-for-5 nights, Baez's 2-for-3 night raised his season average to .321, and Contreras's 1-for-3 night raised his to .313. Both Javy & Willy rank among the top ten hitters in the NL. That's Cub.

The series continues Wednesday night at the Friendly Confines. 33 games down, 129 to go.

Go Cubs go!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by cubs (@cubs) on May 7, 2019 at 8:27pm PDT

128

Hey hey! Kris Bryant's walk-off, three-run homer broke a 2-2 tie and gave the Cubs a victory over Miami on Tuesday night at Wrigley, 5-2.

Jon Lester's quality start (6 IP, 0 ER, 6 K) set the pace for Chicago, and the bullpen rebounded nicely with three scoreless innings of relief (3 IP, 0 ER 1 H, 6 K).

Despite a stiff wind blowing in from center, both Almora and Bryant managed to hit HRs. KB and Almora each had 2-for-5 nights, Baez's 2-for-3 night raised his season average to .321, and Contreras's 1-for-3 night raised his to .313. Both Javy & Willy rank among the top ten hitters in the NL. That's Cub.

The series continues Wednesday night at the Friendly Confines. 33 games down, 129 to go.

Go Cubs go!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by cubs (@cubs) on May 7, 2019 at 8:27pm PDT

130

Holy cow! The first place Cubs completed a three-game sweep of the Cardinals with a 13-5 blowout on Sunday night at Wrigley Field. Jose Quintana threw another quality start (6 IP, 2 ER) while Zobrist, Bryant, Contreras, and Almora each had two-hit nights.

KB's 8th inning grand slam was the exclamation point that wrapped up a great weekend for the Cubs: Friday's complete game shutout for Hendricks, Saturday's comeback win punctuated by Davis's grand slam, and Sunday's no-doubter.

With the three victories, the Cubs leapfrogged St. Louis in the NL Central standings to take sole possession of first. Since their much-discussed 1-6 start to the 2019 season, the Cubs have won 18 of 24 games and hold the best record in the National League.

The Marlins come to town Monday to kick off a four-game set, and the homestand wraps up next weekend with three games against the third place Brewers. 31 games down, 131 to go.

Go Cubs go!

132

Taylor Davis connected for a grand slam off of Michael Wacha, the first major league home run of his career.  Javy Baez then smacked an opposite field line drive home run in the bottom of the 8th as the Cubs won back to back games against their St. Louis rivals.  Jose Quintana faces off against Adam Wainwright tonight on Sunday Night Baseball at 6:00 PM CST.

132

Kyle Hendricks was masterful Friday as he pitched a complete game shutout on only 81 pitches, 18 of which were balls.  He credited Willson Contreras with realizing that the Birds were swinging early, something the battery was able to exploit as Hendricks struck out only three but got loads of soft contact that kept his defense busy.  Great plays were made by Javy Baez, Kyle Schwarber, Jason Heyward, Kris Bryant, and a few by Anthony Rizzo who also clubbed a three run shot as he continued his hot streak.

That would be more than enough for the Professor as class was definitely in session.  It was the first time in ten years that a Cubs pitcher had thrown a Maddux (complete game shutout under 100 pitches) with the last one being twirled by Carlos Zambrano.

Yu Darvish will square off against Michael Wacha today at 3:05 CST.

136

Jon Lester hurled seven shutout innings on Wednesday allowing a single hit, one walk and striking out eight, lowering his season ERA to 1.73.  The Cubs offense erupted in the second inning starting with a Javy Baez HR, his tenth of the season and the scoring was also ended on a Baez double as the boys in blue put up a six spot.    Five additional runs would be added as Willson Contreras and Anthony Rizzo would each hit solo homers.  The Cubs also hit four sacrifice flies in the game, a point of emphasis after failing to do so much of last season.  The duo of Webster and Maples slammed the door shut on the M's each going an inning and combining for four strike outs as the Cubs earned the two game sweep.  After a day off tomorrow the Redbirds come to Wrigley in what should be a very good series.  The Professor Kyle Hendricks will square off against Jack Flaherty at 1:20 CST.