MLB - NEWS & NOTES

Scherzer, Harper lead Nationals over Phillies 8-1

PHILADELPHIA (AP) ? Max Scherzer's bat was even more impressive than his arm.

Scherzer threw seven sharp innings and hit a two-run double, Bryce Harper launched another homer and the Washington Nationals beat the Philadelphia Phillies 8-1 Saturday night.

The Nationals are off to a 9-1 start, best in franchise history.

Scherzer (2-0) allowed one run and five hits, striking out seven.

"I didn't attack well, but I pitched well," Scherzer said. "I found ways to get some outs."

Scherzer, a decent hitter for an ace, made the Phillies pay for intentionally walking Danny Espinosa with two outs in the fourth. The pitcher lined a double the opposite way to right to knock in a pair.

Excited about his fourth career extra-base hit, Scherzer smacked his hand after rounding the bag.

"I take pride in my hitting," he said. "I swing a lot in the cage. I swing every day. It's nice to help the team."

 

Arrieta throws 8 scoreless innings as Cubs beat Rockies 6-2

CHICAGO (AP) ? Even Jake Arrieta has to admit that his scoreless streak at Wrigley Field is impressive.

The right-hander threw eight more shutout innings and the Chicago Cubs hit three home runs to beat the Colorado Rockies 6-2 on Saturday.

Arrieta (3-0), the reigning NL Cy Young winner, struck out eight and allowed five hits in his home debut. He has not allowed a run in his last 48 2/3 innings - dating to last July - at home.

"I didn't know that. That is pretty good," Arrieta said. "But I don't put too much time and effort into that. I just try and execute each time I go out. The results are hard to control. Just try and continue to go on the path I'm (on) right now, force contact and be aggressive in the zone, and good things will happen."

Arrieta had a chance for a complete game, but manager Joe Maddon lifted him after the Cubs scored six runs. Arrieta threw 100 pitches.

"It's early, it's April," Arrieta said. "The most important innings are going to come later in the year."

Dexter Fowler hit a three-run homer in the seventh, and Anthony Rizzo and Jorge Soler hit back-to-back shots in the fourth.

The Cubs have won nine of 11 for their best start since they went 10-1 in 1969.

 

Ruben Tejada is expected to be activated tomorrow morning, big question of who will be sent down, my guess is Matt Adams.

 

BOSTON (AP) ? Toronto manager John Gibbons knew Boston had its bullpen lined up.

It didn't matter when the Red Sox couldn't throw a key strike.

Russell Martin hit a two-run single against Craig Kimbrel to cap a four-run eighth inning, and the Blue Jays held to beat the Red Sox 4-3 Monday in Boston's annual Patriots' Day game.

 

Cardinals and Cubs tonight... that should be good.

 

It was a great game early, but the Cubs broke it open and won 5-0. It was a quick game.

 

Everybody is picking the Cubs to win the division. I can see why with their overall team. But I think the Cards have a better starting rotation from 1 through 5.

 

To start the season, the Cubs pitchers beg to differ. Through almost 3 times through the rotation, every Cubs starter has gone at least 6 innings. 13 out of 14 starts have been "quality" starts. That is damn good starting pitching. Do I think it will last all year? Probably not. Hammel has proven that he does outstanding the first half and struggles the second half. Hendricks is a nice #5, but can a pitcher who does hit 90 on the radar gun be consistently good all season - probably not, he'll have some clunkers. Lackey will not be as good as last year (although I would not mind if he pitched in every series we play at Busch, he is lights out there). Lester I expect to be a little better than last year and Arrieta will probably become mortal again.

But the advantage the Cubs have is that no one has an injury history. The only starts the 4 from last year missed due to injury was a pulled hammy from Hammel. Also, Madden is going in order. No one is getting skipped early on, like often happens to the back end of the rotation with the frequent off days to start the season. I think that will pay off down the road. And the bullpen has barely been used, also something that will pay off later.

The Cubs don't have an all world pitching staff of flame throwing young guns, but they are better than people think.

 

http://www.local10.com/video/fight-erupts-during-cooper-city-youth-baseball-game#

UGLY.

 

DeGrom's son. Has anyone been following this? DeGrom has left the team due to undisclosed medical condition of his newborn son. Yikes. Talk about a parent's worst nightmare. The baby is now out of the hospital and deGrom may return to the rotation as early as this weekend.

However, is he mentally tough enough to handle the season while this is going on? Ryan Dempster had a child born with a medical condition at the beginning of a season while on the Cubs and had a horrible start to his year. When he went public about the child and condition, it was like wow OK, no wonder you aren't pitching as well as last year. (I want to say this was 2008 or so). Dempster at that point had already had Tommy John's, converted to a reliever, then back to starter- in other words this wasn't his first bit of adversity. Now he isnt degrom, but i think it bears watching. JMO.

 

yeah Mary - it's sad about his son. Hope he gets better and everything is ok.

 

J. Arrieta
J. Lester
J. Lackey 10-3
J. Hammel
K. Hendricks
___________________

A. Wainwright
M. Leake
M. Wacha 7-6
J. Garcia
C. Martinez

Lackey has 3 wins already and Arrieta's ERA is under 2 again... I'll take the Cubs right now.

 

Sounds like Locke of the Pirates. The Cards whole starting staff is pretty good. I'd give the edge to them watching from afar......

 

igloo--i had 3 fantasy offers for the pirate stud pitcher in the minors. i told them all to go blow off. i am not trading him for anything. im risking a lot but praying he is as great as they say...

 

It's early Will. You can't go by a players numbers from what they've done in 13 games.......

 

Well, they actually have 2 Fish. Glasnow is their top prospect. Taillon used to be before he was injured all of last season. He's rated #4 now. Oufielder Austin Meadows is rated 2nd in the system and Josh Bell is 3rd, who is rated highly and a pretty big boy who was an outfielder they are moving to 1st base considering Alvarez is gone........

 

it's Glasnow. We can have 2 N/A spots for minor league guys and I have him and Trea Turner 2b from Washington! And it's a keeper league too. This is how I stole Carlos Correa when no one ever heard of him 1 yr bf he was called up. I stashed him in the N/A spot for 1 yr and a half. hahahaha