Late Night Power Surge Meets Pitching Fatigue in Extra Inning Loss

The Leadoff Man

Did you manage to stay awake for last night's thriller? If not, you’re not alone—I nodded off just after the Diamondbacks clinched their win! Had I stayed up to pen this piece last night, my family would've had to deal with Grumpy Superfan Mark. So, I slept on it instead!

The Cubs demonstrated serious grit in a marathon game that truly tested our pitching staff's stamina. The Cubs' effort fell short, but I set my expectations for them to win one game out of the three-game series. I TRY not to get too caught up in the outcome of each game, instead taking a broader view by focusing on the series as a whole.

As we gear up to conclude this demanding West Coast road trip against the Diamondbacks, I’ll dive into the highlights and share what to watch for in today’s game. If you’re feeling nice and rested because you skipped the late-night drama, you definitely made the right call.

Cubs' Bats Ignite Under the Arizona Sky

Last night's game was a display of powerful hitting, with a flurry of extra-base hits that had fans on the edge of their seats.

Ian Happ's grand slam highlighted a six-run seventh inning, but he wasn't alone in the spotlight. Miguel Amaya and Cody Bellinger also came through with crucial hits that kept our runs piling up.

As the Cubs gear up for the series finale, some key players might sit out for some well-deserved rest, opening the door for others to shine. The series wraps up at 2:40 CT on Wednesday, and despite our pitchers facing challenges, our hitters capitalized on the Diamondbacks bullpen being fatigued too.

Pitching Woes Continue as Rotation Tires

The Cubs' pitching rotation is visibly exhausted, needing rest to regain form.

Our bullpen is burnt out, and Kyle Hendricks' recent struggles put a heavy burden on a group of pitchers that are running on empty. Hendricks continues to give up more runs than innings pitched hints that his time as an effective Cub might be ending. Mark Leiter Jr. offered some temporary help, but we need a big outing out of Jordan Wicks today (more on that below). Without rest for our top relievers, high-stakes innings become the default. We could see Luke Little sent to Iowa with Heyden Wesneski taking his place.

Michael Arias, the only other 40-man roster pitcher, is transitioning from Double-A starter to Triple-A reliever. A major league call-up seems unlikely in the near future. Jose Cuas was just sent to Iowa, making his return contingent on an injury. Let's hope it's simple fatigue and nothing more.

Countdown to Home: Wicks' Crucial Role in Road Trip

Jordan Wicks must deliver a strong start in the series finale. We need rested arms to sweep the Marlins starting Thursday

As we look ahead to the final game against the Diamondbacks, all eyes will be on Jordan Wicks. His performance will be pivotal in not only securing a win but also in preserving our bullpen for the upcoming series against the Marlins. If Wicks can maintain a low pitch count and navigate through at least six innings, it would provide a much-needed respite for our relievers. The ideal scenario sees him performing efficiently, keeping his pitches within the 12-13 per inning mark. This would not only demonstrate his growth as a pitcher but also give the bullpen the rest they need as the Cubs head back home after the game

The Closer

After a game full of ups and downs, the Cubs are set for an exciting series finale. Jordan Wicks is up for a crucial start, ready to lead the way for our next series against the Marlins. As we come together to support our team, we look forward to a strong performance that will get us back on track.

Gametime is 2:40 Central