Bullpen Stepping Up, Rizzo’s Ankle, Castellanos Raking, and Other Cubs Bullets

Sep 17, 2019

The going is very slow this morning. Great time at Social Media Night putting faces with screen names, and then screaming at the Cubs and the Reds and the umpires together like we’ve been doing for years electronically.

Another start for Cole Hamels post-oblique injury, and another start where he just did not have his command. Joe Maddon came with the quick hook in the 4th, and everyone understood (Cubs.com): “There was nothing to mess around with there,” Maddon said. “This isn’t April, May, June baseball. And to Cole’s credit, he got it. He’s a pro. He understood.”

Hamels: “Every game right now is a playoff game” pic.twitter.com/DIsTNa2qUV

— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) September 17, 2019

Kudos to the bullpen for covering the rest of the game ably, as they’ve been doing a whole lot lately: this month, the Cubs’ bullpen is holding batters to an absurd .182/.295/.264 line, and they’ve posted an NL-best 2.32 ERA.

And they’ve been doing that, by the way, without Craig Kimbrel, largely without Brandon Kintzler (mild oblique issue, sigh), and without a peak Pedro Strop.

The Anthony Rizzo news obviously weighs heavy on the mind, even as the Cubs managed another win last night. I don’t think anyone is expecting Rizzo to be able to return before the postseason, but Rizzo is going to do his best to get back for the Cubs at some point (Cubs.com): “My body usually responds pretty well, so I’m certainly not ruling it out,” Rizzo said of returning before the end of the regular season. “I have every intention of trying to do everything I can with the training staff to get back on the field with the boys. I think in a few days it’ll really tell a lot just by how it reacts.”

It’s going to be crazy when the Cubs make the NLCS, and then boom, Rizzo and Javy Baez come out of nowhere to dominate Kyle-Schwarber-World-Series-style.

“It’s going to be tough to be without Anthony,” who rolled into the clubhouse after the 8-2 win honking the horn affixed to his walker scooter —which also had a handlebar basket, tassels and a bell. https://t.co/F0NCJYV2Ns
— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) September 17, 2019

As for the Cubs’ *other* injured key player, Craig Kimbrel is scheduled to throw a simulated game today, and if that goes well, he could return for the Cardinals series this weekend.

Nick Castellanos is up to 55 doubles on the year after this one:

The only thing today is missing is a Nicholas Castellanos doub- pic.twitter.com/ASHZqfWakh

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 17, 2019

Meanwhile:

Cardinals file….
2.81 ERA this month is @MLB's lowest
1.96 ERA from starters this month is @MLB's lowest
Flaherty, Hudson, Wacha, Wainwright combined 1.25 ERA this month.
.543 winning percentage for remaining opponents, highest among all contenders
— Richard Justice (@richardjustice) September 17, 2019

Sound machines, kids toys, and more are your Deals of the Day at Amazon today.

Some Social Media Night bits, and no I don’t know what I was trying to do there:

@BleacherNation @crawlyscubs @Brett_A_Taylor
Both of you on TV pic.twitter.com/6tofwd1EjL

— Ⓜ️arcusD ▶️ (@_MarcusD3_) September 17, 2019

#CubsSocial in the bleachers! pic.twitter.com/1WZxA1oSpb

— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) September 16, 2019

Another #CubsSocial Media Night is in the books!

Thanks for joining us, #Cubs fans. pic.twitter.com/VHM45yN0Uu

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 17, 2019

written by

Brett Taylor

Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

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