The Chicago Cubs have been one of the best teams in baseball over the past three years, but this year’s slow start was fueled in large part by poor starting pitching. At least one of their top guns has turned it around though, and Jose Quintana has his changeup to thank. Speaking of dominant starting pitching, the Dodgers’ Rich Hill sure looked ready to rock and roll during a rehab start in which he struck out 16 batters. There’s also news on Bryce Harper possibly being suspended, Addison Russell returning from his suspension and some Mets and Phillies possibly trying to get themselves suspended.
Jose Quintana needed one simple fix to become an ace again: He started throwing his changeup more. The results have been eye-popping.
#Cubs starting pitchers last 10 games
1.39 ERA, 64.2 IP, 41 Hits, 15 BB, 70 K, 4 HR, 0.866 WHIPJosé Quintana last 3 starts
0.86 ERA, 21.0 IP, 14 Hits, 3 BB, 25 K, 0 HR, 0.810 WHIP— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) April 24, 2019
The Dodgers’ Rich Hill showed a group of minor-league hitters at an extended spring training game what big-league pitching looks like.
#Dodgers Rich Hill left an assortment of young minor leaguers traumatized Monday. Threw about 60 pitches in 6 IP at extended spring training. Faced 19 hitters. Struck out 16 of them. By his recollection, three balls in play — two ground outs and a jam-shot single.
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) April 23, 2019
Meanwhile, Major League Baseball is still deciding whether to suspend Phillies superstar Bryce Harper after his vociferous argument the other night.
Angry Bryce Harper.pic.twitter.com/ABUbexUwEY
— Sporting News MLB (@sn_mlb) April 23, 2019
The Cubs are preparing to bring back shortstop Addison Russell, who was suspended after he was accused of domestic abuse. The decision is controversial, to say the least.
Okay so let me get this straight. Tim Anderson bat flips and he’s a pariah. Addison Russell assaults his wife while she’s holding their child and he gets a redemption story? This ain’t it, Boob. https://t.co/eXIELI1ZDx
— the bad Katie (@KatieKatCubs) April 23, 2019
More controversy in Philly: The Phillies are angered about some ninth-inning chin music in a blowout game Tuesday night.
Well, the Mets are going to be the Mets.
They picked an incredibly lame moment to send Rhys Hoskins and the Phillies a message.@CSeidmanNBCS has what Hoskins, Bryce Harper and the Phillies thought about it: https://t.co/wrYK1i1RBA
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) April 24, 2019
TOP STORIES
• Quintana changes things up to give Cubs the top starter they traded for | ESPN.com
• Dodgers’ Rich Hill: Season debut coming Sunday | CBS Sports
• MLB looks at Harper’s rant; no call on discipline | ESPN.com
• Suspended Cubs shortstop Addison Russell to begin assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday | Chicago Tribune
• High heat in 9th inning angers Hoskins, Phillies | MLB.com
