COMON Network

By COMON Network Team

Final Score – Chicago Cubs (6-2) 4, Pittsburgh Pirates (2-6) 3

WP: Tyler Chatwood (2-0) – 6.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 11 K – 96 pitches, 59 strikes

LP: Mitch Keller (1-10 – 2.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R/ER, 1 BB, 1 K – 51 pitches, 32 strikes

SV: Rowan Wick (1) – 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K –

The Pirates dropped their sixth game in eight tries and second straight at Wrigley Field Saturday night when Tyler Chatwood and the Cubs took care of Pittsburgh, 4-0.

Solo home runs by Ian Happ and Javier Baez put Chicago ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the third. The Cubbies added two more in the eighth for insurance. The runs were more than enough for Chatwood, who allowed just three hits over 6.2 innings and struck out 11.

The teams will finish the three-game set tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 2:20.

COMON Network Team Commentary

JOE SMELTZER

• Tyler Chatwood is a mediocre pitcher. Yet, for almost seven innings, the Pirates made him look like John Smoltz. This team has several weaknesses, and it looks like hitting just leapfrogged relief pitching to the top of the list. Yikes.
• If a Pirates reliever goes one inning without giving up a run, it’s, as Bob Ross would say, a “happy accident.” So far, JT Brubaker has pitched seven frames over two outings, and his ERA still stands at 0.00. Brubaker might not be the team’s best reliever long term, but so far, nobody has done a better job in 2020.
• The Pirates aren’t making the playoffs, so to get something positive out of this season, young players need to make strides. Mitch Keller can’t do that if he’s injured. Let’s hope to God that he isn’t, and that him leaving the game after less than three innings on the mound was more of a precaution than anything else.

Player of the Game – Tyler Chatwood (CHC)

KYLE DAWSON

• This offense looks so bad. It looked overmatched and tonight it was against an average pitcher in Tyler Chatwood. Another 11 strikeouts for the hitters and just three hits against the starter. Colin Moran is the only one who looks like he belongs right now. I don’t know what else to say. Wait until the ninth to do work again…
• JT Brubaker is awesome. Another scoreless outing for him with three strikeouts and just one hit and a walk. No big deal there. If Mitch Keller is going to miss a start, Brubaker gets my vote for the spot.
• The longball for the Cubs was the doom. Happ, Baez and Schwarber all with balls at least 375 feet. That’ll do it.

Player of the Game – Tyler Chatwood (CHC) – 11 K’s in 6.1. “Easy Peasy” – Bob, Stranger Things 2

DONNY CHEDRICK

• This offense smells. Bad. That’s it. Besides Colin Moran.
• Keller better be OK. This team can’t afford injuries as is. I guess it’s better than having a COVID outbreak, but to lose the number-three starter in an already inexperienced rotation is not good and hopefully it isn’t for long.
• Bullpen kept them in it…for a while. The Buccos bullpen got a lot of flack the first few games, but last night it provided the only chance the team had. After Mitch Keller went just 2.2 innings, the effort from the bullpen kept the Pirates alive by allowing no runs after Keller allowed two to cross the plate in his shortened start. Then Michael Feliz came in…

Player of the Game – JT Brubaker (PIT) – Another good performance out of the pen. Three scoreless innings with three strikeouts.