Eight shutout innings and 12 strikeouts, both career highs, convey Justin Steele’s utter domination in the Chicago Cubs’ 5-0 win over the San Francisco Giants.
“It’s fun to watch guys throw like that and give you a chance to win every single night,” manager David Ross said, “especially when they’re going toe to toe with some of the better ones in the game. He’s done that for us, been that horse and as consistent as anybody we’ve had for a while now.
” Giants starter Logan Webb typically features a 40-40 split between his changeup and sinker. But he challenged the Cubs with a changeup-heavy mix, accounting for 64% of his pitches thrown, and the Cubs didn’t have much success against it despite coming in with the fifth-best average versus changeups thrown by right-handers. Seiya Suzuki slugged a solo homer off a Webb four-seam fastball in the second for the lead, and Suzuki bested him again in the seventh for an RBI double when Webb left a changeup over the middle of the plate.Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki hits a double during the seventh inning against the Giants on Monday, Sept. 4, 2023, at Wrigley Field. Yan Gomes’ RBI single extended the lead to 3-0 in the seventh, and the offense tacked on two more runs in the eighth against Tristan Beck. Dansby Swanson connected for an RBI double and Suzuki tallied his third RBI on a fielder’s choice. Steele set the tone with his four-seam fastball, dotting the baseball around the zone wherever Gomes wanted it. He generated 13 whiffs and 12 called strikes with the fastball. Steele’s development into the staff ace creates inevitable comparisons to left-hander Jon Lester. When asked if watching Steele gives him any flashbacks of his former teammate, Ross wanted to avoid putting that on Steele but did share an observation of the two lefties.[Don't miss] Chicago baseball report: Cubs could be getting some bullpen help — while the White Sox get 1 last look at Miguel Cabrera“Jon wanted the ball in the biggest moments, Steele wants the ball in the biggest moments,” Ross said. “Steele feels like he’s putting us on his back and carrying us where we need to go and going out and doing what he does best and competing really well. “Jon was really good at that too — that doesn’t even do Jon credit — but Steely for sure, he’s a big-game pitcher.” Cubs starter Justin Steele and catcher Yan Gomes walk back to the dugout after the top of the first inning against the Giants on Monday, Sept. 4, 2023, at Wrigley Field. Steele’s performance has him firmly in the NL Cy Young Award discussion. Through Monday he ranks in the top 10 among NL starters with his 16 wins , 2.55 ERA , 4.3 fWAR , 2.98 FIP , 1.14 WHIP and 4.64 K/BB .Steele is part of a deep group of Cy Young contenders that includes the Atlanta Braves’ Spencer Strider, the Diamondbacks’ Zac Gallen, the San Diego Padres’ Blake Snell, the New York Mets’ Kodai Senga and the Philadelphia Phillies’ Zack Wheeler. “He’s becoming the elite pitcher that we thought he would be,” Gomes said. “These kind of moments are big in that kind of race.”
Please follow us on Google to support us United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Chicago Cubs: 3 players who need to step up over final monthThree Chicago Cubs players need to step up over the final month of the season if the team wants to make the postseason.
Read more »
Chicago Cubs lose to Cincinnati Reds 2-1Chicago Cubs waste Javier Assad's eight shutout inning Saturday night in a second consecutive walk-off loss to the Cincinnati Reds.
Read more »
SF Giants’ offense continues dreadful skid against wild card foeSF Giants strike out 12 times against Chicago Cubs’ Justin Steele
Read more »
Cubs' Steele dominates Giants in 5-0 win, moves into tie for MLB lead in victoriesJustin Steele tossed dominant two-hit ball through eight innings to move into a tie for the major league lead in wins, leading the Chicago Cubs past the San Francisco Giants 5-0.
Read more »
Cubs' Steele dominates Giants in 5-0 win, moves into tie for MLB lead in victoriesJustin Steele tossed dominant two-hit ball through eight innings to move into a tie for the major league lead in wins, leading the Chicago Cubs past the San Francisco Giants 5-0.
Read more »
Cubs’ Steele dominates Giants in 5-0 win, moves into tie for MLB lead in victoriesJustin Steele tossed dominant two-hit ball through eight innings to move into a tie for the major league lead in wins, leading the Chicago Cubs past the San Francisco Giants 5-0 on Monday.
Read more »