The Chicago Cubs’ pitching rotation delivered an unprecedented performance against the Milwaukee Brewers in a series that made history. Throughout the weekend, the Cubs achieved a feat never before seen in modern MLB history, all while facing their division rivals, the Milwaukee Brewers.
The remarkable series began with a 3-1 loss on Friday at Wrigley Field, where Adbert Alzolay struggled, despite Hayden Wesneski’s impressive performance. Wesneski pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing only three hits and two walks while striking out eight, lowering his ERA to an impressive 0.54.
On Saturday, the Cubs bounced back with a 6-5 win, although the bullpen faced challenges late in the game. Jameson Taillon contributed a stellar performance, pitching six scoreless innings, giving up only two hits and two walks while striking out seven. He secured the win, improving his record to 3-0 with a 1.13 ERA in four starts this season.
The series culminated in another outstanding performance on Sunday’s rubber match. Javier Assad delivered six shutout innings, allowing only four hits and three walks while striking out four. This time, the bullpen held strong, ensuring a 5-0 victory and securing the series win.
According to Christopher Kamka, the Cubs’ graphics coordinator, this series marked a historic first for the franchise. It was the inaugural occurrence, dating back to 1901, where Cubs starters threw at least six scoreless innings in every game of a series lasting at least three games.
After combing through @Stathead, this is the only time from 1901-present that the #Cubs have played a series of 3+ games and had a start of 6+ scoreless innings in each game.
Wesneski, Taillon & Assad.
— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) May 6, 2024
The achievement becomes even more remarkable considering that two of the three starters, Wesneski and Assad, are relatively inexperienced, and none of them have ever been selected as All-Stars. The pitching staff accomplished this feat without their co-aces Justin Steele and Shota Imanaga, both of whom are slated to pitch in the upcoming series against the San Diego Padres.
This timing proved advantageous for Chicago as they moved into a tie with Milwaukee for first place in the NL Central. The impressive series further extends the Cubs’ rotation’s exceptional performance, boasting a 2.03 ERA over the last 17 games. Despite this, Chicago’s record stands at 10-7 over that span, primarily due to inconsistent offense, averaging 4.18 runs per game, and some shaky relief pitching, particularly from Alzolay.
Despite facing injuries to key pitchers like Steele, Kyle Hendricks, and Jordan Wicks, the Cubs’ rotation hasn’t just endured; it has thrived.
