Cubs Daily Clips
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June 24, 2017 Cubs.com, Lester seeks milestone, first win over Marlins http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/238342476/lester-seeks-milestone-first-win-over-marlins Cubs.com, Lackey, Cubs fall despite 3-hitting Marlins http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/238367290/jose-urena-marlins-shut-out-cubs/ Cubs.com, Hendricks could start throwing this weekend http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/238326204/cubs-kyle-hendricks-could-throw-this-weekend/ Cubs.com, Lackey extends trend; bats can't follow suit http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/238418598/john-lackey-throws-another-strong-cubs-start/ Cubs.com, 2nd-rounder Abbott latest Cubs pick to sign http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/238334148/cory-abbott-latest-cubs-draft-pick-to-sign/ Cubs.com, Cubs first-rounder stops No. 1 team in CWS http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/238351690/cubs-1st-rounder-alex-lange-lsu-stops-osu/ ESPNChicago.com, Cubs continue roller-coaster ride on offense in loss to Marlins http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/44676/cubs-continue-their-roller-coaster-ride-on- offense-in-loss-to-marlins CSNChicago.com, This Is The Identity Of The 2017 Cubs So Far: 'Up And Down, Up And Down' http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/identity-2017-cubs-so-far-and-down-and-down CSNChicago.com, Joe Maddon On Ian Happ: ‘Pound For Pound, Man, He’s Got As Good A Power As I’ve Seen’ http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/joe-maddon-ian-happ-pound-pound-man-hes-got-good-power-ive- seen CSNChicago.com, Cubs Hopeful Kyle Hendricks Returns Before All-Star Break http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/cubs-hopeful-kyle-hendricks-returns-all-star-break Chicago Tribune, Cubs offense lets John Lackey down in second straight strong start http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-marlins-spt-0624-20170623-story.html Chicago Tribune, Kyle Schwarber hits major road block in his major-league career http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/ct-sullivan-big-hit-baseball-spt-0625-20170624- column.html Chicago Tribune, How the invention of smartphones changed baseball's clubhouse camaraderie http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/ct-sullivan-around-baseball-spt-0625-20170624- story.html Chicago Tribune, Anthony Rizzo would love to go home for All-Star festivities in Miami http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-anthony-rizzo-cubs-notes-spt-0624-20170623- story.html Chicago Sun-Times, Hitting one day, pitching the next — that’s how erratic Cubs roll http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/hitting-one-day-pitching-the-next-thats-how-erratic-cubs-roll/ Chicago Sun-Times, Kris Bryant to skip Home Run Derby but Anthony Rizzo wants back in http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/kris-bryant-to-skip-home-run-derby-but-anthony-rizzo-wants-back-in/ -- Cubs.com Lester seeks milestone, first win over Marlins By Glenn Sattell Jon Lester looks to continue to pile up the strikeouts on Saturday afternoon when he takes the mound for the Cubs in the third game of a four-game series with Miami at Marlins Park. The left-hander, who enters with 1,954 career punchouts, is just three away from 500 as a Cub. Lester would be just the eighth lefty in Cubs history to reach that mark. Lester is among the National League leaders in strikeouts with 93 this season. He has already recorded two 10- strikeout games, and in another two games, he fanned nine. The veteran is 4-4 (3.83 ERA) in 15 starts this season, including one complete game. Justin Nicolino gets the call for the Marlins, facing the Cubs for the first time in his career. Nicolino is making his fifth start this season, looking for his first win (0-1, 5.06 ERA). The left-hander has gone just three innings in each of his last two starts. Three things to know about this game • Lester picked up his 150th career win on June 13 at the Mets. It's also his only win on the road this season. He's one of eight active pitchers with 150 career wins, joining teammate John Lackey, along with Bartolo Colon, CC Sabathia, Justin Verlander, Zack Greinke, Felix Hernandez and Jered Weaver. • Lester is 0-2 lifetime against Miami over four starts, with a 4.91 ERA. He has 18 strikeouts in 22 innings facing the Marlins, but he has given up 29 hits, including seven home runs. He has earned at least one win over the other 28 teams he has faced in his career. The former Red Sox hurler has never faced Boston. • Among the Cubs' current players, Nicolino has faced only one in his career. Jon Jay is 1-for-3 lifetime against Nicolino. -- Cubs.com Lackey, Cubs fall despite 3-hitting Marlins By Joe Frisaro and Glenn Sattell MIAMI -- When the season started, the Marlins used Jose Urena in a long-relief role. The 25-year-old has since become a stopper of sorts, especially in recent weeks. Urena scattered five hits over six shutout innings, and backed by a home run from Giancarlo Stanton, the Marlins edged the Cubs, 2-0, on Friday night at Marlins Park. Urena has now won his last five decisions. Mixing his pitches, Urena silenced the Cubs the night after the Marlins were routed, 11-1. "I think you see a guy that is pitching more," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "We know the power is there. He's using his changeup. He's using his slider. You still want him to continue to improve, but he's using [offspeed pitches], and it's making you think as a hitter. I think that's the one thing he has been able to do. He will use his change and throw his slider. As a hitter, it's getting to the point you can't always think you're getting a fastball." According to Statcast™, Urena's 93 pitches broke down into 19 four-seam fastballs, 20 two-seam fastballs, 29 sliders and 25 changeups. The right-hander got nine swinging strikes. "The difference 24 hours can make," said Cubs manager Joe Maddon. The strong showing by Urena, who has an ERA of 3.62 in five June starts, allowed Miami to shake off Thursday night's loss and even the four-game series. "Just go out there, be patient and try to get an out pitch-by-pitch," Urena said. Urena and Cubs right-hander John Lackey set the tone, making quick work for most of the night. Lackey allowed two runs (one earned) in six innings. "I felt really good," Lackey said. "I had a good thing going. [Catcher Miguel Montero] called a good game. We were executing a lot of pitches. Their guy pitched a little bit better." The Marlins got on the board in the third inning on Stanton's latest thunderous home run. The 27-year-old launched a laser shot off the batter's eye in center. Per Statcast™, it traveled a projected 458 feet, making it his third-longest homer this year. The exit velocity was 112.4 mph, and the ball had a 20-degree launch angle. Of his 19 home runs, 12 have been with exit speeds of at least 110 mph. Only Aaron Judge (15) has more. MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Slamming the door: Closing out narrow leads has been a struggle for the Marlins' bullpen, and the Cubs had a chance to threaten in the eighth inning. With Chicago trailing by two, David Phelps entered for Miami and walked Kris Bryant on five pitches. The Cubs were in business with a leadoff baserunner, and Phelps fell behind in the count, 2-0, to Ian Happ, who had two hits earlier in the game. But Phelps induced a 4-6-3 double play out of Happ and fanned Addison Russell looking to escape any potential jam. "I've got a lot of faith in my defense behind me," Phelps said. "I've been getting some ground balls lately. I figured, if I make a good pitch, I might get them to roll over." A run in a Flash: The speed of Dee Gordon helped the Marlins manufacture their second run, which was unearned, in the sixth inning. Gordon singled to left on a ball that dropped just in front of Jon Jay. Gordon swiped second and advanced to third on Montero's throwing error. Stanton, who had homered in his previous at-bat off Lackey, was hit by a 91.2-mph fastball, putting runners on the corners. Christian Yelich's sacrifice fly to center made it 2-0. QUOTABLE "They changed their tack tonight. Their guy threw a lot more breaking balls than he did the last time, and he was good with it. He's got very good stuff." -- Maddon, on Urena "We need him at the hot corner. They're going to test him a little bit like Jay did. Once he gets his midseason form back, he will be really good." -- Stanton, on third baseman Martin Prado returning from the DL. Jay was thrown out by Prado on a bunt attempt in the seventh inning. WHAT'S NEXT Cubs: Jon Lester gets the nod for the Cubs on Saturday in a 3:10 p.m. CT start. The left-hander has turned in back- to-back quality starts, going seven innings and striking out 10 in a win over the Mets and working six innings (seven strikeouts) in a no-decision against San Diego. Marlins: Justin Nicolino (0-1, 5.06) gets the start on Saturday in the 4:10 p.m.