#chicago-cubs

#chicago-cubs

The good news is that Jaxon Wiggins is throwing bullpens out in Arizona, with another one coming in the next day or two, per Jed Hoyer ( Tribune). The less good news is that there isn't really anything more to say than that. "He's working his way back, he's doing a lot of work, he's throwing bullpens, and obviously that's a good sign," Hoyer said of Wiggins. "But he hasn't really ramped up to the game situations."

Josiah Hartshorn, 19, is a switch-hitting outfielder whom the Cubs paid overslot to sign out of high school in the 6th round last year. He showed up to Spring Training uncommonly polished for a high schooler making his debut, and got the full-season assignment to Myrtle Beach. That was already impressive. Then he impressed even more, hitting .273/.424/.460/149 wRC+, while walking more (19.2%) than he struck out (15.3%).

The Cubs haven't scored a run against an opposing starting pitcher since May 18 against the Brewers, a stretch of four games, and they haven't scored in the first 4 innings of a game since the day before that. Calling the offense abysmal during this stretch would be an understatement, which is why I won't call it that. We've moved past the point of this being just a hiccup, as that would be more like a stretch of 2-3 games. With seven straight losses and a 2-11 record since winning 10 in a row, the Cubs are adrift.

After dropping a series finale on Mother's Day against the Columbus Clippers, they went and got swept in their six-game set with the Nashville Sounds. Unfortunately, last night's opener with the Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals) didn't go much better. It was a similar story to what we've seen over this tough stretch. The teams went back and forth for most of the game, only for Iowa to find a way to lose late.

Almost a month since Caleb Thielbar limped off the field with a strained hamstring - while acting as the team's interim closer, mind you - the veteran lefty is back. And that feels very, very good, given the way things have gone here lately. Thielbar isn't some magic, shutdown reliever, but he is one more trustworthy arm for Craig Counsell to deploy.