CUBS NINE TO KNOW
1 The Cubs have the second-lowest on-base percentage in the National League (.299), but their first basemen (primarily Anthony Rizzo) have the highest OBP at .407.
2 Mike Olt, Luis Valbuena and a little Emilio Bonifacio lead all NL third basemen with 72 strikeouts.
3 Jeff Samardzija has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 12 starts, one behind the Cardinals’ Michael Wacha, the Mariners’ Felix Hernandez and the Yankees’ Masahiro Tanaka for tops in the majors.
4 There are teams out there looking for a left-handedhitting outfielder (sounds like Nate Schierholtz) who hits well against righties (which doesn’t sound like Schierholtz, who is hitting .217 overall). Against righties, Schierholtz is hitting .208 with a .273 on-base percentage and a .318 slugging percentage.
5 The Cubs’ staff has a 0.968
WHIP in the eighth inning this season, the third-best in baseball behind the Rays (0.881) and the Giants (0.955).
6 Both the Cubs’ and the White Sox’ first two batters in the lineup are hitting .257.
7 If the Cubs are leading at the start of the seventh inning, they are 25-4. If they are trailing at the start of the seventh inning, they are 2-30. If they are tied at the start of the seventh inning, they are 0-4.
8 Luis Valbuena had two homers and eight RBI in 78 at-bats in May. The other night, the Indians’ Lonnie Chisenhall had three homers and nine RBI in five at-bats.
9 The Cubs are 3-10 in two-run games, the worst record in the NL. They are 6-11 in onerun games.