BALTIMORE – Isn’t the Home Run Derby on Monday?
Forgive the confusion, what with the display the Cubs and Orioles put on Wednesday night at Camden Yards.
The teams combined to hit nine homers, putting on the type of show heading for Philadelphia next week. The Cubs, with five of those dingers, sweated out a 9-7 victory and won their fourth consecutive road series.
Pete Crow-Armstrong, who will be in attendance as the Cubs’ representative at the Midsummer Classic, kept doing All-Star things, homering twice and clinching a second straight season of at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases.
On brand for a guy who’s busy filling up the record book this summer, Crow-Armstrong became just the third Cub ever with multiple 20-20 seasons, joining Sammy Sosa and Ryne Sandberg. He’s the first major leaguer since another former Cub, Alfonso Soriano, to hit the 20-20 benchmark in back-to-back seasons before the All-Star break; Soriano did it in 2002 and 2003 with the Yankees.
But he wasn’t alone Wednesday, with outfielder Michael Conforto and catcher Carson Kelly going back-to-back in the fifth inning and Seiya Suzuki capping a five-run seventh inning with a three-run shot.
Since June 11, the Cubs have hit 41 home runs in 25 games. Only two teams started Wednesday with as many in that span.
Power potential up and down the lineup? These Cubs have it, and though the division-leading Brewers – winners of 13 of 17 coming into Wednesday – aren’t letting them make up much ground in the NL Central standings, swinging the bats like this is a great way to stay in the race.
Back this season?
Lefty starter Justin Steele doesn’t figure to be a starter if he can make it back before the end of the campaign. That was the message from team president Jed Hoyer last month, and the Cubs are hammering that point home as Steele continues to recover from the elbow surgery that knocked him out at the beginning of last season and the ensuing setback that’s delayed his return.
“The schedule is very tight with Justin, and it doesn’t leave for a lot of things to happen, there’s no question about it,” manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday. “Stretching out as a starter is really not realistic with the calendar.”
Time will tell if Steele, who Counsell said will begin throwing off a mound at the beginning of next month, can make it back to factor into the Cubs’ plans as a bullpen arm as they hope for an extended playoff run.
Then there’s Hunter Harvey, the righty reliever signed to a free-agent deal last winter. He made four appearances in the early days of the season before hitting the IL with triceps inflammation.
He’s said to be on a throwing program, but the clock is ticking when it comes to whether he can make an impact this season.
“He’s missed a lot of time. I think the concern is real,” Counsell said. “We haven’t been able to start something and keep going. At some point, we’re just going to have to do that and see where that gets us. And that’s what we’re doing right now.”
Maton on the mend
Injured reliever Phil Maton, who’s been sidelined with a knee injury since late last month, pitched as part of a minor league rehab assignment Wednesday, retiring all five batters he faced, with three strikeouts, in a game with Triple-A Iowa.
According to Counsell, the righty will make one more rehab appearance prior to the All-Star break and is expected to return to the big league club shortly after the break, should everything go well.