AUGUST 27, 2020 • CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM
WILLSON CONTRERAS
6 HR •
23 RBI •
.255 AVG
6 HR
23 RBI
.255 AVG
Willson Contreras’ improvement behind the plate has been a ‘pillow’ for Cubs pitchers: ‘They can rest on me’ Catcher Willson Contreras' defensive work has been one of the biggest improvements of the Chicago Cubs' season.
Snaps homer drought Contreras went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a loss to Detroit on Tuesday.
Impact Though Contreras' long ball was an afterthought on the scoreboard -- it came with Chicago down by seven runs in the ninth inning -- it could help the backstop get back on the right track as he had last gone deep Aug. 4. Since that date, Contreras went 7-for-52 (.135) with only one extra-base hit and 19 strikeouts before his 418-foot blast Tuesday. His season slash line of .216/.333/.386 is well below his career norm.
AUGUST 26, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Giolito fans 13 in no-hitter, White Sox blank Pirates 4-0
AUGUST 26, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Bote's 2-run single pushes Cubs to 4-2 win, split with Cards
The Chicago Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-2 to earn a split of a doubleheaderAUGUST 19, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Swanson's 2-out, 2-run homer in 9th lifts Braves past Nats
AUGUST 18, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Snaps hitless streak Contreras went 1-for-3 with a walk, a double, a run scored and an RBI in Game 2 of Monday's doubleheader against the Cardinals.
Impact Contreras played a key role in a four-run sixth inning that rallied the Cubs to a 5-4 victory. His one-out double brought home Javier Baez and trimmed the St. Louis lead to 4-2. He then came around to score on David Bote's go-ahead three-run home run. It's been a tough few days for Contreras, who was ejected from Wednesday's game against Cleveland and came into Monday hitless in his last five contests. The streak extended to six games with an 0-for-2 showing in the first half of Monday's doubleheader. The 28-year-old backstop is now batting .231 with a .753 OPS, and both of those figures should continue to climb.
AUGUST 18, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Bote, Cubs rally past Cardinals 5-4 for doubleheader split
David Bote hit a three-run homer in Chicago’s four-run sixth inning, and the Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-4 for a doubleheader splitAUGUST 17, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ejected Wednesday Contreras was ejected from Wednesday's game against the Indians during the fifth inning, Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago reports.
Impact The 28-year-old was unhappy with a check-swing call during his third at-bat and was subsequently tossed from the contest. Contreras went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts prior to exiting. Backup catcher Victor Caratini took over behind the plate, but since he was already serving as the designated hitter, the Cubs lose the extra bat for the remainder of game.
AUGUST 12, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Chips in rare stolen base Contreras went 1-for-4 with a single, an RBI and a stolen base in Wednesday's 6-1 win over the Royals.
Impact Batting cleanup as the DH, Contreras drove in a run in the eighth and then stole second off Gabe Speier and Salvador Perez, matching his stolen-base total from all of last season. Contreras also has a couple homers already and is batting north of .300 through 11 games.
AUGUST 6, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Darvish pitches Cubs past Royals 6-1 for 6th straight win
Yu Darvish pitched seven sharp innings and the Chicago Cubs beat the skidding Kansas City Royals 6-1 on Wednesday night for their sixth straight victoryAUGUST 6, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Retooled Marlins triumphant in return, beat Orioles 4-0
AUGUST 5, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Retooled Marlins triumphant in return, beat Orioles 4-0
AUGUST 5, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Homers in win Tuesday Contreras went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a second run scored in Tuesday's 5-4 win over the Royals.
Impact Contreras extended the Cubs' lead to 5-2 in the eighth inning and they ended up needing the insurance run. The Chicago catcher has been locked in with a 1.013 OPS through 10 games, and he should continue to post strong numbers from the middle of the team's lineup.
AUGUST 5, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Bryant homers, Mills shines as surging Cubs beat Royals 2-0
Kris Bryant homered in his return to the lineup and Alec Mills pitched seven effective innings, helping the Chicago Cubs beat the Kansas City Royals 2-0 for their fourth consecutiv...AUGUST 4, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
El Mago's tags are back, and better than ever El Mago is showing off his tag wizardry once again. Kansas City's Adalberto Mondesi took off for second base with two outs in the top of the...
AUGUST 4, 2020 • MLB.COM
Báez's single in 11th gives Cubs 2-1 win over Pirates
Javier Báez singled through a drawn-in infield in the bottom of the 11th, scoring David Bote from third base and giving the Chicago Cubs a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh PiratesAUGUST 2, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Chatwood fans 11, Cubs hit 3 homers to beat Pirates 4-3
Tyler Chatwood matched a career high with 11 strikeouts in another terrific performance, leading the Chicago Cubs to a 4-3 victory the Pittsburgh PiratesAUGUST 2, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pirates RHP Mitch Keller departs with left side discomfort
Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller has exited his start against the Chicago Cubs with discomfort on his left sideAUGUST 2, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sitting out Tuesday Contreras isn't starting Tuesday against the Reds.
Impact Contreras had started in each of the Cubs' first four games this year, but he'll take a seat Tuesday after putting together multi-hit performances in the past two games. Victor Caratini will start behind the plate and bat second.
JULY 28, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Rizzo homers again, Cubs beat virus-unsettled Reds 8-7
Anthony Rizzo homered for the third time, and the Chicago Cubs held on for an 8-7 victory over a Cincinnati Reds team coping with coronavirus uncertaintyJULY 28, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Astros lose 7-6 to Mariners, announce Verlander injury
JULY 26, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Chatwood dominates, Cubs hit 3 HRs in 9-1 romp over Brewers
Tyler Chatwood pitched three-hit ball over six innings, Willson Contreras homered and the Chicago Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers 9-1 to take two of three in their opening seriesJULY 26, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Contreras powers Cubs to series victory Willson Contreras hit four home runs off his own pitchers during intrasquad games in Summer Camp. The Cubs catcher belted two shots in Chica...
JULY 26, 2020 • MLB.COM
Hits first 2020 home run Contreras went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, two RBI and two runs scored in Sunday's win over the Brewers.
Impact Contreras was scorching hot in summer camp with six home runs, and now he has his first long ball that counts in 2020. The 28-year-old caught two of the Cubs' first three games, with an appearance at DH in between. That formula could be used the rest of the way to limit the wear and tear on Contreras behind the plate.
JULY 26, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Starting in left again Schwarber is starting in left field and batting fourth in Sunday's game against the Brewers.
Impact That's three straight starts in left field to begin the season for Schwarber. Manager David Ross talked before the year about how he didn't view Schwarber as the team's DH, and so far, he's sticking to that. Victor Caratini and Willson Contreras have alternated between catching and serving as DH so far in 2020.
JULY 26, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
