Observations: Arrieta strong, Pederson keeps rolling in win originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
The Cubs beat the Tigers 4-2 on Friday, snapping a three-game skid to improve to 18-19 this season.
Here’s 10 observations from the game.
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1. Kris Bryant’s left hand/wrist looks just fine. Bryant got hit by a pitch there in a Wednesday pinch-hit appearance but hit a two-run homer in his second at-bat Friday. Bryant declined to get imaging done Wednesday after the hit by pitch.
2. Bryant's bat has gotten a lot of attention during this bounce back season, and for good reason. He leads MLB in extra-base hits (24) and is hitting .309 with 10 home runs. But his defensive versatility has been just as important.
Bryant hasn't started at third base since April 20 as the Cubs weather injuries to their position players, starting at first and all three outfield spots during that span.
3. Jake Arrieta made his first start since April 30 and didn’t appear hampered by the cut on his right thumb that put him on the injured list last week. The right-hander threw six innings of two-run ball — both runs via solo homers in the sixth inning.
Arrieta otherwise allowed just two singles and a walk.
4. The Cubs’ starting pitching issues early this season have been well-documented. Friday is just the 11th time in 37 games a Cubs starter has thrown six or more innings. Arrieta has accounted for four of those.
5. But after a rough April (5.81 ERA), Cubs starters have been much better in May. Through 11 games, they’ve posted a 3.56 ERA.
6. Joc Pederson’s rough April is becoming a distant memory. The Cubs outfielder is on a tear this month, going 15-for-31 (.484) at the plate — including a 3-for-4 showing on Friday.
7. A bulk of Pederson’s damage this month has come in his past four games, in which he’s tallied 11 hits. He had just 11 hits in 16 games in April.
8. Pederson used Anthony Rizzo’s bat again Friday and did his best impression of the Cubs first baseman with two hits against Tigers left-handed pitchers.
Pederson, who’s historically hit poorly against southpaws, is 6-for-8 against them since returning from the IL, following a 1-for-13 start to the season.
9. Nico Hoerner (left forearm strain) also returned from the IL Friday, starting at second base and hitting eighth. He went 0-for-4 on the night.
10. Friday was Craig Kimbrel's first appearance since May 8 and just sixth overall this month. He shut Detroit down 1-2-3 in the ninth for his seventh save in eight tries.
Kimbrel, Andrew Chafin and Ryan Tepera combined didn't allow a hit, walk or run in three innings.
On deck: The Cubs and Tigers meet again Saturday at Comerica Park. First pitch is 3:10 p.m. CT. Trevor Williams (2-2, 5.81 ERA) and José Ureña (1-4 ERA, 3.60 ERA) are the probable starters.
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