Davies’ problems continue
The haves and the have-nots in the National League were unmistakable Saturday. The Cubs lost 15-4 to the Giants for their 78th loss of the season. Meanwhile, the Giants improved to 92-50 and have sat atop the National League West for most of the year.
Starter Zach Davies has struggled to find a rhythm all season, and he has gone 0-5 with an 8.31 ERA in his last nine starts.
Those problems continued against the Giants. Davies lasted just two innings after giving up five runs in the second on Tommy La Stella’s two-run single and Brandon Belt’s three-run homer. Outings such as Saturday’s have become somewhat common this season, but they are an aberration compared to what Davies has done in the past.
“He’s been a good pitcher for a lot of years,” interim manager Andy Green said. “You look at him historically, as you go back, there’s been a very low walk rate, which keeps traffic off the bases.”
Davies walked two of the first four batters in the second inning, eventually loading the bases for La Stella. The trouble in the inning came against Mike Yastrzemski, according to Green. Instead of attacking him with one out and two men on, Davies walked Yastrzemski on a series of what Green called “noncompetitive” pitches.
“There’s been times now where trying to avoid giving up one run sometimes causes the big inning, and we’ve seen that on repeat here recently,” Green said. “If he gets back to the recipe where he’s been historically, which is a guy who doesn’t allow those free passes, he pitches a lot better.”
Heyward exits with head injury
Jason Heyward left the game in the fourth inning with a head injury. He led off the inning with a single, and then ran from first to third on David Bote’s two-out single.
On the slide into third, Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford hit his left knee against Heyward’s head. Heyward remained down for several minutes and had to be helped off the field by the training staff.
“Definitely going to be watched closely over the next 24 hours to find out where he’s at,” Green said.
Ross returning
Manager David Ross is set to return to the Cubs’ dugout Sunday. He tested positive for COVID-19 on Sept. 3 and has been isolated from the team since.