CUBS NINE TO KNOW
1 The Cubs’ best record in the first 20 games of a season was 16-4 in the world-championship season of 1907. Their worst was 4-16 in 1942. They were 7-13 in 2012 and 6-14 last season.
2 Hey, Carlos Villanueva fans! The record for losses by a Cubs pitcher in the first month of the season is five, shared by Pat Malone in 1928 and Juan Cruz in 2002. Jeff Samardzija and Edwin Jackson each had four last April.
3 Lovin’ the Friendly Confines: Starlin Castro hit .480 in his first six games at Wrigley Field this season. Lifetime, he’s a .289 hitter at home.
4 After the double shutout Wednesday in the Bronx, I reminded myself the Cubs were blanked 16 times in 2013 and held to one run in 15 other games.
5 The Cubs are hitting .272 with no outs, .212 with one out (the worst in the majors) and .201 with two outs.
6 Cubs batters had 91 strikeouts against opposing starting pitchers in their first 15 games.
7 Emilio Bonifacio leads the Cubs with nine hits leading off an inning. (Adam Eaton has nine for the White Sox.)
8 Edwin Jackson already has gone to a full count 14 times. The good news is that batters are only 2-for-9; the bad news are the five walks.
9 Batters are hitting .160 against Travis Wood the first time they face him in a game. They are hitting .308 the second time and .304 the third time and are 2-for-3 the fourth time.