Zobrist, Heyward should aid Cubs vs. Mets’ pitching
LAS VEGAS — They’re not going to prove anything this week in Las Vegas.
But a lineup with Ben Zobrist and Jason Heyward holding down the first two spots Thursday against the New York Mets offered at least a glimpse of why the Cubs think — and why Vegas oddsmakers seem to agree — they’re better equipped to handle the Mets’ electric young pitching staff this season.
‘‘I think they help,’’ Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of the free-agent hitters the Cubs added during the offseason. ‘‘I also want to believe it’s the natural progression of a young hitter to be able to work an at-bat and move the baseball in the latter part of the count and just naturally get better.’’
As the teams squared off for the first time since the Mets’ fourgame sweep of the Cubs in the National League Championship Series last fall, they ranked first (Cubs) and second (Mets) on the local odds lists to win the NL. The Cubs, San Francisco Giants and Mets are 1-2-3 among oddsmakers to win the World Series.
In the NLCS, the Mets scored as many runs in the clincher (eight) as the Cubs did in the whole series against a pitching staff headed by Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom and Steven Matz.
Both starting pitchers in the game Thursday were minorleaguers. The game Friday will feature a rematch of Game 4 starters Matz and Jason Hammel.
‘‘Our guys are really talented,’’ Maddon said of a mostly young group of position players that returns four 2015 rookies. ‘‘Our DNA’s been really to power the baseball; strikeouts are OK. But I’ve really made a push this camp for even our bigger guys to understand to make adaptations when you get into the count.’’
The Cubs struck out 37 times against in the NLCS (compared with 30 combined hits and walks) and had a .164 batting average and .225 on-base percentage as a team.
Maddon has been emphasizing the Cubs’ two-strike approach this spring, with Javy Baez’s dramatically cut-down swing later in counts serving as the most conspicuous example.
‘‘To me, that’s more a mental adjustment,’’ Maddon said. ‘‘Some of it’s physical, but most of it’s mental. So, yeah, we are better suited with some additions, plus the guys who are here whom I’d like to see continue to make improvements.’’
Notes
Manager Joe Maddon said he talked with ace Jake Arrieta, who worked through a blister on his right thumb in the last week, and the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner is all clear for the season opener Monday against the Los Angeles Angels.
◆ Light-hitting catcher David Ross had an impressive streak of four consecutive at-bats with an extra-base hit snapped when he struck out against Paul Sewald in the second inning.
◆ Outfielder Dexter Fowler (side) was out of the lineup for the fourth consecutive day. Maddon said he wanted to get him into a game before the opener, leaving him Friday and Sunday to do that.
◆ Cubs starter Ryan Williams was struck on his right hamstring by a line drive by Kevin Plawecki leading off the third inning, but he stayed in the game after being checked and finished the inning.
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