Three weeks into Spring Training, the two Chicago clubs are trending in opposite directions. The Chicago Cubs have emerged as one of baseball’s hottest teams, while the Chicago White Sox continue to endure a difficult spring.
Cubs climb to the top
The Cubs (13-6) and Milwaukee Brewers (11-7) both closed the week on four-game winning streaks, but Chicago’s surge was enough to move into first place in the Cactus League.
Pitching has been the catalyst.
The Cubs have compiled a 2.68 team ERA, among the best marks in Spring Training. Offseason acquisition Kris Bubic, formerly of the Royals, has been outstanding, posting a 3-1 record with a 1.29 ERA and 0.71 WHIP over 14.0 innings.
MacKenzie Gore has been even more dominant, improving to 3-0 while striking out 16 batters in 14.0 innings. He enters Week 4 with a sparkling 0.64 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP.
White Sox headed the other direction
The White Sox (7-13) and Washington Nationals (5-13) finished the week with the longest active losing streaks in Spring. Chicago has dropped four straight, while Washington has lost seven consecutive games.
Team ERA Rankings
The White Sox own the highest team ERA this spring at 6.11, raising concerns that another difficult season could be ahead in the AL Central.
One bright spot has been Shane Smith, who has gone 1-1 with a 3.21 ERA, 13 strikeouts, and a 1.50 WHIP across 14.0 innings. Outside of Smith, however, the rotation has struggled. Sean Burke has been hit hard, carrying a 14.25 ERA and 2.67 WHIP through his spring appearances.
Dodgers gearing up for another title defense
The defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers continue to look every bit like a contender, led once again by Shohei Ohtani.
Team Batting Average Ranking
The two-way superstar is batting .400 with five home runs, 11 RBIs, and a team-leading 1.349 OPS through 55 at-bats. On the mound, Ohtani has logged 14.0 innings with a 3.21 ERA and 1.07 WHIP.
Los Angeles also made one of the offseason’s biggest splashes by acquiring Bryce Harper from the Phillies in exchange for top prospect Zyhir Hope. The Dodgers later strengthened their infield by signing former Giants second baseman Luis Álvarez to a three-year, $27.5 million contract.
Harper is still settling into his new surroundings, batting .182 with two RBIs in 22 at-bats. Álvarez, meanwhile, has made an immediate impact, hitting .311 with four RBIs and two stolen bases through 45 at-bats.
