It had the makings of a game-changing inning for the Royals on Wednesday night. Cubs starter
It is far too early to begin drawing comparisons to 2016, but that World Series-winning Cubs team was known for its historic defense and ability to generate weak contact as a pitching staff. Through a dozen games this season, those have been two driving forces for Chicago's success.\n\nDarvish is typically a strikeout artist, but he finished with only four in the Cubs' sixth win in a row. On the 20 balls in play Darvish allowed, the Royals averaged only 85.4 mph in terms of average exit velocity. Entering the night, the Cubs' rotation had given up a Major League-leading average exit velocity of 83.6 mph.\n\n\"We feel confident of the ball getting put in play,\" Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy said. \"And when you have confidence in generating weak contact -- or even generating hard contact, and it's going to be hit at somebody or an athletic defender is going to take care of it -- it gives you the confidence that, no matter what the count is, you can execute the pitch that you want in that situation.\"
\n\nAccording to Fangraphs, the Cubs already had 15 defensive runs saved this season going into Wednesday's game. A year ago, Chicago had minus seven DRS in a season that saw the franchise' four-year playoff streak come to an end.\n\nBáez is the anchor at shortstop -- after leading all MLB infielders with 19 outs above average in '19.