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Jake Arrieta (P/Chicago Cubs) – Arrieta showed up to face his buddy Matt Carpenter on April 2 in St. Louis. He pitched 6 innings and didn’t allow a runner to get on base until the 4th inning, when Dexter Fowler singled to deep left. And the Cardinals only managed a run in the bottom of the 8th because Javier Baez had an error at second that allowed Stephen Piscotty to score. The Cubs won the game 2-1, with Arrieta pitching 6 innings. He struck out 6 and walked 2, while allowing 1 (unearned) run on 4 hits. He also had a single in the top of the 3rd, but was out on a fielder’s choice at second base.
On April 9, the Cubs were in Milwaukee to face the Brewers. A 3-run homer by Ryan Braun in the bottom of the 3rd kept the Brewers in the game, but it was all Jake would allow in 7 innings pitched. He allowed 3 runs on 3 hits, walked 2 and struck out 10 in a Cubs 7-4 victory.
You can't hit what you can't see. @JArrieta34 K’s 10 in his 100th @Cubs start. https://t.co/41elnjYCT3 pic.twitter.com/1FtNyFj8lg
— MLB (@MLB) April 9, 2017
Toasty #Cubs offense backs @JArrieta34's 10-K outing for series win.
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) April 9, 2017
Recap: https://t.co/239HSCPh9z pic.twitter.com/FfsfsC9DhC
Check out all of Arrieta’s stats here this season.
Matt Carpenter (3B/St. Louis Cardinals) – Carpenter and the Cardinals got off to a rocky start at home against the reigning World Series Champs. On April 2, Carpenter opened the season with a sacrifice fly to right field that allowed Dexter Fowler to score for the first run of the game—and the season. The Cardinals won that game 4-3.
Matt Carpenter drives in a run with a sacrifice fly in the 3rd inning during #OpeningDay between the #Cardinals and #Cubs Pic- @pdchris pic.twitter.com/vMNR7T9QEA
— Lynden Steele (@manofsteele) April 3, 2017
Unfortunately for Matt, he faced his buddy Jake the next night, and we know how that ended (see above if you just like to skip over one of the top pitchers in the League. It’s cool, I’ll wait..............see?). The Cardinals lost 2-1.
Jake Arrieta has held fellow TCU alum Matt Carpenter to an 0-for-24 mark in his career. pic.twitter.com/ZgiQFCJ4b7
— CubsHQ.com (@ChicagoCubsHQ) April 4, 2017
On April 6, the Cardinals closed out the series against the Cubs. Carpenter singled to deep center in the bottom of the 1st, getting Aledmys Diaz to third. Diaz would later score to get the Cardinals on the board. But it wasn’t enough for the win, and the Cardinals lost 6-4.
The Cardinals stayed home to face Cincinnati on April 7. Carpenter walked in the bottom of the 9th and got to second on a fielder’s indifference. But the game ended before he could get home. The Cardinals lost 2-0.
.@MattCarp13 is batting third tonight & he's on the cover of our new edition—on sale this weekend at Busch for just $5! #STLCards pic.twitter.com/4VnED69GUG
— Cardinals Magazine (@CardsMagazine) April 7, 2017
Carpenter currently has 5 hits, 3 runs, and 1 RBI. For all the stats during Carpenter's 2017 season, click here.
Andrew Cashner (P/Texas Rangers) – Cashner hasn’t made an appearance yet, for the Rangers. He’s currently on the DL with tendonitis in his right bicep. His original goal was to be back at play by April 15, but that’s looking unlikely right now. We’re wishing him the best and hope to see him soon.
Doug Brocail 'not real optimistic' Andrew Cashner will be ready by time Rangers need f.. https://t.co/H9r0nlZ08e pic.twitter.com/rE2t2lc4iq
— Texas Rangers Fans (@TexRangersChat) April 2, 2017
Andrew Cashner takes positive step toward making his debut in the Rangers' rotation https://t.co/PUSfq2pAyl pic.twitter.com/sfnVjHmBEB
— Texas Rangers Fans (@TexRangersChat) April 11, 2017
For more of Cashner's stats, click here.
Brandon Finnegan (P/Cincinnati Reds) – Well, hello, Mr. Finnegan! The Reds were home against the Phillies on April 5. After a 50-minute rain delay, Finnegan pitched 7 beautiful innings, allowing just 1 hit by Odubel Herrera. He walked 1 and struck out 9! The Reds won the game 2-0.
RECAP: @bfinny29 spins a one-hit gem, Votto homers in #Reds first win.
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) April 6, 2017
https://t.co/dDKC1LRyVe pic.twitter.com/3IJpstuUkJ
@bfinny29 tonight: Filthy.
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) April 6, 2017
Final line: 7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K and a 2-0 lead. #Reds pic.twitter.com/xQ86BRxyTe
Finnegan currently has a 1.00 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. For more on Finnegan's 2017 season, you can go here.