On the first strikeout that Kyle Hendricks threw Sunday afternoon at Coors Field, against Ryan McMahon in the bottom of the second inning, Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya identified a weak spot in the Rockies’ approach.
His conviction to keep calling the high fastball — not typically part of Hendricks’ sinker- and changeup-heavy arsenal — was evidence that he continues to evolve as a game-caller.
“It was playing good since the bullpen [session],” Amaya said Monday before the Cubs opened a three-game series against the Athletics. “The ball was carrying. And when we punched out the first guy with that pitch, we said, ‘We’re doing so much stuff down with his changeup, curveball, sinker down. And that’s what they’re looking for.’ So we started using that, and it worked for us.”
When Amaya first began catching Hendricks, the veteran was calling his own game though PitchCom, enjoying the rhythm it put him in and the success that came. But as Hendricks struggled earlier this season, he asked for more involvement from the catchers before eventually handing over game-calling responsibilities.
“Miggy was just staying on it,” Hendricks said after the 6-2 victory Sunday. “He saw where the holes were. He knew how to set [them] up with it, playing my fastball really well.”
En route to becoming the first pitcher in Cubs history to limit the Rockies to two hits or fewer and one run or fewer in at least six innings at Coors Field, Hendricks induced eight whiffs and two foul balls on fastballs in the upper third of the strike zone or higher.
“[Amaya] noticed it in-game and kept going to it, talked about it in the dugout between innings, and it just kept playing,” Hendricks said. “I don’t do that a lot, obviously. So that was a big adjustment
by him and kind of kept me in the game a long time.”
Player of the Week nod for Busch
Rookie infielder Michael Busch hit so well on the Cubs’ road trip against the Dodgers and Rockies that Major League Baseball named him the National League Player of the Week on Monday.
In a span of six games, Busch had four home runs, two doubles and 11 RBI, along with a 1.087 slugging percentage and a .480 on-base percentage.
“The consistency of what Michael has done this season has really shown up,” manager Craig Counsell said. “And it’s not surprising that he keeps coming back. There’s good stretches to come. For everybody, it’s helpful, but as a young
player, first [full] year in the league, just continuing to finish on a good note and playing well at the end of the year, I think, is really important.”
Busch is the first Cub to earn Player of the Week honors this year and the first position player since outfielder Seiya Suzuki in April 2022.
Injury update
Left-hander Justin Steele (tendinitis, left elbow) was set to throw a light “touch and feel” bullpen session Monday. If he comes out of that feeling good, he could return from the injured list before the week is over.
“We’re still progressing really well,” Counsell said.
Reliever Jorge Lopez (strained groin) joined the team Monday in Chicago after a successful rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa. He becomes eligible to be reinstated Wednesday.
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