Cubs and DBacks Upgraded Cards as they Battle or Final Playoff Spot

The Cubs and Diamondbacks have virtually the same records in both real MLB and in our Statis-Pro season. In the real season, Arizona is 57-53 while Chicago is 56-53. In the Statis-Pro season the teams average slightly worst because they play the other 10 best teams twice each with four teams being relegated.

Again, the two are even with both teams 20-22 heading into a series against each other. Note: after initial post, DBacks held on for thrilling 5-4 win in the opener and break the tie for 5th. Cubs have a big pitching edge in the nightcap with Marcus Stroman vs the rookie Brandon Pfaadt.

Our last update showed the Statis-Pro cards that can either switched teams or due to playing a lot different than their projections can be upgraded or downgraded.

Cubs Adjustments

 

Cubs Changes	Pos	Card Status	Card OPS/ER      A	Now
Adbert Alzolay	P	upgrade	3.60	2.33
Javier Assad	P	upgrade	4.59	3.24
Cody Bellinger	CF	upgrade	0.711	0.909
Jeimer Candelario	3B	new team	0.744	0.835
Michael Fulmer	P	upgrade	7.20	4.21
Brandon Hughes	P	downgrade	3.88	7.24
Matt Mervis	1B	downgrade	0.760	0.531

The Cubs had one nice pickup in Jeimer Candelario, a good third baseman who was picked up from the Nationals to give a nice extra bat to the Cubs. He is hitting even better this season than last, but the card is not upgraded because the jump from 0.744 to 0.835 OPS is not big enough to actually change the card. The one downside for the Cubs offense is that 1st baseman Matt Mervis is downgraded for his OPS dropping from .760 to .531, so when he comes up the opposing pitcher's PB increases one (a PB 2-7 becomes a PB 2-8 when facing Mervis).

The Cubs had three pitchers upgraded because of much better ERAs so far this season and one who is downgraded. The biggest one is closer Adbert Alzolay who had a projected PB 2-7 card but will be a PB 2-8 in action in our season.

Arizona Adjustments

Team	Players	Pos	Card Status	Card OPS/ERA	Now
Ari Lost	Madison Bumgarner	P	downgrade	4.95	10.26
Ari	Zach Davies	P	downgrade	4.88	7.38
Ari	Kyle Nelson	P	upgrade	4.48	2.85
Ari (Fr Oak)	Jace Peterson	3B	new OPS 0.660	0.660
Ari (Fr Nym)	Tommy Pham	LF	upgrade	0.669	0.820
Ari Lost	Josh Rojas	3B	new team	0.721	0.577
Ari (Fr Chw)	José Ruiz	P	new team	4.05	5.89

Arizona gets a little help with two pitchers, though they are still both below average PB 2-6 cards. Kyle Nelson improved his ERA from 4.48 down to 2.85, which by itself could be a PB 2-8 or even 2-9, but we only upgrade by one for big improvements, so he just improves to a PB 2-6 in a game.  Jose Ruiz came from the White Sox, but is also just a PB 2-6 though he does allow hits only up to a 21 and because he pitched in a hitters park he the note at the bottom of the card changes the top home run number on an opposing batter to a fly out. Madison Bumgarner also is gone after a terrible season, but we did not include his card below.

As for Arizona batters, one player is gone in Josh Rojas, so his card is not used. The big pickup was Tommy Pham, who not only came from the Mets but also has an upgrade so opposing pitchers' PB will drop one when they face Pham due to his actual OPS of .820 being much better than his .669 projection on which the card was based. Jac Peterson is a new card - and the Statis-Pro cards at the end give a basic card for each range of projected OPS ranges - from .651 to .700 in his case. He is on pace for more than 30 bases, which makes him a OBR/SP: B/B and plays third base. As a left handed hitter with fewer than three home run numbers he gets an LN, and lefties temporary cards have the average 12/88 - meaning strikeouts on 11-12 against a Left Handed Pitcher and singles with runners advancing two based on 88 against a Right Handed Pitcher.

The matchup to see who moves ahead as they both come in tied for 5th place and the last two playoff spots if the season ended today.

Click for the free Statis-Pro Master Baseball Game. Click here for 60 of the all-time great MLB teams, or on teams of many of the all-time great players on teams by nation or state with one sheet for each team. Or click on the 2023 pitchers and 2023 batters in card form. You simply print two teams cards and then either print theaster link above and fast action cards in master link or buy the dice to start playing. 

If you are playing the current 2023 season, you can use these optional adjustments for 149 players who were playing much better or worse than than their projected 2023 pitchers or 2023 batters in card form.