Smyly (5-2) took the loss against the Reds on Sunday after allowing five runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out two over 4.2 innings.
Ironically, Smyly's two losses have both come against the Reds after they also got to him in his opening start back on April 3. Sunday was a similar outing for Smyly, who managed to go less than five innings for just the third time in 11 starts. Cincinnati tacked on two runs in the second, another in the third and two more in the fifth to chase him out of the game. The 34-year-old has given up 12 runs in his two outings against the division foes and 12 runs in his nine other starts total. He now sits at a 3.45 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 53:14 K:BB over 60 innings and will look to bounce back in a road test against the Padres next weekend.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Earns fifth win
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Smyly (5-1) got the win over the Mets on Tuesday after allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out five over five innings.
Smyly kept the Mets' bats quiet until the fourth when Pete Alonso took him deep to center. He coasted through the fifth and wound up being pulled with the bases juiced in the sixth after allowing the first three hitters to reach. Jeremiah Estrada replaced him and allowed just one of the inherited runners to score. The 34-year-old gave up six runs in his first outing of the season and has since posted a 2.13 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 48:10 K:BB over 50.2 innings. He tentatively lines up for a home start against the Reds over the weekend.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Strong start goes to waste
Rotowire
Smyly allowed a run on four hits and struck out eight without walking a batter over six innings in a no-decision versus the Astros on Wednesday.
Smyly did his part, but the Cubs' bullpen allowed six runs over 2.1 innings to squander his quality start. The southpaw hasn't allowed more than two runs in any of his last eight outings after he was tagged for seven runs (six earned) in his season debut. He's now at a 2.86 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 46:10 K:BB through 50.1 innings this season. Smyly is projected for a home start versus the Mets next week.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Earns fourth win
Rotowire
Smyly (4-1) allowed two runs on four hits across six innings to earn the win Friday against the Twins. He walked one and struck out four.
Smyly allowed two runs in the second inning before settling in to toss four straight scoreless frames and earn the victory. The lefty has looked good this year, as he now has a 3.05 ERA to go with a sparkling 0.97 WHIP. Smyly doesn't always go that deep into games, as this was only his third time tossing six innings or more across eight starts, but he's otherwise been effective. The veteran is tentatively set to take the mound again Wednesday against the Astros.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Sleeper pitchers for Week 7 (May 8-14)
Rotowire
Smyly has flashed dominance at times this year -- enough to make him worth using in the right matchups, anyway. We don't think of the Twins as a particularly favorable one, but they do have the fifth-lowest OPS against lefties.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Early exit in no-decision
Rotowire
Smyly didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Marlins, giving up two runs on three hits and three walks over 3.1 innings. He struck out five.
The veteran lefty didn't have sharp command and needed 83 pitches (50 strikes) to record 10 outs in his shortest start of the year so far, but the Cubs got him off the hook for a loss with a three-run eighth inning. Smyly still has a 3.05 ERA and 34:9 K:BB through 38.1 innings, and he'll look to rebound in his next outing, likely to come next weekend in Minnesota.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Excellent again Monday
Rotowire
Smyly (3-1) earned the win over Washington on Monday, allowing one run on six hits and no walks while striking out two batters over seven innings.
Smyly made one significant mistake in the outing, serving up a 424-foot solo shot to Lane Thomas in the second inning. Aside from that, the lefty hurler faced little resistance, as he allowed multiple batters to reach base in only one frame. Smyly nabbed his second quality start in his past three appearances, and he's now given up one or zero runs in four of his six starts this season. The veteran was lit up for six earned runs over 4.2 frames in his 2023 debut against Cincinnati, but since then he's been outstanding, posting a 1.48 ERA and 0.69 WHIP over 30.1 innings.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Sleeper pitchers for Week 6 (May 1-7)
Rotowire
Drew Smyly's follow-up effort to his bid for perfection was nothing too crazy, but he's still given up a combined four earned runs in his past four starts. It means you can trust him with matchups as favorable as the Nationals and Marlins this week.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Pitches well in no-decision
Rotowire
Smyly allowed two runs on four hits across five innings but did not factor into the decision in Wednesday's loss to the Padres. He walked one and struck out four.
Smyly pitched well and was in line for the win when the Cubs made it 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning, but the bullpen blew the lead in a 5-3 defeat. He tossed 89 pitches and failed to complete six innings for the fourth time this year in five starts, which makes sense given his age and injury history. Despite not going deep into games, the lefty has been solid with a 3.21 ERA and 0.93 WHIP to go along with 27 strikeouts across 28 innings this season. Smyly will look to keep rolling in his next start, which is likely to come early next week against Washington.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Possible waiver wire pickups
Rotowire
Wait, Drew Smyly took a perfect game into the eighth inning against the Dodgers? It wasn't all a bunch of lucky bounces either. He struck out 10 over 7 2/3 innings, collecting 18 swinging strikes. Though this one was by far his longest, the 33-year-old left-hander has three strong starts in a row now, and it's worth pointing out he finished last year on a high note, too, recording a 2.28 ERA in his final nine starts. He seems to fare better when he leans more on his curveball, which he threw 53 percent of the time in this one. He's looked downright dominant before, striking out 42 in 26 1/3 innings during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Though he hasn't been the most durable or reliable, Smyly has shown us enough over the years to justify a flier now.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Nearly perfect Friday
Rotowire
Smyly (2-1) picked up the win in Friday's 13-0 rout of the Dodgers, allowing only one hit over 7.2 scoreless innings. He struck out 10 without walking a batter.
The veteran southpaw teased making history as he took a perfect game into the eighth inning, but David Peralta led off the frame with a swinging bunt down the third-base line that turned into a single when Smyly got tangled up with catcher Yan Gomes as the two scrambled to field it. Smyly's last three outings have been very sharp since he got lit up by the Reds in his season debut, and he'll take a 3.13 ERA and 23:5 K:BB through 23 innings into his next start, likely to come next week at home against the Padres.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Picks up first win
Rotowire
Smyly (1-1) allowed one run on four hits and two walks over 5.2 innings Sunday, striking out three and earning a win over the Dodgers.
The only damage against Smyly on Sunday was Chris Taylor's solo shot in the third inning. After coughing up seven runs in his first outing, Smyly has allowed just two runs through 10.2 frames over his last two appearances. His ERA dropped to 4.70 with a 13:5 K:BB through his first three starts. Smyly is lined up for a rematch with the Dodgers at home next week.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Rebounds with strong outing
Rotowire
Smyly pitched five innings against Seattle on Monday, allowing one run on two hits and one walk while striking out seven batters. He did not factor in the decision.
Smyly did not fare well in his first appearance of the campaign, yielding six earned runs over 4.2 innings against the Reds. The left-hander turned things around Monday, limiting the Mariners to just three baserunners, all of whom reached in the fourth inning. Smyly finished his outing by striking out the side in the fifth, and he racked up 11 swinging strikes in the contest. Though the Cubs weren't able to get him the win, this was a positive bounce-back for the veteran hurler, who tentatively lines up for a tough road start against the Dodgers his next time out.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Knocked around in Cincinnati
Rotowire
Smyly (0-1) took the loss Monday, allowing seven runs (six earned) on nine hits and two walks over 4.2 innings in a 7-6 loss to the Reds. He struck out three.
The lefty allowed five consecutive batters to reach to begin his day -- Jonathan India's leadoff walk was followed by four straight singles. The Reds scored again in the second inning, but Smyly was at least able to keep Cincinnati off the board in the third and fourth before unraveling again in the fifth. He managed 12 swinging strikes on 93 pitches and will look for better results his next time out, tentatively scheduled for Sunday at home against the Rangers.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Struggles in final spring start
Rotowire
Smyly allowed five runs (four earned) on 10 hits across four innings in Tuesday's Cactus League game against the White Sox. He walked one and struck out three.
Smyly was hit hard in his last spring tune-up, which raised his Cactus League ERA to 6.06. That doesn't give the veteran lefty a ton of momentum heading into the regular season, though his track record suggests he should rebound, particularly after he posted a 3.47 ERA for the Cubs across 106.1 innings last year. Smyly lines up to make his 2023 debut Monday against the Reds.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Looks better Friday
Rotowire
Smyly tossed four scoreless innings in Friday's Cactus League game against the White Sox. He allowed four hits and struck out two.
Smyly entered the contest with an 11.25 ERA across his first four innings this spring, so this was a welcome rebound. The lefty had allowed three home runs over his first two Cactus League starts, but he managed to avoid any long balls Friday. Smyly had a strong 3.47 ERA across 106.1 innings for the Cubs in 2022, and he should be able to post similar results this year if he can limit the damage from homers.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Off to slow start
Rotowire
Smyly has an 11.25 ERA across four innings in two Cactus League starts.
Smyly has been hurt by the long ball so far, as he's allowed three home runs in his two short starts. The lefty posted a 1.4 HR/9 last year and has a 1.5 mark for his career, so home runs have always been a bit of an issue. Smyly still managed a strong 3.47 ERA across 106.1 innings for the Cubs in 2022, and he should slot in near the back of the team's rotation this year. The veteran could have some fantasy value in the right matchups, though his propensity to allow homers along with his injury history remain red flags.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Returns to Cubs
Rotowire
Smyly signed a two-year, $19 million contract with the Cubs on Thursday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Smyly will return to Chicago for at least two more seasons after he declined a mutual option worth $10 million with the club earlier in the offseason. In 2022 -- his first season with the Cubs -- Smyly maintained a solid 3.47 ERA and 1.19 WHIP, though he was limited to 106.1 innings due to an oblique strain. According to Murray, Smyly's new deal also includes a mutual option worth $10 million for the 2025 campaign and it includes a $2.5 million buyout.
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Drew Smyly: Declines mutual option
Rotowire
Smyly declined his portion of the $10 million mutual option with the Cubs for 2023 on Tuesday, making him a free agent, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Smyly signed with Chicago in March and started 22 games last season, and he pitched well with a 3.47 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 91:26 K:BB across 106.1 innings. The Cubs are interested in re-signing the 33-year-old lefty, though he figures to garner a fair amount of interest in free agency following a solid showing in 2022.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Allows one run over three innings
Rotowire
Smyly did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing one run on four hits over three innings against Cincinnati. He struck out two.
The only damage against Smyly came on a two-out Kyle Farmer single in the top of the third to score Spencer Steer. However, the left-hander needed 62 pitches to get through three innings and was relieved by Adbert Alzolay to begin the fourth. Smyly has now allowed one run or fewer in each of his last three starts, registering 15 strikeouts to only three walks over that stretch.
