Tuesday Turning Points: Cade Carves and PCA Electrifies to Get Cubs Back on Track

[Andrew Wright]

Image courtesy of © Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images

Speaking with my dad prior to Tuesday's game, I told him how I felt like it was time for Cade Horton to run into a bad start. The somberness around the state of the Cubs was eventually going to carry over, and Horton was about due for a rough outing, right? Glad I was wrong about that, thanks, Cade, you're the man.

Horton took the mound Tuesday night against the Atlanta Braves and continued his dominant second half. He was able to get through 6 1/3 innings, allowing just four hits and one run against a scorching-hot Braves offense. Another good sign for Horton, he threw 87 pitches, his most in a start since throwing 94 against the Twins in July.

Offensively for the Cubs, it was Pete Crow-Armstrong back to having productive at-bats and swiping a bag nearly every time he reached. Nights like Tuesday, when Horton and PCA are at the forefront of a Cubs win, make me and plenty of other fans ecstatic for the future. 

Here are the standout players and key plays from Tuesday's 6-1 win.

Top of the Eighth, Dansby Swanson vs. Alexis Diaz, +10.9% Win Expectancy
Many of you probably rolled your eyes when Swanson stepped up to the plate in a 2-1 game with the bases loaded and a chance to blow the game open. His season-long struggles with men in scoring position are well documented, and to take measures a step further, Swanson was 0-for-3 with three strikeouts headed into said plate appearance. It wasn't a hit that Swanson got, but a bases-loaded walk that gave the Cubs a much-needed insurance run and set the stage for Matt Shaw.

Top of the Eighth, Matt Shaw vs. Connor Seabold, +10.4% Win Expectancy
Since the All-Star break, Shaw is the one hitter most folks want up when the Cubs need a big hit. Shaw proved why that is when he roped a two-run single into centerfield, scoring Nico Hoerner and Willi Castro. Swanson was also able to score on the play after a throwing error from centerfielder Michael Harris. The big swing from Shaw gave Chicago plenty of breathing room over the final two innings.

Bottom of the Fifth, Nacho Alvarez Jr. vs. Cade Horton, +9.8% Win Expectancy
Horton found himself in a jam in the bottom of the fifth when Atlanta put men on the corners with just one out. Alvarez helped out in a major way with a check-swing pop-up on the infield that was caught by Dansby Swanson for the second out. Jurickson Profar was the next batter, and he flew out to left field, allowing Horton to escape the jam he'd gotten himself into. A hit from Alvarez would've tied the game and completely flipped the momentum, so it was an excellent job by Horton to escape that inning.

Top Performers
Cade Horton, +27% WPA, 6 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 2 K
Andrew Kittredge, +11.3% WPA, 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 1 K
Pete Crow-Armstrong, +10.4% WPA, 1-1, SF, HBP, BB, 2 SB, 2 RBI

Bullpen Usage

	FRI	SAT	SUN	MON	TUE	TOT
Hodge	15	0	9	0	0	24
Pomeranz	0	11	8	0	0	19
Brown	0	0	0	0	15	15
Palencia	0	13	18	0	0	31
Rogers	11	0	0	0	0	11
Thielbar	13	0	7	0	13	33
Keller	0	0	11	0	0	11
Kittredge	9	0	0	0	10	19
Civale	0	0	0	45	0	45

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