Marcus Stroman was one of the league’s best pitchers until the end of June. He was named to the National League All-Star team.
But then came a blister in London and his removal from that game. Including the game against the Cardinals in London, over Stroman’s last five starts: 6.46 ERA, 1.648 WHIP. Maybe that blister was worse than anyone thought.
It didn’t help, during Thursday’s 7-2 loss to the Cardinals, that the Cubs forgot how to play defense. With two out in the first inning, Patrick Wisdom let a ball get under his glove that would have ended the inning.