Three Cubs listed on ESPN's April All-Stars |
The Chicago Cubs (18-6) have the best record in the major leagues and it shows with the quality players throughout the lineup and on the pitching mound.
ESPN has released its April All-Stars on Tuesday afternoon and the Cubs lead the team with three players listed in first baseman Anthony Rizzo, center fielder Dexter Fowler and Jake Arrieta. This is what ESPN had to say about Rizzo's crazy statistical start to the season. "He's running a ridiculously low .188 BABIP and yet is still hitting .230/.385/.575 and ranks second only to Chris Carter in OPS," ESPN said. "He's passed up Bryce Harper for the major league RBI lead (tied with Nolan Arenado) with 25, plays good defense and can contribute on the bases (17 steals in 2015, two in 2016). With runners in scoring position, he's hitting .324/.519/.757 with four of his eight home runs. In other words, once some of those hits start falling, the numbers may get even better. That means we're talking about an MVP candidate." Dexter Fowler could arguably be the Cubs's most valuable player through the first twenty-four games. "You want your April MVP in the National League?," ESPN said. "I think you have to go with Fowler, the man nobody wanted to sign. He's second only to Diaz among all hitters in wOBA. He's first in WAR, first in OBP, has scored 21 runs in 23 games and his defensive metrics in center field have been better, perhaps because the Cubs have positioned him a little deeper this season. Yes, he'll regress (.443 BABIP!), but regression is such an ugly word at this time of year. Who wants to hear that? Dream the impossible."
