Sahadev Sharma

Evanston

Writer at The Athletic

Cubs beat @TheAthletic; co-host of @nsideterritory podcast; Dad to Sawyer & Penny; bourbon and beer; Illini hoops

Articles

How Pete Crow-Armstrong is built for the next level of stardom

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Patrick Mooney |Sahadev Sharma

The 99th percentile outcome is happening right now for Pete Crow-Armstrong and the Chicago Cubs. Unlocking the center fielder's power potential, to go with his speed and defense, is turning him into one of the sport's most dynamic players. As the son of a Hollywood family, he also seems right out of central casting, an engaging star to power a first-place team and the Wrigley Field machine.
Justin Turner walks off Marlins as he tries to shake early slump

3 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Sahadev Sharma

CHICAGO - Tuesday night was supposed to be about youngster Moisés Ballesteros making his MLB debut. The 21-year-old designated hitter and catcher was called up after Ian Happ was placed on the injured list with a left oblique strain. An offense-first player, Ballesteros has mashed in a month-plus at Triple A and earned this promotion. The choice to call up Ballesteros was also an indictment of the play of veteran Justin Turner so far this season.
3 key, under-the-radar performances

3 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Sahadev Sharma

The Chicago Cubs' solid start to the season has earned multiple players plenty of headlines. Pete Crow-Armstrong has quickly become a national star and added to his status with a tying home run Sunday in an eventual 6-2 road loss to the New York Mets. Kyle Tucker has slowed after a red-hot start, but he's the star bat the lineup so desperately needed. Even Matthew Boyd has shone as the Cubs' top two starters - Justin Steele and Shota Imanaga - have been felled by injuries.
How the Cubs put Cade Horton back on the fast track, leading to his debut in New York

4 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Patrick Mooney |Sahadev Sharma

Live from New York on Saturday night, Cade Horton is expected to debut as the Chicago Cubs' most-anticipated pitching prospect in a generation. It's not quite to the level of Mark Prior, the No. 2 pick in the 2001 draft who made it to Wrigley Field less than a year later. But in Horton, the Cubs again, finally, see a homegrown pitcher with a wow factor. Getting Horton back onto the fast track became a team effort. For all the hype, Horton had a 2024 season to forget.
Cubs set to call up top pitching prospect Cade Horton: Source

4 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Patrick Mooney |Sahadev Sharma

The Chicago Cubs are summoning Cade Horton to New York from Triple-A Iowa, a league source confirmed to The Athletic, lining up their top pitching prospect to potentially make his major-league debut this weekend against the Mets in a marquee matchup at Citi Field.
What Ryan Pressly is working to correct after a historically bad outing

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Sahadev Sharma

CHICAGO - Just as it seemed the Cubs had finally found a group of trusted relievers, their veteran closer delivered a historically bad performance on Tuesday evening. In the 11th inning of a 14-5 loss to the San Francisco Giants, Ryan Pressly faced eight batters, all of whom reached base and eventually scored. It was a disastrous outing that raised questions about Pressly's effectiveness, particularly his ability to miss bats.
Shota Imanaga exits loss with hamstring strain as Cubs' thin pitching staff takes another hit

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Sahadev Sharma

MILWAUKEE - The last thing the Chicago Cubs could afford right now was losing a key part of their rotation. Watching Shota Imanaga pull up while sprinting to cover first, grab his left hamstring and immediately motion to the dugout was worrisome. Imanaga was immediately removed from the game with what was later revealed as a left hamstring strain.
Cubs are letting Pete Crow-Armstrong be himself as he blossoms into stardom

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Sahadev Sharma

MILWAUKEE - Chicago Cubs baseball fans might be watching the emergence of a star. In Saturday evening's 6-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers, Pete Crow-Armstrong once again took center stage. The white-hot talent slugged a big three-run homer that gave the Cubs a 4-1 lead in the fourth inning as they moved to 21-13 on the season and won another series.
Cubs hitting coach Dustin Kelly speaks on Kyle Tucker, Chicago’s potent offense

1 month ago | dailyherald.com | Patrick Mooney |Sahadev Sharma

Chicago Cubs' Seiya Suzuki, right, speaks with hitting coach Dustin Kelly during a pitching change in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) AP The offensive fireworks at Wrigley Field have been spectacular. The Chicago Cubs have displayed a lineup that can slug big-time and play small ball, putting them in first place through the first month of a long season.
Who’s on third? The Cubs’ best option may still wind up being Matt Shaw

1 month ago | dailyherald.com | Patrick Mooney |Sahadev Sharma

Matt Shaw might still be the solution this season to the Cubs’ third base problem. AP At some point the Cubs are expected to recall Matt Shaw from Triple-A Iowa and reinstall him as their everyday third baseman. That optimistic outlook reflects the organization’s belief in its 2023 first-round pick. It’s also the reality of the situation — the current alternatives do not appear to be all that compelling.