Sahadev Sharma

Evanston

Writer at The Athletic

Cubs beat @TheAthletic; Dad to Sawyer & Penny; bourbon and beer; Illini hoops

Articles

Jameson Taillon is feeling great and throwing the best version of his fastball

3 days ago | nytimes.com | Sahadev Sharma

CHICAGO - Jameson Taillon hasn't felt this locked in with his mechanics in a while. Not even a 59-minute rain delay in the bottom of the first in Sunday afternoon's 3-2, 11-inning loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks could derail him. "It's equal parts staying mentally engaged and physically engaged," Taillon said of coming out after a rain delay. "For a little while, we didn't quite know how long it'd be.
The Cubs may have the best offense in baseball. How are they doing it?

4 days ago | nytimes.com | Sahadev Sharma

CHICAGO - As pitcher Ben Brown sat down to meet the media after the Cubs' 6-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks Saturday afternoon, a reporter asked him what it was like to face arguably the best lineup in the National League. Brown smirked. "I believe we have the best lineup in the National League," he said. "Our guys have just been doing an incredible job.
Cubs pull off wild win in back-and-forth game at windy Wrigley Field

5 days ago | nytimes.com | Sahadev Sharma

CHICAGO - What occurred at Wrigley Field on Friday afternoon was the type of game that leaves jaws on the floor. The Cubs' wild and unforgettable 13-11 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks was anything but your run-of-the-mill April game. "If you've seen that one," Cubs manager Craig Counsell said, "you've been around for a while."A windy day at Wrigley oddly played like a pitchers' duel for six and a half innings.
Four numbers that help explain how the Cubs have gotten off to a 9-6 start

1 week ago | dailyherald.com | Sahadev Sharma

Cubs closer Ryan Pressly celebrates after beating the San Diego Padres. AP/April 4, 2025 Early-season numbers can be tricky. Some numbers take a while to stabilize, and others can be more than just noise, indicators of what a team can be or do throughout a long season. Some are skewed due to the incredibly small sample. At times, that can mean there’s reason to be optimistic or perhaps to be cautious about a hot start.
Four numbers that help explain how the Cubs have gotten off to a 9-6 start

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Sahadev Sharma

Some numbers take a while to stabilize, and others can be more than just noise, indicators of what a team can be or do throughout a long season. Some are skewed due to the incredibly small sample. At times, that can mean there's reason to be optimistic or perhaps to be cautious about a hot start. Here's a look at four key numbers that help explain how the Chicago Cubs have both weathered an early hard schedule (so far) and perhaps could have been even better as they have started 9-6.
How to replace Justin Steele, Matt Shaw explains his batting stance

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Sahadev Sharma

CHICAGO - The Cubs ended a solid homestand Wednesday with a 6-2 loss to the Texas Rangers and news that Justin Steele was heading to the injured list with left elbow tendinitis. They now head on a daunting six-game road trip where they'll face the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. "It's a winning homestand and it's on to the next challenge," manager Craig Counsell said after a third straight series win.
Cubs pitcher Justin Steele lands on injured list with elbow tendonitis

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Sahadev Sharma

CHICAGO - The Chicago Cubs placed left-handed starter Justin Steele on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to April 8, with left elbow tendonitis. It's the same injury designation that landed Steele on the IL last September - a stint that lasted 17 days. That history contributed to the Cubs' decision to take a cautious approach with Steele once again. "We're gonna take the conservative route here," manager Craig Counsell said. "He had symptoms of an injury that he experienced last year.
Matthew Boyd's strong start sets stage for Cubs to claim fifth-straight victory

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Sahadev Sharma

CHICAGO - When Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell watched Matthew Boyd regularly pumping fastballs in the mid-90s during an exhibition game in Japan, he wasn't surprised. "It's kind of what we expected. We're paying him $15 million," he quipped. Yes, Boyd is being paid well, but for a pitcher with his capability, it's actually quite low. That, as Counsell pointed out, is because of his injury history. Entering 2025, the lefty had tossed just 202 2/3 innings over the previous four seasons combined.
Shota Imanaga reinforces his ace status with the help of Cubs' speed

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Sahadev Sharma

CHICAGO - Matching last season's success is going to be a tall order for Shota Imanaga. The leader of a strong Cubs rotation last season, Imanaga finished fourth in NL Rookie of the Year voting and fifth in the Cy Young race. The dynamic lefty was impressive enough to earn both the Opening Day and home opener starts for the Cubs this season. After three starts against three of the more dangerous offenses in baseball, Imanaga looks primed to back up his brilliant initial campaign.
The Cubs are one of MLB’s top revenue machines. So why aren’t they paying for more players?

2 weeks ago | dailyherald.com | Patrick Mooney |Ken Rosenthal |Sahadev Sharma

Tom Ricketts Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer At first glance, the post from an X user named @Brooks_Gate seemed like something a multibillion-dollar company would ignore. It consisted of a chart that used estimated data to illustrate the percentage of revenue spent on player payroll.