Cubs ace Marcus Stroman exits start in London with blister on throwing hand
The “Stro Show” was cut short in London.
Marcus Stroman left the series finale at London Stadium with a blister on his right index finger in the 4th inning. Stroman went just 3.1 innings, allowing 6 runs (3 earned) on 9 hits with a walk and 2 strikeouts.
The righty pitched a clean 1st inning, after the Cubs’ offense scored 4 runs, but the struggles came after that.
In the bottom of the 2nd, he led off the frame with a Nolan Arenado flyout. The next three hitters went single, single and walk to load the bases. He struck out Paul DeJong and then induced a groundball to second base that seemed to be an inning-ending play. Instead, the flip from Nico Hoerner to Trey Mancini was dropped by the first baseman to extend the inning. The Cardinals scored 2 more runs before the inning ended.
St. Louis tied the game in the bottom of the 3rd with a run.
In the 4th, Stroman induced a leadoff groundball out to DeJong. He allowed a single, stolen base and then hit Brendan Donovan to place runners on first and second. He was seen shaking his right hand a few times in the frame. Then, Paul Goldschmidt singled to give the Cardinals the lead. After that pitch, trainer Nick Frangella and manager David Ross came out to the mound and his day was over.
Michael Fulmer came in to finish the inning and pitched 1.2 innings before making way for Mark Leiter Jr.
Stroman has been stellar this year, pitching to a 2.47 ERA in 17 starts across 102 innings this year for the Cubs. If healthy, he’s in line to make two more starts before the All-Star Game, where he could get the nod to be the starter for the National League.