The Chicago Cubs got one player into the Midsummer Classic: left-handed pitcher Travis Wood.
Wood will represent the Cubs at the 84th Major League All-Star Game Tuesday, July 16 at New York’s Citi Field. This is his first All-Star nod.
Travis Wood leads all of MLB with 16 quality starts. However, his record it still below .500 because the Cubs are bad at baseball. The Cubs are especially bad on offense. Travis Wood is 5-6 with a 2.69 ERA and an opponents batting average of .192, third-lowest in the majors. He has also limited opposing batters to a .554 OPS, the fourth lowest mark in the majors.
Is he untouchable before the trade deadline? Well, you’d think the only guys that are off the table are Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro; even if both are hitting below .240 right now. Wood would be the Cubs starting pitcher most likely to stay. Matt Garza is obviously the next to go.
Wood began the 2013 campaign with nine-consecutive quality starts, becoming the first Cubs pitcher since Three Finger Brown tossed 11-straight to begin the 1908 season. Three Finger Brown is a fun name to say; so dirty and sexual sounding. Even though it’s anything but.
Wood is the first Cubs pitcher to be named to the All-Star team since Ted “slam your glove on the ground in Arizona during the NLDS” Lilly in 2009.
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