Chicago Cubs fans celebrate as Marcus Stroman yet to give up a run through two starts this season: "2023 Cy Young incoming" "Love to see it"
Chicago Cubs staff ace Marcus Stroman celebrated the 200th start of his major league career Friday night by blanking the Texas Rangers through six innings in a 2-0 victory at Wrigley Field.
Stroman joined some elite Cubs company, becoming just the fourth pitcher for the ballclub to pitch six-plus shutout innings through his first two starts of the season. He became the first Chicago starter since Mike Bielecki in 1991 to accomplish the feat.
There's a reason his nickname is the @STR0 Show! https://t.co/7qZcsqnMot
The Chicago Cubs signed Marcus Stroman to a three-year, $71 million contract before the 2022 season to lead the team's rebuilt starting staff. After meeting with mixed results last year — 6-7, 3.50 ERA, 1.15 WHIP — he has opened 2023 as dominant as the team could have possibly hoped.
@JesseRogersESPN 2023 cy young incoming
@Cubs @STR0 Stro doing the thing. You love to see it. https://t.co/UBQFkV8pX5
@Cubs @STR0 No. 0 is currently both his jersey number and his ERA.
Stroman is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 14 strikeouts. He told MLB.com of how pleasing the results have been in the early going:
"It feels good. I’m a worker, so I’m always working in the offseason. It’s kind of a testament to everything that goes into it."
@JesseRogersESPN 3 fantasy leagues, didn't draft him at all. What was I thinking
@Cubs @STR0 https://t.co/uq5JqVKnNu
@JesseRogersESPN The StroShow 🔥
Marcus Stroman held the Rangers to just two hits and three walks while striking out six Texas batters Friday. Chicago Cubs manager David Ross was smiling ear-to-ear with the result, telling MLB.com:
"He’s been great for us. Every time he steps on, you feel you got a chance to win. That’s why you get those types of guys, give them the opening day start and get them back around as much as possible."
@Cubs @STR0 @Walcrawl12 this guy is incredible! I remember the day we signed him @DaRock23 texted me and said bad signing by the cubs, he won’t last a year with the team…
@Cubs @STR0 https://t.co/GA7ltUZfIx
@Cubs @STR0 DUDE IS LEGIT LET'S GOOOO
Marcus Stroman pointed to his time spent with Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic in March for his strong start for the Chicago Cubs. He told the Chicago Sun-Times that the enhanced competition against international teams helped get him into the groove for the rigors of the regular season:
"I feel it puts you in that competitive mind frame and gets you going much earlier than spring training, where you can go through the motions at that time."
@Cubs @STR0 @Walcrawl12 this guy is incredible! I remember the day we signed him @DaRock23 texted me and said bad signing by the cubs, he won’t last a year with the team…
Chicago Cubs counting on Marcus Stroman in 2023
When Stroman is on his game, he is one of the toughest pitchers in baseball to defeat. After being named the MVP of the 2017 World Baseball Classic pitching for Team USA, he pitched for Puerto Rico in the 2023 tournament as a tribute to his mother, who was born in the Caribbean island nation.