Notes: Chatwood limits lefties; Cubs feel safe

The offseason, combined with the three-month shutdown between Spring Training and Summer Camp, gave Tyler Chatwood plenty of time to look back at the past two seasons. He identified an area he wanted to improve for this season.

"Lefties had some decent numbers off me last year," Chatwood said on Sunday. "Going back looking at it, I never did any real pitching inside or mixing it up as much. So that was one of the points of emphasis this year."

As Chatwood alluded, left-handed batters hit .306 with an .823 OPS against him in 2019, when he served as a reliever and emergency starter for the Cubs. Back in the rotation, the right-hander was strong in his '20 debut on Sunday, holding the Brewers' lefty bats to a 2-for-15 showing with seven of Chatwood's eight strikeouts in a 9-1 victory at Wrigley Field.

One noticeable difference was a cutter that broke in sharply to Milwaukee's left-handed batters, working well as a counter to the sinker that runs the opposite direction. Overall, Chatwood threw his cutter 31 percent of the time (compared to 10.2 percent in '19) and generated six swinging strikes (out of 11 total).

"When you're lane changing, or tunneling, as it's called now," Cubs manager David Ross said, "that sinker off that cutter ... you saw those hitters off-balance a lot, not knowing which lane to choose."

Chatwood noted that he altered the grip on his cutter some, reverting back to a hand position similar to throwing a slider. Per Statcast, his cutter averaged 90.5 mph on Sunday, creating another velocity tier to go with his four-seam and sinker (both around 95 mph on average), changeup (85-86 mph) and curve (79-80 mph).

Chatwood also noted that he has started featuring his curveball in different counts than in the past, following conversations with pitching coach Tommy Hottovy and the Cubs' analytics team. He cited a 2-0 curve to Justin Smoak in the first inning that was called for a strike.

"I dont think I've ever done that. And it's a strike," Chatwood said. "It just catches guys in between rather than just sitting in one gear, sitting hard. So just being able to do that, and actually being able to execute it, is the big part."

Cubs "feel safe" in Cincy
Given the COVID-19 concerns that led to a pair of games (Yankees at Phillies and Orioles at Marlins) being postponed on Monday, Cubs player representative Ian Happ said he has been in communication with the MLB Players Association.

"Just to be informed of what's going on," Happ said on a Zoom call Monday. "As far as our clubhouse, as far as our situation, we obviously feel safe, because we've done a good job going through everything, going through all the protocols."

To date, no Cubs players have had a positive COVID-19 test.

Both Happ and Ross said the Cubs' travel experience to Cincinnati on Monday went well, and the outfielder praised the staff at the team hotel and Great American Ball Park for all the work they put in to make the players feel comfortable.

Happ said the communication with the Reds ahead of the current series was also good, especially given that Cincinnati had a couple of players out due to illness this past weekend. Ross noted that the Cubs were given details on the Reds' situation before arriving to the ballpark.

"There's been an explanation of what's gone on over there and the details," Ross said, "kind of the behind-the-scenes look. And then we've made a determination that we feel like it's safe to step on the field with them."

Worth noting
• Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks was named the National League Player of the Week, following his three-hit shutout on Opening Day. That comes after Happ won the final 2019 NL Player of the Week honor 43 weeks ago.

"Forty-three weeks. What a run," Happ quipped. "But, super happy to keep it in the family. I think if we can do that for the whole year, the Cubs are going to be all right. If we can just keep passing that around in the clubhouse, we'll be OK."

• Cubs center fielder Albert Almora Jr. was awarded MLB's Play of the Week for his leaping catch in the eighth inning Sunday. On the play, Almora slammed into the bricks and ivy in right-center field after the grab.

"That was impressive," Ross said. "The guys going back on that wall and the lack of fear they have jumping into that ivy, coupled with that brick wall behind there, I can't say enough about that."

• With southpaw Wade Miley starting for the Reds on Monday, Ross unveiled his first lineup vs. a lefty. Kris Bryant moved to left field, David Bote started at third base, and Ross put Steven Souza Jr. (right field) and Almora (center) in the lineup.

Quotable
"It's just what we're dealing with here in 2020 in this environment. It just reheightens your awareness and continues to create a focus of going through the protocols. And I think the main thing that we've done a really good job of at home is following those protocols, and we've got to continue to do that on the road." -- Ross, on the two games postponed by MLB