Stroman's Disastrous Outing Comes At Worst Time for Chicago Cubs

Marcus Stroman had his first disastrous start of the season on Sunday and it could not have come at a worst time for the Chicago Cubs.

Even the best pitchers in Major League Baseball have off days.

That happened to Chicago Cubs ace Marcus Stroman on Sunday.

Stroman gave up a season-high six runs in a 16-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins. He allowed seven hits and walked two in just 2.2 innings. His previous shortest stint came on Sept. 2018, when he went 1.2 innings.

Now there have been other short starts, but they had injury issues or weather problems.

Stroman insisted after the game that he’ll adjust and come back strong.

“It’s got to be more in between innings now,” Stroman told reporters of making adjustments. “You can’t really make many adjustments out there between because, like you said, the pitch clock. So, just got to be dialed in mechanically, to be honest with you. Can’t really step off and readjust in game. You kind of have to focus on in between starts and dialing in then.”

Stroman hadn't pitched fewer than five innings in any of his previous eight starts of the season while turning into a true ace.

Poor outings happen. To everyone.

“Just one of those where I kind of know where I’ve got to get to mechanically and I was just struggling to get there in the game,” Stroman said. “Yeah, hopefully work these next four, five days and be better on Saturday against Philly.”

Stroman’s teammates are fully behind him. They’ve seen how great he can be.

“Obviously, Stroman’s been awesome,” Dansby Swanson told reporters. “All of our guys have been pretty dialed in this year. I feel like when we made a mistake, they seemed to hit it hard and far. But I think that those guys are so good at coming back for the next start and kind of getting back into what makes them them and executing pitches. Obviously, I have all the faith in the world in them.

”Stroman has been so good this season and will continue to excel. History proves that.

More From SI's Inside The Cubs

1. Could Mike Trout Request a Trade to the Chicago Cubs?
2. Did David Robertson Net the Cubs a Future Star in Ben Brown?
3. Hoerner is the Cubs Shortstop of the Future
4. Cubs Could Give Canario a Shot in September
5. Could the Cubs Land Trea Turner in the Offseason?
6. Chicago Cubs Have a New Top Prospect in Their Rankings
7. Is This Top Cubs Prospect Destined for the Mound at Wrigley?
8. Steele Offers Glimpse Into Future of Cubs Rotation
9. Do the Chicago Cubs Have the National League's Best Bullpen?
10. Can Christopher Morel be a Long-Term Solution in Center Field