Manager Joe Maddon said reliever Hector Rondon displayed his best stuff Sunday in the seventh inning of the Cubs’ 5-3 win over the Cardinals.
Rondon rebounded from Friday’s performance in which he failed to retire any of the four batters he faced. That blemished a stretch in which he posted a 1.38 ERA in 13 appearances.
Rondon’s fastball has been clocked recently in the 98 mph range, and Maddon revealed that Rondon is the latest in a list of relievers who have benefited from meetings with closer Wade Davis dating back to spring training.
“(Davis) is out there and knows if he doesn’t have everything going on, he can still get this done somehow,” Maddon said. “And it’s good that Ronnie has listened. Wade is a good influence.”
Maddon said that Davis has shared his experiences with the rest of the bullpen, which has helped Rondon in specific situations.
“That’s what Ronnie needs to do,” Maddon said. “He needs to go out there with a plan, as opposed to winding up and throwing the pitch and hoping it doesn’t get hit.”
Rondon has struck out 48 in 38 2/3 innings.
In an interview in May, Carl Edwards Jr. revealed he benefited simply from watching Davis, who has converted all 20 of his save opportunities.
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