The Chicago Cubs were expected to be one of the better teams in the National League. They were coming off a season in which they went 92-70 and went to the NLDS. They made a splash during the offseason by signing Alex Bregman, giving the North Side a lot of optimism. They got off to a hot start, with a record 27-12 on May 8th. This was good for first in the NL Central and the best record in all of baseball. It seemed like they were going to be the team to beat in the NL this season.
However, since that date, the Cubs have fallen apart. They have lost 12 of their last 14 games and are currently on an eight-game losing streak. They went from the top of the Central to third place in a little over two weeks. Something that seemed impossible at the beginning of May. With such a brutal stretch, many are wondering what the reason for these struggles is. How have the Cubs gone from the best teams in the majors to a team at risk of falling out of a postseason spot?
What Is Causing The Cubs To Struggle?
With the team falling apart the way the Cubs have, there is usually not one issue. It is the culmination of many problems surfacing simultaneously. Which is exactly what is happening to the North Siders. But one of the biggest issues is this team’s inability to drive in runs. Since May 8th, they have averaged 2.71 runs per game. But this number is propped up by the Cubs’ scoring 10 and eight runs in two games during this stretch. Take those numbers out, and their average runs per game falls to 1.67.
The worst part is the Cubs; it’s not like their offense is struggling across the board. They have had no problems putting runners on base. They have just been unable to get the big hit. This has been a problem plaguing the Cubs all season. They currently lead the league with 7.92 runners left on base per game this season. As a team, they have slashed .230/.329/.355 with runners in scoring position. All of which ranks near the bottom of the league. You can not be a successful team when you’re unable to deliver with guys on base.
This used to be masked with good pitching; however, they have fallen off a cliff, specifically the starting staff. Since May 8th, their rotation has an ERA of 6.94 and has given up a league-high 19 home runs. How can a team expect to compete when you are putting up numbers like this? The starters are putting the Cubs in a hole early that the offense is just unable to dig themselves out of. It’s a recipe for disaster and explains why they look nothing like the team that was dominant at the start of the season.
But what should give fans hope is that help seems to be on the way. Both Matthew Boyd and Edward Cabrera should return from injury by late June. This will bring some stability back to the rotation and take the pressure off some of the guys who are struggling. While this will not fix the offense, it should allow them to trend water for the next few weeks. They should be able to stay in contention around the trade deadline, where the Cubs can add another bat or two. That should help them get the big hit that the offense has been missing all season.
While things look bad for the Cubs right now, they can easily turn it around. Once their rotation gets healthy and they are able to bring in a bat that can drive in some runs, they can easily return to being one of the best teams in the majors.
