Cubs Struggle to Gain Momentum, But Bright Spots Offer Hope

The Chicago Cubs hoped for a stronger start to their trip, avoiding a sweep at Coors Field against the team’s lowest-ranked opponent. Thursday’s victory could provide the boost they need against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Entering the series, the Cubs held a slim one-game lead above .500, sharing third place in the National League Central with the Pittsburgh Pirates, trailing the Milwaukee Brewers by 7½ games. This period has been challenging; the Cubs lost 22 of their last 30 games after winning 20 of 23.

1. Pete Crow-Armstrong: A Consistent Performer

Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong showed resilience amid a slow start. He maintained a 15-game on-base streak as one of the Cubs’ few consistent hitters. Over his last 31 games, Crow-Armstrong boasts a .267/.363/.509 slash line and 145 wRC+, featuring seven home runs, five doubles, and 16 RBIs. His 1.8 fWAR ties him with Shohei Ohtani as the best in the National League for the past month. He earned his first NL Player of the Week honor on Monday.

“Knowing exactly what I want to do each at-bat,” Crow-Armstrong explained. “You see people take good pitches, and they get more good pitches to hit, so just executing on those good pitches that I’m getting.”

Encouragingly, Crow-Armstrong maintains a respectable walk rate (9.6%) and strikeout rate (23.7%).

2. Ben Brown: A Reliable Asset in the Rotation

Unexpectedly, right-hander Ben Brown has emerged as the Cubs’ top starter this season. Due to a rotation gap created by Matthew Boyd’s May 8 knee surgery, Brown stepped in effectively. Ahead of his Saturday start against the Giants, Brown holds a 1.44 ERA in six starts with 34 strikeouts, eight walks, and no home runs allowed in 31 1/3 innings. His performance ranks him fifth in the majors among ERA leaders in this span.

“This is kind of what you talk about with injuries and opportunities,” manager Counsell observed. “This is often how it happens. And that’s why you preach like, you get bad news, you get sent down or you’re not maybe in the spot you want to be, but are you ready when the next moment, what you want, when that moment arrives? … He’s done a good job. He didn’t get deterred and made himself better.”

As the Cubs face a rough patch, lacking Brown’s performance could worsen their situation. Despite his efforts, the rotation’s recent 6.29 ERA ranks as the second-worst in MLB. Brown’s contributions strengthen his case for the Cubs’ All-Star Game representation next month.

3. Lineup Lacks Sufficient Power

Power is critical for top-tier offenses, encompassing more than just home runs; doubles matter too. Unfortunately, the Cubs falter in this aspect. Their three-homer game on Thursday marked their first since April 25. Since May 16, amid a 10-game losing streak, they rank 28th in slugging percentage (.364), just ahead of the Kansas City Royals (.361) and San Diego Padres (.354). Their .141 Isolated Power (ISO) ranks 27th. Notably, Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner, and Seiya Suzuki struggle with their wRC+ and slugging percentages during this period.

“Hitting, it’s really simple: when you get pitches to hit, those are the ones you’ve got to hit hard, and there’s been some hard-hit balls, but for the most part, we haven’t done that enough, and those are the pitches you’ve got to hit,” Counsell emphasized. “You’ve got to hit the pitches you get, and we’re having trouble, and when you’re not going well, that’s what it feels like, you miss the pitch you get to hit.”

Counsell explains the key offensive challenge: creating damage on hittable pitches, essential for overcoming slumps.