Penultimate Pre-All-Star Cubs Off Day Thoughts

By
Rice Cube
-
57
The five guys who hit 8 homers to set a new Cubs team record

There remains just one more week and six games until the All-Star Break, and also incidentally the MLB Draft, before the teams ramp up their efforts for the July 31 trade deadline. The Cubs, of course, keep chugging along, still not having won more than five in a row nor have they lost more than three in a row, and it seems to be that consistency that has allowed them to maintain their top position in the NL Central as well as their current status as one of the National League teams that will earn a bye, pending the results of the final 72 games, of course. But honestly, like Obi-Wan, you want the high ground, so this can’t be construed as anything but a good thing.

The Cubs will still have to deal with their NL Central foes some more for the remainder of the season, but it’s fun to note that they haven’t been swept in any series (still!), and also have a winning record (so far) against each of the other Central clubs chasing them. Including the home run bombing on Friday and the dismantling on Sunday Night Baseball after a rain delay, the Cubs have a ridiculous 19-9 record in blowout victories, the best run differential in the majors, and it’s mildly disappointing that they’ve underperformed their expected record because of this. But it’s also reassuring that they somehow could be better, even as they navigate pitching injuries, the occasional bullpen blowup in the midst of a run of relief pitching dominance, and some questionable coaching decisions and player performances at times (at least if you’re reading the Twitter GM comments).

On the statistical side, we are looking at seven Cubs with double-digit home runs, led by Not-All-Star Seiya Suzuki (who also leads the majors in RBI thanks to hitting behind Happ and Tucker methinks, but you still have to get the hits, right). There are 11 Cubs currently hitting above average, including all three primary catchers who have played this year (imagine when Miguel Amaya is ready to return to really deploy this three-headed monster, ha). The pitching side is not as impressive as the offense, but they have benefited from all-world defense at just about every position on the diamond, and generally eat enough innings to keep the pressure off of the bullpen, so I guess the game plan is working overall.

There is starting to be some separation in the playoff odds graph, and the numbers show now that the Cubs are projected with 76.5% odds to win the Central, 38.1% to clinch a bye berth, and an overall 94.4% chance to make the postseason in any manner, although I feel like we would all be disappointed if they went in as a wild card right now. The Cubs continuing to rise above the pack despite playing in a superior National League and possibly the toughest division in the majors (the AL East is pretty jumbled up right now too) has to be encouraging as they look to add at the deadline and get some key players back healthy.

57 COMMENTS

  15. I seriously did not remember Beef Castle as a White Sox

    Daily Walkoff ⚾️
    Cubs #312

    “The 312”
    🟡🟡🟢⚪️
    🟢🟢🟢🟢🚀

    dailywalkoff.com

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  35. To-day’s based ball squadron

    DH Happ
    RF Tucker
    LF Suzuki
    CF PCA
    1B Busch
    SS Swanson
    2B Hoerner
    C McGuire
    3B Shaw

    SP Horton

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  50. Definitely love to see PCA start to elevate the ball again on the eve of heading to Yankee Stadium, (dying laughing).

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