This is not where the Chicago Cubs wanted to be. More than halfway through June and nine games shy of the midway point of the season, the Cubs are in last place in the NL Central. Two games separate Chicago from second place, while eight and a half games separate the Cubs from first place.
The division was expected to be wide open and after the Cubs narrowly missed the playoffs last year, Chicago was among the favorites for the division in 2024. Now the Cubs face a difficult hill to climb, although making the playoffs via the wild card standings is not out of the question.
The Cubs have to start winning for that to happen though. Outside of a two-game sweep over the Chicago White Sox, the Cubs haven’t won a series since May 12. They haven’t won consecutive series since mid-April.
Recently it’s the offense that’s been anchoring the team down. The Cubs scored a combined three runs in their last three losses with a 5-1 win sandwiched in there. Chicago ranks 27th in team batting average, but shortstop Dansby Swanson says the team needs to stay the course and find its identity.
“It’s so easy, when times get hard, to try and jump ship or want to do this change or that change,” Swanson said, per Patrick Mooney. “Sometimes, when you try so many different changes, you kind of forget what you are in the first place. Sometimes, it’s just getting back to who you — and we — are as a group. Things tend to work out. That’s just kind of the message, continuing to not only be positive but be confident.”
After an All-Star season in 2023, Swanson hasn’t found success at the plate this year. His slash line of .212/.291/.349 all represent career lows. He's hit everywhere but ninth in the Cubs lineup.
Cubs in the mix for NL wild card…for now
It is June 17 and all but two teams are firmly in the playoff race in the National League. Although only four teams have winning records, nine teams are separated by two games in the wild-card standings.
It would be an insane summer if all those teams remain in contention, but it’s unlikely to happen. Do the Cubs have enough to stay in the mix? Teams with great pitching can usually survive and the Cubs have exceptional starting pitching. Chicago's starters rank sixth in ERA.
To show how much the Cubs have wasted that pitching, Chicago starters have only 15 wins this year. Part of that is due to injuries among the pitching staff. Manager Craig Counsell shed an optimistic view on that front.
“We’ve got things going on now. We’ve also got guys coming back. I feel like there’s some light at the end of the tunnel,” Counsell said.
It's nice to be in every game, but the Cubs have to take advantage of their pitching and win on a more consistent basis. There is enough talent in the lineup to make noise in a crowded NL playoff picture. Chicago should be hungry too after losing five of six to end 2023 and miss the postseason.
The Cubs want to be buyers at the trade deadline, but it wouldn’t make a ton of sense if they don’t at least get back to .500 by the All-Star break. They could still be in the hunt by the last week of July without any moves but it wouldn’t surprise anyone if the Cubs made some calls.
Chicago expects to win with this roster but it hasn’t come together. Perhaps a shake-up is just what they need to ignite a competitive summer.
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