The Cubs Are Looking Far From a Playoff Team This Year Despite Winning Record
By Sean Facey
The Chicago Cubs haven't had much to write home about lately. They're right in the thick of a four-game losing streak and have gotten shellacked in their recent series against the rival Pittsburgh Pirates.
They might be over .500 and just a half-game out of a playoff spot, but they certainly don't seem deserving of it. Don't let their standing fool you: The Cubs haven't looked nor played anywhere close to playoff-caliber baseball this year.
The Cubs keep finding new heartbreaking ways to lose:https://t.co/IL8iaRnHI0
— Cubs Talk (@NBCSCubs) July 4, 2019
The only reason they're even in contention to win the NL Central is because their divisional foes, most notably the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals, have also failed to live up to expectations. If not for their under-performance, they'd be in even worse shape.
Few aspects of the team have inspired confidence. The bullpen has blown 13 saves this year, and free agent signing Craig Kimbrel, who many thought to be the solution to their relief woes, owns a horrific 16.88 ERA through his first three appearances.
Craig Kimbrel in two appearances over last three days:
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) July 4, 2019
1.2 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 2 HR.
Blew a save and took the loss tonight.
16.88 ERA in 3 games.
The offense, once thought to be their strength, has gone cold, posting an underwhelming 92 wRC+ since the start of June.
They've lost critical games against potential playoff foes like the Braves and Dodgers, and they've dropped five of their last six to the Pirates and Reds, who sit fourth and fifth in the NL Central. That's a recipe for massive disappointment, and they're executing it to the dismay of their fans.
5 NL Central teams will be separated by 3.5 games when this day is over. At the moment, 9 NL teams are within 3.5 games of a Wild Card berth. To put it another way: 12 of 15 NL teams are very much in contention.
— Richard Justice (@richardjustice) July 4, 2019
As of right now, this is not an October-worthy team. They're playing uninspired baseball, losing games to opponents they should handily beat. They lack the drive that it takes to earn a spot in the playoffs, which isn't exactly surprising considering their disappointing exit from the postseason last year.
And they've chosen the worst year to lose that drive. They're one of seven teams within four games of the second wild card spot in the NL. If they don't turn it around soon, they'll find themselves getting leapfrogged by teams that are hungrier for playoff baseball than they are.
Good thing the All-Star break is coming up.