Chicago Cubs: Five predictions for the second half

Bryant, Rizzo finish one-two in NL for home runs

This one isn’t all that groundbreaking of a prediction. Kris Bryant currently leads the NL with 25, and I expect him to have another hot stretch where he puts some space between himself and the rest of the league. Remember in Spring Training when he changed his swing and wasn’t hitting the long ball? People worried. Well, worry no more. Bryant and his new swing are working out just fine.

And then there’s Anthony Rizzo. At one point people were wondering what his deal was. Suddenly he couldn’t hit lefties and was batting in the .240’s. The real Rizzo has returned, and while the Cubs offense as a whole has sputtered, Rizzo has elevated his game at the plate. While not necessarily a true “power hitter”, these two and their swings are making for plenty of souvenirs at Bryzzo Souvenier Company.

Part of this prediction is made on the understanding that these two are extremely talented. But the other half of that is that the rest of the group around them in the standings aren’t likely going to be there in the end. Yoenis Cespedes likely will. And Giancarlo Stanton put on a show in the Home Run Derby that I think will elevate him back to where he was before this dreadful slump. But players like Chris Carter, Trevor Story and Adam Duvall won’t maintain their pace.

Next: The Big trade?