Chicago Cubs: Better offense in 28 days or less

Before the  All-Star break, the Chicago Cubs suffered through a tough stretch of games. Some started to question their depth and ability. For the last 28 days, they have been incredible.

28 Days. Type that into Google and you will get an eclectic cornucopia of results. From movies to self help programs, books to blogs, 28 days is a common theme. Most notably, this four-week time period is associated with self-help. 28 days to (insert adjective or goal here). If the Chicago Cubs were to write a book about this theme, it would be “Better Offense in 28 days.”

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The last four weeks have been amazing for the Cubs. They have the best record during this span, going 20-6, including 11 in a row. The starting pitching and defense have been solid all year. And we know about the tandem of Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo. What we have not paid enough attention to is the lineup that is working in concert with each other.  From Dexter Fowler to Willson Contreras, the entire line-up is contributing.

Getting on base

For the last 28 days, each player in the Chicago Cubs line-up is producing. Some have for the entire time period, but others are starting to come on over the last two weeks. The top four batting averages during this stretch are Bryant (.361), Rizzo (.316), Ben Zobrist  and Matt Szczur (.300). Every player who has played 13 or more games in the last four weeks has an on-base percentage of .319 or higher, with the exceptions of Jason Heyward and Javier Baez.  Add to that David Ross and Miguel Montero, who have on-base of .391 and .300 respectively.

When you get on base, you can score. Easy enough. And, when all players contribute, the Chicago Cubs can put up numbers. Home run leaders for the last 28 days? How about Bryant with 6, followed by Addison Russell, Jorge Soler and Baez with four. Ross, Szczur, Contreras, and Fowler all have two home runs, while Heyward, Zobrist and Rizzo have one each.

But, they are not just using the long-ball to score. They combine for 44 doubles and seven sacrifice flies. Everyone has scored 4 or more times, with five players scoring at least 10 times.

We know that the Chicago Cubs lineup can do, but now we are watching them do it together. What was the seventh best average in the National League before the All-Star break is now fifth. But over the last 28 days, they are hitting .288 as a unit. Much better than the .248 they were in July.

Next: Bryant take NL lead in home runs

If they can keep this up, the next 28 days will be exciting. Follow that up with the next 28, and we start the National League Championship Series. The Cubs will need that batting rhythm to win the NLCS and erase the memory of last year.