Chicago Cubs: Opening month of season shows team’s inconsistency

Apr 26, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Chicago Cubs players (L to R) Jon Jay (30) and Jason Hayward (22) and Kyle Schwarber (12) and Addison Russell (27) and Albert Almora Jr. (5) look on before playing the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 26, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Chicago Cubs players (L to R) Jon Jay (30) and Jason Hayward (22) and Kyle Schwarber (12) and Addison Russell (27) and Albert Almora Jr. (5) look on before playing the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
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Chicago Cubs
Apr 13, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs left fielder Kyle Schwarber (12) hits an RBI single during the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports

The not so good

With every good, there are some things that are not quite as good.

Most obvious is the rate at which the Chicago Cubs strike out – 26 percent of the time, higher than last season. Much of that is the addition of Kyle Schwarber and the regular starts of free-swinging Javier Baez. Conversely, they are not walking at the same clip either.

Furthermore, like 2016, the Cubs are leaving runners on base. The MLB average is 157 runners left on to this point. Batters for the Cubs have left 182 runners on, third-most in baseball. While it is a bit lower than the pace set last season, the potential for more runs clearly exists.

What will help is getting Schwarber and Ben Zobrist hitting. As of May 1, both key batters are hitting just above .200. Maybe playing the outfield is causing distraction for both players, but the team needs them to start hitting.

Schedule