Chicago Cubs: Bench players helping spark many of the comebacks

The Chicago Cubs have a great starting lineup day in and day out, but they also have some solid bench players contributing to the cause.

The Chicago Cubs‘ major league roster is flush with talent. Players like Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, and Addison Russell make it hard for bench players to get many at-bats. Despite not receiving much playing time, the Cubs role players have produced very nicely thus far.

Miguel Montero

Miguel Montero is slated to enter free agency at the end of the 2017 season. He is making his case for a nice contract this off-season. Montero has appeared in 15 games and has recorded 42 plate appearances. In those plate appearances, Montero has slashed .385/.405/.641 with three home runs and five RBI. The 33-year-old catcher has on OPS+ of 175 which is two points higher than Mike Trout‘s 173 OPS+ during his MVP season in 2016.

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While it’s not likely Montero will keep up this pace, anything will be an improvement over his 2016 season. Last season, Montero slashed .216/.327/.357 with eight home runs and 33 RBI.

If Montero can provide the Cubs with solid offensive production for the remainder of the year, he should receive a good contract from either the Cubs or another big league team.

Jon Jay

Jon Jay was signed to a one-year deal before the 2017 season to provide outfield depth for the Cubs. With Dexter Fowler gone, a combination of Albert Almora, Jason Heyward, and Jay will patrol center field for the Cubs this season.

So far, Jay is filling his role nicely. The 32-year-old Jay has appeared in 25 games thus far and is slashing .347/.458/.429 with two doubles and a triple.

Jay normally bats at the bottom of the Cubs order when he is in the line-up. On Thursday, Jay got an opportunity to bat leadoff. The veteran outfielder did not disappoint. Jay went 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored.

With Kyle Schwarber batting under .200 on the season, many fans are starting to wonder if Jay would be better suited in the leadoff spot. That would likely mean less playing time for Albert Almora who is off to an excellent start in 2017.

If Schwarber continues to struggle at the plate, the likelihood of Jay taking over the leadoff spot will grow. However, it will still be unlikely, especially with Jay performing so well at the bottom of the order.

Matt Szczur

Matt Szczur is off to the slowest start of any Cubs bench player. The 27-year-old has only recorded 22 plate appearances thus far in 2017. In those plate appearances, Szczur is slashing .211/.273/.263 with three RBI and a double.

With Jon Jay and Albert Almora performing so well, there has not been much playing time for Szczur. He did start the game against the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday and went 1-for-5 with a RBI.

Szczur’s name has been floated around in trade rumors this season. With the depth that the Cubs have in the outfield, trading Szczur might be the best option.

Good bench players make for a good team

Yes, All-Star caliber players have carried the Cubs for much of the last two seasons. Without bench players who can produce when called upon, it makes it hard to give starters days off.

Next: Castro makes his return to Wrigley Field

If you think bench players don’t make a difference, remember who drove in what ended up being the game-winning run in Game 7 of the World Series. Here’s a hint, he is mentioned somewhere above.

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