Chicago Cubs News: Padres avoid sweep; Assessing the NL Central

Jun 21, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; San Diego Padres first baseman Wil Myers (4) slides safely into third base while Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant (17) attempts a tag during the eighth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 21, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; San Diego Padres first baseman Wil Myers (4) slides safely into third base while Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant (17) attempts a tag during the eighth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Cubs couldn’t complete the sweep of the San Diego Padres as they dropped the finale 3-2 on Wednesday. With the NL Central in the state it’s in, the Cubs are still in the thick of it.

The Chicago Cubs could hold the two-run lead as the Padres scored three–once in the fifth, sixth and eighth–to top the Cubs and avoid the sweep. Ian Happ hit a two-run blast, but that was one of just two Cubs hits on the afternoon. Eddie Butler kept things close but could only go four-plus innings, once again putting the early pressure on the bullpen. The Cubs will head to Miami to open a four-game series with the Marlins on Thursday.

Not many could have expected the Cubs to be in second place at this point in the season. Fewer would have picked the Brewers to be the team ahead of them. Even with the Cubs struggles they’re still in the race. We take an early look at how the race is shaping up, and who might still be in it down the stretch. Will the Brewers be able to maintain this level? Can the Cardinals rebound? Will the Cubs eventually win the division? We try to answer all of these as we assess the Central.

Chris Archer. It’s that time of year that his name rises up to the top of the trade rumors. And it seems that every year the Cubs are always one of the first teams mentioned in any of those rumors. Every season it seems that the rumor is alway one or two of the Cubs top prospects for Archer. But we’re here to tell you that Archer isn’t worth that, regardless how bad the Cubs need pitching.

These and other stories you might have missed:

‘Cubs fail to sweep Padres in 3-2 loss’ – Cubbies Crib

‘Assessing the state of the NL Central’ – Cubbies Crib

‘A top prospect for Archer? Think again‘ – Cubbies Crib

‘Chapman fires the fastest pitch of 2017’ – MLB.com

‘Scherzer loses no-hitter in 8th, then game’ – ESPN

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