Chicago Cubs: The bullpen has been solid; most of the time

Despite the ups and downs of the Chicago Cubs this season, one thing has remained fairly constant, the play of the bullpen

The 2017 season has not turned out the way many Chicago Cubs fans thought it would. After winning 103 games last season without Kyle Schwarber, many people believed the 2017 Cubs would be better than last year’s team.

Despite optimistic views before the season, the Cubs have struggled to remain constant both at the plate and on the mound. That lack of consistency is perhaps best outlined by the Cubs’ performances on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Playing against the Diamondbacks on Tuesday, the Cubs’ offense scored 16 runs and notched 17 hits in a 16-4 win. Following that offensive explosion, the Cubs failed to score a run on Wednesday against the same opponent, recording just three hits in a 3-0 loss.

Even after dropping their last two games, the Cubs still own a 14-5 record since the All-Star break and a 1 1/2 game lead in the NL Central.

Despite the Cubs hot streak since the All-Star break, Chicago’s offense ranks 25th in batting average and is tied for 13th in runs scored. Even though that is the case, the Cubs have seen consistent play out of one facet of their team; the bullpen.