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Heading into the series: Chicago Cubs
Record: 6-6, 3rd in National League Central
Record (Last 10): 5-5
Team ERA: 3.26
Team OBP: .333
Team HR: 13
Team Leader (WAR): Kris Bryant–5.5
Situational hitting improving, but could be better
Entering the 2018 season, talks around the Cubs revolved around their offense. In 2017, they struggled with situational hitting at times despite scoring 822 runs (fourth best in MLB).
Fast forward to this season, where it has been more of the same for the Cubs. A .500 record is not the worst thing to have, especially through just 12 games. However, knowing the Cubs could have more wins with better hitting causes one to wonder.
Take a look at how the team has fared hitting with runners on base:
Runners on base AVG: .239, 18th in MLB
Runner on third, less than two outs AVG: .182, 27th in MLB
Runners in scoring position AVG: .193, 27th in MLB
Three of the Cubs losses have been by just one run; they were shutout in one of those games and scored just one run in the other. Despite all of this, things seem to be trending in the right direction for the team.
Kyle Schwarber has five hits in the last two games after going hitless in five straight contests. His batting average now stands at a respectable .270. Similarly, Ian Happ has a hit in six of his last seven games.
More from Cubbies Crib
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- Cubs starting pitching has been thriving on the North Side
- Make no mistake: the Cubs are very much about power hitters
- Cubs are giving pitcher Javier Assad a deserved shot
- Cubs: It’s time to start thinking about potential September call-ups
Happ struck out fourteen times in a five game span, to start the season. While he still is hitting just .216, he has struck out just four times in his last four games. Baby steps, people.
I’m sure the Cubs would love to be 9-3 like the Pirates currently are. However, their record could be a lot worse than 6-6, especially with how they have hit with runners on base. Here is how they should lineup Friday afternoon:
Projected Lineup
- Albert Almora, CF
- Tommy La Stella, 3B
- Kris Bryant, 1B
- Willson Contreras, C
- Kyle Schwarber, LF
- Addison Russell, SS
- Javier Baez, SS
- Jason Heyward, RF
- Yu Darvish, P