Chicago Cubs: A chat with Eduardo Perez ahead of Sunday Night Baseball

As the Chicago Cubs take on Max Scherzer and the Washington Nationals, we sat down with ESPN analyst and former big leaguer Eduardo Perez for a chat.

This weekend series at Wrigley Field between the Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals has been a roller coaster of emotions for fans.

In Friday’s opener, Nationals starter Jeremy Hellickson carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning. The Cubs bats then roared to life late, picking up the win. On Saturday, a Washington offense led by Ryan Zimmermann put a hurting on Jon Lester, sending him to yet another lopsided second half loss.

With a series victory on the line Sunday night, Chicago hands the ball to left-hander Cole Hamels for his first career Wrigley Field start as a member of the Chicago Cubs. He faces little margin for error as he’s opposed by likely NL Cy Young finalist Max Scherzer on the bump.

Ahead of Sunday’s series finale, we sat down with ESPN MLB analyst and former big leaguer Eduardo Perez to get his thoughts on these two teams, Bryce Harper and what October will hold this time around.

Chicago Cubs: Get ready for a death blow, Nats fans

We’re rapidly approaching mid-August. The Washington Nationals enter Sunday night’s finale at the Confines 5 1/2 games out in the National League East and 4 1/2 out of a wild card spot. According to Perez, it’s time for the Nats to get hot – or risk missing the postseason altogether.

“This is the time. You look at it, we’re in August. This is the time you gotta get it going. A team like the Nationals, they have the potential of getting it started. They have the players – we know that. From Rendon to Harper to Turner, so on and so forth … I think this is a team that could definitely catch fire and they are yet to do it all year.”

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Washington went 20-7 in the month of May, leading everyone to believe things were back on-track. But they followed that with a 9-16 June and an 11-14 July as they stare up at two young, upstart squads in the Phillies and Braves.

While the Cubs have overcome a bevy of injuries, the Nats have been crippled by them all season long. Perez was quick to point out the blame doesn’t fall at the feet of first-year skipper Davey Martinez, because, at the end of the day, you have play the game with the cards you’re dealt.

“If you asked me today, with the way they’ve played, I’d say ‘no.’ That’s tough because this is a team that’s built to win,” he said. “The last few years, they’ve won 90-plus games. The disappointment wasn’t about getting to the playoffs, it’s about getting to the World Series. But the injuries have really killed them.”

And, if you think missing the postseason would be tough for Nats fans, it gets worse – or, at least it will, according to the ESPN commentator. He believes Bryce Harper will sign with either Philadelphia or Atlanta this offseason.

Chicago Cubs: Don’t sleep on the Pirates or Cardinals just yet

With reinforcements in the form of Bryant, Darvish and Brandon Morrow likely coming in the final six weeks of the season, the Cubs are in a good place. They enter Sunday with a two-game edge in the division with an upcoming series against the Brewers coming up this week – a team in danger of fading, if you ask Perez.

“The strongest part of the Milwaukee Brewers in the first half was their bullpen. The problem is they haven’t been the same team when it comes to the bullpen of-late. And if that falters, they’re in trouble.”

Perez remains high on two surging teams in the second half in St. Louis and Pittsburgh. Neither can be counted out of the postseason picture just yet. The Cardinals are just 2 1/2 games out of a playoff spot and the Pirates sit just four back.

But no matter who you have representing this division come October, don’t expect a resolution anytime soon. That hardly comes as a surprise given how close the race was last year. People forget – the Cubs wrapped things up extraordinarily early in 2016 – which makes sense given they ran off 103 wins in the regular season.

“I don’t think this division is going to be won going into September. It’s going to be decided deep in the month.”

Chicago Cubs: Thoughts on a very good Cubs team

As the Cubs look to pick up momentum in the season’s final two months, they’ll continue to lean heavily on All-Star infielder Javier Baez. The Puerto Rican slugger trails only J.D. Martinez of the Boston Red Sox with his 89 RBI and leads the NL with 245 total bases.

Granted, his offensive performance this year has been nothing short of astounding. But there’s so much more that makes him invaluable to this Cubs team.

“Forget about the most valuable player in the league,” Perez said. “He’s been their most valuable asset because he not only beats you offensively, but he beats you on the bases, he beats you with his glove – and at multiple positions.”

As Chicago gets their big pieces back, they stand a fair chance at running off a third consecutive National League Central crown. But, at least for now, it comes down to taking care of business one day at a time.

And, at least for the part of Eduardo Perez, he believes the Cubs can win without the bat of Kris Bryant. Will Yu Darvish decide Chicago’s postseason fate? The pieces are there to make another run. But if the Cubs slip up, there are plenty of teams taking aim at the crosshairs on their backs.