Chicago Cubs: Keep an eye out for the missing Cubs’ offense

As the Chicago Cubs ready themselves for a streak of 23 consecutive games, it’s do-or-die time. If they want to play in October, it starts and ends with offense.

The beginning of August has begun relatively successful for the Chicago Cubs. They’re 10-7 in the month thus far, and the club’s pitching has been respectable.

Through the first two-thirds of the month, they carry a 3.87 ERA and 3.81 xFIP with a 2.1 WAR. The problem, which loomed larger than ever this weekend in Pittsburgh, is the bats. It is a mystery to find out where they have gone.

As such, unfortunately, it has been a trend the entire month, despite a winning record. During August, the Cubs find themselves 24th in the league in overall offense. One of those reasons for their success, as mentioned before, is the fact that their rotation is currently ninth in overall pitching.

Wake me up when August ends

Yes, the Cubs are 10-7 in August. Over the past 10 days, the team is 5-4. The record would typically not stand out in any significant way. However it is mind-blowing, considering in the nine-game stretch with a winning record, the offense has somehow figured out how to average a porous 2.55 runs per game.

Going back to July, the Cubs batted, as a team, .268/.348/.418 with 25 home runs and 115 RBI. They recorded a team wOBA of .332 and a wRC+ of 106. Overall, the month’s production helped them finish with a 5.1 WAR.

It has been a completely different tune this month. The collective slash line has dropped all the way to .242/.305/.374 with a .293 wOBA and a pathetic 80 wRC+. Talk about a complete 360. Through the first few weeks of the month as well, the Cubs have only posted a 1.0 WAR. Something has to change.

Finding their groove

The next few weeks are going to be quite a ride for the Chicago Cubs. It will also go a long way in determining the division race and the playoff picture, as a whole. It is why it is imperative that the Cubs find their offense sooner rather than later. The most significant benefit to the team, however, is the much-needed return of big bopper Kris Bryant back to the lineup. Bryant is sure to spark some fireworks for the bats to get rolling.

The beginning of the marathon gives the Cubs much winnable ball games as they host the Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets. Both are cellar dwellers in their divisions giving the Cubs a chance to put a severe dent in the division lead.

Following those two series, things become a little more challenging. They start with a makeup game in Atlanta, followed by series with the Philadelphia Phillies, then, the second-place Milwaukee Brewers, followed up by the Washington Nationals to close things out. The final three games before a single day off is a home series versus the Brewers again.

The club has three more scheduled off-days remaining for the rest of the season. The benefit to the back end of the schedule, however, is that they finish with seven straight home games. For a team who will be on the grind for the foreseeable future and no breaks, the need to find their groove and get the offense going strong again is crucial. Let’s hope they can start it all off right.