Chicago Cubs: Anthony Rizzo and his consistency is key moving forward

Chicago Cubs: Making history atop the batting order

In the final series before the break, the Cubs traveled to San Diego for a three-game set with the Padres.

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The Cubs swept the series with Rizzo batting in the leadoff position and ending the first half on a tear. He went 6-for-15 with three doubles, two runs scored and two runs batted in. That play carried over as soon as the Cubs began their second-half surge.

Maddon again put Rizzo in the leadoff spot for 24 straight contests post-All-Star Break. During that stretch, Rizzo batted .319, slugged .538 and hit a walk-off home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks the back half of back-to-back home runs in a ninth-inning comeback at Wrigley.

While Rizzo got back to being himself, the rest of the Cubs offense was spiraling to the finish line. Injuries plagued the Cubs with Kris Bryant out until early September.

Other players like Willson Contreras and Kyle Schwarber struggled down the stretch, leaving gaping holes in what most expected to be a potent Cubs lineup.