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

On the heels of four straight 30-homer seasons, Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo joined his teammates in their struggles to hit the long ball.

Anthony Rizzo’s durability and leadership throughout the season once again played a key role for the Chicago Cubs in 2018. Actually, this may have been more the case this season than in any recent year. When considering the team-wise offensive struggles in the second half, the Chicago first baseman did what he’s become known for – keeping things on an even keel.

He played in 150 games or more for the fifth time in seven seasons with the Cubs. The other two were his first year in Chicago in 2012 when he was promoted to the majors from Triple-A in the middle of the season and in 2014 when he played 140 games. Overall, his availability on a day-to-day basis cannot be questioned.

In 2018, despite seeing a slight power decrease, Rizzo still gave fans the approach we’ve grown to appreciate. He posted the lowest strikeout rate of his career (12 percent) while also still driving in 101 runs. His .283/.376/.470 slash line is nothing to complain about.

However, he did post his lowest slugging percentage since 2013 when he only slugged .419 and was only a 2.9 WAR player, also his lowest since 2013. But, as I said, the plate discipline he brings is something that stands out compared to other contributors on the Cubs offense.

Chicago Cubs: A disappointing start to the season

Rizzo had an April to forget. The first baseman posted an atrocious 32 wRC+ in the first month of the year. His .149/.259/.189 slash is one he’ll likely never want to see again. It was his worst April since 2016 when he batted .219. However, he still slugged eight home runs that month. In comparison, Rizzo hit one home run this April, which ironically was his only extra-base hit of the month, too.

The Cubs managed to stay the course though despite the horrific weather they experienced in Chicago. As temperatures got warmer, so did the Cubs slugger.

On May 1, Joe Maddon inserted Rizzo into the leadoff spot for the first time of the season and he took off from there. He launched a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first inning in an eventual 3-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies at Wrigley Field. For the next two months, Rizzo spent time all over the first four spots of the lineup.

He was much better going into the All-Star break slashing .276/.366/.473 from May 1 to July 15. He hit 11 home runs, drove in 30 runs and posted a 122 wRC+ in that span. Despite his slow start in April, the Cubs entered the break with the best record in the National League.

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.