Chicago Cubs have a perfect opportunity with Mike Trout-less Angels in town

 Behind Cole Hamels and four home runs, the Chicago Cubs took care of business on Friday. Now, they have to finish the job this weekend at Wrigley Field.

Day by day, the Chicago Cubs are inching closer and closer to the even keel mark. Entering play against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Saturday, Joe Maddon‘s club sits just three games under .500 at 5-8 after a dismal season-opening road trip had fans and pundits on red alert.

But after winning their last two games, Chicago sits just 3 1/2 games behind the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers with a prime opportunity at hand. Milwaukee is battling with the reigning NL pennant-winning Los Angeles Dodgers this weekend. Meanwhile, the Cubs have two more against an Angels team lacking the best player in the game in Mike Trout.

The two-time MVP and seven-time All-Star didn’t travel with the team this weekend, instead staying behind in Anaheim to receive treatment for a groin strain. Without his bat in the lineup, the Angels may have to get creative to generate offense. That or Albert Pujols can continue bringing back the nightmare of when he played in St. Louis as he did Friday when he golfed a pitch into the left field bleachers.

We chatted with Halo Hangout before the series to gauge how they were feeling about this team. Here’s what they had to say.