Chicago Cubs: Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant will break slump soon

A week ago, the Chicago Cubs found themselves in a skid, sitting at the bottom of the N.L. Central. They’ve gotten hot lately, without help from their two stars.

Don’t call it an early comeback. Things are looking well for the Chicago Cubs right now, although a three-game sweep of the Miami Marlins isn’t necessarily saying much. Miami is easily one of the worst teams in baseball.

However, it’s a fresh starting point and something this club could use to motivate themselves as they push through the remainder of April ahead of a nightmarish May schedule. Thankfully, their starting rotation is beginning to turn things around as well as the bullpen.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed and think positive thoughts as the Cubs play in their own backyard.

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As of late, Daniel Descalso, Jason Heyward, Javier Baez and Willson Contreras have annihilating opposing pitchers. Plenty of run support has been required to begin the year after the pitching staff stumbled out of the gate.

If you have been paying attention, you’re aware of the lack of production coming from one of the leagues most powerful duo in Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant.

It’s a slump that will surely come to an end soon — hopefully, while the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers are in town. Yet, it is difficult to ignore.

April Sorrows

Ahead of the series with Arizona, Rizzo has made 57 plate appearances, recording only nine hits (three being home runs) while striking out 15 times and hitting a wet .158/.284/.333. His early six-game hitting streak came to an end in Milwaukee as he tallied only two hits between Los Angeles and Pittsburgh before going hitless in Miami.

As for the 2015 N.L. Rookie of the Year and 2016 N.L. MVP, it hasn’t been as bad but a slump is a slump regardless. On Opening Day, Bryant belted a three-run homer and has recorded a hit in 12 of Chicago’s 15 contests (pending breakout performance vs Arizona) thus far.

“Right now when he has bad games, he’s just not hitting to his standards. That’s the disconnect. But he’ll be back to his standards.” — Joe Maddon via Chicago Tribune

What matters is that both men are aware of what’s happening and seem eager to pick it up sooner rather than later. Hopefully, by the time this piece comes across your mobile device or web browser, these two powerhouse athletes will be chasing Arizona out of Wrigleyville.

It isn’t rock bottom for Rizzo and or Bryant. We’re only halfway through April. Don’t worry. The only direction these two can go from here is up. When they’re working the count and finding their pitches, the league will be put on notice.