Kris Bryant showing Chicago Cubs fans he’s primed for another monster year

After a slow start, Chicago Cubs slugger Kris Bryant has been on an absolute tear, leading the offense and silencing his critics in one fell swoop.

Even saying Kris Bryant has been hot lately is a vast understatement. As the Chicago Cubs put the finishing touches on an 8-2 homestand on the national stage Sunday night, Bryant once again made a statement, blasting a two-run homer in the seventh for some added insurance against the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers.

The long ball, his eighth on the season, ultimately proved unnecessary, thanks to another sterling start from veteran ace Jon Lester, who lowered his earned run average on the year to an MLB-leading 1.16. But the story here, at least right now, is Bryant, who has really turned things around in the last month.

No one made much of Anthony Rizzo‘s slow start. Why? Simple. He does this like clockwork every year. The Chicago first baseman draws his walks but doesn’t really do much else in early April. Then, right about the time you turn the calendar to May, he gets scorching hot and continues his march to another 100-RBI campaign.

Bryant, on the other hand, is a notoriously quick starter. He has a career .873 OPS in March and April – and last season, he tore out of the gates at a scorching .948 OPS before falling victim to injury. But that’s not on anyone’s mind right now, because the former Rookie of the Year and National League MVP is firing on all cylinders.