Chicago Cubs: Is Jason Heyward the ‘X-factor’ moving forward?

Chicago Cubs: What if Heyward replicated his June numbers?

The Cubs had their second-highest scoring month in June, and Heyward was right at the center of their offensive production. Heyward slashed .326/./.379/.589 with six homers, 17 RBI and a 146 wRC+ value. In what was yet another boom-bust month for the offense, Heyward was the constant.

However, Chicago’s lineup has a different dynamic now.

Ben Zobrist has been fantastic at the leadoff spot since he returned to action. Nicholas Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber are continuing to rake, and both Nico Hoerner and Tony Kemp figure in bringing more contact to the plate with Baez on the shelf. Not to mention, Willson Contreras has returned with a vengeance.

Heyward’s ability to produce from the bottom of the lineup is more imperative now than ever before. If he can be a table-setter for the likes of Castellanos and Rizzo, the Cubs are naturally going to score more because of how good those guys are with runners in scoring position.