Cubs: 3 biggest takeaways from the team’s first 21 games

We’re three weeks into the 2021 regular season and, so far, the Chicago Cubs have been pretty much what we expected them to be: a team capable of going off one day and plating a dozen runs only to fail to score the very next.

Chicago enters Monday’s series opener with Atlanta at 10-11 on the year after getting dominated by Brandon Woodruff for the third time this month. The club looks like a pretty middle-of-the-road team whose future will be determined by how they play over the next two months.

A continued slow start could see the Cubs selling off pieces as early as June, according to Buster Olney, while a first-half hot streak could prompt the team to add one more time at the deadline in hopes of trying to pull a rabbit out of its hat before Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Javier Baez hit free agency at year’s end.

Speaking of Bryant, the former National League MVP is off to a strong start, slashing .292/.373/.597 with a 160 wRC+ on the year. Obviously, seeing him healthy and productive is huge for the Cubs – especially after learning he was playing through some pretty serious injuries last season.

The odds of him re-signing with Chicago seem slim-to-none, but him recapturing some value before the deadline could go a long way in shaping the team’s future in the form of an improved return in any Kris Bryant trade this summer. For now, it’s been nice to see the slugger healthy and dominant on the diamond.

Cubs searching for consistency, improvements from the starting rotation

The Cubs front office has been pretty adept when it comes to piecing together a pitching staff through a hodgepodge of reclamation projects and buy-low, one-year deals in recent years.

After trading Yu Darvish this winter, Kyle Hendricks assumed the mantle of ace on the North Side. He’s been uncharacteristically inconsistent so far, mixing a pair of clunkers with more typical quality outings – and has battled control issues. Meanwhile, the man who came over from San Diego in the Darvish trade, Zach Davies, enters his start Monday with an ERA north of 8.00.

Trevor Williams hasn’t yet recaptured his 2018 form, struggling to a 4.66 ERA and 1.500 WHIP – although a 3.36 FIP suggests he’s offered more than meets the eye. Adbert Alzolay just returned from the alternate site and, at least in my eyes, needs the opportunity to prove himself from here on out, getting the ball every five days.

The lone bright spot in the rotation? Fan favorite Jake Arrieta who, in his second go-round with the team, has shown a gritty determination reminiscent of Jon Lester early this year. The offense hung him out to dry on Sunday, but he’s been remarkable this season with a 2.57 ERA through his first five starts.

Chicago needs better starting pitching if it wants to ascend the NL Central standings. Hendricks needs to start hitting his spots, Davies has to step up the quality and Arrieta has to continue defying the odds if the Cubs are going to play October baseball again in 2021.