4 pros and 4 cons for the Chicago Cubs heading into the second half

As we head into the All-Star Break, the Chicago Cubs find themselves in first place in the NL Central with a record of 57-39. With half a season still to play, here are some key takeaways from the Cubs’ season so far.

Pro: Pete Crow-Armstrong is a superstar

Many experts predicted a breakout season from Pete Crow-Armstrong in 2025, but did they expect him to be this good? Crow-Armstrong currently leads the National League with 5.4 bWAR and is tied for the team lead with 25 home runs. In what is shaping up to be a historic season, Crow-Armstrong is the fastest player in Cubs history to have 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in a season, and the fourth fastest in MLB history.

Crow-Armstrong added to it by becoming just the third player in MLB history to join the 25/25 club in the first half of the season, and the first player in history to have 25 home runs, 25 stolen bags and 70 RBI before the All-Star break.

Crow-Armstrong stepped up to the plate in his first at-bat in the All-Star Game and ripped a double into right field off of Carlos Rodon, the latest in a phenomenal season for the 23-year-old. In just five short months, Crow-Armstrong has established himself as a legitimate candidate for NL MVP honors and could be on pace for an even more historic second half.

Con: The injury bug has been less than kind

Injuries have plagued the Cubs since the season’s beginning. The Cubs lost their ace in Justin Steele, with elbow surgery leaving him sidelined until at least the beginning of 2026. Left-hander Shota Imanaga was the next man up in the rotation, but succumbed to a hamstring strain that left him out for the better part of two months. Oblique strains claimed the likes of Miguel Amaya and Porter Hodge in May, with Amaya still on the IL. 

While players have stepped up to fill the gaps created by injuries, the Cubs have been left shorthanded for the majority of the season so far.

Pro: Matthew Boyd has stepped up big time

When the Cubs signed left-hander Matthew Boyd in December, many saw him as a back of the rotation reclamation piece. Instead, Boyd has stepped into the role of a de facto ace during Imanaga’s absence. Boyd is currently putting together the best season of his career, with a 2.34 ERA and a 1.030 WHIP leading to his first career All-Star selection. 

Boyd surpassed the 100-inning mark for the first time since 2019, so it will be interesting to see if he can sustain his success across a full season, but for now, Boyd represents one of the best comeback stories in Major League Baseball at the moment. 

Con: Matt Shaw has not lived up to the hype so far

This one isn’t exactly Matt Shaw’s fault. He was handed the keys to third base immediately, making his MLB debut in Japan against one of the best teams in baseball in the Los Angeles Dodgers. To make matters worse, the Cubs made no effort to reinforce the position externally, placing all their chips on Shaw’s development. So far, the experiment has not gone in their favor. Shaw’s average exit velocity of 83.3 MPH would rank dead last in all of MLB if he qualified. 

While his defense has been steady for the Cubs, his bat makes it hard to justify trotting him out there every day. As we approach the trade deadline, the Cubs will have to decide on whether to continue to let him figure it out or to upgrade the position at a high cost via the trade market.

Pro: Kyle Tucker has been worth the price

It may have cost top prospect Cam Smith in the process, but acquiring Kyle Tucker in December has more than paid off for the Cubs. If not for Crow-Armstrong, Tucker would be right there in the NL MVP discussion, clubbing 17 home runs with an OPS+ of 154. Of course, bigger conversations await in the offseason, where Tucker will command more than a pretty penny.

If they choose to open the checkbook (and that is a big if), they should have no problem making sure Tucker is a mainstay in the Cubs’ lineup for years to come. For now, though, Cubs fans should enjoy what’s shaping up to be an incredible season from Tucker.

Con: Establishing a Circle of Trust in the bullpen hasn’t been easy

Finding a closer has not been an easy task for the Cubs. The role was initially promised to 36-year-old Ryan Pressly, who struggled in the role and was quickly relieved of closing duties. Porter Hodge was the next man up, but he fell victim to an oblique strain and hasn’t been the same pitcher since he came back. Daniel Palencia took over the mantle in their absence and has been stellar in the role, but if there’s one thing we’ve learned in recent years, good teams win with a good bullpen. 

Unexpected heroes in Chris Flexen and Drew Pomeranz have given the team some flexibility in the pen, but look for the Cubs to add additional arms once we reach the deadline.

Pro: Seiya Suzuki and Michael Busch are having career seasons

Seiya Suzuki and Michael Busch should’ve been at the All-Star Game Tuesday night. Now that we've got that out of the way, a huge reason the Cubs are where they are is because of these two hitters. Busch has established himself as one of the premier first basemen in the sport, slugging 19 home runs, with his newfound success against left-handed pitchers making him a formidable threat heading into the second half of the campaign. 

Suzuki, meanwhile, is finally reaching the potential Cubs fans saw when he first signed from Japan. Suzuki finished the first half tied for second in the NL with 77 RBI, and his 25 home runs tied for the team lead with Crow-Armstrong, marking only the second time that a pair of Cubs teammates hit 20+ home runs before the All-Star break.

Con: The Milwaukee Brewers refuse to quit

The Milwaukee Brewers went into the All-Star break on a seven-game winning streak, placing them only one game behind the Cubs as we head into the second half. As demonstrated in recent years, one bad series for either team can easily bring the other into play, setting the stage for a dramatic second half.

However, as it stands, the Cubs currently have the third-easiest remaining schedule, a reward for having the toughest schedule early on. The Brewers, on the other hand, have the fifth-toughest schedule, which should give Cubs fans at least some relief.