Is it already time to panic? Breaking down the Cubs' slow start

If not for a shocking late-inning implosion in Sunday's series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Chicago Cubs would head into this week's matchup with the Athletics in a decent spot: 3-3, even after dropping both games of the Tokyo Series in mid-March.

Instead, they'll participate in their third set of Opening Day festivities on Monday night at 2-4 as the A's play their first game in Sacramento, their temporary home as a new ballpark takes shape in Las Vegas, set to open in 2028. Sure, it's only a one-game difference, but in a season with so much riding on it, every game counts - a lesson the Cubs have learned the hard way in recent years.

Chicago went 42-47 in the first half two years ago, followed by a 41-32 record after the All-Star break - and wound up missing the postseason by one game. It was a similar story last season, although they didn't take things down to the wire. The offense went ice-cold for several months, leading to a 47-51 first-half mark and a 36-28 record down the stretch.

Two different managers, two identical records and two more Octobers without postseason baseball at Wrigley Field. The goal this year has to be playing better baseball early in the season and avoid digging a hole as they have in each of the last two campaigns.

The problem this weekend in Arizona, though, was that they didn't play good baseball.

If not for an incredible game-ending play from Dansby Swanson that bailed out struggling closer Ryan Pressly on Saturday, the Cubs may very well have left Phoenix with just one win in the four-game series against the Dbacks. Even those game-saving heroics can't cover up the bullpen's immense struggles in the early-going, though.

Cubs relievers rank 28th in the league with a 8.34 ERA and their 19 walks outpace every other MLB team. Pressly has looked shaky, at best, and nobody other than Porter Hodge has been sharp to this point. The rotation hasn't been great, either, posting a 4.60 ERA in its first six games and the offense ranks 20th in the league in OPS and is batting just .208 as a group.

So is it time to panic? Absolutely not. Tokyo Series aside, we're not even a week into the regular season and baseball isn't a game you panic after four games in. There's going to be an adjustment period for guys whose regular spring routines were thrown into chaos with the overseas trip and, by late April, odds are we'll be able to better assess this team's strengths and weaknesses.

It's been a slow start - but the goal heading into May, at least a realistic one, should be to sit within a couple of games of .500. This is the toughest month any team will face this season and, while the Cubs haven't been particularly impressive yet, there's time to round into form facing some stiff competition.