3 Chicago Cubs' players that must have a strong second half

After a strong finish to an otherwise disappointing first half, the Chicago Cubs find themselves in a prime position to make a move in the second half, as they are only 3.5 games behind the Mets for the final wild-card spot. While the Cubs can and should look into adding pieces at the trade deadline, they can also receive help from within if their own players heat up.

If the following three players perform well, the Cubs will have a good chance of pulling off their comeback

1. Ian Happ

After a slow start to the season, Ian Happ has caught fire, slashing .300/.412/.660 over his last 30 games and .357/.426/.762 in his last 12. Happ also leads the Cubs with 23 doubles and his 126 OPS+ is second on the team among qualifying hitters, just behind Michael Busch (129) and just ahead of Seiya Suzuki (125). Happ's recent success has played a big role in helping the Cubs back into contention. If Happ can ride his positive momentum into the second half, the Cubs will have a reliable and dangerous offensive piece in their lineup.

2. Kyle Hendricks

Even though Hendricks' 6.78 ERA is the worst among Cubs starting pitchers, he has actually been pitching much better lately. In eight appearances since June 2, Hendricks has pitched to a 3.18 ERA and a respectable 1.09 WHIP. The advanced numbers indicate that Hendricks may have been plagued with bad luck. According to Baseball Savant, Hendricks' xERA sits at 4.98. While that is certainly not ideal, it is almost two runs better than the actual results Hendricks experienced. Also, Hendricks has given up an average exit velocity of 85.5 and a hard-hit rate of 31.6, both of which are well above league average. It should not be too difficult for Hendricks to build off of his recent improvement, especially if his numbers experience some positive regression toward the mean. If Hendricks can be a reliable back-end starter for the Cubs, their rotation will instantly grow much stronger.

3. Dansby Swanson

Dansby Swanson has been one of the worst hitters in the Cubs' starting lineup with an OPS+ of 76. Swanson's redeeming factor is his defense, as his nine Outs Above Average place him among the sport's elite defenders. There have been encouraging signs on the offensive side as well. In his last seven games, Swanson slashed .296/.296/.444. While a seven-game stretch should not determine the value of a player, it is certainly a positive sign that Swanson may be figuring things out. If Swanson can continue providing his stellar defense and bring his hitting close to league average, he can provide a double advantage of another strong piece for the Cubs lineup and one less offensive piece that they will need to pursue at the trade deadline.

The Cubs are in striking distance of a playoff spot. If the Cubs can add one or two offensive pieces at the deadline and see improvement from Happ, Hendricks, and Swanson, they will be a dangerous force in the playoff race.