3 Chicago Cubs takeaways from deflating home stand

For a Chicago Cubs team that has not reached the postseason since 2020, the team wants to be afforded the benefit of the doubt.

It's a large ask from the front office, maybe ownership, that prefers to enjoy the financial aspect of baseball operations as if they were the Tampa Bay Rays. Sure, the Cubs have over $230MM committed to their payroll for the 2024 season, and the refute to that fact is that is the floor for what a team in the third-largest market in Major League Baseball should be spending.

The Cubs' recent home stand at Wrigley Field likely has taken the rest of the air out from the team's hot start during the month of April.

It would have been tough for the Cubs to win the series against the Atlanta Braves, but that is what made last weekend's four-game set against the Pittsburgh Pirates disappointing. Paul Skenes notwithstanding, the Cubs have a better roster than the Pirates, but the team's offense has grown cold.

After going 2-5 on their last home stand, the Cubs are now 27-24 on the season. The mark is good for second place in the National League Central with the Cubs trailing the Milwaukee Brewers by two games.

Given the talent level of the National League Central, the Cubs shouldn't be put in a position to be out of the race by the Major League Baseball Trade Deadline in July, but the concerns that surfaced over the past seven games need to be addressed.