3 Chicago Cubs takeaways prior to Crosstown Classic series with Chicago White Sox

For a Chicago Cubs team that had a roster designed around the idea that the floor should not fall out from underneath them, that is exactly what happened during the month of May.

The Cubs dropped three of four games against the Cincinnati Reds this past weekend, marking their sixth consecutive series loss. After entering May, the Cubs were tied with the Milwaukee Brewers for first place in the National League Central. The calendar now reads June 3, and the Cubs are in third place in the division, trailing the Brewers by 7.5 games.

Even more concerning is that the Cardinals appear to be figuring things out. The Cardinals jumped over the Cubs for second place in the National League Central.

The Cubs went 10-18 in May, and the hope was that as the schedule eased up in June, the Cubs could get right up. They had consecutive series against the Reds, Chicago White Sox, and Reds again. Instead, the first weekend saw more of the same from a deflated Cubs team—inconsistent offense, defensive miscues, and an ineffective outing from the bullpen.

Prior to a quick two-game set against the White Sox, the Cubs are at a point of inflection.

3 Chicago Cubs takeaways - The floor is falling out from under them.

The Cubs have not won back-to-back games on the season since May 4 and May 5. For a Cubs team that entered the season with the idea that the days of selling at the Major League Baseball trade deadline are over, that conversation is back on the table after the team's recent struggles.

If the Cubs do not turn their season around over the course of the next two weeks, it's likely that the selling itch will return for Jed Hoyer.

2. The Cubs were just as bad as the White Sox in May

For all the jokes that Cubs fans may have made at the White Sox's expense during April, those jokes are not valid for May.

The Cubs were 10-18 last month and the White Sox were 9-19. All this to say for the fans expecting the Cubs to get right against the White Sox on Tuesday and Wednesday, that is no guarantee. The problem with that statement is that the White Sox were meant to be intentionally bad this season while the Cubs had the expectation of contending.

But this circles back to Jed Hoyer wanting the benefit of the doubt. The Cubs winning the World Series in 2016 does not afford Hoyer the luxury of having the benefit of the doubt in 2024. Hoyer, when he has been the top voice in the baseball organization, has yet to win anything and should be viewed in that respect.