3 lessons learned from Chicago Cubs last series against Miami Marlins

Chicago Cubs v Miami Marlins
Chicago Cubs v Miami Marlins / Megan Briggs/GettyImages
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For the first time during the 2023 Major League Baseball regular season, the Chicago Cubs were swept in a series as they lost all three of their weekend games against the Miami Marlins.

The concerns that have been present over the recent stretch of games for the Cubs were certainly on display this weekend but there were also some lessons learned from the past three games against the Marlins.

3 lessons learned from Chicago Cubs last series against Miami Marlins - The team will not concede a game

During the 2022 season, if the Cubs went down early, the game was over. There was no hope of a comeback as the Cubs did not have the offense that would allow them to catch up in games in which they trailed by more than three runs.

The Cubs' offense in 2023 has proven that is not the case this season. The Cubs already had a historic comeback victory over the Seattle Mariners earlier this season and while the team was swept by the Marlins this past weekend, the team never gave up.

The Cubs' ability to come back was on display in their Saturday loss to the Marlins. In that game, the Cubs were faced with an early 5-0 deficit before coming within 1 run of tying the game in the final inning.

The Cubs offense has been a surprise this season and the month of May will determine how sustainable it is. For now, this Cubs' team is never truly out of a game.

3 lessons learned from Chicago Cubs last series against Miami Marlins - Caleb Kilian

2023 is an important season for Caleb Kilian after he saw his prospect status take a hit during the 2022 season. Kilian struggled in his three starts at the Major League level last season and those struggles followed him in his return to Triple-A Iowa to end the season.

Kilian entered the 2022 season as the Cubs' top pitching prospect but entering 2023, he barely made the Top 20. Kilian made the start on Saturday for the Cubs in place of an injured Jameson Taillon and the results were disappointing.

Kilian got tagged for 5 runs immediately in the first inning before ultimately giving up a total of 7 in 3.1 innings pitched while allowing 10 hits and 2 walks.

It still is entirely too early to deem Kilian's Major League Baseball future as over but it certainly is reasonable to theorize that his path to returning to Major Leagues may be as a middle reliever. Regardless, it has been a dramatic decline in potential for Kilian over the course of the past 12 months and it does not appear to be slowing anytime soon.

3 lessons learned from Chicago Cubs last series against Miami Marlins - Michael Fulmer may be returning to form

Michael Fulmer has been one of the concerns for the Cubs since the 2023 season started as the veteran relief pitcher struggled in his role as the team's de facto Closer and has a 6.57 ERA on the season.

Cubs manager David Ross and president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer, in separate interviews, indicated last week that Fulmer was going to temporarily pitch in low-pressure situations as he looked to get his mechanics corrected.

Fulmer made two appearances during the Cubs' weekend series against the Marlins and he appears to be returning to form. Fulmer faced the minimum in each outing as he had two perfect innings of relief this weekend while striking out two.

With the bullpen already being an area of concern entering the season, it is important that Fulmer can return to form and be an effective late-inning reliever. This weekend was a step in that direction for the Cubs and Fulmer.

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