3 overlooked Chicago Cubs stories from the season's first month

The Chicago Cubs close out the April slate with a series against the New York Mets at Citi Field before returning home for a homestand against the Milwaukee Brewers to get the May calendar started this weekend.

It's been an eventful first month of the season for Craig Counsell and his team. Injuries have piled up staggeringly, starting on Opening Night with the loss of Justin Steele, to more recently, outfielders Seiya Suzuki and Cody Bellinger. But the club has weathered the storm, entering last night's opener against the Mets at 17-11, just a half-game out of first in the division.

But we've talked at length about the injuries and the standout performances of Chicago's two rookies: Michael Busch and Shota Imanaga. Let's dig in a little more on 3 storylines that haven't gotten as much attention.

Christopher Morel has been incredibly streaky to open the year

While working through some growing pains at the hot corner to open the season, Christopher Morel swung a hot stick at the dish, slashing .326/.370/.605 in his first 11 games. But since April 10, the young infielder has looked lost at the plate, evidenced by a .123/.227/.158 line over his last 16 contests entering play on Monday.

In Friday's win over the Red Sox, Morel recorded his first multi-hit effort since April 9, but followed it up over the next two games by going 0-for-7 with four strikeouts as the Cubs dropped the series at Fenway.

Given the key pieces sidelined by injury in Suzuki and Bellinger, Chicago can ill afford Morel looking lost at the plate heading into May. Here's to hoping Morel's game-winning home run in the ninth on Monday night sparks another hot streak because the it could be huge for the Cubs' offense.