3 reasons Chicago Cubs fans can still be optimistic

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After a horrendous road trip in Colorado and Arizona, the Chicago Cubs are now just a half-game up in the Wild Card. They have swapped places for the second and third spots, and their playoff odds have plummeted. I won't try to stop you if you want to throw in the towel. Not because I think all is lost, but because I've watched the peaks and valleys of this team all season long, and it's foolish to count them out before they are mathematically eliminated.

If you tell yourself that because the Cubs lost a series to the Rockies, remember the caliber of teams the Cubs have beaten all year. If that means nothing, keep that same glass-half-empty energy when Chicago comes roaring back this week because there are several things to be optimistic about as the Cubs return to Wrigley.

3 reasons to be optimistic - 3. Splits of upcoming opponents

The Cubs sit at 41-34 this season when playing at Wrigley. Their next two opponents are 32-40 and 22-53 on the road. Pittsburgh also has a -91 run differential, whereas the Rockies sit at a league-worst -210. Yes, the Coors Field series was unfortunate, but it is Coors Field where fly balls don't land in general. Even a team like the Rockies can hit there. Hence, their record is night and day away from Colorado. For proof, we can quickly reference that they have the 5th best runs per game at home, with a mark of 5.24. Meanwhile, on the road, they are second-worst in baseball, with a mark of 3.72 per. The Pirates are a bit more even, just 0.09 RPG on the road worse than in PNC Park.

For the Cubs, they are one of eight teams in MLB that average over 5.00 RPG at home. Falling flat in Colorado does not indicate that "this team can't even beat the Rockies." A lot of good teams have lost games in Colorado this year, such as the Brewers being swept earlier in the season, a series win against Cincinnati, a series win against the Marlins, and a split with the Astros. So let's not act like the Cubs now losing in Colorado is a shock; it's more just unfortunate timing that tells you zero about what to expect moving forward.

3 reasons to be optimistic - 2. The Wrigley Field factor

Have you ever been to a game at Wrigley Field? How about in 2023? Do you have tickets to a game this week? How electric do you think the atmosphere will be in Chicago? If you know what I'm talking about, you know It's a real thing. The electricity in the crowd will be loud and buzzing, and the Cubs can use it as motivation. Players are tired at this stage of the game, but a roaring Wrigley can ignite a player running on fumes and help him find new heights, even if it means running on adrenaline alone.

The crowd factor this week will be critical for the Cubs' chances. If you're heading to a game, show up and get loud. As stated earlier, the Cubs are averaging 5.19 runs a game in the Friendly Confines, and with their scheduled pitching staff (Assad, Steele, Hendricks), they should be favored in every game. The ability to win these games will be there, but the atmosphere created by the fans will only further motivate the team to perform.

3 reasons to be optimistic - 1. Overall Strength of Schedule

We've mentioned the Rockies and Pirates already, but what about those two big series on the road against the Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers? It seems daunting to flip the switch to automatic this week and then carry it into a hostile atmosphere on the road against two of the National League's best teams. On the contrary, those two remaining series may prove to be a blessing in disguise, and here's why:

A 162-game season is the longest in sports. Thankfully, the Braves have all but locked up home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. They will do so with any luck this week, as they are set to face off against the Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals. Assuming the Dodgers don't sweep the Detroit Tigers and San Francisco Giants, the Braves have a solid chance to lock it up before they face the Cubs next week in Atlanta. If this is the case, it's easy to envision a scenario where the Braves have nothing to play for and rest key players over the last week of the season.

Flipping to the Milwaukee series, they, too, will be in a position where they can't catch the Dodgers for the #2 seed and ultimately won't be able to control who they face in the Wild Card series. They will only refrain from resting players against the Cubs at the end of the year if they decide to try to knock their Division rivals out of the playoffs. But if what is stated above comes to fruition, they may not have a choice and ultimately rest some of their guys.

Nevertheless, the Cubs still control their fate. Next, the Cubs play the Pirates and the Rockies. The Diamondbacks and Giants fight for position, clashing against each other. That series is great because either neither gains ground, or one team wins, and the other is pushed way back, separating themselves from the rest of the Wild Card pack. The Reds play the Twins next, who are looking to clinch the AL Central this week. The Marlins face the Mets, who have been playing better, taking a four-game series against the Diamondbacks, then narrowly losing a series to the Reds. After that, Miami plays Milwaukee, who wants to lock up the NL Central as soon as possible.

The Cubs have made it tighter than anyone wanted, but here they are. A team brimming with hope to clinch a postseason berth. If it should happen, they must immediately put the last week behind them and remember their identity. This organization has come a long way in the past two seasons, and it's time to press the accelerator for the final push... Scratch that... It's time to floor it.

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