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3 takeaways from the Cubs massive sweep of the Washington Nationals

By Jordan Campbell |
Chicago Cubs v Washington Nationals
Chicago Cubs v Washington Nationals / Scott Taetsch/GettyImages
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It's not an enviable position that the Chicago Cubs find themselves in but one that was dictated by the team's dreadful performance during the months of May and June. The Cubs have turned the corner since those struggles and enter play on Monday with a record of 71-66 on the season. The problem for the Cubs is that given that two-month stretch earlier this season, the team is now in a position where they have to sweep series in order to stay alive in the National League Wild Card Conversations.

It's been working. The Cubs have their past two series on the road against the Pittsburgh Pirates and Washington Nationals and now return home on Monday night for three-game set against the Pirates.

With series coming up against the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers, it goes without saying that the Cubs remain in a position where they need to sweep the Pirates this week.

Before we turn the page from this weekend, here are three takeaways from the Cubs' sweep of the Nationals.

1. The Cubs offense is finally backing Jed Hoyer's confidence.

For as bad as the Cubs' offense was during May and June, they have been historically good over the course of the past 10 games.

What was impressive about the Cubs' series against the Nationals is the team faced early deficits on Saturday and Sunday. Especially on Saturday when the Cubs were trailing 2-0 going into the back half of the game. The offense responded by scoring 4 runs in the fifth inning before adding an insurance run in the 7th inning.

The Cubs' offense is performing well, supporting what Jed Hoyer stated earlier this offseason. The Cubs needed internal improvement if they were going to turn their season around, and that is what they saw with the emergence of Pete Crow-Armstrong and Miguel Amaya over the past two months.

2. Isaac Paredes showing signs of breaking out offensive slump

If the Cubs' offense is going to continue their success during the final month of the regular season, the team will need Isaac Paredes to return to the All-Star caliber form he had with the Tampa Bay Rays during the first half of the season.

Since being acquired by the Cubs in exchange for Christopher Morel and a pair of pitching prospects, Paredes has struggled. And while we're on the subject of the trade, save your "the Cubs would have been better off with Morel" takes. Morel did have a home run in each of his first two games with the Rays, but he has one home run since while slashing .184/.282/.291 with a 69 wRC+.

Fortunately for the Cubs, Paredes showed signs of breaking out of his slump during the three-game set against the Nationals. Paredes recorded a hit in 4 of his 13 total plate appearances against the Nationals while driving in 3 runs and scoring 3 runs of his own.

3. Jordan Wicks is the answer to the Kyle Hendricks' problem.

Jordan Wicks returned to the Cubs' starting rotation on Sunday and proved that he is the answer to the problem that the Cubs have with Kyle Hendricks.

Wicks answered the call on Sunday, giving up 1 run on 4 hits in 5 innings of work. It was an impressive return for Wicks, who hadn't made a start at the Major League level since June due to an oblique injury.

With the Cubs' schedule thickening up over the closing weeks of the regular season, it goes without saying that the team will need to avoid using Hendricks as a starting pitcher as much as possible. Wicks' return on Sunday should give the Cubs confidence in making that decision.

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