5 important things we learned about the Cubs in April

Despite closing out the month dropping 7 of 10, the Chicago Cubs have managed to stay in the hunt early on, entering Monday's matchup against the Nationals just five games out in the NL Central and one back of a Wild Card spot.

The Cubs' postseason chances improved by quite a bit, roughly doubling since Opening Day. That being said, Fangraphs still pegs their odds at just 20.7 percent, hardly odds you want to put money down on. As the old saying goes, you can't win a division in April - but you sure can lose it - and Chicago, if nothing else, did enough to still be relevant heading into May (unlike the other team in the Windy City).

Here are 5 important things we learned about the Cubs in April - and what we can take away as we look ahead to May and the rest of the season.

5 important things we learned about the Cubs: #5 - Marcus Stroman is setting himself up for an opt out and a big-time payday this winter

Marcus Stroman's performance in April has him looking like a near-guarantee to opt out of his deal at the end of the season. The veteran right-hander made six starts, working to a 1.047 WHIP and 2.29 ERA, teaming up with Justin Steele as a dependable staple atop the rotation.

Stroman's deal has a $21 million player option for 2024 - and given the fact he will pitch at age 33 next year, he'll want to cash in on one more bigtime payday on a multi-year deal in free agency. It's not just a half-dozen high quality starts we need to be looking at here. After a rocky start to the 2022 season, battling COVID and then a separate injury, the former All-Star has been a true ace.

After the All-Star Break last summer, Stroman played a huge part in the Cubs' strong second haflf push, making 14 starts and working to a 2.71 ERA. Now, with an elite defense behind him, especially up the middle, he's got his eyes set on earning another Midsummer Classic nod to his resume in 2023.

5 important things we learned about the Cubs: #4 - Cody Bellinger is very much back and ready to regain his former MVP standing

Yeah, I did it. Back in early April, I threw a little money down on, that's right, Cody Bellinger winning NL MVP. Is it a bet that's particularly likely to pay out? Probably not. But those wild betting success stories don't happen when you pick the odds-on favorites, right?

Through the first month of the season, Bellinger has very much looked like his former self, slashing .297/.371/.604 with seven home runs and 18 RBI to go along with 22 runs. He's dramatically cut down on the strikeouts, posting his best K% since, you guessed it, 2019 - the year he won National League MVP.

The best part, as I laid out last month, is there's still very clear room for improvement. Bellinger's hard hit rate and average exit velocity still both check in well below even league average - and if he figures that out, the bleacher bums are going to be in for a rowdy summer at the Friendly Confines.

The Cubs picked Bellinger up knowing that, worst-case scenario, he struggled and they cut bait at year's end. But so far, it's been more of a best-case set of events taking place, with the 27-year-old outfielder figuring some things out at the plate in a big way.

5 important things we learned about the Cubs: #3 - Veteran catcher Yan Gomes has a little something left in the tank after all

Raise your hand if you had Yan Gomes healthily outperforming Willson Contreras after one month. For the first time in more than a century, the Cardinals enter May 10+ games out of first in their division and Contreras' slow start to this point has been well-documented.

The three-time All-Star, in the first year of his deal with St. Louis to replace franchise icon Yadier Molina, is doing his usual damage at the plate, but the Cardinals' pitching staff has been horrendous, with the rotation carrying an ERA near 5.00 through the first month.

Meanwhile, Gomes has been otherworldly - and has rewarded the front office for its faith in his abilities. Throughout the organization, folks have been praising him endlessly, not just for his hot start, but for what he brings to the clubhouse on a daily basis and it's clear he's emerged as a key piece of the dynamic this team's building.

Will he sustain a 129 OPS+ for the entire year? Probably not. But Gomes has been a key contributor and arguably the most positive surprise early on this year.

5 important things we learned about the Cubs: #2 - The bullpen, as expected, lacks a clear ninth-inning answer at this point

Although David Ross never officially appointed a closer, it quickly became clear he was hoping for Michael Fulmer to seize that role. Instead, a combination of poor performances and bad luck derailed those plans and the right-hander is now readjusting in lower leverage spots.

It's safe to assume Brad Boxberger, another of the team's offseason additions, will be the next man up for the gig - but I can't help but think when Codi Heuer returns this summer, the ninth-inning job will quickly belong to him. For now, though, it's very much a matter of taking things day by day.

On the whole, Cubs relievers carry a 3.98 ERA, which ranks 18th in the league and sixth in the National League. But, in typical fan fashion, all people remember are the ones that got away, namely a pair of games against the Dodgers in recent weeks.

Fulmer, as I said, has struggled at times - and Julian Merryweather is walking proof that throwing hard doesn't always equal success at this level (6.94 ERA in 11.2 IP). But there have been a lot of success stories here, too - and the Cubs have enough depth to weather the struggles they've seen.