Frustrated by a struggling offense and numerous missed opportunities, the Cubs manager insists a turnaround is imminent.
There’s no doubt the Chicago Cubs offense is not off to a great start.
This group has struggled out of the gate and ranks among the worst offenses in baseball to begin the season. The Cubs rank 23rd in batting average (.219), 27th in slugging percentage (.342), and 22nd in runs batted in with runners in scoring position (37).
For a team that has World Series aspirations, more is expected from Chicago’s offense. Unfortunately, the offense has been the team’s weakness so far and has contributed to multiple losses this season.
In Friday’s 2-0 loss to the Pirates, the Cubs left 11 runners on base and went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position. That contributed to the North Siders' second shutout loss of the season, with the first coming against the Angels back on March 31.
Then, the Cubs couldn’t capitalize on multiple opportunities in Saturday’s 4-3 extra-innings loss. They went 1-for-15 as a team with runners in scoring position and left 16 runners on base, including three in the bottom of the 11th inning.
Here are all the chances the Cubs had in Saturday’s loss:
5th inning: 2nd and 3rd with one out (one run scored)
7th inning: 2nd and 3rd with nobody out (one run scored)
10th inning: 1st and 2nd with one out (no run scored)
11th inning: 2nd and 3rd with nobody out (no run scored)
The Cubs have several players currently slumping at the plate. Michael Busch is in a 0-for-30 stretch and is batting .118 on the year. Alex Bregman is hitting .207 with four RBI. Ian Happ is batting .208 with a 36% strikeout rate. Pete Crow-Armstrong has a .218 batting average with only one home run, and Dansby Swanson is hitting .149.
So, it’s not really a surprise to see the Cubs with an under .500 record at this point. The offense is not in rhythm yet, and the team is averaging only 2.3 runs across its seven losses.
However, manager Craig Counsell seemed fairly confident after Saturday’s loss that things would eventually turn around for the offense.
“It’s gonna turn, it’s gonna happen,” Counsell told reporters following the team’s second straight loss. “That’s the way you have to look at it. You miss opportunities as a hitter, and you’re mad at yourself, but it’ll turn.”
Although the Cubs' offense has not been a bright spot so far, better days are surely ahead for this group. Busch will break out of his slump, the home run balls will start to fly as the weather warms up, and veterans like Happ, Swanson, and Bregman will see their average climb.
There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about this offense moving forward. Both Happ and Moises Ballesteros have barrel rates ranking inside the top 5%. Swanson, Bregman, and Carson Kelly have elite hard-hit rates, and Nico Hoerner continues to set the tone at the top of the lineup.
Considering there is still 92% of the season left, the offense will be better.