Wasted opportunities with runners in scoring position, a stagnant lineup card, and a cold stretch from Nico Hoerner have neutralized Chicago’s bats during a dismal ten-game slide.
The Chicago Cubs can’t do much on offense right now.
They have scored three runs or fewer in eight of their last 10 games and have struggled to get much going at the plate during this stretch. The Cubs are averaging just 3.1 runs per game since May 9.
So, what has been the problem with this Cubs offense recently? Here are three reasons this offense hasn’t scored many runs during this 10-game stretch.
Not Hitting With Runners In Scoring Position
The Cubs have been one of the worst-hitting teams with runners in scoring position this season. They rank 24th in batting average (.233), 22nd in slugging percentage (.362), and 21st in OPS (.694). They’ve also grounded into the seventh-most double plays in these situations.
Unfortunately, these numbers have been even worse recently. Chicago went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position in Monday’s loss, 2-for-15 in these situations in Sunday’s loss, and 2-for-9 in another loss on Saturday.
The Cubs simply have to be better in these clutch spots. They haven’t, which is why they have lost eight of their last 10 games. Things have to change in this department moving forward.
Not Switching Up The Lineup
The offense is no doubt struggling to produce right now, but manager Craig Counsell continues to roll out the same lineup each night. It might be time to switch up the batting order just a bit to see if things can change.
A big change that Counsell should be looking to make is breaking up Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki in the batting order. Those two can’t keep hitting back-to-back, especially given their poor numbers with runners in scoring position this year.
Happ is batting .208 (5-for-24) with one home run and seven RBI with runners in scoring position, while Suzuki has a .190 batting average (4-for-21) with three RBI in those same scenarios. Both also have a bottom strikeout rate early on.
Nico Hoerner's Struggling
Nico Hoerner is the engine of this Cubs offense. When he goes, the rest of the offense goes. When he struggles, the rest of the offense struggles.
That puts some pressure on Hoerner amid a rough stretch at the plate. The Cubs second baseman is slashing just .170/.279/.208 with three RBI, two stolen bases, and eight walks over his last 13 games.
When the North Siders went on their first 10-game winning streak last month, Hoerner batted .298 with three home runs and 13 RBI. He’ll need to return to being a hits machine because he sets the tone at the top of the lineup.
