Explosive production from Pete Crow-Armstrong and a power surge by Dansby Swanson have ignited Chicago's lineup, transforming a stagnant offense into a dangerous group.
The Chicago Cubs have finally broken out of their team-wide offensive slump.
After averaging just 3.97 runs per game in the month of May, the Cubs are heating up. They have averaged seven runs per game over their last 11 contests and have scored at least eight runs in four of their last five games.
The Cubs have gotten strong contributions from several hitters on their roster during this stretch. Here are three hitters who are currently carrying this offense.
Pete Crow-Armstrong
We couldn’t discuss the hottest Cubs hitter without mentioning Pete Crow-Armstrong. The 24-year-old outfielder has arguably been the hottest hitter in all of baseball over the last few weeks.
Crow-Armstrong entered Wednesday’s doubleheader slashing .446/.500/.952 with 11 home runs, five doubles, two triples, 19 RBI, and six stolen bases across his last 20 games. This strong offensive has now raised his WAR to 4.7 on the season, ranking second only to Shohei Ohtani (5.4).
It’s really impressive what Crow-Armstrong has been able to do offensively since moving to the leadoff spot. He has raised his batting average 58 points from .228 to .287 and ranks first in slugging percentage (.789) since May 23.
Dansby Swanson
Dansby Swanson is finally pulling his weight in Chicago’s lineup. Swanson is 8-for-18 with four home runs, 14 RBI, and three stolen bases over his last five games. The veteran also has a hit in five consecutive games and has three multi-hit contests in three straight games.
Swanson was the star of the show in Wednesday’s win over the New York Mets in Game 1 of the doubleheader. He launched a go-ahead three-run homer in the top of the sixth inning and then hit a grand slam in the eighth inning en route to a seven-RBI game.
It’s nice to see Swanson producing at the plate once again. He has gotten off to a rough start this season, but the Cubs shortstop could be turning a corner offensively.
Matt Shaw
Matt Shaw has been an all-around solid hitter since returning from the injured list on June 9. Shaw missed roughly three weeks due to mid-back tightness and has looked like a different hitter over the last few weeks.
The Cubs utility specialist is slashing .296/.387/.556 with two triples, one home run, and seven RBI in his last nine games. He has two multi-hit games during this stretch and has a hit in five of his past six starts.
Given the way Shaw has hit the ball recently, he should see more consistent at-bats. The demotion of Moises Ballesteros should help the 24-year-old see more starts in the near future.
