Best start since 2016: Are the Cubs built to last? |
Anthony Pasquale
-
- 7 hours ago
The Cubs have had an extremely strong start to the season, winning 15 series thus far. At the very least, the Cubs have proved they belong on the same field with some of the league’s best. In the opinion of many experts, the Cubs belong among the contenders in the National League. As the calendar flips to June, the Cubs hold the second-best record in the major leagues.
However, issues that persisted in 2024 have reared their ugly head early in the season, causing many to question the job that Jed Hoyer and co. did during the offseason to address the Cubs’ needs. While there is some debate about whether the blame should be placed on Hoyer or Tom Ricketts’ shoulders, the fact of the matter is the Cubs have faced some similar troubles in the early going of this year. The biggest tribulations the Cubs have faced have come from a lack of reliable relievers in the bullpen. That, combined with a lack of solid depth at third base, has been the issue that feels familiar for the Cubs. Third, Matt Shaw seems to have reclaimed the everyday job after battling some early-season struggles. The combination of Gage Workman, Vidal Brujan, Jon Berti, Nicky Lopez, and Justin Turner made Shaw’s return from the minor leagues feel like a life preserver at the hot corner. The Cubs have faced some injuries that have tested their depth early on. With Justin Steele out the season, Shota Imanaga on the injured list for over a month, Javier Assad and Tyson Miller with setbacks that have continued to delay their season debut and Porter Hodge on the shelf for the better part of three weeks — the Cubs’ have had to put additional trust in some arms they may not have expected. To give credit where it is due, Kyle Tucker has been a Godsend to the lineup. Ranking near the top of the NL in almost every statistic, Tucker provides a presence in the lineup that lifts the entire team a step higher, something the team has lacked. Beyond that, Ryan Pressly opened the season 4-4 on saves this season. Pressly did not allow an earned run in nine appearances in April, but a blown save that saw him surrender eight runs in early May knocked him out of the closer’s role. While he has rebounded nicely with 11 straight scoreless outings, the Cubs traded for him and are paying him to be their closer…and as a result, still have a bit of a hole in the back of the bullpen. Matthew Boyd and Colin Rea have been good in the rotation, both with ERAs sub 4.00 and over 50 innings pitched. In the bullpen, pitchers like Caleb Thielbar and Brad Keller have turned heads with ERAs below 2.30. Daniel Palencia appears to have claimed the closer’s role. The flamethrower has a 1.74 ERA and five saves. Perhaps the most impressive minor league free agent signings, Chris Flexen and Drew Pomeranz, have combined for almost 30 innings of work out of the bullpen, and neither has allowed a run. Plus, Carson Kelly was signed as the team’s backup catcher and claimed the starting job. Kelly has been one of the league’s most productive catchers outside of Cal Raleigh, who is putting up historic numbers in Seattle. Kelly, a Chicago native, has been more productive this season than in any season in his 10-year career. But after an offseason that saw the Cubs rumored to be involved on players like Max Fried, Roki Sasaki, Jesus Luzardo, Corbin Burnes, Alex Bregman, Tanner Scott and Pete Alonso — most of whom are enjoying strong seasons thus far — it certainly makes it seem like the Cubs’ brass knew their roster had some flaws, and they may be a piece or two short from a true championship contender. Regardless, the Cubs are off to their best start since 2016 — and we all know how that season ended.
