Cubs Week In Review: Low Offensive Output Makes for Pedestrian Week

[RavenCub30]

Image courtesy of © David Banks-Imagn Images

Major League Baseball is one of the most fun leagues to watch, because nothing ever stays the same for long. A 162-game season means that the average fan of any given team will witness astonishing peaks and valleys. Even a contending squad like the Chicago Cubs is vulnerable to intermittent periods of struggle, and with a slate of eminently winnable games, the North Siders nonetheless found themselves going through theirs. 

The road can be a stranger place than a 24-hour Walgreens in Pilsen. Squaring off with a down-on-their-luck Phillies club, the Cubs found that out the hard way. The outset of this three-game set saw a Philadelphia squad that had lost eight of its previous nine games, but they were ready to bust out of that slump, and not even the Cubs' best efforts could prevent them. In an extra-innings struggle, the visitors could not deliver the clutch hits to earn the win at Citizens Bank Park. After six innings of two-run ball from starter Matthew Boyd, the bullpen held out long enough for the team's vaunted offense to deliver—but alas, they failed to adequately do so. The Phillies stole the opening game of the series 4-3, in 11 innings. 

The throughline of this 2025 campaign is the North Siders' admirable resilience. That was on full display in game two of their tilt with the Phillies. The burgeoning Ian Happ led the way with three RBIs. He's enjoying the return of some serious electricity in his bat, after a slow progression back from injury. An alarmingly poor Colin Rea gave way to the bullpen after 4 1/3 innings, but the Cubs relief corps answered the bell. Pitching nearly five innings of the contest, they blanked the Phillies. The Cubs managed the middle-game victory by a score of 8-4. 

In life and in baseball, the more seldom pain occurs, the worse it lingers. That was the prevailing sensation as the North Siders dropped the finale of their three-game versus Jesús Luzardo's club. The former Miami Marlin spun a masterpiece, punching out 10 batters. Ben Brown stumbled yet again, showing the urgency for the young righty to develop a wider pitch arsenal. After getting grilled by the Phils, Brown's status as a starting pitcher with this team is under further investigation. With the defeat, the Cubs suffered their second straight series loss. Philadelphia emerged victorious, 7-2.

One quadrant of their schedule in which the Cubs have frequently excelled this season is in division play. After touching back down in Chicago, they welcomed the Pittsburgh Pirates into the federal landmark Wrigley Field for a four-game set. With the outstanding Jameson Taillon toeing the rubber, this game was a comforting return to basics for the North Siders. They came through with a close win in another playoff-type atmosphere. MVP candidate Pete Crow-Armstrong clobbered a 2-run shot to the delirious bleachers in right field to set the tone early. Ryan Pressly and his bullpen cohort kept the Bucs at bay, as the Cubs turned in a much-needed bounce-back win, 3-2. 

A spell of frustrating injuries have altered the complexion of the Cubbies' pitching staff, especially after Shota Imanaga went down back in early May. These storm clouds have had one silver lining, though: the arrival of Cade Horton, the organization's most prized pitching prospect. Squaring off against the Pirates' captain, Paul Skenes, the North Siders' 23-year-old hurler was brilliant. Horton tossed nearly six innings of shutout baseball. Highly questionable baserunning decisions cost the hosts their shot at getting to the electric Skenes, though, and the bullpen wavered just enough to make the difference. The Pirates evened the series with a 2-1 victory. 

Wrigley Field is a religious experience even in the middle of a hail storm, but on a sunny, mid-June Saturday, it feels just a little bit better when walking up to the marquee for the first time, fresh off the train. Luckily for the friends of the Friendly Confines, the Cubbies kept that feeling going with an impressive outing. Stepping up as he often has this season, Boyd sparkled on the mound, clocking in with six innings of quality baseball. He allowed just one hit, a solo home run to Andrew McCutchen in the first inning. Dansby Swanson delivered the game-winning run, a solo blast to the left field bleachers that nearly made it out to Waveland Avenue. With the win, the Cubs took back control of the divisional series and showed yet again, it can win any type of ball game. The Cubbies won their duel with the Pirates 2-1. 

Entering Sunday, then, the Cubs need to finish off a series win against Pittsburgh to feel good about their week—but they've done enough to avoid feeling truly bad about it, either way. The offense is not in top form, but they've survived a scoring drought in fine fashion. This team has a lot of ways to win.

 

View full article