3 Reasons The Cubs Offense Is Struggling
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.
Video Transcript
What is up Cubs fans and welcome back to Cubs Roundtable.
I'm Joey Polizzi talking about all things Cubs and the Cubs offense is definitely in a slump right now.
They're only averaging 3.1 runs over their last 10 games and they have lost eight of their last 10 games.
So what kind of has been the problem with the Cubs here over the last 10 or so games?
Where do they go from here?
Number one is one of the reasons they have struggled is because they are not hitting with runners in scoring position.
The Cubs rank bottom 10 in batting average, OPS and slugging with runners in scoring position this season.
That is not great news for the Cubs.
They have struggled recently with runners in scoring position against the White Sox the last few games of that White Sox series as well as the first game against the Brewers on Monday.
They're not hitting with runners in scoring position and that is affecting their overall numbers in that category.
The second reason the Cubs offense is struggling right now is because of Craig Counsell not switching up the lineup.
It's that simple.
Things aren't working right now.
Craig Counsell has to switch it up a bit.
I think the number one change Craig should be making right now is not having Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki back to back.
He has to somehow switch them, break them up in the order some way, somehow.
We want to move Ian Happ up or move one of them down.
Happ and Suzuki cannot hit back to back.
We saw that in Tuesday's game.
First and second, one out, Happ came up to the plate, struck out.
Suzuki came up to the plate next, struck out.
Can't happen with those two.
Those two are the two worst players on the Cubs team with runners in scoring position this year and they didn't come up big in Tuesday's loss as well.
So they have to switch them up.
Both struggling with strikeouts recently as well.
So break them up in the order.
And the third reason the Cubs offense is struggling right now is Nico Horner.
And I know a lot of pressure goes on Nico Horner, but when he goes, the offense goes.
When he struggles, the offense struggles.
When the Cubs had that 10-game winning streak, that first one in April, Nico Horner batted .298 with three home runs and 13 RBI.
Now he's only batting .170 over his last 13 games.
He has to pick it back up because when he's going, the rest of the offense goes.
Let me know what you guys think about the Cubs.
Do you think these are the three reasons why the Cubs offense is struggling recently?
Let me know down below.
And as always, guys, go Cubs go.
