Fansided

3 reasons not to panic about Cubs slow start

By Joshua Sadlock

CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 24: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Chicago Cubs celebrates with teammates after hitting a solo home run during the second inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on April 24, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 24: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Chicago Cubs celebrates with teammates after hitting a solo home run during the second inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on April 24, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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The Chicago Cubs are not where they want to be in the standings right now, but there is no reason to panic.

For the second straight season, the Chicago Cubs find themselves outside of first place in the NL Central as the month of April draws to a close. Coming off their World Series title last year, the Cubs were below .500 at the All-Star break and did not cement their second division title in a row until well into August. A slumping offense was the culprit last year, but in 2018, ugly results from the starting rotation is what has the Cubs in fourth place and looking up at the red-hot Milwaukee Brewers.

The Cubs rotation ranks 24th in the league with a 5.05 ERA, which has been driven way up thanks to Yu Darvish and Jose Quintana combining to allow 32 earned runs and 22 walks in their first 39.1 innings this season. The rest of the rotation has been doing just fine, and the Cubs still carry a +31 run differential. Early-season command issues for two established starters are nothing to get exceedingly worried about. Darvish and Quintana will get back on track.

Outside of the pitching woes, the Cubs have been one of the best teams in the league, as evidenced by their run differential. It’s early, and the Cubs should still be considered the favorite to win another division title. Here are the top-three reasons no one in the Windy City should be pressing the panic button about this team.

CHICAGO, IL – APRIL 11: Javier Baez #9 of the Chicago Cubs is congratulated by Kris Bryant #17 after scoring a run during the sixth inning of a game at Wrigley Field on April 11, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – APRIL 11: Javier Baez #9 of the Chicago Cubs is congratulated by Kris Bryant #17 after scoring a run during the sixth inning of a game at Wrigley Field on April 11, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

3. Runs are coming in bunches

The Cubs worked through a similar slow start last season, but that was mostly due to an offense stuck in neutral. The team hit just .239/.326/.419 and scored 4.5 runs per game in the first half. A two-month experiment with Kyle Schwarber in the leadoff spot certainly did not help matters, but there were multiple Chicago hitters dealing with extended World Series hangovers last April and May.

That has not been the case so far this season. The Cubs have the best offense in the National League and the fourth-best OPS in all of baseball. Kris Bryant looks poised to contend for another NL MVP, but he has more elite company this year. Kyle Schwarber and Javy Baez are both carrying an OPS over 1.000. Fellow youngsters Willson Contreras and Albert Almora have also gotten in on the act with good numbers.

The only two regulars in the lineup who have not hit at a high level are shortstop Addison Russell and Anthony Rizzo. Russell continues to play stellar defense, so anything that comes at the plate is a bonus in this lineup. Rizzo has been a slow starter in the past. When the regular season ends, his numbers will have evened out and he will be a top-10 MVP candidate yet again.

Bottom line — even if the Cubs starting pitching does not come around, this offense has what it takes to carry a team to a division title.

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