3 Chicago Cubs to blame for recent slide in the standings

Nico Hoerner wasn’t producing for the Cubs, even prior to his injury

On the whole this season, infielder Nico Hoerner has more than earned the three-year extension he signed prior to the season. He leads the Cubs in batting average (.303) while tallying nine extra-base hits, 19 RBI and 25 runs scored.

With that said, since the calendar turned to May, things have not been pretty for what is supposed to be one of the most reliable bats in this lineup. Hoerner is slashing a mere .212/.278/.242 with only one extra-base hit and five strikeouts over 33 at-bats — that after striking out just 12 times on 115 at-bats in April.

Given the way that Hoerner was hitting to start the year, he was a true catalyst for the Cubs offense that helped lead to the early rise up the standings. Now that he’s been hitting not just below average but outright poorly, the club has started to slip. That’s far from a coincidence.

This isn’t something to blame Hoerner for, but the situation has gotten worse for him after straining his hamstring in the series against the Cardinals. He’s not been put on the IL just yet, but it’s also not out of the question yet.

Whenever Hoerner does return to the lineup, though, the Cubs clearly need him to be the player he was for the club in April to begin the season if they want to start bouncing back.