Monday night hurt, but Wednesday night told a totally different story. The Tigers pitching staff completely shut down the Cubs offense in a 5-1 loss. Ian Happ was the only bright spot in a sea of missed opportunities. He made a crucial grab of a sinking liner and got on base twice. Without his effort, the game could’ve been even uglier for Chicago.
The Offense Vanishes
The Cubs managed just four hits and one walk all night. That kind of output simply doesn’t win games in this league. Seiya Suzuki hit a solo homer early, but the rest of the lineup went quiet. According to Bleed Cubbie Blue, the team got just two runners past first base after Suzuki’s blast. It’s frustrating when a winnable game slips away against a team that isn’t even that good.
So, why did they struggle?
The Tigers are sitting with the 11th best record in the American League. They are 6.5 games out of first in their division. Despite that, they played like a team desperate to save their season. The Cubs failed to take advantage of a struggling opponent. They had a chance to build momentum but instead lost their third game of the season where their only run came on a homer.
Rea’s Home Run Problem
Colin Rea gave up two home runs that accounted for all four runs on his line. This is a recurring issue for the Cubs rotation this season. Per MLB.com Cubs, Rea has yielded 17 home runs this season for the team. That total is high, but the lack of run support makes it worse. The bullpen did its part to hold the line, but the offense never showed up to help.
Rea allowed a three-run shot in the fourth inning that put the game out of reach. It was a 3-0 fastball right in the heart of the zone. The Cubs struggled to counter the Tigers starter, Keider Montero, after the first inning. Montero leaned on his breaking pitches deeper into the outing and the Cubs went 1-for-17 against him after the first two hits. The math just doesn’t work when you can’t put runs on the board.
A Daunting Stretch Ahead
Now the team faces a 17-game stretch in 17 days. This is a critical time for the season. The Cubs are currently on pace for 90.5 wins. They hold the first Wild Card spot with four teams having better records. The offense pretty much has to show up every night or the team doesn’t win. This next series will test if they can hang in there through the heat of the summer.
Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer has 11 days to address the rotation issues before the Trade Deadline. He needs to find the right answers soon. The Dodgers look like an unclimbable mountain, and the Brewers run a tight ship. There aren’t many seasons where the Cubs are positioned this well. They need to add meaningful depth to the roster if they want to get across the finish line.
Can the Cubs offense wake up before the deadline? The fans will be watching closely.
