It was a cold, windy, and rainy week of baseball at Wrigley Field. But the Chicago Cubs remain hot, sweeping the Colorado Rockies in their three-game set. The first two performances were dominant, winning by a combined score of 17-2. Wednesday night took a little extra effort after blowing a six-run lead in the eighth inning. However, the Cubs rallied late and got the job done.
The week started with a bang as Shota Imanaga made Cubs, Wrigley, and MLB history in his debut. Javier Assad had his own special night on Tuesday, matching Imanaga's six-shutout innings. And the offense came together to produce 26 runs in just three games. That's almost nine runs a game.
Granted, the Rockies didn't provide the exact challenge their next opponent is sure to. The Los Angeles Dodgers will come to town on Friday with their stacked lineup that is favored to win the World Series. Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and their star-studded lineup will look to end this run the Cubs are on.
The Cubs entered the season with lingering questions surrounding multiple areas of the roster. After losing the first two games, the panic button was at least looked at. Winning four in a row has buried concern, no doubt. However, the Dodgers are almost certain to return some questions to the light. Let's try to get ahead of it.
Can Kyle Hendricks Be Kyle Hendricks?
The Cubs announced their probable starters for this weekend's series to take on the prolific Dodgers' lineup. Kyle Hendricks will take the mound Friday, with Jordan Wicks and Shota Imanaga to follow. Hendricks made his season debut last Saturday night against the defending champion Texas Rangers, but it wasn't ideal. He only lasted 3.2 innings, giving up five runs on nine hits.
Hendricks has been a workhorse for the Cubs for the better part of a decade. The Professor has often been compared to Greg Maddux because of his control and ability to force batters to give him outs. He was also given the ball to start the most important game in franchise history - game seven of the 2016 World Series.
But since the dismantling of the core in 2021, it's been a struggle. He only started 16 games in 2022 due to lingering injuries. Everyone wondered what they'd see out of him as he returned in 2023. He started 24 games and accumulated a 3.74 ERA. While he can still hold his own and force his ground balls, he is certainly not the same Hendricks of years past.
After facing a dangerous lineup in Texas, it won't get any easier for Hendricks. The first three batters he faces on Friday will likely be former MVPs. Although the trend is going in the opposite direction, it would be momentous to see vintage Hendricks emerge from the woodwork for a massive game against the Dodgers. Anything is possible, especially on a Friday afternoon at the Friendly Confines.
Will The Defense At Third Base Cost The Cubs A Win?
Defensively, third base has been a question for the Cubs all offseason long. Manager Craig Counsell called the matter "fluid," stating it would be addressed and worked out as the regular season progressed. Here we are, six games in, and the concerns remain big.
Christopher Morel was dubbed the starting third baseman before camp even broke in February. He was rumored to be a part of trade talks with the Tampa Bay Rays when the Cubs attempted to acquire starter Tyler Glasnow. But the report was the Cubs were valuing Morel "aggressively" high.
It makes sense because they've proven how much they want him to be a big part of their future. And it was reported he worked all offseason on his defense at third base. But it is not translating. Morel has had seven chances at third base and has already been tagged for three errors. That's an error almost 43% of the time. He's been a liability at third base, which could continue to cost the team valuable wins.
Despite his defensive ailments, Morel is an obvious fan favorite and has been a monster on the plate. He's batting .375 through six games and has hit two booming home runs. The Cubs can capitalize on this situation by making him the most-days designated hitter and opening the door for better defense at third from Nick Madrigal (who is hitting .273). Or, there's a young man named Matt Shaw waiting in the wings.
Can Cubs' Offense Out-Offense The Dodgers?
As the season began, on paper, the Cubs' lineup looked as dangerous as any. There are six to seven players on a nightly basis that could bat in the heart of the lineup on any MLB team. The Cubs have many options offensively, one of the best places to be.
As a team, the Cubs have a .380 OBP, which is tops in all of MLB. Putting guys on base is how you set yourself up to win; scoring is how you get the win. The Cubs have scored 40 runs this year, tied for sixth most in baseball. The problem is the team coming to town is the best offensive team in the land.
Surprising to absolutely no one, the Dodgers lead the league in hits (89), runs scored (57), and home runs (14). They're a juggernaut wrecking opposing pitching on their way to an almost certain playoff run. They don't have the luxury of playing in a subpar division, but they have the reinforcements to punish any team lined up against them.
Their offense is excellent, but the Dodgers' pitching staff has also given up the sixth most runs in baseball. If the Cubs stand any chance against the Dodgers this weekend, they'll need to increase that number for the Dodgers. It will likely take six, seven, or maybe eight tallies to come out on top. They've proven able to take on the cold and score against the Rockies. Perhaps the cold will benefit them and hinder the Southern California boys. Let the wind bite, and the balls fly as they will.
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