The Chicago Cubs began the unofficial second half of the season by losing two of three to the Boston Red Sox, but then their schedule became much more favorable. From July 17-30, the Cubs played 13 games against teams well below .500. The team took advantage of the weak opponents and went 10-3 in those two weeks. It's time for the Cubs to stomp on necks again.
For the next two weeks the Cubs play 12 games against bad teams and following an 8-5 stretch, the Cubs are now positioned to gain more ground in the National League Central Division and maybe even jump to first place by the end of the month.
After a 3-3 road trip against the New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays, the Cubs remain 3.5 games back of the Milwaukee Brewers in the division. Taking a look over at the Wild Card standings, the Cubs are one game back of the Miami Marlins for the third Wild Card spot, 1.5 games back of the San Francisco Giants for the second spot and 3.5 games back of the Wild Card-leading Philadelphia Phillies.
Starting on Tuesday, the Cubs will play 12 consecutive games against four of the bottom eight teams in MLB.
Cubs Upcoming Schedule: Aug. 15-27 (Opponent Record)
vs. Chicago White Sox: 2 games (47-72)
vs. Kansas City Royals: 3 games (39-81)
@ Detroit Tigers: 3 games (53-65)
@ Pittsburgh Pirates: 4 games (53-66)
The White Sox won two series in a row, but then got swept by the Milwaukee Brewers at home this past weekend. Since the trade deadline, the White Sox are 5-8.
The Kansas City Royals had a seven-game winning streak at the end of July into the first week of August. They are playing better, but it's relative to their overall season. Since that winning streak, Kansas City is 3-6. The Royals have three more games on the road against the Seattle Mariners this week before they go to Wrigley Field for a three-game series against the Cubs.
The Detroit Tigers are 6-6 since the trade deadline and will be returning back home after a three-city, nine-game road trip.
The Cubs won six games in a row against the Pittsburgh Pirates back in June, when they outscored their division foes 48-14, including two shutouts in Pittsburgh.
Meanwhile, the Brewers have eight games against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers and Minnesota Twins. After that they do play three games against the underachieving, but still talented San Diego Padres.
The Brewers had a chance to create even more space in the standings in the first half of August and although they did go 8-5, it was a bit underwhelming considering Milwaukee's opponents were the Washington Nationals, Pirates, Colorado Rockies and White Sox.
Heading into Tuesday's action, Baseball Reference has the Cubs at a 69.3% chance to make the playoffs and 46.8% to win the division. Over at Fangraphs, the Cubs have a 55.2% chance to make the playoffs and 25.2% to win the division.
Since the All-Star break, the Cubs have a record of 19-10. A big reason they are right back in the mix for the playoffs is because they did go 10-3 in the final couple weeks of July against bad teams. Then, they won 3 of 4 against the Cincinnati Reds, who at the time were in first place. It's time to go on another big run the next two weeks and then take care of business against the Brewers, who the Cubs will face three times beginning on Aug. 28.
But before that, the Cubs have to stomp on necks. Play the best players and the rest will take care of itself.
It's taken some time, but we are seeing a good team on the north side. It's not just against bad teams. Since June 9, the Cubs are 35-21. That's a .625 winning %, a 101-win pace over a 162-game season.
Meaningful baseball really is the best.
