Complacency not an issue for Cubs

1473225628693

MILWAUKEE — At this point, the Cubs are not only beating people as a result of talent, but as a result of depth. They may be carrying the same number of players as other clubs, but they still seem to outnumber the opposition.

You don’t have to look any further than the fact that Kyle Hendricks, who was the Cubs’ No. 5 starter coming into this season, has a Major League-leading 2.07 ERA.

Toss into the mix the bullpen upgrades the Cubs have made over the course of the season and you have a staff full of reasons why the Cubs lead the Majors in team ERA by a comfortable margin.

And this is also why the Cubs are a runaway leader for the Majors’ best record at 89-49, good for a 15 1/2-game lead in the National League Central.

In the heat of August, the Cubs went 22-6. When the season started to drag for a lot of clubs, the Cubs soared. They have had tremendous contributions from everyday players, most notably leading NL MVP candidates Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo. But for opponents, trying to score enough runs to win is the foremost and largest problem the Cubs present.

“The rotation is what has set them apart from everybody else,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “Obviously, Rizzo and Bryant deserve to be thought of as big pieces, but the rotation is what has set them apart. Their run prevention is what has set them apart from everybody else.

“I know they’re kind of at the …

continue reading in source mlb.mlb.com

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *