What We Learned About the Cubs After Critical Four-Game Split with Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs renewed their heated rivalry with a four-game series at Busch Stadium in St. Louis this week. The Cardinals entered the series four and a half games behind the Cubs for first place in the National League Central standings. A margin that small makes a four-game series between the clubs have even a little more meaning behind it than usually does when these two teams get together. So, as one might expect, this series had nail-biting finishes, high emotions, clutch plays, and costly decisions on both sides. Ultimately, the two teams split the four games, with the first two going to the Cardinals and the last two going to the Cubs. Here are my two Cubs’ takeaways from a gritty series split in St. Louis.
Shota Imanaga Is Essential to the Cubs Success
Star pitcher Shota Imanaga made his highly anticipated return to the mound after missing nearly two months with a hamstring injury that he sustained on May 5th against the Brewers. While the rotation was able to stay afloat thanks to efforts from the likes of Matthew Boyd, Colin Rea, and Ben Brown, it was becoming clear as of late that this team needed its ace back. The home run ball was a major issue for Brown, who was recently sent down to AAA, and Jameson Taillon in the two losses the Cubs suffered in this series, but Matthew Boyd was able to right the ship in game three, which set the stage for Imanaga’s return in the finale. With the Cubs in desperate need of a split to maintain some breathing room in the standings, Imanaga delivered just as an ace should. He pitched five stress-free, shutout innings while only allowing one hit. There was a sense of relief from this Cubs team seeing Imanaga back out on the mound, and rightfully so. The Cubs are 29-9 as a team so far in games Imanaga has started in his career. Now that he is back healthy, the Cubs are going to need him to continue to steady this rotation as the All-Star break and playoff push loom shortly.
Kyle Tucker Makes This Offense World Series Caliber
It is sometimes tough to say in baseball that one player can drastically change an entire lineup. However, it is not hyperbole to say this about the impact that Kyle Tucker has on this Chicago offense, and it was on display in this critical series. Tucker tallied five hits and two walks throughout all four games, with the majority of his damage coming in game three, where he had a home run. However, the thing that stands out the most about Tucker’s effectiveness, aside from his one performance, is how he directly impacts the guys around him in the order. He currently hits second in the order, behind Ian Happ, and in front of Seiya Suzuki. Happ is much better against righties, and Suzuki is more effective against lefties, but Tucker being in between them is becoming a matchup nightmare for an opposing manager to maneuver. We saw it unfold in this series where the Cardinals kept a left-hander in the game to face Tucker, even though that meant the left-hander would have to face Suzuki as well. He is constantly creating advantageous opportunities for the guys around him in order because of his ability to hit both righties and lefties so well. As a result, we saw Happ and Suzuki both have a great week at the plate, including a home run from each of them. Not only is Tucker putting up All-Star caliber numbers himself, but he is helping turn this Cubs lineup into a major force to be reckoned with come playoff time.
