Big series vs. Cardinals shows what Cubs can do when Alex Bregman is hot: ‘Hopefully, I keep that rolling’
ST. LOUIS — The Cubs have managed one of baseball’s best records, all while dealing with pitching injuries and a monthlong early-summer slump.
They’re one of baseball’s best offensive teams, third in the sport in runs scored coming into Thursday’s 4-2 extra-inning win over the Cardinals, looking capable of achieving their championship-level goals, should Jed Hoyer’s front office fortify the pitching staff ahead of Monday’s trade deadline.
They’ve done it all with big-money free-agent addition Alex Bregman hitting nowhere close to how he’d like, nowhere near the kinds of numbers he’s put up in his career.
But how high can they fly if Bregman turns it on?
The Cubs got a glimpse at what a red-hot Bregman bat looks like this week. Their third baseman had a monster series, with 10 hits in 19 trips to the plate across four games. Seven of those hits went for extra bases, including the RBI double that proved Thursday’s game-winner.
A lack of power has been the main gripe as Bregman has searched for his footing with his new club. Coming into Thursday, his .375 slugging percentage was far and away the lowest of his career.
But this week’s version was the Bregman the Cubs thought they’d be getting when they shelled out $175 million in the offseason.
“He’s been a productive part of the offense, even as he hasn’t hit the way he wants to hit,” left fielder Ian Happ said Tuesday. “The back of his baseball card shows [what it shows].
“He’s that type of player. He’s been working really hard on it, it’s good to see him get some results. We’re all pretty confident that at the end of the year, it’s going to look pretty similar to what it looks like every year.”
Those votes of confidence have been the norm from Bregman’s teammates all season, thanks to the two-time World Series champ’s long track record of major league success.
Certainly, it’ll take more than a sizzling four-game stretch for Bregman to count as the potent presence in the lineup that was planned, but this was a tantalizing snapshot.
“He had a very good offensive series. That’s something to build on, for sure,” manager Craig Counsell said. “It’s confidence-building, and it’s good for us winning baseball games, as you saw this week.”
“I felt like it was quality at-bat after quality at-bat,” Bregman said. “Hopefully, I keep that rolling.”
‘A different guy every day’
Bregman’s review of the Cubs’ bullpen?
“It’s been awesome,” he said. “It’s a different guy every day.”
He doesn’t know how right he is.
Righty Aaron Civale became the 13th different Cubs pitcher to earn a save Thursday, setting a new club mark for the most in a single season.
“It’s just our journey this year with our bullpen,” Counsell said. “I give Jacob Webb a lot of credit in this thing, how he’s kind of handled whatever has been put in front of him.
“For the last three months, it’s been the biggest out in the game. He’s handled those outs. I give Jacob a lot of credit in making it possible.”
Birthday boy
Righty pitcher Javier Assad celebrated his 29th birthday with 4⅓ innings of one-run ball Thursday, his latest solid effort.
He’s bounced back and forth between the bullpen and the rotation this season, proving himself incredibly valuable in helping to keep an injury-ravaged staff afloat.
“There’s going to be players that have to have this flexibility,” Counsell said. “It’s kind of why I use the ‘out-getter’ word because you have to have people that are able to do both.”
The Cubs are expected to add arms ahead of Monday’s deadline, but the starting rotation is pitching terrifically at the moment, showing what’s possible if and when more depth or big names join the party.
With four games against the White Sox at Rate Field and three against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, the Yankees are spending the week in the same hotel. They might as well get comfy.
Pitching will be the Cubs’ obvious focus at the trade deadline, but in the days leading up to Aug. 3, the position-player group is putting up big run totals and showing the winning foundation they can be come October.