Chicago Cubs Struggle to Overcome Rough Patch Amid Losing Streak

In Pittsburgh, the Chicago Cubs are trying to maintain perspective despite a challenging season. The team believes their struggles will not define the season, even after a significant setback in recent weeks.

After a strong start with two 10-game winning streaks, the Cubs have faced a downturn since May 9. Their recent nine-game losing streak puts their record at 29-25, and they have lost 13 of their last 15 games.

Manager Craig Counsell has been experimenting with different lineups to revitalize the Cubs’ offense. Rookie Pete Crow-Armstrong, batting in the leadoff spot, has been impressive with high exit velocities, yet failed to convert those into hits in Monday’s 2-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Key players like Ian Happ, Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner, and Seiya Suzuki have received breaks to refresh their approach. Unfortunately, the changes in lineup have not yet yielded positive results.

The Cubs’ batting average of .178 in the last 15 games is the lowest in the league, lower even than that of the Houston Astros at .197.

Counsell urged improvements, stating, “We’ve got to play better. We need more guys contributing positively, and as a coaching staff, we’ve got to help the players reach their potential. Offensively, we should be more consistent and better than this, and we need to show it.”

Monday’s best scoring opportunity came in the second inning, with the bases loaded against Pirates starter Carmen Mlodzinski. Swanson struck out on a sweeper, leaving three runners stranded.

Michael Busch remains a bright spot, contributing a game-tying home run and maintaining a 138 wRC+ over the last 15 games. He emphasized, “Simplifying our approach and maintaining quality at-bats is key, even if the game doesn’t always reward us immediately.”

Pitcher Ben Brown has been consistent, posting a 1.89 ERA in four starts since joining the rotation. On Monday, he gave up one run on four hits in six innings. He effectively used his sinker and changeup to keep the Pirates off balance.

Brown acknowledged the team’s current difficulties, “The guys are working hard, but we need to play more freely and without adding undue pressure on ourselves. Baseball can be challenging, but we love each other and push each other to improve.”

The Cubs will look to break their losing streak on Tuesday with Jordan Wicks making his first start of the season.