The Cubs’ Losing Streak at Home
The Chicago Cubs are finding Wrigley Field less than friendly lately. The team had won 15 consecutive home games but suffered a string of six losses during their recent homestand. Facing the Milwaukee Brewers and Houston Astros, the Cubs began with a 29-18 record, holding first place in the National League Central by 1.5 games. Despite encouraging attendance numbers, with 232,698 fans over six games, the team’s performance has been underwhelming.
On Sunday, the Cubs endured an 8-5 loss to Houston, watched by 40,048 attendees, dropping to a 29-24 record and extending their losing streak to eight games. This left the Cubs in third place behind the Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals.
During the homestand, the Cubs were outscored 34-12, outhomered 9-3, achieved a batting average of .174, and suffered two shutouts.
Takeaways from the Homestand
The Cubs’ Confidence in Improvement
Despite the losses, the Cubs remain hopeful. Michael Busch, who hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning on Sunday, emphasized having the mindset to win daily. Third baseman Alex Bregman admitted the team’s performance was lacking and needed improvement.
Adding to their woes, Sunday’s game-winning pitcher Peter Lambert, who was previously famed for defeating the Cubs twice in 2019 with the Rockies, secured his ninth career win, exacerbating the Cubs’ struggles.
Busch asserted the team’s belief in turning the situation around. “We know our capabilities,” he said, encouraging teammates to trust their abilities and the process.
Challenges in Pitching Performance
Starting pitcher Shota Imanaga faced difficulties against Houston. His initial innings showed promise as he secured two quick strikeouts, yet he allowed two home runs early. His struggles intensified in the fifth inning, conceding five more runs and multiple home runs.
Imanaga’s career record fell to 4-5, with three consecutive losses, including another game where he allowed seven runs, a first for his career. The Cubs aim for his improvement, as the rotation faces challenges following Edward Cabrera’s placement on the injured list.
Addressing pitching issues, Jordan Wicks was called from Triple-A Iowa, set to start against Pittsburgh.
Prospect Pedro Ramírez’s Promising Debut
Prospect Pedro Ramírez offered optimism during the Cubs’ difficult period. In his debut, Ramírez took second base, with Nico Hoerner at shortstop. Despite grounding out initially, Ramírez demonstrated his potential in subsequent at-bats.
“I want to do my job and do things right,” Ramírez stated before the game. Proving his promise, he doubled in the second inning to score Moisés Ballesteros, showcasing solid hitting skills.
Manager Craig Counsell praised Ramírez, noting solid at-bats and key plays, despite Houston’s defense minimizing his impact. Ramírez’s performance offers hope amid adversity.
Jeff Vorva reported for the Chicago Tribune.