Cubs Starting to Catch Fire

Cubs

The Chicago Cubs are starting to play their best baseball at the right time. The Cubs are currently on a 6 game winning streak, which ties their longest of the year. With that, they have a chance to win two games today as last night's game was suspended in the tenth inning tied 1-1. It will be resumed at noon today and then the regularly scheduled game played after. But over the last week, the Cubs offense has gotten really hot since acquiring Daniel Murphy through waiver trades. Murphy has been put at the leadoff spot and since he has joined the team, he has delivered in that spot. He is batting .355 with two homers and 5 RBI's. Most Cubs fans can agree they have no idea how the Cubs were able to get Murphy, a guy who has killed the Cubs in the past, but all of them are happy to have him now. 

Via MLB.com

Over the last week, the starting pitching has really started to pitch well--something most people thought that would happen all year but hadn't. Over the last 12 games, the starting pitching has a 1.79 ERA which is REALLY good. The best of those starters has to be the pitcher that Theo Epstein (President of baseball operations) acquired in late July, Cole Hamels. Hamels has been excellent since he was traded to the Cubs. He is 4-0 in 6 games with a 0.69 ERA. It seemed like all he needed was a change of scenery because he seems like a whole new person since he joined the Cubs. Hamels went toe to toe with the best pitcher in baseball Jacob deGrom last night. Hamels pitched 5 scoreless innings he could have gone longer but had to work really hard in a couple innings so his pitch count got up there. On the other hand, deGrom was almost unhittable, he went 8 innings only giving up 1 run. Last night's game had the feeling of a playoff game--two of the best pitchers in baseball going up against each other. It was a good test for the Cubs hitters who found a way to tie the game in 8th with a David Bote sac fly.
Kris Bryant played his second game in Triple-A Iowa last night where he went 1-2 with an RBI and a walk. Cubs manager says that Kris is very close to returning to the Cubs which is a very scary thing for the rest of the league. The team that is starting to hit their stride is about to get their best player back who hasn't played in almost 1 and 1/2 months. 

Via desmoineregister.com