The Cubs were swept by the Cardinals in part because their lack of clutch hitting. As we take a look at the most recent trends around the team, that's a concerning one to watch.
Like any team, the Cubs know they can't rely too heavily on the home run ball -- just check the sweep at the hands of the Cardinals for evidence of why manufacturing runs is still crucial. But power has certainly been a strong part of their game this season.
The Cubs are sixth in MLB and third in the National League with 96 home runs, trailing only the Brewers' 104 and Dodgers' 96 on the senior circuit. The Cubs are also tied for sixth overall in team isolated power with a mark of .201.
There's still plenty more to be desired when it comes to Cubs right-hander Yu Darvish, but he's at least showing signs of progress as of late.
Darvish has allowed three or fewer runs in three of his last four starts. He also has a 4.44 ERA (3.21 xFIP) over his last four starts and has walked eight hitters in 24 1/3 innings in that span, an improvement after prolonged command issues early in the season.
These recent performances have come after Darvish and the Cubs focused on improving his fastball command after he walked six Marlins in four innings on May 9.
After regression to the mean took effect for Cubs left-hander Cole Hamels recently, he bounced back well at Busch Stadium on Sunday.
Hamels went seven innings, allowing just two hits and one unearned run. He struck out four, walked two and was tagged with the loss as the Cubs managed only one run to back him up. Hamels now has a 3.62 ERA.
The Cubs have one of the best offenses in baseball, ranking eighth in MLB at 5.16 runs per game through Sunday. But their numbers with runners in scoring position are drastically different.
After going 1-for-16 with runners in scoring position this weekend, the Cubs now have a .237 batting average in such situations. That ranks 27th in baseball, ahead of only the Marlins, Indians and Tigers.
The Cubs hit .249 with runners in scoring position in 2018, which ranked 20th.
The Cubs called upon 34-year-old first baseman Jim Adduci as their 25th man recently. That's a spot on the roster they've mostly worked without this season, as manager Joe Maddon conceded that outfielder Mark Zagunis wasn't part of his rotation. It doesn't appear Adduci is either.
The Cubs are still waiting on outfielder Ian Happ to emerge in Triple-A, where he has a slash line of .228/.343/.406 (.749 OPS) over 233 plate appearances. They also signed three-time All-Star outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, who arrived in Triple-A Iowa on Sunday after the Indians recently cut him amid struggles.
The hope is to find somebody who can contribute at the big league level.
Seven-time All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel remains a free agent and is no longer attached to draft pick compensation for teams interested in signing him. The Cubs are reportedly among the interested suitors, and they sure could use a player like Kimbrel for the ninth inning.
The Cubs have converted just 11 of their 22 save opportunities, a 50-percent mark that ranks 29th in MLB.