(670 The Score) In the baseball world, Memorial Day is considered a marker to measure what a team can or will be the rest of the season.
Here's a look at the Cubs a day after the holiday has passed:
THREE UP
1.) First up
The Cubs lost a game of ground as they fell 6-5 to the Astros on Monday and the Brewers won 5-4 over the Twins. But the Cubs remain in first place and on a track toward winning the National League Central.
FanGraphs projects the Cubs to go 90-72 and win the division by four games over the Brewers (86-76) at the end of the season. In that projection, those 90 victories would be second in the NL, trailing the Dodgers, who are projected to finish 100-62.
2.) Red-hot Rizzo
A game in Arizona on April 26 was the turnaround point for Cubs star Kris Bryant, as he implemented tweaks to his plate approach and soon took off. But it also happened to be when teammate Anthony Rizzo sparked a hot streak of his own.
Since that day, Rizzo has 11 home runs, 28 RBIs and a slash line of .360/.444/.760. That run has helped him to a slash of .291/.406/.604 for the season.
3.) Willson won't stop
Baseball in 2019 often values catchers more for their abilities behind the plate than in the batter's box, so what Willson Contreras is doing this season has been notable.
Contreras leads all catchers (minimum 100 plate appearances) with a .420 weighted on-base percentage and 164 weighted-runs-created-plus. He's second in WAR at his position, trailing only the Phillies' J.T. Realmuto.
THREE DOWN
1.) Regression to the mean
Like Cubs ace left-hander Jon Lester, left-hander Cole Hamels was due for some regression on the mound. That occurred in Houston on Sunday, when he was tagged for six earned runs while walking four in four innings.
Hamels, 35, entered saw his ERA rise from 3.38 to 4.02 on Monday. He now has a 3.99 FIP. In other words, this setback shouldn't be considered a surprise.
2.) Carl getting crushed
Carl Edwards Jr. went from one of the Cubs' most reliable relievers to a pitcher whom they can no longer count on.
Edwards has a 8.38 ERA (6.53 FIP) in 9 2/3 innings of work this season. While striking out just shy of 11.2 batters per nine innings, he has also walked 5.59 per nine and allowed 2.79 homers per nine.
3.) Mayday for Descalso
Veteran second baseman Daniel Descalso was off to a solid start to this season. Then the month of May arrived.
Descalso has a slash line of .100.164/.140 this month, dropping his numbers to .198/.277/.302 on the season.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
