(670 The Score) The Cubs had their sights set on a strong start to the 2019 season. Instead, they stumbled out of the gates, losing two out of three in Texas and having several of their greatest concerns exploited.
Let's check out the good and the bad.
THREE UP
1.) Great at the plate
For the Cubs to accomplish their goals this season, they will need more from their offense that they received when the bats went silent last September and the first couple days of October. Playing inside the bandbox that is Globe Life Park, the Cubs bats did get off to a hot start.
The Cubs posted a three-game slash line of .342/.433/.570 and a .428 weighted on-base in Texas, scoring 28 runs and posting a 150 weighted-runs-created mark. Their strikeout rate is third in baseball so far at 15.6 percent, while their walk rate is seventh at 13.3 percent.
While it's a really small sample size, the Cubs can hope this is the start of a strong season at the plate.
2.) El Mago is back
The race for National League MVP award served as an exciting subplot in the NL Central race in 2018, and the Brewers' and Cubs' respective stars are picking up right where they left off.
Coming off his MVP campaign, Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich is off to an absurd start, hitting a home run for four straight days and batting .500. Cubs shortstop Javier Baez has been plenty impressive too, posting a .429/.467/.857 slash line and 551 wOBA with six RBIs in three games. While Baez hasn't made history with a home run in each game to start 2019, he did blast a pair on Opening Day.
Baez enjoyed a breakout campaign as the 2018 MVP runner-up, hitting 34 home runs and posting a 5.3 WAR, per FanGraphs. The first series of the season showed he's up for a repeat performance.
3.) Ace Jon?
There was little question that it would be 35-year-old veteran left-hander Jon Lester getting the start for the Cubs on Opening Day. It's the kind of recognition that has deservedly come for Lester given the success he has enjoyed during a career now in its 14th season.
What does Lester bring the Cubs now as their ace? He isn't the dominant strikeout pitcher of the past, when he routinely struck out around nine batters per nine innings. What led the reinvented Lester to a 3.32 ERA in 2018 was inducing bad contact and letting his defense perform behind him. The differential between that ERA and his xFIP (4.43) last season reminds of the dangerous game Lester is playing.
In his first start, Lester went six innings and allowed two earned runs, surrendering a home run to Elvis Andrus but otherwise managing the game. He allowed 44.4 percent hard contact and forced ground balls on only 33.3 percent of balls in play, but the Rangers left the day with a .176 average on batted balls.
Lester has to clean things up from Thursday, but he gave his Cubs a chance to win -- and that's all he's asked.
THREE DOWN
1.) Battered bullpen
The Cubs failed to enhance the back end of the bullpen in the offseason. The early returns are concerning.
The Cubs bullpen has a 10.03 ERA in 11 2/3 innings of work, with the poor performance led by Carl Edwards Jr. walking two and allowing the Rangers' go-ahead three-run homer by Joey Gallo in an 8-6 loss Saturday. Looking to force extra innings in a 10-10 tie in the bottom of the ninth Sunday, Pedro Strop allowed a double to Gallo, who later scored on a wild pitch to give Texas the victory.
The Cubs received two scoreless appearances from Steve Cishek and clean innings from Randy Rosario, Brandon Kintzler and Brad Brach over the weekend. But the leaking bullpen offered reason for concern in the opening series.
2.) Darvish struggles
The comeback bid for right-hander Yu Darvish got off to an alarming start. Darvish went only 2 2/3 innings Saturday, allowing a homer and three earned runs while walking seven batters before being removed.
What was especially worrisome is Darvish's problems came with his fastball, what should be his comfort pitch. It averaged 92.59 miles per hour -- nearly three miles per hour down from last season -- while he struggled to find the strike zone.
Perhaps it was just a matter of added emotions for Darvish, who made only eight starts in 2018 and was pitching back in Texas, where he played from 2012-'17. But the struggles are worth noting as Darvish moves forward.
3.) Homer Hamels
The big swing of in Texas' win Sunday came when Rangers lead-off man Delino DeShields hit a grand slam off Cubs left-hander Cole Hamels, who went five innings and allowed six runs, five earned.
DeShields' homer was the only one Hamels allowed Sunday, but it's part of a trend that has hampered Hamels late in his career. He allowed a career-worst 1.4 homers per nine innings in 2018, including 1.8 per game in 20 starts with Texas.
Hamels enjoyed much better results in his dozen starts with the Cubs last season, allowing only 0.7 HR/9 while posting a 2.36 ERA to close the season. If he can control the home run ball better, success will follow. That wasn't the case in Sunday's loss.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
