Championships are not won in May...but this is annoying

“Championships are not won in May...but this is annoying”
Superfan Greg From Naperville

The Leadoff Man

The Cubs bats are warming up, but the Brewers keep raining on our parade! 

Despite the bats showing some life, the Cubs dropped three of four to the Brewers, leaving us all with mixed feelings. Cody Bellinger and Seiya Suzuki provided some fireworks, but the bullpen’s meltdown kept us from closing out the series strong. As we head into the next games, let's break down the highs and lows, and see how the rest of the NL Central is shaping up.

Cubs' bats are getting warmer, but they're not fully cooked yet!

Cody Bellinger seems to have found his groove again, launching his 8th homer of the season in the 1st inning. Nico Hoerner chipped in with a double, and Seiya Suzuki brought some excitement with a two-run pinch hit blast in the 7th. Christopher Morel kept the momentum with a solo shot in the 8th. However, pinch-hitting Patrick Wisdom with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th felt like waving the surrender flag. He may be the least clutch player in baseball.

However, the sporadic bursts of power weren’t enough to overcome the Brewers. While it's encouraging to see Bellinger and Suzuki stepping up, the Cubs need more consistency from the rest of the lineup to make a significant push. If the bats can stay hot and spread the wealth, we might talk about a different ball game soon!

Relief Pitching Woes Continue

The bullpen's woes overshadowed Taillon's decent start.

Jameson Taillon delivered a solid six innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits, walking one, and striking out four. Not spectacular, but it kept the Cubs in the game. Mark Leiter Jr. struggled, surrendering another run in just two-thirds of an inning. The real trouble came in the 8th when Luke Little, after a concerning visit from the trainers, struggled to find the strike zone. Tyson Miller came in to clean up, but a two-run homer by Gary Sanchez dashed our hopes, leaving the Cubs trailing 6-4.

The bullpen’s inconsistency has been a recurring theme, and this game was no different. For the Cubs to make a serious run, they'll need to find reliable options to lock down the late innings. Maybe it's time to shuffle the bullpen or look for help from the minors or the trade market.

NL Central Standings Update

Oh crap, we fell behind the Cardinals into 3rd place. This sucks.

• Brewers: 33-23 (Last 10 games: 5-5)

• Cardinals: 27-27 (Last 10 games: 8-2)

• Cubs: 28-29 (Last 10 games: 5-5)

• Pirates: 26-30 (Last 10 games: 5-5)

• Reds: 24-32 (Last 10 games: 5-5)

Despite the recent struggles, the Cubs are still in the mix, only a few games back from the Brewers. With the Cardinals heating up, the Cubs must find consistency and string together wins in June.

What’s Going On With the Reds?

Reds fans are just as frustrated as we are, and a sentiment analysis reveals their woes.

Superfan Mark dived into the sentiments of Reds fans and found a lot of dissatisfaction, particularly with Manager David Bell’s decisions and the team’s offensive struggles. Comments like "Bell has to go" and "Another offensive malaise" highlight the frustration.

The Reds' struggles echo the Cubs’ issues – inconsistent offense and questionable management decisions. As we battle through our own challenges, it’s a reminder that perseverance and fan support are key to turning things around.

The Closer

The Cubs' recent series against the Brewers did not go as planned, but there are some bright spots. The bats are warming up, and Ben Brown's performance showed promise. The bullpen remains a concern, but we can close out games more effectively with a bit of fine-tuning.

Looking ahead, the Cubs have a chance to bounce back and make a statement. This weekend, we take on the bottom of the NL Central with the Reds. Let’s be like an Asian Carp and dominate as bottom feeders.

Share your thoughts and predictions for the upcoming games, and let’s keep the conversation going. Go Cubs Go!