I’ll admit, if you go back every year in MLB history I bet the league leaders in come from behind wins just end up being very good teams. That’s not different this season, as the Chicago Cubs just do not quit.
So, it’s not some special quality that defines this team, it’s just another example of how good of a team the Cubs are.
The Cubs took 3-of-5 five games from the St. Louis Cardinals after the all-star break and that included two wins after they were trailing early. Sunday’s 7-2 win was their 32nd victory of the year for the Cubs where they had to overcome a deficit.
The Cubs do not quit.
Cubs 32nd come from behind win . Most in MLB
— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) July 22, 2018
Jose Quintana got into some trouble immediately, giving up a run in the first inning to St. Louis. The Cardinals scored another run in the fourth, but the Cubs tied the game in the bottom half of the inning.
Then, Kyle Schwarber got the lead for good in the sixth.
Sometimes you just know.#EverybodyIn pic.twitter.com/Ctfl2dPnCW
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 22, 2018
Yet, the offense didn’t stop, adding another run in the seventh with an RBI-single by Kris Bryant and then three more runs came across the plate in the eighth.
Through 98 games this season, the Cubs have scored 195 runs from the seventh inning on. That ranks No. 1 in MLB, with the Houston Astros in second with 178 runs.
Plain and simple the offense is relentless.
Looking deeper in those numbers in late-inning situations, you can also see that despite the Cubs’ offense changing it’s not suffering. As a matter of fact, the new approach is off the charts.
Yes, the home run numbers are down in 2018 for the Cubs, despite Javier Baez and Kyle Schwarber on pace to set new career highs in dingers.
The seventh inning or later stats show a smaller example of how the Cubs don’t rely on home runs to score.
Another example of how the Cubs don't rely on HRs this season.
Runs scored 7th inning or later: 195 (1st in MLB)
HRs 7th inning or later: 29 (T-23rd in MLB)— Aldo Soto (@AldoSoto21) July 23, 2018
Overall, the Cubs have 104 home runs this year, ranked 19th in MLB and ninth in the National League. Despite that, the Cubs rank fourth in runs scored in MLB and number one in the NL with 507.
Just how dominant has the Cubs offense been? The Colorado Rockies are second in the NL in scoring at 485 runs. So, that’s 22 more by the Cubs and the Rockies play half their games at Coors Field and so far have played in one more game overall.
How are the Cubs doing it?
The home runs are down, but the batting average and OBP are better than ever. The Cubs are hitting .268, second to only the Boston Red Sox in 2018, and the Cubs’ .349 OBP is first in MLB.
All that has the Cubs as one of the scariest offenses in baseball the number-one scoring team in the National League.
So yeah, it’s no surprise that the Cubs don’t quit. They’re just really damn good and they don’t need home runs to be dangerous.
Check out this thread for an even deeper look at how the Cubs, in this case specifically against relievers, are getting the job done.
There's definitely something to this. The Cubs are especially capable against really good relief pitching. Look at the HR/9 & HR/FB rates for the top RP in the league. They are hard to take deep — much more so than even the best SP. The Cubs take the right approach late in games https://t.co/dDNwB2T5iv
— Aaron Kennelly (@aaron_kennelly) July 23, 2018
In 2017, the Cubs hit 223 home runs and scored 822 runs. This year, they’re on pace for only 172 homers, but at this rate they’ll end up with 838 runs.
Oh, one last thing.
If you exclude pitchers from batting, the Cubs are hitting .278 (7 pts higher than any MLB team) and have a .361 OBP (12 pts higher than any MLB team). pic.twitter.com/PA1924q0X5
— Matt Clapp (@TheBlogfines) July 23, 2018
Bring the DH to the National League please and thank you.
*all stats are from after games were played on 7/22
