The Chicago Cubs feature several players with unique skillsets and it is still insane to me that there was a significant portion of the fan base that was completely fine with the team trading Nico Hoerner last offseason. Luckily, the Cubs didn’t get rid of one of the best second basemen in MLB and now with less than two weeks left in the regular season Hoerner has a real shot at winning the batting title in the National League.
Hoerner has been the top hitter for the Cubs in the past three weeks and dating back to Aug. 27, the second baseman has the fourth-highest batting average in baseball. The right-handed hitter has recorded 11 multi-hit games in his last 20 starts and despite going 0-for-4 against Hunter Greene on Thursday night Hoerner enters Friday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds with a .301 overall batting average this season.
Nico Hoerner’s Last 20 Games
.375/.427/.575
30-for-80, 7 BB, 5 K
2 HR, 1 3B, 8 2B
So, how close is Hoerner to winning the batting title this year? Well, the overall numbers make it look close, but Hoerner will have to be even better during the next nine games to come out on top.
NL Batting Leaders (as of 9/19)
No. 1 Trea Turner: .305
No. 2 Nico Hoerner: .301
No. 3 Sal Frelick: .296
It’s a two-man race between Hoerner and Philadelphia Phillies Trea Turner shortstop Trea Turner. Right now the Phillies haven’t given a clear timetable for Turner’s return from the injured list. Turner has been out of action since Sept. 7, as he was placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained right hamstring. The Phillies are optimistic that Turner will return before the start of the playoffs.
How Hoerner Can Win Batting Title
Essentially, Hoerner has to get to a .305 batting average to win. He’s been hitting at the top of the batting order for the Cubs, which means Hoerner will get between 35-40 plate appearances during the next nine games. Take away three of those plate appearances going towards his walk total and Hoerner has about 32-37 at-bats remaining.
Let’s call it 35 at-bats and Hoerner has to hit .400 (14-for-35) in the next nine games to pass Turner’s .305 batting average.
After these three weekend games against the Cincinnati Reds the Cubs end the regular season with three games against the New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals.
