Chicago Cubs Vs. Baltimore Orioles Series Preview
The Chicago Cubs and Baltimore Orioles are two distinct franchises, playing in different conferences and producing vastly different results as we approach the All-Star festivities in just over a week. I highlighted three potential trade candidates the Cubs could consider before the rapidly approaching trade deadline. However, buying may no longer be practical given the direction this season is heading. Despite a convincing 5-0 against the fourth-place Los Angeles in their most recent outing, the Cubs have continued to underperform relative to tall preseason expectations. They’re hovering over dead last in the National League Central at 42-49. Since May 1st, they’ve averaged 3.7 runs per game, better than the MLB cellar Chicago White Sox and Miami Marlins. Chicago's early-season charm has faded, as the team has stumbled to a 22-34 record through May and June, following a promising 17-9 start. They now find themselves 11 games behind the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers and five and a half games behind their arch-rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals, who sit in second place.
The Chicago Cubs are six wins removed from the final NL Wild Card spot and are rumored to be “undecided” as to whether or not they will switch to “seller" status before the deadline closes. Cody Bellinger, Jameson Taillon, and Nico Hoerner are potential trade pieces to monitor. Adding to the Cubs' season of frustrations was a recent viral incident involving pitcher Colten Brewer, who broke his left hand on the dugout wall following a poor relief appearance against the Los Angeles Angels. Brewer was designated to the 60-day injury list to occupy a pitcher-decorated list alongside Javier Assad and Kyle Hendricks. The Cubs' most notable recent achievements include the debut of an all-female broadcasting crew and Shota Imanaga becoming the second rookie in franchise history to be selected to the All-Star team. The last was beloved former MVP Kris Bryant back in 2015. The Cubs have plenty of questions to answer with this upcoming series against Baltimore likely a barometer that’ll determine which way the pendulum should swing before July 30th.
On the opposite side of the spectrum lies the American League juggernaut Baltimore Orioles, who have impressed with flying colors. Save for a 19-8 upset against the fifth-place Oakland Athletics, Baltimore won two out of its three games in a West Coast road spell. The New York Yankees’ recent cold spell has propelled the Orioles to first place in the AL East standings and oddsmakers have even fluctuated the chances of winning the division in Baltimore’s favor. The Orioles boast the second-best record in MLB at 57-33 with the Yankees three games behind and the Red Sox in pursuit. The Philadelphia Phillies are the betting favorites to win the World Series outright but the Orioles remain strong contenders. The MLB’s decision to select only Corbin Burnes to represent one of baseball’s premier teams left both baseball pundits and Orioles fans in disarray. Several notable players snubbed could further motivate a team that’s already on the verge of clinching its second consecutive AL East title.
Keys To Victory
Noted bullpen scarcity could be crippling against an efficient, well-oiled Baltimore attack that leads the MLB in runs with 5.16 per game. Conversely, the Chicago Cubs' lack of offensive firepower could be exploited by one of the league’s most lethal and skilled pitching staffs. Michael Busch has been a saving grace for an otherwise inconsistent Chicago lineup, and he should be heavily relied upon to jump-start the team's offense. Although he has struggled with consistency throughout the season, his explosive potential could be the sparkplug Chicago needs. The Orioles will be challenged by ace gem and rookie All-Star Imanaga who’s penciled in for a Wednesday mound appearance. Imanaga has struggled relative to his scorching hot first month that saw an all-time low 0.83 ERA. His ERA has since risen to a still respectable 3.16, but the Japanese sensation is currently grappling with a typical mid-season rookie slump. This as well as a disastrous bullpen is a vulnerability that Baltimore could exploit.
