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The Chicago Cubs haven’t had the best season so far, and their WAR numbers show what exactly they need to get better at.
The Cubs currently sit second in the National League Central Division with a 57-44 record. While they are not exactly struggling, it’s hard to say they have performed to the best of their abilities.
One of their biggest issues this season has been their inability to stack wins together after their impressive 10-game winning streak earlier this year.
Chicago Cubs’ WAR statistics show they must improve pitcher depth
According to a graphic shared by reporter Michael Hultman, the Chicago Cubs have the fourth-weakest Wins Above Replacement (WAR) statistics when it comes to pitching across the MLB.
The Cubs pitchers have an average of 2.7 WAR on the pitching front, which, on paper, is above the league average, but compared to the other top teams, is nowhere close to where they want to be.
The New York Yankees have the best ERA with 3.39, with a bullpen ERA of 3.09, along with 868 strikeouts this season.
The Philadelphia Phillies have the most team strikeouts this season, with 968, with the Milwaukee Brewers closely following with 950.
Compared to them, the Cubs have a 4.30 ERA, a bullpen ERA of 4.09, and 769 team strikeouts this season. So they’re far from the top of the league on the pitching front.
Chicago Cubs must evaluate their roster going forward
The Chicago Cubs are certainly not having a bad season, but they are not where they would have hoped to be at the start of the year.
The pitching numbers show what is holding them back from making a serious run to the World Series, and they need to address things as soon as possible.
With the trade deadline less than two weeks away, the Cubs front office must look to swing big, as landing a game-changer before August 3rd could define their season.
For GM Craig Counsell, it is time to stop playing it safe and take some risks to help the team get to the highest level possible.
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