The Cubbies have been killing and are on a 7-game win streak. Home cooking really served them well.
Now the team is confronted with a big test. Fortunately, not the normal June test for the Cubs where we try to determine if they can be slightly better than .500 and if a good win streak can vault them back into contention for the wild card before the season becomes a total wash. No, this is a test of whether the Cubs really are what we think they are...a monster of a ballclub, with their best days ahead.
The Cubs head for a stretch of 13 of the next 16 (and 23 of the next 32) games on the road. This has been the sore spot for this club in an otherwise rosy looking season. With a road record of 10-13, the Cubs have dropped some stinkers away from the Friendly Confines. Granted, the best of the best in the NL on the road so far is Philly at only 15-13 and for MLB, the Angels are 16-11. However, watchers have seen the Cubs fall to well below their home standard this year and suffered defeat against teams they should beat.
Fortunately, the first stretch starts with San Diego. Big Z will take the mound tonight and will get another start before the teams gets back to Wrigley on June 10th. The bad news is that June will provide some tough competition:
@SD for 3
@LAD for 4
home for 3 games against the Braves
@Toronto for 3
@Tampa for 3
home vs White Sox for 3
home vs Orioles for 3 (first Baltimore visit to Wrigley field)
@White Sox for 3
@SF for 4 (Jun 30, Jul1-3)
then 3 at St. Louis before getting a 6 game home stand (3 Cincy, 3 SF) prior to the All-Star break.
Here's hoping they keep the ball rolling. They'll need to.
And if you missed it, Mark Prior has been shut down for the season. No big surprise there.
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