The Cubs are interested in much more than making the playoffs this season. It is the 10-year anniversary of their 2016 World Series title, one that broke a 108-year dry spell. The Cubs are hoping to best the Brewers in the National League Central race and show they are the best team in the National League. That means dethroning the Los Angeles Dodgers and holding off all other challengers. If they can do that, they are hoping to repeat the success they had in the 2016 World Series when they defeated the Cleveland Indians (now Guardians) in seven games.

The Cubs are off to an excellent start this season and they are one game behind the Cincinnati Reds in the division with a 19-12 record. Prior to losing two of three games to the Los Angeles Dodgers last weekend, they had a 10-game winning streak, pounding the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets in the process.

It has not been easy for the Cubs because they have already suffered numerous injuries to their pitching staff. The Cubs have no fewer than 10 pitchers with injuries, with the most serious being Cade Horton’s season-ending elbow injury and subsequent surgery, Justin Steele’s flexor strain and Daniel Palencia’s lat strain.

Cubs have found a way to overcome pitching issues with clutch hitting

In many ways, their strong performance through the first month of the season is quite amazing. The shocking number of pitching injuries could have relegated them to the lower levels of the National League Central. However, the Cubs have put together an explosive offense. As they prepare for a seven-game homestand against the Diamondbacks and Reds, they rank second in the Major Leagues in runs scored with 169. The only team with more is the National League East-leading Atlanta Braves with 177.

When the Cubs signed Alex Bregman in the offseason, he was supposed to be the difference makers in the lineup. He had been one of the best clutch hitters for the two-time World Series champion Houston Astros and had done the same for the Boston Red Sox last year.

Bregman immediately filled a key need for the Cubs at third base and is also a great clubhouse leader. He has not gotten off to a dominant start at the plate. While the Cubs may expect him to hit between 25 and 30 home runs, he has 3 home runs and 11 runs batted in. A bit of a slow start, but one that could turn into a productive season.

Hoerner has had an explosive start to his season

Nico Hoerner has led the Cubs surge to this point in the season. He is slashing .293/.369/.455 with 4 home runs and a team-leading 26 RBI. Hoerner has been a productive member of the Cubs since 2019, but he has never had more than 10 home runs in a season or 68 RBI.

With about 20 percent of the season in the books, he is on pace for 20 home runs and 130 RBI. He is unlikely to stay on his current pace for RBI, but there is every reason to believe he will have the best offensive season of his career.

The second baseman explained how he has been able to become a more productive hitter.

“As a player who makes a lot of contact, it’s a skill set, it’s a bonus. But it’s also something that can limit me if it’s weak contact in good counts to hit,” Hoerner said, per The Athletic. “It’s something I’ve known for a long time. I obviously know hitting the ball hard off the ground is better. It takes a while to understand how that shows up for you individually. I definitely don’t have that down yet. But I have a better idea of pitches I hit well.”

Additional bats, including Ballesteros, have been productive

If Hoerner is a surprise for the Cubs, Moisés Ballesteros is a complete shocker. The catcher and designated hitter is slashing .338/.392/.620. He has hammered 5 home runs and driven in 16 runs in 71 at bats. He is one of the most productive rookies in baseball and he is likely to take on a bigger role in the Cubs offense as the season moves along.

In addition to Hoerner and Ballesteros, Dansby Swanson has also been very productive even though his batting average is just .214. That old-school number does not seem to matter because he has hammered 6 home runs and driven in 23 runs. Leftfielder Ian Happ has contributed 7 home runs and 14 RBI.

Michael Busch and Pete Crow-Armstrong have gotten off to slow starts, but both have the track records to show that they should come around before midseason. Busch has 2 home runs and 11 RBI while Crow-Armstrong had 3 home runs and 14 RBI.

The offense has lit the fuse for the Cubs in the early part of the season and it must continue on its pace for Counsell’s team to be successful.