Three up, three down: An update on the Cubs, August 19 edition

The Cubs won a couple games, but overall did not have a good week.

The Cubs got swept in Cleveland since the last update in this series, and could have somewhat made up for that had they swept the Blue Jays at home.

But they didn’t, and so wound up with a 2-4 week. The Cubs have 37 games remaining and they did win two of three from Toronto. They’ll pretty much have to do that the rest of the way to have any chance at the postseason. Doing that would give them a 25-12 or 24-13 record the rest of the way or, put another way, 85 or 86 wins. Fewer than that likely won’t do it. Possible? Sure. Likely? Probably not.

Here’s who was hot and not for the Cubs over those six games.

Three up

Ian Happ smacked some home runs

Over the six games, Happ batted .286/.423/.762 (6-for-21). Of the six hits, four went for extra bases, a double and three home runs. Happ now has 22 homers; his career high of 25 was set in 2021.

One of those homers went a very long way [VIDEO].

Here’s the height and distance on that one [VIDEO].

Tyson Miller just keeps getting outs

Miller doesn’t throw hard, but has a deceptive motion and arm slot that hitters just can’t seem to figure out. He had three more scoreless appearances over the last week and hasn’t allowed a run in seven appearances covering 7⅔ innings this month. He’s reduced his season ERA to 1.79 and in 32 games as a Cub: 1.34 ERA, 0.772 WHIP.

Cubs starters keep getting the job done

Over the six games, Cubs starting pitchers threw 27⅔ innings — a bit less than expected due to the multiple rain delays Saturday holding Justin Steele to two innings — and allowed 10 earned runs, a 3.25 ERA. If only the offense could have generated some more runs.

Three down

Dansby Swanson remains mired in a slump

Swanson had two hits Saturday, including a double, but went just 3-for-20 (.150) over the week.

Unless he goes on a hot streak soon — and the team could use that! — he’s headed for career lows in BA, OBP, SLG and OPS, and his fewest home runs since 2017.

Nico Hoerner — same as Dansby

Hoerner did hit three doubles over the six games, but overall was just 5-for-23 (.217) and his OPS of .670 is more than 50 points below his career OPS heading into this season (.723).

It’s the lack of hitting from the Cubs’ double-play combination that has helped make the bottom of the Cubs lineup a string of almost-automatic outs.

Yikes, Isaac Paredes

Paredes went 1-for-17 with five strikeouts over the six games. He was scratched from Sunday’s starting lineup with a shoulder issue, then pinch-hit and struck out. Hopefully the off day will help him reset.

So far, the trade that sent Christopher Morel to the Rays has been one that’s hurt both teams.

Paredes since the trade: .153/.250/.305 (9-for-59) with three doubles and two home runs
Morel since the trade: .148/.257/.262 (9-for-61) with a double and two home runs

Yeesh.