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Cubs to Showcase Their Skills Against Cardinals at Wrigley Field

As the Cubs prepare to face off against the Cardinals at Wrigley Field, fans are eagerly anticipating what promises to be an exciting game. The Cubs, who have shown a mix of challenges and triumphs in their recent performances, are looking to capitalize on their home-field advantage this Sunday.


Jul 23, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs center fielder Cody Bellinger (24) runs the bases after hitting a two-run homer against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

In their last three games, the Cubs have displayed varying degrees of offensive and defensive capabilities. Despite a loss in their most recent outing against the Rays, they managed a respectable ten hits but were only able to convert these into two runs. This inconsistency in converting hits into runs has been a recurring theme; however, it's worth noting that they also showcased strong pitching from their bullpen with an impressive 9.342 strikeouts per nine innings rate.


The team's batting average over these games stands at .209 (22 hits in 105 at-bats), indicating room for improvement in making contact with the ball and driving runs home. On a positive note, their base-stealing success rate remains perfect across these matches, hinting at potential aggressive base running strategies against the Cardinals.


Jul 23, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson (7) hits a single against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Defensively, while errors have been minimal (only two across three games), there is an evident need for tightening up fielding efforts and capitalizing on double play opportunities which have been notably absent recently.


Pitching appears to be a strength for the Cubs with starters showing promise by maintaining low earned run averages (ERAs) and high strikeout-to-walk ratios. However, reliance on bullpen performance remains critical as evidenced by fluctuating ERA figures which suggest variability in reliever effectiveness.


Jul 23, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki (27) makes a catch on St. Louis Cardinals designated hitter Brendan Donovan (33)  during the seventh inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Looking ahead to the game against the Cardinals at iconic Wrigy Field this Sunday afternoon offers an excellent opportunity for the Cubs to leverage both pitcher strengths and potentially ignite their batting lineup within familiar confines. With strategic adjustments and focused execution, this matchup could serve as a turning point for enhancing team cohesion and setting a winning tone moving forward.


Fans can catch all of Sunday's action live from Wrigley Field in Chicago on Roku starting at 17:05 UTC on June 16th, 2024.

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