ATLANTA — The Cubs have one hit in their last 28 chances batting with runners in scoring position. They’ve scored three runs in their last four games entering play Thursday night against the Braves. Collectively, they have 13 hits in 120 at-bats in that span, a batting average of .108.
Surely, even the most jaded denizen of Wrigleyville doesn’t expect this to go on indefinitely, although if you’re looking to break a slump, you wouldn’t nominate Chris Sale as the guy you’d most like to see looming over you on the mound.
Sale is a decade removed from the days when he was dealing for the White Sox, but since reviving his career three years ago when he came to Atlanta, he has been as intimidating as ever, still throwing his fastball at 98 mph. The left-hander won a Cy Young Award in 2024, was averaging just under 12 strikeouts per nine innings last season until fracturing a rib cage and missing 62 games, and at age 37 is off to another great start this season. He brought a 6-2 record, 2.20 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 49 innings into Thursday’s series finale against the Cubs.
“Yeah, he’s one of the best in the game, so it’ll be a good test for us,’’ left fielder Ian Happ said.
A test much better taken, it would seem, when the Cubs were scoring five or more runs a game, as they’ve done 23 times this season, including their last three games at home before this downturn.
The batting averages through the first 14 days of the month reflect the extent of the recent struggles. Moises Ballesteros is 2-for-34 (.059). Seiya Suzuki (.179), Alex Bregman (.209), Happ (.211), Nico Hoerner (.214), Pete Crow-Armstrong (.220). Even the team’s best-hitting regular in May, Michael Busch (.342), has been held hitless in Atlanta (0-for-5), though he has drawn three walks.
“We’ve run up high pitch counts, we’ve had traffic [on the bases}, the last few games we’re just not pushing it across, you know, all up and down the lineup, struggling to just push across the runs,’’ Happ said.
“But that happens over the course of a season. You’ll have a stretch where you get guys in scoring position, but you can’t quite get it done.’’
On Sunday, Happ’s streak of reaching base ended at 30 games. But during the last four games, he has struck out nine times in 11 at-bats.
“It felt like we were scoring six, seven runs a night [during the 10-game winning streak that ended Saturday], adding on the whole time,’’ he said. “But that’s baseball.
“Tonight, a good test. A good way to finish the series.’’
Amaya back in lineup
Catcher Miguel Amaya, who had complained of some back tightness Friday and hadn’t played in a week, was back in the starting lineup Thursday.
With left-hander Sale on the mound, manager Craig Counsell installed Matt Shaw in right field and Suzuki served as DH.
Bregman, who homered Monday night and had two singles Tuesday night, moved up a spot in the order, batting second. Bregman started the season in the 2-spot but hadn’t hit there since April 26, with Ballesteros getting the majority of starts there.
Schedule updates
The Cubs announced a change in starting times for two games, one on the road, the second at home. The Memorial Day game (May 25) against the Pirates, originally scheduled to be a night game, is now scheduled for a 12:35 p.m. start. The start time of the Cubs’ game on Sunday night, June 7 at home against the Giants has been pushed back 10 minutes, to 7:30 p.m.
