The Cubs could retain the lead in the NL Central all season long originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Chicago Cubs are atop the National League Central, holding a 3.5 game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals. It has been this way for much of the season, and it could stay like this until 2026 is over.
There are a number of reasons why this season has been so much different that years' past, and it should not come as a surprise that the Cubs are this good. Even with a loaded division chasing their tails, this team is good enough to stave them off.
It is also worth noting that this team is currently on a nine-game heater, with no signs of slowing down. They mowed down the San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks and the Cincinnati Reds to get to this point at 26-12.
Nico Hoerner, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Ian Happ have led the way at the plate, and Shota Imanaga and Edward Cabrera have been stellar on the mound. But, the bats are really the story here.
According to Baseball Savant, the Cubbies bats are ranked fifth in home runs with 50, fourth in hits with 335, and fourth in team batting average with a . 258. This team has been all-systems go all season long.
To give them a hot-take of winning their division is a very mild one, and that was duly noted by Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report. It should not be a surprise when the Cubs are repressing the NL Central in the postseason this year, which would be their third appearance since 2020.
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