Chicago Cubs’ Streaky Season and Off-Field Attractions

In the 2026 season, the Chicago Cubs have experienced dramatic streaks. As June approaches, the Cubs boast two 10-game winning streaks and one 10-game losing streak. This leaves them with a 31-27 record before Saturday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

The team’s performance fluctuated significantly. In March and April, the Cubs hit .261 with a .780 OPS, averaging 5.5 runs and 1.4 home runs per game. However, by the end of May, their stats dropped to a .213 batting average, .656 OPS, 4.0 runs, and 0.9 home runs per game.

It’s just a weird thing, said manager Craig Counsell on Saturday.

The Cubs started May strong, incorporating eight wins into a 10-game streak, scoring 59 runs. Yet, during the subsequent 10-game losing streak, they managed only 25 runs, with four games yielding one or zero runs. This volatility reflects the unpredictable nature of baseball and Chicago weather.

Ian Happ has exemplified this streakiness, going 7-for-15 with three home runs and 10 RBIs in his last three games. Before this, he batted .172 with three home runs and 7 RBIs over 27 games, striking out 42 times.

It’s the confounding part about baseball, you know, why do we go on streaks like this? Counsell said. Sometimes home runs come in bunches. You take them when you can get them. He’s had a big last three days.

When discussing future expectations:

I don’t know, Counsell admitted. That’s what you learn from this.

Counsell, in his 12th season as a manager, noted that streaks are part of baseball. The Cubs’ hitting experiences extremes, but it’s not unique.

Happ believes consistent scoring opportunities, like Friday’s 6-5 loss to the Cardinals, could benefit the team:

We keep giving ourselves opportunities, just keep doing that, and we’ll put up seven or eight, he said.

Ben Brown’s Role

Ben Brown, the Cubs’ starter on Saturday, stands out with a 1.89 ERA in his last four starts. Counsell praised Brown for capitalizing on opportunities but refrained from confirming his rotation spot. Brown’s improvement attributes to new pitches, a sinker and changeup, complementing his fastball and knuckle-curve. These, along with his increased confidence, have been key.

Ben was like ‘I don’t just want to be on the playoff roster, I want to be part of this thing,’ Counsell said, highlighting Brown’s motivation.

‘Tarps Off’ Phenomenon

At Busch Stadium, the Cardinals’ marketing of the Tarps Off trend garners attention. This fan culture, where men swing their shirts in the right-field bleachers, started organically but was quickly embraced by the team’s marketing department.

Despite corporate involvement, the original trend initiators receive no monetary gain, aligning with broader revenue trends in sports market promotions.

Historical Context

The Cubs-Cardinals rivalry has seen 2,528 games. A memorable incident from June 5, 2011, involved Cubs closer Carlos Marmol’s game loss, prompting Carlos Zambrano’s infamous remark, We stinks. This statement ingrained itself in team lore, echoing the sentiment of many Cubs fans over time.