What's gone wrong for the Cubs -- and if they can ...
Key takeaways
- The offense was wearing down opposing pitching staffs with its depth.
- Chicago's bats went quiet and injuries finally took their toll on the pitching staff and, suddenly, the Cubs had traded in their division lead for a spot in the basement.
- After dropping the first two games of a series in Colorado this week, the Cubs became the earliest team by the calendar to fall to .500 after being 15 games over in a season, according to ESPN Research.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Alex Bregman and the Cubs fell from the top of the NL Central to the bottom in a month. Will Chicago climb back up the standings? AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)Jesse Rogers Jun 13, 2026, 07:00 AM ETClose Jesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com.Follow on XMultiple Authors Email Print Open Extended Reactions Just over a month ago, everything seemed to be clicking for the Chicago Cubs.
The offense was wearing down opposing pitching staffs with its depth. The defense was taking away would-be hits from opposing hitters. And despite some early injuries, the rotation was still getting the job done. It all added up to a 27-12 start and a perch atop the National League Central.
Chicago's bats went quiet and injuries finally took their toll on the pitching staff and, suddenly, the Cubs had traded in their division lead for a spot in the basement.