Cubs Weather Their First Losing Streak of the Season

Published: Aug. 18, 2020, 5:02 p.m.

b"It had to happen eventually, right? The Cubs finally suffered their first setback of the season, dropping four straight games to the Brewers and Cardinals. They still have a comfortable lead in the NL Central, however, and got back on track in Monday's nightcap against the Cardinals, thanks to some pinch-hit heroics from David Bote (who else?). Brett Taylor, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney discuss slow starts for Jaiver B\\xe1ez and Kris Bryant, a small hiccup for the pitching staff, issues with the offense, the dominance of Central Division relievers, the bright outlook for the Cubs, and more on this episode of Onto Waveland.Rundown0:50 David Bote Does it Again3:47 Balancing 21 Games Representing More than One-Third of the Season5:26 How Does a Player Get Comfortable With a Slow Start in a 60-Game Season?8:10 Slow Starts for Kris Bryant and Javier B\\xe1ez10:20 Possible Extensions for Bryant and B\\xe1ez13:01 The Cubs' Offensive Numbers20:20 A Hiccup for the Rotation23:43 Handling Losing and High-Leverage Moments30:04 A Tangent on Spin RateFollow Brett on Twitter: @BleacherNationFollow Sahadev on Twitter: @sahadevsharma\\nGet a free 7-day trial to The Athletic by visiting theathletic.com/ontowaveland\\n\\n\\n \\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices"