That was a really good finish to the first half for the Cubs. It's interesting to look back at previous Maddon seasons. In 2015, the Cubs were really young and emerging and didn't really take off until August. 2016, they pretty much ran away from the start. Last year, the first half was a mess, before they came on late. In a lot of ways, this season has felt at times more like 2017 than 2016, but it's pretty interesting to line the teams up, because that's not reality:
Overall record & run differential through 93 games
2015: 50-43, +4 run diff
2016: 56-37, +146 run diff
2017: 48-45, +22 run diff
2018: 55-38, +114 run diff
First half offensive slash (BA/OBP/SLG/OPS)
2015: .239/.315/.374/.690
2016: .256/.348/.438/.786
2017: .239/.326/.419/.744
2018: .265/.345/.426/.771
First half pitching numbers
(ERA, K/BB, K/9, BAA/OBPA/SLGA/OPSA)
2015: 3.31, 3.41, 8.6, .234/.291/.372/.663
SP: 3.41, 4.32, 8.6, .238/.285/.382/.667
RP: 3.13, 2.42, 8.6, .226/.303/.351/.655
2016: 3.36, 2.85, 8.9, .216/.294/.356/.644
SP: 3.09, 3.18, 8.7, .216/.283/.353/.636
RP: 3.94, 2.37, 9.3, .216/.303/.355/.658
2017: 4.10, 2.47, 8.7, .242/.318/.405/.724
SP: 4.66, 2.44, 9.2, .259/.328/.440/.768
RP: 3.26, 2.51, 9.8, .214/.304/.350/.653
2018: 3.56, 1.96, 8.3, .230/.322/.368/.690
SP: 3.88, 1.84, 7.6, .238/.328/.392/.720
RP: 3.08, 2.11, 9.2, .218/.314/.333/.647
You can look at this and see some interesting things. This year's team is not as dominant as the 2016 team had been through 93 games, but it's not far off. The offense has been largely on par with 2016 (a little less power). The starters haven't been as good, but this year's bullpen has been much better. 2015's pitching was pretty much on par with this season, but the offense that year was far inferior. If the Cubs play the 2nd half the way Maddon's teams often play the second half, this team could make a run at 100 wins.
Overall record & run differential through 93 games
2015: 50-43, +4 run diff
2016: 56-37, +146 run diff
2017: 48-45, +22 run diff
2018: 55-38, +114 run diff
First half offensive slash (BA/OBP/SLG/OPS)
2015: .239/.315/.374/.690
2016: .256/.348/.438/.786
2017: .239/.326/.419/.744
2018: .265/.345/.426/.771
First half pitching numbers
(ERA, K/BB, K/9, BAA/OBPA/SLGA/OPSA)
2015: 3.31, 3.41, 8.6, .234/.291/.372/.663
SP: 3.41, 4.32, 8.6, .238/.285/.382/.667
RP: 3.13, 2.42, 8.6, .226/.303/.351/.655
2016: 3.36, 2.85, 8.9, .216/.294/.356/.644
SP: 3.09, 3.18, 8.7, .216/.283/.353/.636
RP: 3.94, 2.37, 9.3, .216/.303/.355/.658
2017: 4.10, 2.47, 8.7, .242/.318/.405/.724
SP: 4.66, 2.44, 9.2, .259/.328/.440/.768
RP: 3.26, 2.51, 9.8, .214/.304/.350/.653
2018: 3.56, 1.96, 8.3, .230/.322/.368/.690
SP: 3.88, 1.84, 7.6, .238/.328/.392/.720
RP: 3.08, 2.11, 9.2, .218/.314/.333/.647
You can look at this and see some interesting things. This year's team is not as dominant as the 2016 team had been through 93 games, but it's not far off. The offense has been largely on par with 2016 (a little less power). The starters haven't been as good, but this year's bullpen has been much better. 2015's pitching was pretty much on par with this season, but the offense that year was far inferior. If the Cubs play the 2nd half the way Maddon's teams often play the second half, this team could make a run at 100 wins.
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