One of the keys in matchups with Cubs

[ramfandan]

This is just the offense vs. offense key in the head-to- head series.

The Cubs have similar BA as Cardinals ..both .262 . Cubbies have just 12 more total hits. You would think the run discrepancy may be fairly close too.
Oh no ! The Cubs have scored 61 more runs . A critical difference is HR's .. The Cubs have hit 79 HR's vs. Cardinals 52 in the same number of games. ..
a +27 more HR's . I am sure a number of those had a runner(s) on base at the time. That 79 HR total ranks 3rd in MLB.
Easier said than done to say keep their balls in the ballpark but it is a key for sure. They are the kind of team that can score 4 or 5 runs with just two bombs in the game. The other day they won 2-1 vs. Rockies and it was low scoring .
To get more specific on players, Lars Nootbar leads the Cardinals with 8 HR's. The Cubs have FIVE (5) players with more . Crowe-Armstrong (15), Suzuki (14) , Tucker (12), Swanson (11), and Carson Kelly (9) . So their 5th HR leader Kelly has more than Cards top HR guy Noot.

Not to say Cardinals can't hit some themselves in head-to-head games but that stats lean heavily that Cubs long ball scores runs for them . Repeating just 12 more team hits but have scored 61 more runs. Don't want to hear Chip doing his grandfather's signature HR call when the Cubs blast one ..'It might be outta here.. it could be.. it IS a HR !

PS Don't complain too much about the Cardinal pitchers throwing 'meatballs' to the Cubs hitters in the series. The Cubs can hit homers against all the teams. Yankees & Dodgers are the only two teams with more HRs.

[82birds]

that's kind of a downer

[Ozziesfan41]

Starters need to have their ground ball stuff working and the bullpen needs to be well rested going in so if a starter gets hit hard oli can go the pen early

[MIDMOBIRDTWO]

That sewer in Chicago helps their power numbers.

[tyoung12290]

It’s a bit nuanced imo.

Suzuki and Tucker were always likely to hit more than any carinal. The surprises are Kelly and pca. Kelly will definitely slow his roll I’m very confident there it’s already begun. Is pca legit legit time will tell. Plenty have had similar hot streaks for pitchers to adjust. Herrera was hurt hopefully his power returns. Our big wild cards are Walker and Gorman and we all know how that’s gone. In summary the gap won’t be quite as wide as the numbers are now imo.

[ramfandan]

It’s a bit nuanced imo.

Suzuki and Tucker were always likely to hit more than any carinal. The surprises are Kelly and pca. Kelly will definitely slow his roll I’m very confident there it’s already begun. Is pca legit legit time will tell. Plenty have had similar hot streaks for pitchers to adjust. Herrera was hurt hopefully his power returns. Our big wild cards are Walker and Gorman and we all know how that’s gone. In summary the gap won’t be quite as wide as the numbers are now imo.

Hoping you are correct regarding the gap in HR's will not be as wide as current differential .

[Spardakus21]

It’s a bit nuanced imo.

Suzuki and Tucker were always likely to hit more than any carinal. The surprises are Kelly and pca. Kelly will definitely slow his roll I’m very confident there it’s already begun. Is pca legit legit time will tell. Plenty have had similar hot streaks for pitchers to adjust. Herrera was hurt hopefully his power returns. Our big wild cards are Walker and Gorman and we all know how that’s gone. In summary the gap won’t be quite as wide as the numbers are now imo.

Hoping you are correct regarding the gap in HR's will not be as wide as current differential .

Gap not as wide on overall extra base hits. Lot of Wrigley homers are Busch pop flies.

[scoutyjones2]

This is just the offense vs. offense key in the head-to- head series.

The Cubs have similar BA as Cardinals ..both .262 . Cubbies have just 12 more total hits. You would think the run discrepancy may be fairly close too.
Oh no ! The Cubs have scored 61 more runs . A critical difference is HR's .. The Cubs have hit 79 HR's vs. Cardinals 52 in the same number of games. ..
a +27 more HR's . I am sure a number of those had a runner(s) on base at the time. That 79 HR total ranks 3rd in MLB.
Easier said than done to say keep their balls in the ballpark but it is a key for sure. They are the kind of team that can score 4 or 5 runs with just two bombs in the game. The other day they won 2-1 vs. Rockies and it was low scoring .
To get more specific on players, Lars Nootbar leads the Cardinals with 8 HR's. The Cubs have FIVE (5) players with more . Crowe-Armstrong (15), Suzuki (14) , Tucker (12), Swanson (11), and Carson Kelly (9) . So their 5th HR leader Kelly has more than Cards top HR guy Noot.

Not to say Cardinals can't hit some themselves in head-to-head games but that stats lean heavily that Cubs long ball scores runs for them . Repeating just 12 more team hits but have scored 61 more runs. Don't want to hear Chip doing his grandfather's signature HR call when the Cubs blast one ..'It might be outta here.. it could be.. it IS a HR !

PS Don't complain too much about the Cardinal pitchers throwing 'meatballs' to the Cubs hitters in the series. The Cubs can hit homers against all the teams. Yankees & Dodgers are the only two teams with more HRs.

Cards need a legit HR bat...is it in the youth? Not so far...

[Futuregm2]

The key is having a strong relief core.

Cubs

Vs SPs: .243 avg/.748 OPS
Vs Relievers: .284 avg/.828 OPS

We are opposite

Vs SPs: .275 avg/.762 OPS
Vs Relievers: .243 avg/.699 OPS

[jcgmoi]

Lot of Wrigley homers are Busch pop flies.

Maybe but this year Cubs have hit twice as many road HRs as they have at Wrigley.

No one's mentioned SBs but the Cubs have a big edge there over the Cards. Chicago has stolen 72 bases and been caught only 12 times. That's a very good success rate but they've compensated for their relative lack of power at home by going 53/6 in SBs which is completely nuts. Overall, PCA is 16/3, Tucker a cool 15/0, Hoerner 11/2.

[Monsieur De Treville]

Lot of Wrigley homers are Busch pop flies.

Maybe but this year Cubs have hit twice as many road HRs as they have at Wrigley.

No one's mentioned SBs but the Cubs have a big edge there over the Cards. Chicago has stolen 72 bases and been caught only 12 times. That's a very good success rate but they've compensated for their relative lack of power at home by going 53/6 in SBs which is completely nuts. Overall, PCA is 16/3, Tucker a cool 15/0, Hoerner 11/2.

Oli doesn't like to steal.

Winn & VSII should be running a lot more. It's like anything...the more they would do it, the better they would get.

[ramfandan]

Lot of Wrigley homers are Busch pop flies.

Maybe but this year Cubs have hit twice as many road HRs as they have at Wrigley.

No one's mentioned SBs but the Cubs have a big edge there over the Cards. Chicago has stolen 72 bases and been caught only 12 times. That's a very good success rate but they've compensated for their relative lack of power at home by going 53/6 in SBs which is completely nuts. Overall, PCA is 16/3, Tucker a cool 15/0, Hoerner 11/2.

Oli doesn't like to steal.

Winn & VSII should be running a lot more. It's like anything...the more they would do it, the better they would get.

Oli not liking to steal was inspired by his mother. She taught him it was wrong to steal . Despite Oli saying to her , 'but Mom , my coach said the more we steal the better we would get. His mother , ' Yeah, but what about when you get caught ? Well the other kids on the team steal and they get caught once in a while too . They keep doing it !

[tyoung12290]

Lot of Wrigley homers are Busch pop flies.

Maybe but this year Cubs have hit twice as many road HRs as they have at Wrigley.

No one's mentioned SBs but the Cubs have a big edge there over the Cards. Chicago has stolen 72 bases and been caught only 12 times. That's a very good success rate but they've compensated for their relative lack of power at home by going 53/6 in SBs which is completely nuts. Overall, PCA is 16/3, Tucker a cool 15/0, Hoerner 11/2.

Oli doesn't like to steal.

Winn & VSII should be running a lot more. It's like anything...the more they would do it, the better they would get.

VSII is near top of the league, and I want Winn to steal more but he gets thrown out a lot its strange. As for the rest of the roster the only one I could see geting 15-20 is walker but he has to get on base.

[rockondlouie]

Another key when facing the scrubbies?

CONTROL THE RUNNING GAME!

Thankfully P. Pages has a helluva an arm (31% CS) and hopefully our pitchers can keep them close enough for that arm to gun them down.

[Monsieur De Treville]

Lot of Wrigley homers are Busch pop flies.

Maybe but this year Cubs have hit twice as many road HRs as they have at Wrigley.

No one's mentioned SBs but the Cubs have a big edge there over the Cards. Chicago has stolen 72 bases and been caught only 12 times. That's a very good success rate but they've compensated for their relative lack of power at home by going 53/6 in SBs which is completely nuts. Overall, PCA is 16/3, Tucker a cool 15/0, Hoerner 11/2.

Oli doesn't like to steal.

Winn & VSII should be running a lot more. It's like anything...the more they would do it, the better they would get.

VSII is near top of the league, and I want Winn to steal more but he gets thrown out a lot its strange. As for the rest of the roster the only one I could see geting 15-20 is walker but he has to get on base.

VSII should be at the Top. And Winn will get better with time.

[rockondlouie]

Lot of Wrigley homers are Busch pop flies.

Maybe but this year Cubs have hit twice as many road HRs as they have at Wrigley.

No one's mentioned SBs but the Cubs have a big edge there over the Cards. Chicago has stolen 72 bases and been caught only 12 times. That's a very good success rate but they've compensated for their relative lack of power at home by going 53/6 in SBs which is completely nuts. Overall, PCA is 16/3, Tucker a cool 15/0, Hoerner 11/2.

Oli doesn't like to steal.

Winn & VSII should be running a lot more. It's like anything...the more they would do it, the better they would get.

VSII should have the green light all the time, Oli is the only thing preventing him from leading MLB.

BUT

Winn hasn't been good at stealing bases, especially this season MDT.

2025:
Only 2 SB's in 6 attempts (33% success rate)

Career:
Only 15 SB's in 25 attempts (60% success rate)