Kyle Tucker and the Cubs seemed to be thriving, especially as they led the NL Central heading into the All-Star break. They made some bold moves, trading for an All-Star outfielder in the last year of his contract.
But lately, things haven’t been so smooth for Tucker. He faced the crowd’s disdain during a game against the Pirates when he failed to hustle to first base on a ground ball during the sixth inning, prompting boos.
Despite their ups and downs, the Cubs (70-53) recently bounced back, although they still trail the Brewers, who hold the best record in MLB by eight games.
Chicago is struggling in tandem with Tucker’s performance slump. Over the past stretch, he batted just .179 with a .545 OPS and five RBIs, as the Cubs went 10-13 during those 23 games.
Overall, his season stats show him at .263 with an .828 OPS, 18 home runs, and 62 RBIs.
“I usually don’t express a lot of emotions. I’m just focused on the job at hand,” Tucker shared recently. “But these past two months have been challenging. I just have to keep pushing forward.”
Cubs manager Craig Counsel discussed Tucker’s season, highlighting the frustrations players face when they miss pitches they typically hit well. “When you miss those, you start questioning why,” Counsel noted. “His plate discipline remains strong, but it leads to self-reflection when you’re not connecting.”
While the Cubs aren’t in immediate danger of missing the playoffs—currently holding the first NL wildcard spot, six games ahead of the Reds—their chances of a straight path to the NLDS are diminishing.
Looking ahead, the Cubs will host the Brewers for a five-game series at Wrigley, starting with a doubleheader on Monday. Maybe a show of support, like a standing ovation reminiscent of Trea Turner, could help get Tucker back on track.
