Chicago Cubs biggest issue heading into June is painfully obvious

Bleacher Report recently released a list of each MLB team’s biggest concerns as the calendar turns from May to June. While the Cubs have several hitters all going through slumps at the same time, it is easy to see that Chicago’s biggest concern is their pitching:

“As of Saturday morning, Chicago Cubs hitters had amassed a combined total of 13.9 bWAR, good for the second-highest mark in the majors, trailing only the Dodgers at 14.7.

“But Cubs pitching? It had a combined bWAR of 0.5, which would’ve been dead last if not for the Giants at a slightly worse 0.2.

“Shota Imanaga got out to a great start to the year, but he has come crashing back to earth with 20 earned runs allowed in his last three outings. And with Edward Cabrera recently joining Cade Horton, Justin Steele and Matthew Boyd on the IL, it’s little wonder that wins have become difficult to come by.”

Shota Imanaga has been unacceptably bad over his last several starts, especially with the $22 million salary he is making. Chicago needs him to better, but they also have not really laid out any kind of plan for improvement. Manager Craig Counsell has gone on record saying it is on Imanaga to figure it out.

Injuries, of course, have not helped, Edward Cabrera was just the latest to go on the injured list (blister), and Cade Horton is out for the year. Justin Steele suffered a set-back in his rehab, but Matthew Boyd should be returning to the rotation this week.

Unfortunately, Boyd was not exactly that great before he got hurt (again). He is 1-2 with a 6.00 ERA in five starts.

As the trade deadline approaches, it is painfully obvious the Cubs need to go out and get a pitcher (or two or three). The big question, though, is whether or not they can hang around contention just enough before then in order to be buyers at the deadline instead of sellers.