Cubs Take Series Victory Over Pirates Even Though Their Offense Continues To Struggle

Kyle Tucker was actually booed in today's game when he didn't run through first base after hitting a ball into the ground. It was definitely an easy out, but the fans did not appreciate the lack of effort as he battles to get out of the rut that he is in.

How long can it go on for before it is deemed a real issue? It has been almost a month since he hit a homer and at the time the Cubs were leading the NL Central. They now sit eight games back.

It appears that Chicago's offensive struggle coincides with Tucker's. They have seven wins on the month. Five of those they scored four or more runs and those were the only five games that they have been able to score at least four. If there is a time for things to turn around it needs to be now as they go into a brutal five-game stretch with the Brewers.

Their stars, excluding Tucker, continue to show up for the most part. Matthew Boyd was exceptional in his last start (even though it led to a loss against the Blue Jays), Shota Imanaga finished seven innings in his start against the Pirates where he struck out six in the win, and the pair of Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki seem to keeping the offense afloat.

But the team will now play eight games in seven days and it is time for someone else to come through swinging a bat. Their starting rotation was immediately boosted with the addition of rookie Cade Horton, who was the lone pitcher to get a win out of Toronto and pitched 29 consecutive scoreless inning (was just snapped in his last start).

The Kyle Tucker conversation feels like beating a dead horse, but he is too good for this to keep going on. They got past Pittsburgh without him, but they will get lit up by the Brewers without some offense.