The Chicago Cubs are still trying to get to above .500, but since the 4th of July they’ve certainly played like the team fans expected to see throughout the entire season. Players are contributing up and down the roster, which includes a handful of players who were seen as small and maybe even inconsequential moves that are now paying off big in the Cubs recent resurgence.
Starting with their 10-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on July 4, the Cubs are 18-12 in their last 30 games, entering Friday at 57-60 overall. That month-long stretch includes series wins over the Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Cardinals and Minnesota Twins, all teams that are above .500. Let’s spotlight a few under the radar players that have been great for the Cubs who did not begin the season with the team.
The Cubs traded right-handed hitting third baseman Jake Slaughter to the Seattle Mariners on May 14, for right-handed reliever Tyson Miller. The 29-year-old pitcher returned to the organization that drafted him in 2016, and after a solid start to the season with the Mariners, Miller has made the most of his second opportunity with the Cubs.
Miller has appeared in 28 games with the Cubs since joining the team in the middle of May and through 29.2 innings of work he’s only allowed five earned runs. He’s been as consistent as you’d want any of your relievers to be as Miller has only given up runs in consecutive appearances once, June 19 and 23. But it’s not just that Miller is getting the job done and has stabilized the Cubs middle relief, fans have to love the way he’s doing it.
The right-hander has a 1.52 ERA with the Cubs and that’s accompanied by a 0.74 WHIP. Miller has been attacking the strike zone and his 3.6 BB% since joining the Cubs is the 9th lowest among 187 qualified relievers. Lots of stress-free innings for Miller, who is holding opposing hitters to a .170 batting average, while getting the job done with a 25/4 strikeout to walk ratio.
Veteran reliever Jorge Lopez was dumped by the New York Mets back in June following an unfortunate misunderstanding stemming from a postgame interview clip that went viral. Fortunately for the Cubs, Lopez was up for grabs and they jumped at the chance to sign the former All-Star reliever.
It’s not like Lopez has pitched in many high-leverage spots out of the bullpen since making his Cubs debut on June 28, but you know what Craig Counsell has to love about Lopez since then? How about not having to worry about burning more relievers because the guy you brought in keeps giving up runs?
Lopez has been fantastic in 14 relief appearances, allowing one earned run in 16.2 innings. After tossing two scoreless innings in the series finale against the Twins on Wednesday, Lopez lowered his ERA with the Cubs to 0.54.
That’s now 12 consecutive scoreless innings from Lopez dating back to July 11.
Christian Bethancourt began the 2024 season with the Miami Marlins and after a few months of subpar results he was DFA’d and sent to the minor leagues as the catcher went unclaimed on waivers. He was quickly released and on July 5 the Cubs signed Bethancourt to a minor league deal.
Who knows, maybe if Tomas Nido never suffers a knee injury, then Bethancourt never even gets called up. We don’t have to wonder, though, and quietly Bethancourt’s presence behind the plate and at the plate has given the Cubs a boost.
He’s only started four games, but Bethancourt has contributed in every one, recording at least one hit and scoring at least one run in all four games. The right-handed hitting catcher was 2-for-3 in Wednesday’s series-clinching win over the Twins, reaching base an additional time via walk to go along with a pair of doubles.
In 16 plate appearances with the Cubs Bethancourt has reached base 8 times, going 6-for-14, with three doubles and a homer. He’s scored four times and has five RBI, while adding two walks to his stat line.
Meanwhile, no one has stolen a base when Bethancourt’s been behind the plate in 37 innings. It’s nice to have a guy who can actually gun out a runner trying to steal a bag.
Bethancourt has the strongest rated arm from any catcher in MLB according to Statcast.
