Five Cubs Storylines to Watch in the Second Half ...Middle East

The All-Star Break is a perfect time to catch your breath — to contextualize the season that has already transpired and think about what’s to come.

The Cubs currently hold the top NL Wild-Card spot, sitting 12 games over .500 (54-42) despite the remarkable rash of injuries that befell the pitching staff in the first half.

But they’re still looking up at the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central — a clear indicator that the first half has not been a resounding success. The Cubs have a lot to be proud of with how they’ve navigated the storm, but are not currently in a position to accomplish their first major goal (winning the division).

The season’s second half kicks off Friday, with the Cubs hosting the Minnesota Twins.

Let’s take a look at some of the biggest Cubs storylines and questions over the final 66 games of the year.

5. Alex Bregman, Nico Hoerner and the offense.

The Cubs lineup went through a lull during their difficult 29-game stretch in May and early June.

But outside of that, they’ve been pretty on point.

They begin the second half fifth in MLB in runs scored and fourth in on-base percentage and OPS.

That’s despite some extended struggles from two of their best — and highest paid — players.

Bregman hit two homers in the final weekend of the first half — a huge sign given that he hasn’t hit more than two home runs in a single month as a Cub. Even with those blasts, he enters the second half with only a .359 slugging percentage — more than 100 points below his career mark entering this season (.481).

ALEX BREGMAN CRUSHES A 3-RUN HOMER ? pic.twitter.com/E1nQLqskTO

Hoerner has never been known for his power, but his offensive struggles are well-documented. His .233 batting average is more than 50 points below his combined average from 2021-25 (.285).

If these two players can turn the corner, it would be a huge boon for the Cubs in the middle of a pennant race.

4. The return of The Injured

You could make up an entire pitching staff — and a quality one, at that — with all the arms the Cubs have currently on the IL.

But reliever Phil Maton just returned from the shelf right before the break and others could be close to follow. That includes veteran starters Jameson Taillon and Edward Cabrera as well as key relievers like closer Daniel Palencia and Hoby Milner.

Then there’s Justin Steele, who is working his way back from elbow surgery and may help the team out of the bullpen down the stretch. The same may wind up true for Ben Brown, who is recovering from a stress reaction in his neck.

The Cubs aren’t in quite as dire of a situation as they were just a couple weeks ago, but they still badly need the reinforcements on the pitching staff.

It’s not just about these guys returning, however. The Cubs need them to pitch well when they get back on the big-league roster.

Cabrera and Maton have both struggled in their first season in Chicago and Taillon had longball issues before landing on the IL.

3. Jed Hoyer’s trade deadline approach

Speaking of pitching, the path for Hoyer’s front office is very clear at the upcoming deadline — pitching, pitching and more pitching.

But will the Cubs be shopping at the high end of the available pool?

The Cubs currently hold a Wild-Card spot, trailing the Brewers by five games. Meaning they would have to win another three-game series just to advance to the NLDS. And they’re only a half-game ahead of the Phillies for the top Wild-Card, so it’s far from a guarantee that they would even host that three-game series at Wrigley Field.

With all that in mind, would Hoyer and the Cubs pay a hefty price and mortgage part of the future for the top arms available on the open market?

The Cubs will have just over two weeks to help close the gap on the Brewers — and send an emphatic message to the front office that this roster is worth investing heavily in over the remainder of the season.

2. Pete Crow-Armstrong’s bid for NL MVP.

At this time last year, there was a genuine conversation about the NL MVP, but it was still clear to all that Shohei Ohtani was going to take home the award again.

That was only further solidified by Crow-Armstrong’s second-half struggles.

But this year, the Cubs center fielder has put himself in a prime position to challenge Ohtani for the MVP — and he might unseat the reigning winner.

Ohtani, of course, is still a unicorn — an elite hitter who mixes his offensive ability with a dynamic skillset on the mound. But he has been dealing with a knee injury that kept him out of the All-Star Game.

Crow-Armstrong, meanwhile, has fully ascended into superstardom as arguably the best defender in all of baseball and one of the most valuable hitters who is now hitting leadoff for his team.

If Ohtani stays healthy and continues to pitch at this level (1.79 ERA, 0.95 WHIP), it would be hard for Crow-Armstrong to surpass him for the MVP. But part of the beauty of baseball lies in its unpredictability. Anything can happen over the second half.

1. Will the Cubs catch the Brewers in the NL Central?

This is the storyline and question going into the final two-and-a-half months of the Cubs’ season.

As we already discussed, the team’s place in the standings greatly impacts what Hoyer’s approach will be at the trade deadline.

It’s also a major factor in postseason success. The team that secures a first-round bye (handed to the top two division winners in each league) has a major advantage in October.

Home field means a lot to the Cubs, as Wrigley Field is a truly difficult environment for opponents to enter in the postseason (as we saw last fall).

The Brewers look vulnerable for the first time in a long while, getting swept by the Pirates right before the break. And what’s more — their top three pitchers are all dealing with concerning injuries/physical issues.

Brandon Woodruff may not pitch again this season, breakout star Kyle Harrison is on the IL with a forearm injury and phenom Jacob Misiorowski had his last start skipped and missed the All-Star Game due to “arm fatigue.”

Misiorowski may well be fine after an extended break. But the cracks are showing (albeit slightly) for the Brewers and the Cubs have subsequently closed to the gap to only five games for the first time in over a month.

These two teams still have seven head-to-head matchups left, coming in a 10-day span between Aug. 31 and Sept. 9.

It’s shaping up to be a heck of a second half in the NL Central.

Hence then, the article about five cubs storylines to watch in the second half was published today ( Friday 17/07/2026 - 12:05 AM ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.

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