Three up, three down: An update on the Cubs, June 24 edition

The Cubs went 3-3 against the Giants and Mets at Wrigley Field over the last week. Sure, they probably could have and should have been 4-2, but... that’s better than some previous weeks.

So, yay?

There were performances to laud and some to say “yikes” about from those six games, so let’s take a look.

Three up

Kyle Hendricks flashed some Professor

Hendricks was just brilliant last Wednesday against the Giants, throwing 5⅔ innings and allowing just one run, while striking out eight. His season ERA is still unsightly, but over his last six outings (one start, five relief appearances) he has a 2.70 ERA, 3.14 FIP and 0.950 WHIP, with just one home run allowed in 20 innings.

Take a look at the eight K’s from Wednesday’s game [VIDEO].

Hendricks used his curveball much more often in this game, and it worked for him. Perhaps that’s the way he can get back to more Professor-like pitching. I think he’s still got it in him.

Michael Busch is quietly putting together a fine season

You don’t hear much from or about the Cubs first baseman, but he hit .333/.429/.667 (6-for-18) over the last week with three doubles, a home run and three walks. He’s also playing solid defense at first base. Check out this play from Sunday’s game [VIDEO].

That was a nice stop and feed to Javier Assad, and the out call was overturned on review.

Busch’s .810 OPS is second among all MLB qualified rookies so far this year (only Joey Ortiz, .831, ranks higher). The Cubs got themselves a keeper here, I think.

Christopher Morel is showing signs of a hot streak

From watching Morel for three years now, you know he’s a streaky hitter. And in the series against the Mets, he went 4-for-12 and homered in each of the last two games. That gave him 15 for the season — a possible 30-homer year for Morel.

Also, with four more walks he’ll break his career high in that category, set two years ago, in about 100 fewer plate appearances. Credit to Morel for that improvement in his game.

Obviously, his third-base defense could also stand some improvement, as could his BA, but in general he’s having a decent year.

Honorable mention to Porter Hodge, who ate up some innings with five strikeouts in relief in the 11-1 blowout loss to the Mets on Friday.

Three down

Shõta Imanaga comes down to Earth

It is a mark of how good Imanaga had been in his first 13 starts that when he got pounded for 11 hits and 10 runs against the Mets Friday at Wrigley Field, his season ERA still remained under 3.00 (2.96).

He still isn’t walking hitters — just 12 in 79 innings — and hopefully that bad start will be a one-off. He should be on target to face the Giants this week.

Hayden Wesneski does it again (in a bad way)

I’m kind of at a loss as to why Wesneski wasn’t sent to Triple-A Iowa when Keegan Thompson returned from paternity leave. He’s been giving up home runs at an alarming rate (four in his last six outings covering just 7⅓ innings) and when he’s not doing that, he’s not throwing strikes — eight walks in those innings.

Wesneski has talent, but yikes.

Craig Counsell refuses to shake up the lineup

I don’t get why Counsell continues to lead off Nico Hoerner, who might still be bothered by a hand injury that kept him out of a couple of games earlier this month.

Hoerner led off each of the last five games. He hit .150/.261/.200 (3-for-20) with five strikeouts.

Yes, talking about lineup construction can sometimes be tiresome, but why not let Pete Crow-Armstrong lead off for a game or three to see what happens? PCA’s not hitting much either but IF he could lead off games by getting on base, that could set the table for a strong first inning.

Just try it, CC. Couldn’t hurt, and might just help.