Cubs’ Nine-Game Losing Streak Lays Bare a Team Running Out of Answers
The Cubs didn’t expect to be here. Two weeks ago, they looked like one of baseball’s most complete teams, riding two separate 10‑game winning streaks and sitting 15 games over .500. Now they’re staring at a nine‑game losing streak, their longest since 2022, after a 2–1 loss to the Pirates in Pittsburgh.
The collapse hasn’t been subtle. It has been swift, jarring, and historic. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Cubs are only the second team in the expansion era to record multiple 10‑game winning streaks and a separate nine‑game losing streak in the same season, joining the 2017 Dodgers.
Cubs’ Offense Has Completely Fallen Apart
The Cubs’ lineup has been the biggest culprit. Since the losing streak began on May 16, Chicago ranks near the bottom of the league in batting average (.183), sits at 27th in wRC+ (74), and holds a .300 slugging percentage. They’re also 8‑for‑60 with runners in scoring position (.133) during that stretch.
Across the entire month, the pattern hasn’t changed. The Cubs have scored two runs or fewer in nine of their last 15 games and have been shut out four times. Their season‑long RISP numbers in May — 35‑for‑184 (.190) — reflect a team that simply cannot deliver in big moments.
Dansby Swanson has also been in a slump. He’s hitting .186 with a .628 OPS after going hitless in three of his last four games.
Even their young All‑Star outfielder, Pete Crow‑Armstrong, hasn’t been able to spark anything. His .674 OPS in 54 games underscores how far the offense has fallen from its early‑season form. On Monday in Pittsburgh, the Cubs managed only six hits, went 0‑for‑2 with runners in scoring position, and stranded seven runners. The final 10 hitters went down in order against the Pirates’ bullpen — a snapshot of how lifeless the bats have become.
Strong Starting Pitching Keeps Going to Waste
The rotation hasn’t collapsed. In fact, Ben Brown has been one of the few bright spots. He delivered six innings of one‑run ball Monday, striking out seven and lowering his ERA to 2.01 over 44.2 innings. It still wasn’t enough.
Chicago’s pitching hasn’t been dominant, but it has kept them in games. The problem is that the margin for error has vanished. When the offense produces one run, even strong outings feel wasted.
The Cubs’ staff has held opponents to three runs or fewer in several games during the skid, but the lineup hasn’t matched that effort. The imbalance has turned competitive games into frustrating losses.
Lineup Shuffling Hasn’t Sparked Anything
Manager Craig Counsell has searched for answers. He has mixed matchups, adjusted the order, and tried to create late‑game advantages.
In the ninth inning on Monday, Counsell stacked right‑handed hitters against Pirates closer Gregory Soto. Nico Hoerner grounded out, Seiya Suzuki struck out looking on a borderline slider, and Carson Kelly grounded out to second. Ballgame. Loss number nine.
Counsell didn’t sugarcoat it afterward:
“We’ve got to swing the bats better.”
