Chicago Cubs News: Kris Bryant struggling to start the season
Chicago Cubs third baseman and reigning National League MVP Kris Bryant has struggled to begin the 2017 season.
Chicago Cubs starting third baseman Kris Bryant has struggled to start the 2017 regular season.
Bryant, who was the 2016 National League Most Valuable Player, went 0-for-5 in the Cubs’ victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday with 2 strikeouts. On the season, Bryant is 0-for-14 with 6 strikeouts.
Fortunately for the Cubs and the Bryant, Jason Heyward and Kyle Schwarber have gotten off to hot starts on the season. With Heyward and Schwarber producing for the Cubs’ offense during the first three games of the season, Bryant’s struggles have not been too noticeable.
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There should be no real concern for Bryant, though, Bryant has gotten off to slow starts in each of his first two seasons with the Cubs. Last season, during the Cubs’ first three games, Bryant went 3-for-15 with a total of 4 strikeouts.
In 2015, Bryant went 3-for-14 (.300 average) in his first three games with the Cubs but struck out 4 times.
For Bryant, he is the first National League reigning Most Valuable Player since former Cubs’ second baseman Ryne Sandberg to start the season without a hit in at least his first 13 plate appearances on the season. Sandberg went 0-for-13 for the Cubs to begin the 1985 season. Though, considering Sanberg finished the season with a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger award, there is no need for any over-reaction to Bryant’s struggles.
Unfortunately for Bryant, the Cubs are playing the Milwaukee Brewers this weekend. Bryant has struggled against the Brewers over the course of his career. In 154 career plate appearances against the Brewers, Bryant is hitting .246/.357/.438/.796 with 39 strikeouts. The silver lining is that Bryant has 6 home runs against the Brewers over the course of his career. The Cincinnati Reds are the only other team that Bryant has hit more home runs against.
Next: Chicago Cubs tweak starting rotation
The Chicago Cubs open their weekend road series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night.