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Chicago Cubs are back in first place and all is right with the world

By Dan Schmelzer

Jun 20, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; A detail shot of the flags on the scoreboard before a game between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinalsat Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 20, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; A detail shot of the flags on the scoreboard before a game between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinalsat Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Chicago Cubs are back where they belong, in first place in the National League Central.

It has been an up-and-down start to the season for the Chicago Cubs. Call it a World Series hangover if you will but the Cubs have clearly not started the season playing as well as they are capable.

Fortunately, Joe Maddon’s squad is now playing great baseball and have gone on a bit of a run. After taking three of four from the San Francisco Giants, the Cubs have won seven of their last nine games and are alone in first place in the National League Central.

The Cubs’ 5-1 win over the Giants on Thursday afternoon put them at a strong 25-21 on the season. Losses by the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals later in the evening allowed the Cubs to take over first place in the division all by themselves.

Unsurprisingly, an offensive surge from Anthony Rizzo has been a major reason for the Cubs’ recent success. Rizzo has hit four home runs in the Cubs’ last five games and is hitting an incredible .438/.550/1.250 during that stretch. Hitting .464/.483/.893 in his last eight games, Ben Zobrist has also been a major part of the Cubs’ recent success. Zobrist has really seemed to take well to the leadoff spot which has helped to jumpstart the Cubs’ offense.

While they are in first place, the Chicago Cubs only lead the Brewers by half a game, while the Cardinals only trail by a game. Heck, even the Cincinnati Reds are only three games behind and the last-place Pittsburgh Pirates only trail by four games in the tightly packed NL Central. Even though the lead is minimal, it is still great to see the Cubs leading the division after playing so inconsistent through the start of the season.

Despite leading their division, the Cubs only have the fifth-best record in the National League, trailing the Colorado Rockies, Arizona Diamondbacks, Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Next: Logical trade deadline targets for the Cubs

The Cubs will look to continue their strong play over the weekend as they head out West to take on the Dodgers for a three-game set between two legitimate World Series contenders.

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