Chicago Cubs: 3 reasons road trip is most important of season
By Ryan Sikes
If history has shown anything, it’s that the Chicago Cubs road record does not translate into a World Series winner much less even a deep postseason run. You have to go all the way back to 2006 to when the St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series with a regular season road record of 34-47.
I mean, it’s not earth-shattering news. The formula for a good team usually results in winning most of your home games and being average on the road, give or take a few games for both situations. Let’s look back at the last 10 World Series winners and their respective regular season road records:
- 2018 (Red Sox): 51-30
- 2017 (Astros): 53-28
- 2016 (Cubs): 46-34
- 2015 (Royals): 44-37
- 2014 (Giants): 43-38
- 2013 (Red Sox): 44-37
- 2012 (Giants): 46-35
- 2011 (Cardinals): 45-36
- 2010 (Giants): 43-38
- 2009 (Yankees): 46-35
For all 10 teams, that’s an combined average of a 46-35 road record. With the Cubs sitting at 21-33 on the road and 27 road games remaining in the season. They would have to go 25-2 to reach this average. That’s not going to happen but does that mean they don’t have a chance in the postseason? Heck no. Any team can get hot like we saw with the Cardinals in 2006.
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What is important is for this team to finally start carrying over the offense they have shown at home to the road. They’ll get their first crack at it when Cole Hamels takes the mound against Alex Wood on Thursday evening in Cincinnati.