This Cubs team has some serious high school ex-girlfriend energy. You know the one. The one where you are positive that you want to break up with her because of the way she gets under your skin and how frustrated she makes you. And then right after you get your speech all set, she walks back in and she’s just perfect. At once, you aren’t sure how you’d ever survive without her. What was it that bothered you so much? How could anyone not be into her?

There they were today. The pitching was dominant. Until the game was out of reach heading to the ninth, four Cub pitchers had combined to allow just two hits, no walks. After Matt Shaw’s dropped pop up in the first, there wasn’t another runner until the fourth inning. Horton may or may not have lost an inning off of the extra pitches in that first inning. Four pitches didn’t seem a lot, but Horton had to work a lot more carefully to Elly De La Cruz with that runner on second. At the same time, there didn’t seem to be much interest in Horton seeing De La Cruz a third time, particularly in a one run game with the tying run on first. It feels like we saw that scenario play out Monday.

After Horton was lifted, Pomeranz got De La Cruz on strikes. Then Andrew Kittredge was given an opportunity to shake off Tuesday’s rough outing. I’m not sure any pitcher has ever bounced back quite like this. Kittredge threw just the sixth immaculate inning in recorded Cubs history. Craig Counsell has taken the opportunity to throw Kittredge and Ryan Brasier and Caleb Thielbar back out there earlier in the series. I like the showing faith in these guys. For better or worse, this is the ride or die bullpen. We can’t afford more castoffs. The guys that are here can get the job done. But they are going to need to be battle tested. And they are going to have to learn to shake off tough outings. There will probably be a lot of pseudo-playoff baseball played over the next few months.

For the first time in days, that included the offense. They were a little late to the dance today too. But finally in the sixth inning, the Cubs started showing their stuff. Seiya Suzuki launched his 27th homer to tie for the team lead. The team really needed that. Both the power and the speed have gone AWOL recently. One or the other had to return. It was the power. Dansby Swanson hit a homer of his own in the seventh to extend the lead. The much maligned defensive star now has as many homers as the free agent superstar Kyle Tucker who sat with a bruised thumb/extended slump.

Ian Happ added one more homer in the eighth, his 16th. The Cubs should have five players with 20+ homers before too long. Around the Happ homer, the Cubs added an RBI-single and and RBI-ground out. The offense got to six runs and magically the cumulative score for this series was dead even. This isn’t bowling and you don’t get a point for highest run total in the series. But it is definitely a reminder of how close the vast majority of this series was.

This team didn’t get here by piling up close wins, they got here by piling up lopsided wins. This one wasn’t super unbalanced, but it was good to see them get a little of that. In this era of max effort pitching, spin rates and velocity, sustaining offensive output may be as hard as it has ever been. This team remains one of the best offensive teams in the league. With a reasonable amount of pitching, this team can win. I understand where the frustration comes from when watching this team. But boy, when it clicks, it sure is easy to fall back in love with this team. Until Palencia’s rough ninth inning, this was bordering on a flawless performance.

Now take care of business over the next 11 days ahead of a massive series with the Brewers. With all due respect to the gambler’s paradox, that Brewers team is due for a hiccup at some point. Keep the pressure on and pounce if they do. If they don’t, it’s far from impossible for a Wild Card team to make a playoff run.

Reds: 142, 38 BFCubs: 113, 32 BF

The Reds weren’t terrible. Like Tuesday’s game, this one was close late, then it got one-sided. The Red pitchers threw just shy of 18 pitches per inning. The Cubs offense picked up as this game wore on and applied increasing pressure on the Reds.

On the other side, until Palencia’s adventure, the Cubs were well on their way to a combined Maddux. Keeping it under 13 pitches per inning is always my target. It gives the starter a chance to get deep in the game as situation dictates. And it allows relievers to be used a little more frequently. After an off day Thursday, the Cubs should certainly be looking at a full staff for Friday’s game, as needed.

Andrew Kittredge. Respect the history.Cade Horton. Held the line while the offense slowly grinded to life.Seiya Suzuki. The only time they got him out was a sacrifice fly for the first run for the Cubs. Homer, single, walk, two runs driven in, run scored. Good to see him contributing.

Game 114, August 6: Cubs 6, Reds 1 (66-48)

Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.

Superhero: Cade Horton (.322). 5.2 IP, 20 BF, 2 H, 0 BB, 0 R, 6 K (W 6-3)Hero: Seiya Suzuki (.123). 2-2, HR, SF, 2 RBI, RSidekick: Andrew Kittredge (.068). IP, 3 BF, 3 KBilly Goat: Pete Crow-Armstrong (-.101). 0-4Goat: Willi Castro (-.060). 0-4Kid: Matt Shaw (-.049). 1-4, R

WPA Play of the Game: Seiya Suzuki’s solo homer leading off the sixth, increasing the lead to two. (.106)

*Reds Play of the Game: Andrew Abbott struck out PCA with runners on first and third and two outs in the second, to keep the game scoreless. (.048)

Yesterday’s Winner: Shota Imanaga received 82 of 86 votes.

Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 5/Bottom 5)

The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.

Kyle Tucker +27Matthew Boyd +23Shōta Imanaga +18Jameson Taillon/Miguel Amaya +11Carson Kelly -10Julian Merryweather -15Ben Brown -18Dansby Swanson -21.33Seiya Suzuki -28

Up Next: An off day Thursday as the Cubs travel to St. Louis for three with the Cardinals as the historic rivalry continues. The Cubs lead the season series 4-3 with six to play. The Cards are an even 58-58 and 2.5 games behind the Reds team the Cubs just faced and only on the periphery of the playoff picture.

The Cubs start Matthew Boyd (11-4, 2.34, 130.2 IP). I’ve just about run out of adjectives for Matthew’s amazing season. He threw seven scoreless against the Orioles in his first August start after posting a 1.97 ERA over five July starts. Boyd is well on his way to a top 5 Cy Young finish. He’s only thrown this many innings in a season three times in his career, all for the Tigers 2017-2019. But he’s looked really strong. He’s 2-0 with 11 scoreless innings against the Cardinals to date.

Michael McGreevy (3-2, 5.08, 39 IP) was the 18th overall pick by the Cardinals in 2021. He made three starts amongst four appearances last season and pitched to a 1.96 ERA. It’s been a rougher go this time. He’s making his eighth appearance and seventh start. Last time he picked up a win despite allowing four runs in six innings against the Padres in San Diego. The Cubs scored five runs over 4.2 IP back in June in St. Louis.

Looks good on paper. Make it so.