Since June 25, Cubs starters have a 3.02 ERA, best in baseball. The next closest staff, the Boston Red Sox, is at 3.31. These pitchers aren’t elite at getting groundballs or strikeouts. But they limit walks and hard contact and have an entire defense that helps them limit damage.

Slumping All-Star slugger Kyle Tucker has returned to the Chicago Cubs' lineup for Thursday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers after sitting out three games.