Entering the game Saturday against the Braves, the Cubs had the lowest team batting average in the majors and the only one below .200. There were three teams — the Dodgers, Red Sox and Reds — with batting averages higher than the Cubs’ .267 on-base percentage.
The question after Saturday is whether they are beginning to put that behind them. It’s not a secret the Cubs have struggled to win because they have struggled to hit.
A little more than two weeks into the season, manager David Ross isn’t looking to make excuses for his offense, but he would like to point out that hitting these days is tougher than it was a few years ago.