The Cubs went 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position last night, and honestly, that one stat tells you almost everything you need to know about where this team is at right now. After getting completely blanked in yesterday’s game, making it their ninth shutout loss already this season, the frustration has gotta be boiling over for fans. Last year, they only got shut out 10 times all season! That’s a huge jump for July.
Pitching Duel or Offensive Breakout?
Tonight, it's Javier Assad on the mound for the Cubs facing off against Nick Lodolo for the Reds. Assad has been a bright spot, posting a 2.41 ERA and a ridiculous 0.911 WHIP across nine games since May 1. Dude’s been dealing, even if he's given up seven long balls in 37.1 innings. His last outing was 4.2 shutout innings against the Cardinals last Sunday, and he even threw 1.1 innings of scoreless relief against the Reds back on May 5. Here’s a wild stat: the Cubs are 6-1 in games Assad starts and 11-3 overall in the 14 games he’s pitched. So, yeah, he's basically their good luck charm! On the other side, Lodolo had a rough start to the season thanks to a blister, delaying his first start until May 8. He even took a comebacker to the wrist on June 23 from Jackson Chourio, but somehow, it was just a contusion and he didn't miss a start. Since then, he's been locked in, giving up just one run over 11 innings, with eight strikeouts in his two most recent starts. But here’s the thing: last time Lodolo faced the Cubs, back on September 19, 2025, he gave up nine hits and four runs in just 4.2 innings, including bombs to Dansby Swanson and Matt Shaw. So, can the Cubs offense finally wake up against him?Where Did the Offense Go?
Beyond the shutout and the RISP nightmare from last night, the underlying trends are seriously worrying. That 0 for 5 performance with runners in scoring position means the team is now a brutal 3-20 in games where they get no hits with RISP. When they actually get those hits, they’re 49-22. That’s a massive split, and it shows you exactly why they’re struggling to win. Through June 16, their RISP average was a measly .217. It jumped to .296 after that, which gave some hope, but in their last seven games, it's plummeted to a pathetic .157, going just 8 for 51. Even their Saturday record is a head-scratcher. They’re 7-7 this year on Saturdays, which is the same number of losses they had all of last season when they finished 20-7 on Saturdays! On the road, they're 3-3 after going 11-2 last year. What happened to the weekend warriors? It’s Saturday night in Cincy, and the team needs to figure out this offensive slump, fast. Can Assad keep them in it, and can they finally get some bats going with runners on? This game is crucial to turn those troubling trends around. You can catch all the action live tonight on Marquee Sports Network.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.