Bregman says he’s been “terrible,” as Cubs’ slump turns into a RISP problem

The Cubs’ season has gone from surge to stall in a matter of weeks, and the gap has started to show up in the same place every time: when the lineup finally gets runners on base, it has not cashed them in. In the 27 games since Chicago won 20 of 23 to reach 27-12, the Cubs have gone 7-20 and averaged 3.26 runs per game, including a stretch where they scored seven runs across 29 innings in a recent series loss to the Giants. The offense is not just producing less, it is producing less at the moment that matters most in a 162-game race.

Alex Bregman, the Cubs’ veteran third baseman and one of their higher-profile offseason signings, did not hide from his role in that downturn. After Sunday’s extra-innings loss, CBS Sports reported Bregman said, “I’ve been terrible,” and that “Runners in scoring position, I’ve been god-awful.” Through the season to date, CBS Sports listed Bregman at.243/.327/.342 (95 OPS+) overall, but far weaker numbers with runners in scoring position:.173/.250/.187. With two outs and runners in scoring position, CBS Sports reported he is at.100/.206/.133.

The difficulty is not limited to one at-bat, but Bregman’s most recent moment helped illustrate why the Cubs have been stuck in low-scoring innings. CBS Sports described a late-game situation where Bregman came to the plate in a 1-1 game with runners on first and third and no out, then hit a soft liner that ended in a double play. CBS Sports also noted that Bregman’s “eye test” has not matched his overall stat line, including a reported hard-hit drop to 39% after being above 44% last season. The implication is straightforward, the Cubs are getting opportunities, and they are not converting them into runs.

Chicago’s problem has also broadened from one hitter to the entire lineup. CBS Sports said the Cubs are still getting on base, ranking fifth in MLB in on-base percentage, but they have struggled to bring runners home once they get there. In one striking measure of conversion failure, CBS Sports reported the Cubs have left the bases loaded in innings with zero runs scored 24 times, which it said is more than any other team. CBS Sports further cited men left on base totals, including that Bregman leads MLB with 143 men left on base, with Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki also ranking near the top of that category for the Cubs.

Bregman’s frustration has an added layer because his contract raised expectations. reported the Cubs and Bregman agreed to a five-year, $175 million deal, and it also said Chicago will defer $70 million of the contract. That kind of financial commitment changes how quickly fans and teammates demand results, especially from an everyday middle-of-the-order bat in the late innings. While Bregman acknowledged it starts with execution, the Cubs’ coaching staff has been trying to frame the slump as both real and manageable, emphasizing process and opportunity rather than panicking over a single stat.

That context is visible in how the Cubs have discussed their RISP production. On May 21, reported the team was treating runners-in-scoring-position baseball as an important indicator but also a scenario that can swing as a season moves forward. Manager Craig Counsell, in that report, said it is an important stat “in terms of who wins or loses,” but also argued that the safer approach is to create a lot of those situations instead of trying to be the league’s best at them every night. also quoted Ian Happ about the “tide” turning and expecting more base hits with runners in scoring position. With Chicago still in the playoff conversation, including a 34-32 record shown standings, the Cubs’ next stretch likely hinges on whether that tide can turn soon, with fewer empty innings when the bases are loaded.