The Chicago Cubs are setting the pace in the NL Central, and after a scorching Week 7, they've made it clear they're the team to beat. Riding a 10-game winning streak—highlighted by a dominant four-game sweep of the Reds—the Cubs finally cooled off over the weekend, dropping two of three against the Rangers in Texas. But don't let that slip fool you: this team is firing on all cylinders.
Offensively, Michael Conforto and Seiya Suzuki are leading the charge. Conforto put on a show this week, belting two homers—including a walk-off blast against the Reds—while adding three doubles and three walks. His slash line of .500/.588/1.143 is the stuff of legend. Suzuki matched him with two homers of his own, while Michael Busch paced the team with eight hits, including a long ball. Pete Crow-Armstrong also chipped in with seven hits and a homer, proving the Cubs' lineup has depth to spare.
On the mound, Shota Imanaga was electric, striking out 10 batters while allowing just one run over six innings to pick up the win. Ryan Rolison was a revelation in relief, earning two wins with five strikeouts across 2 1/3 innings. Javier Assad added five scoreless frames in two outings, and the bullpen trio of Phil Maton, Ethan Roberts, and Trent Thornton all posted scoreless weeks. After an off day Monday, the Cubs head to Atlanta to face the Braves before a weekend "road" series against the White Sox on the South Side.
Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Brewers are doing their best to keep pace. After splitting a rain-shortened two-game set with the Cardinals, the Brewers swept the Yankees in a three-game weekend series, extending their own win streak to four. Brice Turang continues to be one of the league's most dangerous hitters, leading the team with two homers this week—including a walk-off shot on Sunday afternoon against New York. The returns of Jackson Chourio and Andrew Vaughn provided a major boost, with Chourio collecting eight hits (three doubles) and Vaughn adding three hits, including a homer and a double. Jake Bauers also went deep on Saturday night.
On the bump, Jacob Misiorowski is turning heads. He tossed six scoreless innings in Friday's win, striking out 11 while allowing just two hits and two walks. If the Brewers can keep this momentum going, they'll be right in the thick of the division race.
As Week 7 wraps up, the Cubs remain the team to beat, but the Brewers are proving they won't go quietly. With summer heating up, the NL Central is shaping up to be a battle worth watching—and one that could come down to the wire.