Ostrowski: Cubs destiny is in their hands
The National League Central is all up to the Cubs. They can continue to hang around .500 and battle the divisional foe that doesn't fall back or go on a tear, run away, and wait for October baseball.
If they aren't able to separate themselves from the rest of the Central, September would be unchartered territory for this group.
Last year, the Cubs opened up a 10 game lead on the division before even reaching the 60-game mark. In 2015, it was clear they would be a wild card team for the entire final month. They finished 3 games behind St Louis after winning the last eight games of the season and there wasn't a team in sight that could take their playoff spot.
The 2017 version of the NL Central owns the worst 1st place record in baseball with Milwaukee at 29-27. The Brewers are the only team in the division above .500. Eric Thames set a franchise record for April home runs with 11, but Thames has hit only one dinger since May 9.
The last place Pirates are the only team that hasn't had a losing record over the last two weeks. Pittsburgh and Cincinnati should be sellers at the trade deadline and that list could grow with the number of teams working on a rebuild.
Las Vegas isn't buying the rest of the division either. 1st place Milwaukee is 100 to 1 to win the World Series. The now 2nd place Cubs are 5 to 1, the favorites to come out of the National League.
The website fangraphs.com still expects the Cubs to reach 90 wins and gives the defending champs an 86-percent chance of making the postseason.
The north siders' play has earned every bit of their mediocre 27 and 27 record with a run differential of +3. They've scored 248 runs and allowed 245.
By comparison, a year ago, the Cubs were off to a 39 and 15 start. Their run differential was +142 at the time, 70 runs better than any other team. Record wise, the Astros are very similar, but nowhere near as dominant. Their run differential hasn't reached +100 yet.
If the Cubs want to run away and hide until fall, the opportunity is there for them right now. They could sweep the Cardinals on Sunday night. 16 of their 20 games after the St Louis series will be against teams below .500. But they just got swept by below .500 San Diego. Way below .500.
It can be a stressful or relaxing summer of baseball. It's all up to the Cubs.
• Joe Ostrowski is a co-host of the "Hit & Run" baseball show from 9 a.m. to noon Sundays on WSCR 670-AM The Score with Barry Rozner. Follow him on Twitter@JoeO670.