Cubs' Contreras proves hitting slumps can be cured
The Cubs managed to get one of their big hitters going. Will others follow?
Catcher Willson Contreras has caught fire, hitting .457 over his last 10 games, including 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles in Thursday's 8-5 victory over the Reds.
"I really wasn't trying to do too much," Contreras said before Friday's game in Milwaukee. "Not trying to do too much, getting a pitch to hit and make them throw strikes."
Contreras mentioned laying off bad pitches as a key to his turnaround. His batting average rose from .196 to .261. In the shortened season, numbers can turnaround quickly, even in September.
"I just told myself to go with the flow," he said. "Whatever happens this season is going to happen. I cannot put pressure on myself and try to do too much or try to match my numbers from last year. I think if I'm able to recover from one bad at bat to the next at bat, that's going to be my key of success."
Most every player left from the World Series team have struggled at the plate this season. Kris Bryant has had a small breakthrough. Multiple hits in three of the last four games has raised his average to .206. But Bryant, Javy Baez and Anthony Rizzo remain far below their recent standards.