"Everybody is talking about the offense, but primarily the pitching and defense has set this up," manager Joe Maddon said of the strong start.
There's talk about the offense because the Cubs have outscored opponents, 136-57, the best run differential in the Majors. And Maddon sees the young players making progress. Javier Baez, for example, drew a walk in the eighth inning on Friday against the Braves. Baez has walked twice in 29 at-bats, but that's far better than last season, when he walked four times in 76 at-bats.
"That might be part of the conga line that really does it all the time, and these guys are watching," Maddon said of the patient approach at the plate.