1. Run differential is often a telling sign of how good a team truly is. That's why the Cubs are a scary team in the division, even if they enter Friday in fourth place. The Cubs not only have the best run differential in the division at plus-62, it's also the best in the whole National League.
Right now in the Central, first-place Milwaukee is plus-20, while the Cardinals are plus-26 and the Pirates are plus-19.
2. John Gant goes tonight for the Birds, and while his standard stats don't necessarily standout (ERA of 6.