Cubs become first team since 1894 to win and lose back-to-back games by at least 15 runs

It’s been hard to know what to make of the Chicago Cubs. No stretch illustrates that better than the past two games.

On Wednesday, the Cubs shellacked the San Diego Padres in a 23-3 win. On Friday, they got steam rolled by the St. Louis Cardinals 17-1. That’s not normal.

It’s so not normal, in fact, that the Cubs are only the second team in MLB history to win a game by at least 15 runs then lose the next game by at least 15 runs, per OptaStats. The only other team: the 1894 Boston Beaneaters (who are now known as the Atlanta Braves).

This is also the team that posted two separate 10-game winning streaks this season, as well as a 10-game losing streak. That’s a historical rarity as well, with only the 2017 Los Angeles Dodgers producing three such streaks.

Despite all of that, the Cubs remainin in second place in the NL Central at 49-39, 5.5 games back from the first-place Milwaukee Brewers.

Friday’s game saw the Cardinals take a lead in the second inning on a three-run homer from Nathan Church, then score runs in every inning until the eighth. Cubs starting pitcher David Peterson, acquired via trade with the New York Mets last week, got tagged for a career-high 10 earned runs, with reliever Bryse Wilson responsible for the other 10 runs.

On the bright side, relievers Gavin Hollowell and Drew Pomeranz finished the game off with a scoreless inning each. And third baseman Alex Bregman doubled in a run in the seventh inning to avoid the shutout.