The Chicago Cubs are in do or die mode.Their current record sits at 50-51, only one game under .500, but they are 6 games out of first place in the division and 4.5 games out of the Wild Card.  They are currently on a 5-game win streak, and have gone 7-3 in their last 10 games. But they are facing a big problem in this dire time: starting pitcher Drew Smyly. 

At the beginning of the season, Smyly pitched quite well, he almost had a perfect game against the Dodgers in April. But following that, he never quite was able to grasp that type of command and pitch control. In the first third of the season, Smyly posted a 1.78 ERA with a 7-2 record; opponents batted .182 against him with a .223 on-base percentage and gave up only 5 home runs. But in his last 10 starts, he has a 7.08 ERA with a 3-7 record; opponents batted .327 with a .400 on-base percentage and gave up 11 home runs. His last 4 starts and his relief appearance, a 9.86 ERA. 

Manager David Ross tried to change things up last Saturday, July 22, by starting relief pitcher Michael Fulmer before pitching Smyly in extended relief against the St. Louis Cardinals. Unfortunately, that didn’t work. Smyly pitched 3 ⅔ innings with 6 hits and 5 runs, 4 of those being earned runs, 1 walk, and 5 strikeouts. 

This is a big problem for the Cubs. If the Cubs want to succeed, and hopefully make it to October, they need to be able to have a full starting rotation that works. Luckily for the Cubs, Hayden Wesneski, who has pitched for the Cubs both as a starter and in a reliever role, has been heating up with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. Over the course of July with the Iowa Cubs, he has a 1.64 ERA with 19 strikeouts and 2 walks. He has struggled in the big leagues in the past, but at this rate, anything is better than what Smyly has been giving. 

Right now, the Cubs need to find a solution to the Smyly problem if they want to succeed and make it to the postseason. Whether that be keeping Smyly in the bullpen and bringing up Wesneski, trading for any of the starting pitchers on the market, or trying to fix Smyly, the Cubs better find out what to do soon.