After the Cubs passed baseball’s most difficult opening test, The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney share their takeaways from the first month of the season. Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker are the names that jump out in a much-improved offense. Craig Counsell’s blunt assessment of Ben Brown summed up the sense of urgency around the club: “We need better.” Already, it seems clear what Jed Hoyer’s front office will be looking for at the trade deadline.

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It’s not a silly question to ask at this early stage of the season. The numbers are off the charts. The entertainment value is back at Wrigley Field. And Kyle Tucker might be the best hitter in the game right now. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney explain what’s happening at this moment, from the Tucker effect to Pete Crow-Armstrong’s emergence to a catching group that has become a real strength.

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Once again, the Cubs are becoming a must-see attraction. In a city that desperately wants to see a winner, and an iconic stadium that lacked buzz in recent years, the Cubs just put together two wild wins over the Dodgers. The entire scene felt like a potential playoff preview. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney share their takeaways from how the club matched up against the defending World Series champs.

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