“He’s always been a hitter,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “He’s been the youngest player on his team, still, for his whole career. And he’s always been one of the better hitters, and that’s impressive.

The Chicago Cubs’ bats were a bit inconsistent at times in their six-game stretch last week, but they still found a way to win a couple of games against two strong teams.

The Cubs have not lost more than three consecutive games since June 23-27 of last year, when they fell at home to the Mets, then lost three games at