Carter Hawkins on struggling Cubs: 'The talent of the players is above where we've played'

(670 The Score) A year ago as the Cubs struggled through the first half of the regular season, they found hope in the fact that their Pythagorean win-loss mark — a measure of their expected record based on run differential — was better than their actual record. That was an indication they had experienced some degree of poor fortune and could perhaps turn their season around.

This season, the Cubs sit at 38-44 just past the halfway point and their Pythagorean win-loss expectancy is the same mark: 38-44. It means this Cubs team has played to its sub-.500 record and would be largely off-base to cite bad luck as any sort of significant factor.

In an interview on the Bernstein & Holmes Show on Friday, Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins acknowledged that while confirming the team's internal metrics point to the same narrative. Despite that, he believes the players on this roster are better than they've performed, and that's where the Cubs' hope lies moving forward.

“You can’t really dance around it," Hawkins said. "We haven’t scored many runs, and we’ve given up more runs than we’d like to as well. From that standpoint, the expected record is really similar to the actual, which is disappointing to say the least. That said, I think the talent of the players is above where we’ve played.

“There’s 100% opportunity for those guys to start playing better and turn that around.”

The Cubs earned a 5-3 win over the Giants in 10 innings Thursday at Oracle Park to snap a four-game losing streak. The Cubs had plummeted to a season-worst seven games under the .500 mark entering the series finale in San Francisco.

The Cubs begin a three-game series against the first-place Brewers on Friday evening in Milwaukee. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. CT. The game can be heard on 670 The Score or by downloading the Audacy app. Pregame coverage starts at 6:35 p.m.