Wrigley Field is a vibe. You know it, I know it, and the guy selling overpriced peanuts on Waveland Avenue definitely knows it. But when you look at the chicago cubs baseball stats from the 2025 season, the "Loveable Losers" narrative honestly feels like a relic from a different century.
Last year wasn't just about ivy and day games.
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The North Siders put up a 92-70 record, snagging second place in the NL Central and proving that Craig Counsell’s arrival wasn’t just for show. They didn't just play baseball; they mathematically dismantled opponents for most of the summer.
The Michael Busch Breakout and the Power Surge
Everyone spent the last few years waiting for a homegrown power threat.
Then came Michael Busch.
Basically, he turned into the monster the Dodgers thought he might be, leading the team with 34 home runs and 90 RBIs. You've got to appreciate a guy who finishes with a .523 slugging percentage while playing a steady first base. He wasn't alone in the "slugger" category either. Seiya Suzuki followed right behind with 32 homers, and Pete Crow-Armstrong—who we all knew could run and catch—surprised everyone by launching 31 of his own.
That’s three guys with 30-plus bombs.
That hasn't happened in Chicago for a minute.
Why the OPS+ Matters More Than Average
Usually, fans look at the batting average and call it a day. Honestly, that’s a mistake. Nico Hoerner hit .297, which is great, but his OPS+ was only 109. Compare that to Michael Busch, whose average was lower at .261, but his OPS+ was a staggering 147.
Why? Because Busch draws walks and hits for extra bases.
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In modern baseball, that's the stat that actually wins games.
The Pitching Staff: Beyond the ERA
If you're looking at the arms, the 2025 Chicago Cubs baseball stats tell a story of efficiency over raw power. Matthew Boyd was a revelation. He led the rotation with 154 strikeouts, which is kind of wild considering he wasn't even the "ace" on Opening Day.
Shota Imanaga remained the steady force we expected.
He didn't blow people away with 100 mph heat, but his 1.15 WHIP (Walks + Hits per Inning Pitched) kept the bases clean. It’s hard for the other team to score when nobody is on base. Simple, right?
The Bullpen's Secret Weapon
Porter Hodge. Remember that name.
The kid is electric.
By the end of the year, he was striking out 30% of the batters he faced. His sweeper had a whiff rate of 51%, which is basically like trying to hit a frisbee with a toothpick. When you have a guy like that coming out of the 'pen, those one-run leads in the 8th inning don't feel quite so terrifying.
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What the Advanced Metrics Say About 2026
The Cubs finished with a Pythagorean win-loss record of 96-66.
Wait. What?
For the uninitiated, "Pythagorean record" is a fancy way of saying "based on how many runs they scored versus how many they gave up, they should have won 96 games." They underperformed their talent by four games.
That’s actually a good sign for this year.
It suggests that the core of this team—Hoerner, Swanson, Busch, and PCA—is actually better than their 92 wins suggested.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're tracking the Cubs this season, stop obsessing over batting average. It's 2026; we've moved past that. Instead, keep an eye on these specific markers to see if the team is actually "good" or just "lucky":
- Barrel Rate: Watch if Pete Crow-Armstrong keeps his barrel rate above 10%. If he does, those 30 home runs weren't a fluke.
- Walk Rate (BB%): Ian Happ is the king of this. When the Cubs' team walk rate stays above 9%, they put massive pressure on opposing starters.
- The "Counsell Factor": Watch how the bullpen is managed in the 6th and 7th innings. The stats show the Cubs were significantly better at preventing "inherited runners" from scoring once Counsell took over.
Go check the box scores for the upcoming series. Look for the exit velocity on Matt Shaw’s hits. He only had 13 homers last year in a partial season, but his hard-hit rate suggests a massive jump is coming.
The numbers don't lie, even if the wind at Wrigley occasionally does.