The Cubs came back home and got right back into a groove. When last we saw this team, they’d swept all seven games on a seven-game homestand. For those not keeping track at home, they also won the home game before that back on April 12. So this is now nine straight wins at Wrigley for the team. The last time the team had nine straight home wins was 2017.

It’s still relatively early. But this team is a study in contradictions. It doesn’t feel in any way like it is hitting on all cylinders. And yet, this team is accomplishing some unusual things. 10 game winning streaks. Nine game home winning streaks. These things don’t grow on trees. And yet, the bullpen feels like someone wrapped a bunch of duct tape around it. It’s hard to even know who some of these guys are if you don’t have a razor sharp awareness of bit players.

Then, even when a guy looks like maybe he’s going to step forward and be something more, he pulls away. Riley Martin felt like he was one of those guys who was maybe getting interesting. Then he got hurt. Ryan Rolison felt like he was someone to keep an eye on. Then he got roughed up by the Diamondbacks Friday afternoon. Granted, that offense will bite some guys along the way. But in just a few short batters, the game went from what looked like a comfortable win to needing to hold your breath. That said, hat tip for coming up with two strikeouts with the tying run on first to escape that inning. Not just any two either, but their third and fourth hitters.

Meanwhile, with the offense sputtering, Phil Maton came on and threw his first clean inning as a Cub, striking out two. He, too, has missed time with an injury. Hopefully, he is healthy now and turning a corner. But the even bigger surprise was Jacob Webb coming on and throwing two hitless innings, yielding only a walk while striking out three. For the first time, we see what the Cubs thought they had when they gave him a multi-year deal. To be fair, his deal isn’t one that particularly breaks the bank. But, the Cubs haven’t given a lot of multi-year deals to relievers.

The offense? It was relatively subdued. They had eight hits and four walks. Among the eight hits were three doubles. 16 times already they’ve had more than nine hits (13-3 record). 16 times they’ve had more walks (11-5). At 12 hits/walks combined, 20 times (15-5). So this was a little less than a middle of the road production-wise. How, then, did this one work? Two things went really well. One, Colin Rea was very good through five innings, running into trouble in the sixth. Secondly, the offense bunched all but one of those baserunners into the first four innings. Zac Gallen is a pretty good pitcher that they chased in less than four. He came into the game with a 3.14 ERA that is now 4.45.

Early offense. Good pitching. It’s a very good formula. Another win.

Three Positives:

• Michael Busch had two hits, one a double. He drove in two runs.

• Carson Kelly had two hits, both singles. He scored a run and drove in a run.

• Jacob Webb, six very important outs protecting a one-run lead.

Hat tip to Colin Rea, two outs short of a quality start.

Game 32, May 1: Cubs 6, Diamondbacks 5 (20-12)

Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.

THREE HEROES:

• Superhero: Jacob Webb (.274). 2 IP, 7 BF, BB, 3 K (Sv 1)

• Hero: Michael Busch (.153). 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI

• Sidekick: Colin Rea (.130). 5.1 IP, 25 BF, 8 H, 0 BB, 2 ER, 6 K (W 4-1)

THREE GOATS:

• Billy Goat: Ryan Rolison (-.210). 0.2 IP, 6 BF, 3 H, BB, 3 ER, 2 K

• Goat: Seiya Suzuki (-.086). 0-3, BB

• Kid: Matt Shaw (-.040). 0-3

WPA Play of the Game: With the bases loaded and two outs in a scoreless first inning, Michael Busch singled, scoring two runs. (.167)

*Diamondbacks Play of the Game: Geraldo Perdomo batted with runners on second and third with one out, the Cubs up four. He hit a three-run homer. (.159)

Cubs Player of the Game:

Game 31 Winner: Ben Brown 210 of 298 votes.

Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 3/Bottom 3)

The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.

• Nico Hoerner +9.5

• Michael Conforto +7

• Moisés Ballesteros/Daniel Palencia +5

• Pete Crow-Armstrong -8

• Matt Shaw/Seiya Suzuki -9

Current Win Pace: 101.25

Up Next: Game two of the three-game set Saturday afternoon. Shōta Imanaga (2-2, 2.88, 34.1 IP) makes his seventh start of the year. Last time out, he lost, allowing four earned runs in just 5.1 innings of work. He’ll look to bounce back. The Diamondbacks start 28-year-old Ryne Nelson (1-2, 7.71, 25.2 IP). He is also making his seventh start. Last time out, he allowed six runs over five innings of work. The time before that, he allowed eight runs while only recording one out. So he’s struggled of late. He was the 2019 second-round pick of the Diamondbacks (56th overall).

Let’s keep his struggles going and keep our streak rolling.

Go Cubs.