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The Margin Ep. 5 | The Defense Tax
The Margin - Episode 5 - The Defense Tax
The Cubs have spent most of 2026 surviving a pitching staff that, statistically, looks mediocre.
39 pitchers used.
One of baseball’s highest home run rates. A staff that entered the trade deadline near the bottom of MLB in pitching WAR.
And yet the Cubs keep preventing runs.
Why?
Because behind every Cubs pitcher might be the best defense in baseball.
Chicago leads MLB in Outs Above Average, Fielding Run Value and Defensive Runs Saved. They turn ground balls into outs better than anyone. They make fewer errors than anyone. And their pitching staff has…
The skinny
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