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There is currently no proof to argue against Anthony Rizzo as the greatest leadoff hitter of all time. In five games atop the Cubs' order, the team is 3-2 while the face of the franchise has hit .409 with a .458 on-base percentage and .909 slugging percentage to go with six runs and eight RBI. Leading off each of those five games, here are Rizzo's results: -Homer -Homer -Walk -Single -Double The Cubs have scored seven first-inning runs in those five games and are averaging 7.4 runs per contest in that stretch. The hot streak has helped Rizzo raise his season OPS 43 points from .862 to .905. Rizzo hitting leadoff has also helped rookie Ian Happ get rolling in the No. 2 spot in the lineup. Hitting Continue to Article

June 19, 2017 11:29:am EST

Power-hitting leadoff men are all the rage! The mad tinkerer Joe Maddon moved Anthony Rizzo into the leadoff spot, hoping to kickstart an offense (and a team) that’s fallen well short of expectations this year. The Cubs have erupted for 37 runs over those five games, starting this mini-run with a 14–3 shellacking of the Mets that included a homer, a double, a walk, two runs scored, and three RBI for Rizzo. Could we see Rizzo still batting leadoff in the throes of a pennant race, as he closes in on a 40-homer season? Continue to Article

June 18, 2017 11:43:pm EST

The Cubs take on the San Diego Padres Monday night, and you can catch all the action on CSN and live streaming on CSNChicago.com and the NBC Sports App. Catch first pitch with Len Kasper and Jim Deshaies at 7:05 p.m. Be sure to stick around after the final out to get analysis and player reaction on Cubs Postgame Live. Starting pitching matchup: Jon Lester (4-4, 3.89 ERA) vs. Clayton Richard (5-7, 4.30 ERA) to make sure you’re ready for the action.   — Channel finder: Make sure you know where to watch. — Latest on the Cubs: All of the most recent news and notes. Continue to Article

June 18, 2017 9:02:pm EST

Anthony Rizzo hardly looks like a typical leadoff hitter. The Chicago Cubs' 6-foot-3, 240-pound first baseman isn't much of a stolen base threat and he doesn't exactly motor down the line. Against the Pirates on Sunday, Rizzo homered among his three hits to lead Chicago to a 7-1 victory. Continue to Article

June 18, 2017 7:50:pm EST