Cubs' Run Differential Through 25 Games Is Just Plain Silly

(CBS) The Cubs are off to a 19-6 start, their best since 1907, and have a five-game lead in the NL Central less than one-sixth of the way into the season.

The scary part is that doesn't tell just how dominant they've been.

The Cubs currently have a run differential of plus-89, which is the third-best mark through 25 games in the modern era and also the best since the 1905, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The Cardinals have the second-best mark run differential in MLB at plus-40.

To no one's surprise, much of the Cubs' success has come in ace Jake Arrieta's six starts, over which he's 6-0 and the team has compiled an incredible run differential of plus-44. Chicago's averaging 8.7 runs in Arrieta's start while allowing just 1.3. The next-closest example of domination in an individual pitcher's start comes from the Cardinals, who've recorded a plus-24 run differential in right-hander Carlos Martinez's starts.

Arrieta has now won 17 consecutive decisions in the regular season.

The Cubs are outscoring foes by an average of 3.56 runs per game, a number that's more than seven teams' runs per game.