The Chicago Cubs can do it all.
The Cubs rank second in MLB in runs per game (5.6), first in ERA (2.60) and first in defensive runs saved (32) heading into their home game Tuesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers (8 p.m. ET on ESPN/WatchESPN).
Jake Arrieta will start against the Dodgers for the first time since he threw a no-hitter against them on Aug. 30 last season.
Here are the top stats to know heading into the game.
Arrieta’s dominant run
The Cubs have won each of Arrieta’s past 23 starts, tied for the longest streak in MLB history, according to Elias Sports Bureau research. With a win Tuesday, Arrieta and the Cubs can break the tie with Kris Medlen and the Atlanta Braves, who won 23 in a row across the 2010-12 seasons.
Arrieta is 9-0 this season, the best undefeated start by a Cubs pitcher since 1967, and tied for their second-best start ever. The best undefeated start to a season by a Cubs pitcher was by Jim McCormick in 1886 (15-0).
According to Elias, three Cubs pitchers have been the first major-leaguers to 10 wins in a season in baseball’s modern era (since 1900) -- Grover Alexander in 1920, Claude Passeau in 1942 and Ken Holtzman in 1969. Arrieta can join that list Tuesday.
Arrieta is getting 8.1 runs of support per start, most in the majors this season by over a run (Stephen Strasburg -- 7.0).
Cubs playing game No. 50
The Cubs enter their 50th game of the season with a 35-14 record. According to Elias, only six times in franchise history have the Cubs won 36 of their first 50 decisions of a season. The most recent of those times was when they started 39-11 in 1907. The five other times came in the 1870s and 1880s.
They have been the best defensive team in baseball. The Cubs turn 74 percent of balls in play into outs, the best in baseball, and lead the majors with 32 defensive runs saved (DRS). They are tied for sixth in DRS by infielders, are seventh in DRS by outfielders, are tied for third in DRS by pitchers, and are fourth in DRS by catchers.
Cubs hitters have walked in 11.9 percent of their plate appearances this season. If they finish the season at that rate, it would be the highest walk rate by a team since the 2000 Mariners walked in 12.0 percent of their plate appearances.
Further, Cubs hitters have chased 24 percent of pitches out of the strike zone this season, the lowest chase rate in baseball. The Cubs average 3.97 pitches per plate appearance, sixth-most in baseball.
They have six players with 20 walks this season, the most in the majors. All six are on pace for at least 70 walks. Only two teams in MLB history have done that. The 1948 Red Sox had seven players with 70 walks and the 1950 Tigers had six players who walked 70 times.
Through 49 games this season, the Cubs have outscored their opponents by 133 runs. That’s good for the fifth-most in the World Series era (since 1903), according to Elias.
If the Cubs win Tuesday, they will have the fourth-greatest run differential through 50 games in the World Series era. A win by six or more runs would at least tie the Cubs for third-best with the 1912 Giants at plus-139 through 50 games, according to Elias.