The Chicago Cubs pulled out yet another thrilling win Tuesday night at Wrigley Field when they walked off the Los Angeles Dodgers 11-10 in extra innings.

It was the Cubs’ second huge game on this homestand, including Friday’s wild win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Both games have played a big role in the Cubs’ hot start, as they entered play Wednesday with a 15-10 record and the best run differential (+42) in the majors.

Baseball Reference is giving the Cubs the best odds to win the 2025 World Series, and their strong start is all the more impressive given they have played by far the toughest schedule in MLB. On the other hand, the Cubs will have the easiest schedule in the league from this point forward.

Here are some eye-popping numbers behind the Cubs’ early season success:

— The Cubs have won two games in the last five days when giving up 10 or more runs. They won only one game over the last five seasons when giving up 10 or more runs (since 2020).

— The Cubs on Tuesday night became the first team in MLB history to record at least 35 homers and 35 stolen bases in the first 25 games of a season.

OptaSTATS broke it down:

— In the modern era (which dates to 1900), only one Cubs team has averaged more runs per game at the 25-game mark: The 1929 Cubs.

Most runs per game through 25 games in modern era:

1929 — 6.80 (Lost World Series)
2025 — 6.24 (??)
2016 — 6.12 (Won World Series)
1938 — 6.08 (Lost World Series)

[MORE: Cubs make a flurry of roster moves before Wednesday’s game]

— The Cubs have scored 10 or more runs seven times this season. No other team, entering play Wednesday, had reached that mark more than three times.

— The last time the Cubs scored 10 or more runs seven times within their first 25 games was 1895.

Kyle Tucker

A big part of the Cubs’ hot start has been Kyle Tucker‘s stellar play. The Cubs gave up a hefty package for the right fielder in an offseason trade with the Houston Astros, but he has played like an MVP so far this season.

In the first 25 games, Tucker hit .320/.420/.650 (1.070 OPS) with seven homers, 25 RBI and 24 runs scored. He also had more walks (18) than strikeouts (14).

He leads MLB in eighth-inning-or-later homers entering play Wednesday:

Kyle Tucker — 4
Ozzie Albies — 3
Randy Arozarena — 3
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. — 3
Eugenio Suárez — 3
Pete Alonso — 3
Cal Raleigh — 3
Kyren Paris — 3

Carson Kelly

Heading into the season, the Cubs expected Tucker to be a huge part of their offense. But nobody could have predicted Carson Kelly‘s contributions.

Entering play Wednesday, the veteran catcher was hitting .371/.540/.971 (1.511 OPS) with six homers, 18 RBI and 12 runs scored.

A big part of Kelly’s success has been his ability to control the strike zone, as he has drawn 13 walks against just four strikeouts. In fact, he has more homers (6) than strikeouts (4).

Kelly is off to one of the best starts ever from a player who hits in the No. 8 or 9 spot in a team’s lineup:

The Tucker-Kelly combination has given opposing pitching staff fits, as they’re both among the best two-strike hitters in baseball to begin the season:

Highest OPS with two strikes (min. 30 PA)

Carson Kelly — 1.381
Pavin Smith — 1.029
Pete Alonso — 1.018
Kyle Tucker — .969

Of course, it would be unreasonable to expect Kelly to maintain this type of production all year, but it wouldn’t be crazy to see Tucker stay in the NL MVP conversation over the next five months.

Marquee Sports Network’s Kyle Millinowisch and Chris Antonacci contributed to this story.