The Chicago Cubs, at 21-14, sit atop the NL Central after winning two of three games in Milwaukee last weekend. They’ve faced one of the toughest schedules in baseball — and despite being shut out Sunday — have stockpiled eye-popping offensive numbers.

The North Siders lead MLB in runs per game (5.94), extra-base hits (124) and stolen bases (45) — a combination that has produced a lot of excitement for both fans and players alike.

Cubs starting pitcher Jameson Taillon joined Marquee Sports Network’s game broadcast in the third inning Sunday, and play-by-play announcer Alex Cohen asked him how much fun is it to pitch for this team and watch some of his teammates “do what they do.”

Watch the full Jameson Taillon interview on the Marquee Sports Network app

“I mean it’s awesome. I think we play a really fun brand of baseball,” Taillon told Cohen. “We’ve got great athletes all around the diamond, guys with a lot of experience.”

The Cubs have star-studded athletes all over the diamond. Kyle Tucker, Seiya Suzuki and Pete Crow-Armstrong are tied for the team lead with nine home runs. Ian Happ is setting the tone in the leadoff spot with a .373 on-base percentage. Catchers Carson Kelly and Miguel Amaya provide thump from behind the plate with a combined nine homers and 36 RBI.

Don’t forget infielders Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner or Michael Busch, who aren’t afraid to flash the leather or provide a spark with the bat.

Taillon sung the Cubs pitching staff’s praises as well.

“Our pitching staff has a lot of different looks,” Taillon said. “We throw a ton of strikes. Just a lot of cool personalities and stuff, too. So, it’s been a blast.”

Of course, that pitching staff took a hit Sunday as Shota Imanaga exited the game with a left hamstring strain. This follows the loss of co-ace Justin Steele, who will miss the rest of the season after undergoing flexor tendon surgery.

Taillon, who earned the win Saturday, has been a mainstay in the Cubs’ rotation since 2023, making at least 28 starts in each of the last two seasons. In his last 15 starts dating to last season, Taillon has posted a 3.22 ERA in 89.1 innings pitched.

If Imanaga were to miss time with his injury, the Cubs would lean on Taillon, Matthew Boyd and Colin Rea atop the rotation. Second-year starter Ben Brown also would be needed to pitch longer in games, as he did Friday in Milwaukee.

Highly touted prospect Cade Horton is pitching for Triple-A Iowa, and the 2022 first-round draft pick has accumulated 33 strikeouts in 29 innings this season with a 1.24 ERA. Horton currently isn’t on Chicago’s 40-man roster. so a roster move would need to be made for him to join the Cubs.