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David Ross On Cubs' Struggles: 'We're Going To Get Better From This'

David Ross with Mully & Hanley Show

(CBS) The Cubs lost again Thursday, this time a 4-3 defeat at the hands of the Braves, the worst team in baseball.

After starting on such a surge to open the season, the Cubs have gone 15-17 in their last 32 games. Thursday's loss was the latest in a frustrating trend that's seen the Cubs' lead in the NL Central shrinking, now down to eight games over the Cardinals.

Veteran catcher David Ross has been on bad teams and a World Series champion. He joined the Mully and Hanley Show on Friday and discussed the Cubs' recent slide.

"The end goal is to be as good as we can at the end of the year," Ross said. "These times here test you and make you better as a team to withstand some adversity later on in the year. It's a learning process. These 162 games, it's a grind, it's a roller coaster, and you go through some ups and downs. Right now, we're kind of at a point where we're not playing so great. But I think we're going to get better from this."

The 39-year-old Ross is the veteran of the young Cubs. He understands what the team is going through during this tough stretch of 24 games in 24 days.

Sunday marks the end of the first half, with the All-Star break to follow next week. The Cubs are looking to be rested and recovered from fatigue and injuries entering the second half, with Ross included in that mix.

Ross was placed on the seven-day disabled list for a concussion suffered in Tuesday's loss to the Reds. This will run through the All-Star break, lending a bridge to regroup.

"It's kind of one of those precautionary things," Ross said. "I got a pretty good one to the head, and I've had some history of concussions. I felt a little off, so they want to be precautionary with the All-Star break coming up and getting a couple extra days. I think it was the smart thing to do, and not let it get worse. I'll be fine. I think I'll be back after the All-Star break. I'm feeling good."

Chicago is looking to play better baseball entering a three-game series in Pittsburgh this weekend that closes out the first half. The Pirates are creeping up on the Cubs, too, now 8.5 back of first place after a slow start. These three games will be important leading into the second half.

Ross isn't concerned about the Cubs' struggles. He's confident in what's to come.

"I think that's what was so great about early on in the season when we got off to such a great start," Ross said. "All areas were clicking on all cylinders. Right now, that's not the case. I look at it as we built up that lead, which is nice, and really jumped out ahead to build a little cushion for times like these where you got some guy out with injuries. We're trying to do some patchwork here."

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