Everything seemed to be going so well for Kyle Tucker and the Cubs, who were leading the NL Central at the All-Star break after taking a gamble and trading for the All-Star outfielder before the final year of his contract as a major payday looms this winter in free agency.

Kyle Tucker is trying to break out of a prolonged slump, and the Chicago Cubs are doing whatever they can to help the All-Star outfielder.

Tucker, a four-time All-Star and a driving force in the Cubs’ offensive success in the first half, entered Tuesday with a .189 batting average and just four extra-base hits since the beginning of July. He said he’d never before gone this long without answers to an offensive rut.