CHICAGO — Carson Kelly needed a moment to take in what he was hearing last Friday. Batting eighth in the lineup, the Chicago Cubs catcher had already hit two home runs and driven in five in what would end up as a wild 13-11 comeback win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

He was about to step into the batter’s box in the eighth inning for his fourth at-bat when he heard it coming from the stands: “Car-son, Kel-ly. Car-son Kel-ly.”

“I had to take a step out,” Kelly told ESPN with a smile the next day. “‘Wait, is that actually what they’re saying?'”

Chants directed toward a catcher at the bottom of the order aren’t commonplace in MLB — but then again, neither is the month the Cubs catcher is having nor the production the team is getting from the bottom of the lineup.

Fast-forward a couple days and this time it was the Cubs’ No. 7 hitter, Pete Crow-Armstrong, who earned the treatment.

“P-C-A, P-C-A,” bellowed the Wrigley Field crowd during the team’s two-game sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier this week. After slugging a whopping .897 against the Dodgers in the seven-game season series, the L.A. native deserved all the attention he was getting. In fact, the 7-8-9 hitters in the Cubs’ lineup are garnering as many headlines as other teams’ 1-2-3 hitters as Chicago has vaulted to the top of the run-scoring leaderboards in MLB.

To wit: Heading into their weekend series against the Philadelphia Phillies, the Cubs are averaging 6.3 runs per game. That’s nearly a full run higher than the next best team, the New York Yankees, who average 5.5 runs. The separator has been the bottom of the order, which includes Crow-Armstrong, Kelly and fellow catcher Miguel Amaya. That trio, along with newcomer Kyle Tucker, has transformed the team’s offense into the best in the league over the first month of the season.

“This team is a completely different ballclub than the one we saw in Tokyo,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “They’re playing a lot better.”

The Cubs went to Japan in mid-March hoping for the best in their two-game series against the Dodgers but instead got their worst. Their offense scored a total of four runs in two losses, looking as anemic as they had for much of last year when they missed out on the playoffs for the fifth straight (full) season. Chicago was a league-average offense in 2024, leading to a league-average type of year in the standings: 83 wins and ticket home for October.

But something clicked at the plate late in the season for two young players: Crow-Armstrong and Amaya. The former, in particular, began to show why he was taken in the first round by the New York Mets in 2020, eventually getting traded to the Cubs for Javier Baez one season later. PCA — as he’s known — is a five-tool speedster whose game is as brash as his personality, all in a good way. His OPS jumped 150 points in the second half of last season.

Meanwhile, Amaya was a once-promising prospect who got sidelined by injuries and was slow to find his form at the plate. There was chatter the Cubs were in the market to replace him in the first half of last season but then he eliminated a leg kick and suddenly found his stroke. His OPS jumped over 200 points from the first half to the second last year. The team added Kelly via free agency this winter and he has gone on to produce a 1.413 OPS in 14 games.

Needless to say, the bottom of the Cubs’ order is rolling.

“Me and Miggy [Amaya] talk about that a lot,” Crow-Armstrong told ESPN recently. “We take a ton of pride of being at the bottom and producing at the bottom, and f—ing turning the lineup over.

“That’s where we belong right now.”

The numbers bear out their production — as of Wednesday, the Cubs had led the majors in home runs (13) from their 7-8-9 hitters. According to ESPN Research, that’s as many home runs as 21 other organizations have from their 1-2-3 hitters and as many home runs as two entire teams have overall, Boston and Toronto.

“Last year, I felt like our offense really struggled because the bottom of the order really wasn’t producing,” president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said.

The players’ individual transformations all came in different forms. Crow-Armstrong got “on-time” (and quieter) with his swing, Amaya eliminated that leg kick while Kelly might be the biggest surprise as his 10-year major league track record showed a career high OPS+ of just 112 in a single season. It’s 293 right now.

“I finally found something I believe in and know that works,” Kelly said. “I’m not chasing a certain result. You have to go through the ups and downs to learn what it takes to be a big leaguer.”

Kelly’s production has prompted the speedy Crow-Armstrong to slow down on the bases when hitting behind the catcher.

“I have no inclination to steal when Carson is hitting,” Crow-Armstrong quipped. “It looks like he’s seeing f—ing beach balls.”

Perhaps there is no better illustration of the Cubs’ depth on offense than what happened the day after Kelly hit for the cycle earlier this month in Sacramento: He got a day off.

“The fact that he gets an off day the day after he hits for the cycle and the day after a two-homer game is pretty funny,” Crow-Armstrong said with a laugh.

The Cubs are getting the best version of Kelly — he’s hitting .342 — something the Diamondbacks were hoping for in the years he played for them, from 2019 to 2023. He hit 18 home runs that first season in Phoenix but never came close to who he is at this moment — smashing long balls against his former team, including a three-run homer earlier in the inning that brought on those chants last Friday.

“Carson Kelly is a way different player than when we had him,” Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen said after that game. “Good for him. We always believed in the potential. It seems like it’s coming together for him.”

Hazen sees the same overall potential coming together for the Cubs, who have a similar offense to the Diamondbacks: Both have plenty of power and speed.

“PCA is a stud,” Hazen continued. “That was probably more of an age/experience situation …. Their lineup is way deeper, way more dangerous and way more dynamic than I remember being last year.”

And that has proved to be the case so far. The Cubs are the first team in major league history to compile 35 home runs and 35 stolen bases in the first 25 games of a season. They lead all of baseball in batting average (.265), on-base percentage (.346), stolen bases (40) and OPS (.806) while tied with the Yankees for first in slugging and third in home runs.

“We’ve been consistent against everyone,” the longest tenured Cub, Ian Happ, said. “Scoring late, adding on. We’ve done it against everybody. It’s been 1-9, the ability of guys to get on base and make things happen. Every day is someone different.”

The Cubs truly have done it against “everyone” — they’re ending the toughest strength-of-schedule month of any team in baseball this season, at least as it’s rated right now. They’ve already won season series against the Dodgers and Diamondbacks while splitting six games with the San Diego Padres. All three of those teams are off to great starts, and the Cubs have played a whopping 20 games against NL West opponents already, meaning easier days should be ahead.

And while the bottom of the order has been the difference-maker, one player near the top is doing his part as well. Tucker has been every bit as good as advertised in his first month with the team, becoming the first Cubs player since 1900 to record at least seven home runs and seven stolen bases within the team’s first 26 games.

“He’s unbelievable,” Crow-Armstrong stated simply.

It hasn’t all been perfect for Chicago. The team has a glaring hole at third base after sending down struggling prospect Matt Shaw while shortstop Dansby Swanson is off to a slow start, striking out 33 times in 104 at-bats. But even he got into the flow in Wednesday’s win over the Dodgers, going 2-for-4 while driving in two runs in yet another thrilling Cubs victory, 7-6 over the reigning World Series champions.

Even after the night that he had, Swanson chose to direct conversation back to the bottom of the order — the driving force behind the Cubs’ 16-10 start, which has them in first place in the NL Central.

“Seeing a guy like Miggy or Pete grow up is really fun to see,” Swanson said. “The work, the conversations, the advice, you start to see it show up in real time. As a group, it’s a huge reason we’ve had the start that we’ve had.

“There’s no drop-off down there. It’s impressive.”

We’re ending this week’s Green Deals with savings on various power stations and e-bikes, headlined by the exclusive $1,700 in savings we secured on the monstrous OUKITEL ABEARL P5000 Portable Power Station with a 5,120Wh LiFePO4 capacity at $1,299. There’s also ENGWE’s 11th Anniversary Sale that is offering up to $850 off single and dual e-bike offers, like the L20 2.0 Utility e-bike that is down at $749. We also have some favorites bringing up the rear, like Jackery’s Explorer 100 Plus Portable Power Station back at its $89 low, as well as the $300 discounts we’re seeing on Rad Power’s Folding and Cargo e-bikes from $1,299 – and don’t forget about the continued low prices on the brand’s RadRunner series, which are getting last calls as supplies are near gone. Plus, all the other hangover Green Deals are in the links at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s price cuts on the Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus offers (which end tonight), Lectric’s latest XP 3.0 e-bike bundles, and more.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

OUKITEL’s ABEARL P5000 5,120Wh LiFePO4 power station with 15 ports gets exclusive savings to $1,299

We’ve secured a new exclusive deal for our readers from Wellbots on the OUKITEL ABEARL P5000 Portable Power Station for $1,299 shipped, after using the promo code 9TO5OUK at checkout for an additional $300 off. It’s already been brought down from its usual $2,999 price tag, with the extra $300 in savings only sweetening the pot further, especially when comparing its capabilities to competitor models that don’t offer as high a capacity or output for the same price. While this deal lasts, you’ll be getting a 57% combined markdown off the going rate, saving you $1,700 at the best price we can find anywhere.

The OUKITEL P5000 power station provides some substantial backup power support for the cost, starting with a monstrous 5,120Wh LiFePO4 capacity that already stands high above other models in this price range. Through its 15 port options – five ACs, four USB-As, two USB-Cs, two DCs, one cigarette lighter, and one airline socket – this station can deliver a steady stream of power up to 2,200W, with that number surging to 4,000W when needed, allowing it to “power 99% of home appliances.” It comes rated by OUKITEL for up to 5,000 life cycles, so discharging and recharging it daily would supply you with power for up to 13.7 years, with things lasting even longer with more conservative use.

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Plugging OUKITEL’s P5000 power station into a 1,800W wall outlet can refill the battery as quickly as 2.8 hours, while it also has a 1,000W solar input maximum that can refill the battery in up to 5 hours with ideal conditions, as well as the option to connect to your car for charging on the go. There are a few things about it that may be a turnoff for some buyers, like the lack of companion app support (though there is an onboard display) or its lack of expansion options, which may not be all that bad, seeing as it already comes with a sizeable capacity to begin with. There’s also its 115-pound weight, which is rather heavy but more manageable thanks to the wheels and suitcase-style handle, giving it much better portability when taking it out of the house with you.

Gain affordable mobility and utility on ENGWE’s L20 2.0 e-bike at $749 with free $130 gift box ($1,429 value)

ENGWE is currently celebrating its 11th anniversary with a sale taking up to $550 off e-bikes and up to $850 off dual e-bike bundles, alongside giving away gift boxes valued at $130 with select purchases. One of the notable standouts during this sale is the brand’s L20 2.0 Utility e-bike that is down at $749 shipped and comes with a gift box. Normally priced these days at $1,299 outside of sales ($1,429 with the gift box), we’ve seen a few discounts over the last year since its March 2024 release take costs a little lower to $699 and $659, though it’s been seen more regularly around $799 since October. Today’s deal gives you a $550 markdown from its going rate, dropping it to the third-lowest price we have tracked. The included gift box gives you a 25-in-1 EDC tool for on-the-go bike adjustments, a flashlight, and a cute pin.

ENGWE is well known for providing some quality commuting solutions for riders on a budget, with the L20 2.0 e-bike being a solid choice for utility that won’t weigh as heavily on your wallet as other brands. It comes bearing a 750W geared hub motor (peaking at 1,125W) paired with a 676Wh battery in order to provide up to 20 MPH speeds when using the throttle for pure electric riding, and a maximum 28 MPH speed when its five PAS levels are activated. The price is all the more enticing when you see its travel range on a single charge, with throttle-only riding carrying you up to 28 miles while the pedal assistance increases travel times between 68 to 80 miles, depending on conditions.

As is common with many utility models, the L20 2.0 e-bike sports a folding frame that makes it a more space-friendly option on top of the 68-pound weight. It’s also been stocked with some solid features, like mechanical disc brakes on 180 mm rotors, a rear cargo rack, integrated head/tail/brake LED lights, front fork and post suspension, a SHIMANO 7-speed derailleur, puncture-resistant fat tires, and a color LED display.

ENGWE’s notable Anniversary e-bike deals:

ENGWE’s notable Anniversary e-bike bundle deals:

Grab Jackery’s two-pound Explorer 100 Plus 99Wh/31,000mAh power station while it’s back at a $89 low

Coming through the official Jackery Amazon storefront, and also undercutting its direct Earth Day Sale pricing, we spotted the brand’s popular Explorer 100 Plus Portable Power Station back at $89 shipped. Coming down from its full $149 price tag, we’re seeing another opportunity to score this compact backup power solution at its lowest price. Grabbing it while these savings last will cut $60 off the going rate, beating out the direct sale pricing we mentioned by $1. Head below to check out its capabilities and its two discounted bundle options.

Designed with airline approval, Jackery’s two-pound Explorer 100 Plus comes in a compact form factor that can fit in your hand, providing you with a 99Wh/31,000mAh LiFePO4 capacity to keep your personal devices juiced up. It delivers up to 128W output through its four port options, with two Type-C ports and two Type-A ports. It’s also rated for 2,000 charge cycles, giving you 5.5 years’ worth of discharging and recharging, were you to do so every single day.

Speaking of its recharging capabilities, you’ll reach a 70% battery in just an hour when plugging it directly into a wall outlet, while a full battery takes a little longer, at up to two hours. Of course, as a power station, you’ll also have solar charging functionality available, with the unit having a maximum 100W input that can refill the entire battery in two hours time, as well as a third option to connect to your car’s auxiliary port that can recharge it in three hours as you drive. If you want to grab it with bundled gear, you’ll currently find the station with a fast charger down at $140 or you can grab it with a portable 40W solar panel for $169.

We also spotted a recent bundle that gives you the Explorer 100 Plus alongside Jackery’s newer Explorer 1000 v2 1,070Wh power station for $499, which allows you to cover essential devices and appliances while on road or camping trips, as well as during emergency power outages. If you are looking for a larger unit for your backup power needs, Jackery’s Earth Day Sale is continuing through April 25 with up to 50% discounts across the lineup – which has had some recent price cuts and bonus savings added in, especially on the latest expandable Explorer 5000 Plus offers.

Rad Power’s space-saving RadExpand 5 and cargo-hauling RadWagon 4 e-bikes now $300 off from $1,299

Running alongside the continued low prices on Rad Power’s RadRunner series of e-bikes, the brand has also switched around its other sale offers, with $300 taken off two of its other e-bike models alongside a $100 discount on a 14Ah semi-integrated battery through May 7. Starting with the lowest price, folks are getting another opportunity to score the RadExpand 5 Folding e-bike at $1,299 shipped. Usually going for $1,599 outside of sales, we saw it drop to its lowest price of $1,099 for a short time last month in the brand’s Spring Sale, with the second-lowest $1,199 rate last seen in October. It’s otherwise been keeping at $1,299 and higher, with today’s deal bringing a $300 markdown on this space-saving model at the third-lowest price we have tracked.

An ideal model for those with limited space, the RadExpand 5 e-bike comes with a folding design that makes it a much more manageable model when you’re not riding, able to fit in closets, car trunks, RVs, and more. It has a 750W brushless geared hub motor paired with a 672Wh battery that provides up to 45+ miles of travel when its four PAS levels are activated, as well as top speeds of 20 MPH. Obviously, there’s also the throttle that lets you cruise around on electric power alone, which is handy for shorter commutes as it does shorten its travel range on a single charge.

The stock features only add to its functionality, especially if you plan to take this on the road with you for camping or other purposes, like the integrated rear cargo rack that has a 55-pound payload for grocery hauling or the paired LED headlight and integrated taillight with brake lighting – as both lights also automatically activate when sunlight drops low enough. Alongside those you’ll also find a 7-speed MicroShift derailleur, fenders over both fat tires, a water-resistant wiring harness, and an LED display.

If you plan to haul around groceries and other cargo, including kids, then you’ll definitely want to consider the RadWagon 4 Cargo e-bike for $1,499 shipped which has become quite popular around NYC. The integrated rear cargo rack offers up a 120-pound payload, lending plenty of room for packages or getting kids around to their appointments. Equipped with the same motor and battery combination as the above model, it also provides you with a 20 MPH top speed for up to 45+ miles of travel, though it has one additional level of pedal assistance. Its lineup of features include an auto-on headlight and integrated taillight with brake lighting, custom 22-inch by 3-inch tires with fenders over each, a 7-speed Shimano derailleur, a water-resistant wiring harness, and a backlit LCD display that has a USB port to charge your phone with.

Be sure to also check out the continued low prices on the brand’s RadRunner series of Utility e-bikes while they last – especially now that they company has announced a last call for these deals on its website.

Best Spring EV deals!

• Aventon Ramblas Electric Mountain Bike: $2,599 (Reg. $2,899)
• Lectric ONE Long-Range e-bike with $220 bundle: $2,399 (Reg. $2,507)
• Lectric XPedition 2.0 35Ah Cargo e-bike w/ up to $654 bundle: $1,999 (Reg. $2,741)
• Tenways AGO X All-Terrain e-bike with $307 bundle (new low): $1,899 (Reg. $2,499)
• Lectric XPedition 2.0 26Ah Cargo e-bike w/ $505 bundle: $1,699 (Reg. $2,204)
• Rad Power RadRunner 3 Plus Utility e-bike (new low): $1,699 (Reg. $2,199)
• Aventon Aventure 2 All-Terrain e-bike: $1,699 (Reg. $1,999)
• Lectric XPeak 2.0 Long-Range Off-Road e-bike with $316 bundle: $1,699 (Reg. $1,915)
• Tenways CGO800S Step-Thru Commuter e-bike with $315 in free gear: $1,699 (Reg. $1,999)
• Aventon Level 2 Commuter e-bike: $1,599 (Reg. $1,899)
• Tenways CGO600 Pro belt-drive e-bike with $118 bundle: $1,599 (Reg. $1,899)
• Aventon Abound Cargo e-bike: $1,599 (Reg. $1,999)
• Tenways CGO600 Pro chain-drive e-bike with $118 bundle: $1,499 (Reg. $1,899)
• Rad Power RadWagon 4 Cargo e-bike: $1,499 (Reg. $1,799)
• Lectric XPeak 2.0 Standard Off-Road e-bike with $227 bundle: $1,499 (Reg. $1,726)
• Lectric XP Trike with $420 bundle: $1,499 (Reg. $1,918)
• Aventon Sinch 2 Folding e-bike: $1,399 (Reg. $1,699)
• Lectric XPedition 2.0 13Ah Cargo e-bike with $296 bundle: $1,399 (Reg. $1,725)
• Lectric XPress 750 Commuter e-bikes with $316 bundle: $1,299 (Reg. $1,615)
• Rad Power RadExpand 5 Folding e-bike: $1,299 (Reg. $1,599)
• Lectric XP 3.0 Long-Range e-bikes with up to $365 bundle: $1,199 (Reg. $1,564)
• G-Force ZM 20Ah All-Terrain Fat Tire e-bike with $49 in free gear: $1,199 (Reg. $1,999)
• Lectric XP Lite 2.0 JW Black LR e-bike with $365 bundle: $1,099 (Reg. $1,464)
• Heybike Ranger S Folding Fat-Tire e-bike: $1,099 (Reg. $1,499)
• Heybike Hauler Cargo e-bike with free rear basket (new low): $1,099 (Reg. $1,499)
• Rad Power RadRunner 2 Utility e-bike (new low): $999 (Reg. $1,499)
• Aventon Soltera.2 Urban Commuter e-bike: $999 (Reg. $1,199)
• Lectric XP 3.0 Standard e-bikes with $310 bundles: $999 (Reg. $1,309)
• Lectric XP Lite 2.0 Long-Range e-bikes with up to $316 bundles: $999 (Reg. $1,315)
• Heybike Mars 2.0 Folding Fat-Tire e-bike: $999 (Reg. $1,499)
• Hiboy U2 Pro Electric Scooter (new model): $900 (Reg. $1,500)
• Segway Ninebot F3 eKickScooter: $700 (Reg. $850)

Best new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.

• Jackery increases savings on its modular Explorer 5000 Plus offers at new lows starting from $2,483 (Reg. $3,499)
• Lectric Lightning Deals hit XP 3.0 e-bikes with up to $365 in free gear for outdoor ventures starting from $999
• Score Anker’s SOLIX C1000 1,056Wh LiFePO4 power station for your next trip with $550 in savings at $449 + bundle options
• EcoFlow launches multi-day flash offers on DELTA and RIVER power stations + EcoCredits purchase from $1
• Start or expand your EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra setup with $2,000 in exclusive savings to a new $3,799 low
• Heybike’s latest Hauler cargo e-bike with a 440-pound payload for up to 85 miles starts from new $1,099 low, more
• Keep floating debris out of your pool with Aiper’s Surfer S2 solar skimmer back at its $320 low (Reg. $540)
• Save $430 on this Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 and 100 Plus power station bundle for your on-the-go backup needs at $499
• Expand your arsenal with this 2nd-gen Greenworks 40V 12-inch cordless chainsaw at $128 (Reg. $170), more
• Shape up lawn edges and clear out debris with this 56V EGO POWERLOAD trimmer and 670 CFM blower combo at $320
• Keep food and drinks cooled and crisp in Goal Zero’s Alta 50 and 80 portable electric coolers from $640 (Reg. $800+)
• Celebrate Mother Nature with these ongoing eco-friendly deals for EVs, power stations, tools, and more starting from $30
• Electrified Weekly – EcoFlow Mega Sale takes up to 65% off, G-Force e-bikes from $799, Jackery markdowns from $90, more