Here are five takeaways from the Cubs’ split of their two-game series with the White Sox.

1. Time to shuffle the deck.

Sunday’s game had the feel of so many of the Cubs’ losses in the second half of 2018, in that the big hit never arrived. Those defeats came back to haunt them.

“I don’t think what we’ve done in the first half is going to be good enough,” Kris Bryant said, summing it up perfectly.

They had ample chances against Ivan Nova only to go hitless in eight at-bats with runners in scoring position. After hitting several balls hard for deep outs during the first time around, the Cubs didn’t make Nova labor after he put runners on base.

This has been the same knock against the Sox, but at least they could use youth as an excuse.

Bryant wouldn’t disagree with many fans who believe the Cubs should be playing much better, even if they are in first place, a half-game ahead of the Brewers.

“We’re just as greedy as any fan,” Bryant said. “We want to be 10 games (ahead). There’s a lot more breathing room. It just hasn’t gone that way for us this year.

“First place is great, but we’ve missed a lot of opportunities to separate ourselves. And that’s the frustrating part. We just have to play better. I know we can do it.”

But there are disturbing trends that don’t assure the Cubs a strong start to the second half. In addition to the lack of clutch hitting, the many errors on the basepaths and on defense have continued.

There have been new faces this year but with mixed results: Carlos Gonzalez didn’t perform well enough, Adbert Alzolay needs more seasoning and Robel Garcia, the latest audition, has been good at the plate but shaky in the field.

The Cubs need a bigger shakeup because some of their core players haven’t had the growth anticipated over the last 2½ seasons.

2. Jon Lester quells any doubts.

The extra days of rest should do wonders in the second half for Lester, especially after the way he finished the first half. In his last two starts, Lester leaned more heavily on cut fastballs and off-speed pitches to induce softer contact.

Lester wasn’t happy after issuing three walks Saturday, but he has a knack for working out of jams as he did last season. He will get plenty of rest through the final three weeks of July, which will be essential for the final five weeks of the season.

3. Who’s on second?

For now, it’s switch hitter Garcia, who showed his power from the right side by homering off left-hander Aaron Bummer for the Cubs’ lone run Sunday.

“He’s intriguing,” Maddon said. “There’s no question. He has a good, natural right-handed swing. He could provide a lot for us.

“Don’t forget he’s just here for the first time, making his first impression.”

Garcia, however, has committed two errors at second base. Neither has cost the Cubs, but Maddon values defense to the point he allowed Kyle Schwarber to play left field over Garcia in interleague games this weekend.

Addison Russell has been in a fielding funk and David Bote has played more at third base when Bryant starts in the outfield.

Maddon hasn’t given up on left-handed hitter Daniel Descalso, but he didn’t start either game against Sox right-handers Lucas Giolito and Nova. Descalso is adjusting his swing, but it appears Garcia will get as many chances as possible at second base. And there could be an odd man out if the Cubs acquire a more seasoned hitter.

4. Brad Brach’s struggles continue.

Maddon admitted the home run Brach allowed to Jose Abreu in the fifth inning Sunday changed his strategy in the late innings.

Maddon has given Brach many recent chances to succeed in low-leverage situations, and the home run by Abreu was baffling, considering that was only the second homer Brach has allowed in 352/3 innings. With a few more outings like these, Brach could find himself in the same spot as now-seldom-used left-hander Mike Montgomery.

5. Craig Kimbrel is still rusty.

The Cubs’ new closer still has a 97 mph fastball and a sharp curve.

But spotting those pitches has been an issue, which is understandable since he joined the Cubs three weeks after agreeing to terms June 5.

A few of his pitches have bounced past the catcher, such as the third strike to Abreu that forced Willson Contreras to throw Abreu out at first.

Kimbrel also has caused his own traffic by walking three batters and hitting one in four appearances, but that congestion should subside with more regular work in the second half.