Since President Theo Epstein threw down the gauntlet last week, threatening moves if the Cubs didn’t wake from their first-half funk, the urgency to win never has been more pronounced for this particular group.

A little more than three weeks remain before the July 31 trade deadline, and it’s up to the Cubs players to prevent Epstein from pulling the trigger on a shocker or two that could theoretically wake up the clubhouse.

Everyone agrees something is wrong, but no one can pinpoint exactly what needs to be done to change things.

Round 2 of the City Series was yet another example of how mystifying this team can be on a daily basis.

After beating White Sox ace Lucas Giolito on Saturday, they were shut out over 5 2/3 innings by Ivan Nova in Sunday’s 3-1 loss. Nova’s 5.92 ERA entering the game was third worst among qualifying major-league starters.

But whether they are in denial or not, the Cubs don’t seem too concerned about the possibility of a shake-up.

“Of course it’s important, but we’re not trying to turn it around because there’s a trade deadline,” third baseman Kris Bryant said Saturday. “We’re trying to turn it around because we just want to win. That’s always been our focus and what’s always made us really good, that we’re able to get over things quickly and turn the page. I don’t expect anything different with this group.”

Thirteen players remain from the 2016 World Series champions, including rehabbing reliever Carl Edwards Jr. It was a special bunch that made history together, which may be one reason Epstein has been so hesitant to break up the old gang.

But times change, and with the Cubs slogging through a first half with a 47-43 record, the patience of the fan base seems to be wearing thin. The 2016 Cubs were 53-35 at the half with a seven-game lead, then went on a 34-12 run to start the second half, giving themselves a chance to rest up for the postseason.

At the very least, this year looks like another photo finish, which likely means no real rest before October, if they get there.

Manager Joe Maddon reiterated Sunday this is “not the same team we were a couple years ago,” and the competition is a lot stronger.

“The difference is what everyone else looks like,” he said, pointing to parity in the NL Central.

“Part of it is the league has caught up the last couple years, and part of it is we’re not playing our best brand of baseball,” he said. “But we shall. It’s up to us to make this all happen.”

Perhaps they shall. The Cubs have too much talent to be this inconsistent, which is one reason the players are so sure they’ll get their groove back in the second half.

Jon Lester is well aware Cubs fans are panicking after a less-than-dominating half, but he doesn’t believe the players are paying much attention to the moaning.

“We all know each other, we all know what we’re doing, we all know what to expect of each other,” Lester said Saturday.

“We talk about it in spring training, how long the season is and how much of a roller coaster it is, and you’re going to go through ups and downs. That means pitching, that means defense, that means offense.

“You’re going to have terrible homestands. You’re going to have really good away games. You’re going to have these ups and downs in the continuity of the season that make baseball so unique.

“I don’t think anybody in the clubhouse is worried about where we’re at. We’ve just got to dig ourselves (out of) our own hole right now and focus on each other and what we can do day in and day out to win baseball games.

“The outside noise, the panic and all that other stuff won’t affect us.”

For all the angst, the Cubs are still in first place in the NL Central, which is not a bad position to be in, record aside.

“At the end of the day it’s, ‘Win the division,’” first baseman Anthony Rizzo said Sunday. “We’re in a good spot going into the second half. If you look around our division, the Brewers and the Cardinals aren’t necessarily as happy with how they’ve played the first half, and the Reds and the Pirates are strong and hungry.”

Asked why he is so certain the Cubs will turn it on, Rizzo ticked off the names of eight teammates, before adding it was “the whole 25-man roster” that breeds inner confidence.

“It speaks for itself,” he said.

Perhaps, but like Epstein said last week, the time for talking is over.

If the 2019 Cubs are as good as they say they are, they’d better start proving it, starting Friday.