Here’s a look at Craig Counsell’s Cubs lineup for Game 1 with Edward Cabrerea on the mound and against the righty, Sean Burke.

Chicago Cubs Lineup:

1. Nico Hoerner, 2B
2. Michael Busch, 1B
3. Alex Bregman, 3B
4. Ian Happ, LF
5. Seiya Suzuki, RF
6. Moises Ballesteros, DH
7. Carson Kelly, C
8. Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF
9. Dansby Swanson, SS

I know the Cubs offense *has* been cold, but I look at that group of players, knowing that Michael Conforto, Matt Shaw, and Miguel Amaya are able bodies on the bench, and I just … like it. I don’t know if they’re going to be shut down for much longer. In fact, I think things turn around tonight.

No special notes today, as it’s a pretty straightforward group. The only real choices (who bats second, and who is the DH) went the default route – Michael Busch and Moises Ballesteros, respectively.

I do think it’s almost time to think about moving PCA back up a little higher, though. Unless, Ballesteros starts swining it again.

Chicago White Sox Lineup:

1. Sam Antonacci, LF
2. Munetaka Murakami, 1B
3. Miguel Vargas, 3B
4. Colson Montgomery, SS
5. Chase Meidroth, 2B
6. Andrew Benintendi, DH
7. Jared Kelenic, RF
8. Tristan Peters, CF
9. Drew Romo, C

Pitching Matchup:

Chicago Cubs: Edward Cabrera, RHP

Edward Cabrera’s most recent start was his worst in a Cubs uniform: 5.0 IP, 7H, 5ER, 1BB, 6K. That’s tied for the fewest innings completed and is first in most earned runs allowed. He did strike out six against just one walk *and* got a lot of groundballs (57.1%), but it wasn’t a good game overall. More specifically, there was a TON of hard contact, which, frankly, has been an issue of his all season:

• 91.9 MPH EV (3rd worst in MLB)
• 12.8 Barrel% (4th worst in MLB)

Lefties have been a particular challenge for Cabrera this season, and unfortunately for him, the White Sox have a lot of lefty hitters. HOWEVER, the Sox, as a whole, have actually been a lot worse against right-handed pitching than they have against lefties. So … I don’t know.

What I do know is that today would be a great time for his first wire-to-wire dominant outing. He’s had some good games this year, but I want to see a full on breakout.

Chicago White Sox: Sean Burke, RHP

Sean Burke’s first and most recent starts this year were pretty bad (those were against the Brewers and Mariners), but in between those games, he’s been great for six straight: 35.2 IP, 2.27 ERA. There aren’t a ton of Ks, but the walk rate is low, the barrel rate is tiny, and the average exit velocity is roughly league average.

Burke leads his attack with a 94 MPH heater, but mixes in a knuckle curve every four pitches. He also throws a sinker, cutter, and changeup, to a lesser extent, and in descending order of usage.

He’s pretty close to split-neutral for his career, but this season, lefties are doing a lot more damage than righties. Just not much in an overall sense, because, as I’ve mentioned, he’s been solid.

Time to turn that around.

Broadcast Info:

Chicago Cubs (28-16) vs Chicago White Sox (22-21) at 6:40 CT – Marquee Sports Network, CHSN, MLB.TV Free Game of the Day, WCIU TV, 104.3 The Score, ESPN 1000

Cubs vs White Sox – Key Injuries:

Chicago Cubs:

• Matthew Boyd, SP
• Hunter Harvey, RP
• Riley Martin, RP
• Caleb Thielbar, RP
• Jordan Wicks, SP
• Tyler Austin, IF/OF (60-Day IL)
• Porter Hodge, RP (60-Day IL)
• Cade Horton, SP (60-Day IL)
• Shelby Miller, RP (60-Day IL)
• Justin Steele, SP (60-Day IL)

Chicago White Sox:

• Kyle Teel, C
• Everson Pereira, OF
• Austin Hays, OF
• Taj Bradley, SP
• Ky Bush, SP
• Prelander Berroa, SP
• Drew Thorpe, SP
• Mike Vasil, RP
• Brooks Baldwin, OF/IF
• Tanner Murray, IF/OF

Cubs vs White Sox – Rate Field Weather Report

Location: Chicago, IL
Temperature: 72 degrees
Wind: Blowing right to left, moderate+

Hosts Patrick Flowers, Matt Rooney, and Luis Medina run through the Bears’ full schedule, sharing their biggest takeaways from a slate packed with prime-time matchups, rivalry games, holiday football, and a handful of intriguing stretches throughout the season. The guys discuss which games stand out immediately, which matchups look more manageable on paper, and where the toughest parts of the schedule could emerge.

From Thanksgiving and Christmas football to division battles and potential playoff previews, the crew looks at how the season might unfold and what expectations should be for a Bears team entering the year with plenty of attention around the league.

You can listen to Episode 30 wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and we’ve also embedded the YouTube recording here for your convenience!

The podcast is presented by Obvious Shirts. Support Obvious Shirts and grab some sweet gear!

BN Bears Podcast Ep. 30

While most franchises are out here dropping a graphic with their opponents’ logos and calling it a day, the Chargers are in an editing suite somewhere constructing something that has no business being as good as it is. They’ve owned this corner of the NFL calendar for a few years running now, and the bar they’ve set is so high at this point that anything short of exceptional would actually be a disappointment. This year’s Halo-themed effort was not a disappointment.

The Chargers Set the Bar for Schedule Release Videos — Again

The Chargers have been the gold standard for NFL schedule-release content for a few years now, and this year’s Halo-themed video didn’t just clear the bar; it dunked on it. The concept alone had enormous potential, and the execution was the kind of thing that rewards the viewer who has their finger on the pause button, because the Easter eggs come fast, and they do not slow down for anyone.

The main menu is where it starts, and it’s already an all-timer. Team names replaced with disses: the 49ers are the “Soft Tissue Graveyard,” the Jets are “Operation Zero Coverage,” and the Patriots are the “Cupcake Circuit.” The Colts aren’t even on the Chargers’ schedule this year, but they still caught a stray in the opening Microsoft permission disclaimer.

From there, it only gets better. The Arizona Cardinals segment packs a dig at the quarterback situation, the defense, head coach Matt LaFleur via a “coaching model resemblance error,” and a shot at former coach Jonathan Gannon, all within about three seconds. The Seattle game had Pike Place Market’s famous fish market listed as available for purchase. The Chiefs segment included a “Free Rashee Rice” t-shirt cameo. Mike Vrabel got skewered multiple times (and you know why). The 49ers’ practice facility conspiracy made the cut, too.

This one isn’t just worth watching. It requires your full attention, a quiet room, and your thumb hovering over the pause button the entire time.

The Titans Remind Everyone That the Man-on-the-Street Format Is an Art Form

Let’s be honest — the man-on-the-street video is a trap. It’s the format that looks the easiest but is actually the hardest, and the Titans have figured it out. This year was another reminder of why their version of this format works.

It comes down to casting. Finding someone who genuinely looks like Big Dom DiSandro (the Eagles’ sideline security fixture who has become one of the most recognizable faces in the league) is already a win. The Cam Skattebo Giants lookalike was legitimately impressive. And whatever scout they sent out to find the Fernando Mendoza Raiders double deserves a raise, because that one is almost too good.

What really separates this from a run-of-the-mill lookalike video, though, is the willingness to go sideways with it. The guy repping the Browns is just some dude in a Myles Garrett jersey who looks nothing like Myles Garrett, which is somehow funnier than any accurate lookalike could ever be.

They found an elderly British man to represent Jerry Jones and America’s Team, which is perfect. And whoever decided to swap in an actual Macaulay Culkin photo for Joe Burrow understood the assignment in a way that can’t be taught.

The Colts Go Full Springfield

Maybe I’m just a sucker for childhood nostalgia, but the Colts’ Simpsons-themed video had me from the jump.

Self-awareness is what makes it work. A lot of teams use schedule release videos as a pure hype machine. The Colts came in and opened by calling last year’s video a “tire fire,” which is both accurate and immediately endearing. They then had Bart write about the same schedule release mistake over and over on the chalkboard, which is the kind of layered callback that rewards anyone who was paying attention last year. It’s a rare thing when a team’s social media department is willing to eat crow on camera, and it landed perfectly here.

They didn’t stop at self-deprecation, either. There were shots at the rowdy Philadelphia crowd and a dig at the Browns for being, well, the Browns, which was fair. But the best detail might be the counter they dropped, noting it has been 4,252 days since the Colts last beat the Jaguars in Jacksonville. That’s not a fun number to put on screen. The fact that they did it anyway is what separates a good schedule release video from a great one.

The Simpsons theme gave them a virtually unlimited creative sandbox, and they used it well. Springfield has been on television for nearly 40 years; there’s a bit for every occasion, every opponent, and every uncomfortable truth about your own franchise. The Colts found all of them.

The Falcons Dust Off the Old SportsCenter Playbook

Look, maybe this one hit differently because I grew up watching those old SportsCenter “This is SportsCenter” commercials on a loop and have never fully recovered. But the Falcons’ office-themed video was genuinely funny, and the commitment from everyone involved is what put it over the top.

Matt Ryan (now the team’s president of football) and new head coach Kevin Stefanski both leaned all the way in, which matters more than people realize. When the football ops guys are willing to look awkward on camera for the bit, it gives the whole thing permission to be weird. And weird is good here.

The player segments are where it really sings. Bijan Robinson calmly walking a panicked coworker through the eternal “Bee-John vs. Bih-Jahn” pronunciation debate is the kind of low-stakes office humor that somehow never gets old. Drake London, as a receptionist literally fighting for receptions, is a pun that should not work as well as it does. And Jalon Walker simply having too much dog in him, just barking around the office, completely unprompted, is the kind of absurdist detail that makes you rewind it to make sure you actually saw what you think you saw. The “This is SportsCenter” format is 30-plus years old, and it still holds up when the execution is there. The Falcons had the execution.

What you may not remember is that, but for a NEARLY IDENTICAL pop up to right a couple innings earlier that DIDN’T walk the Cubs off, the 12th inning play never even would’ve had a chance to happen. In other words, I thank my lucky starts that Matt Szczur hit one to short right in the 10th, that Gregory Polanco gloved it and fired, and that Starlin Castro was out at the plate.

Not only did that set up the eventual 12th inning magic, but it also made it all the more magical because we had JUST SEEN this EXACT play go terribly wrong for the Cubs. But then, the second time, it went terribly wrong for Polanco and the Pirates in a way I had never seen before, have not seen since, and might never see again.

He simply fell down and the Cubs won:

Pistons at Cavaliers Odds

The Cavaliers are a -4.5 spread favorite at home tonight with the tip-off set for 7 pm ET on Prime Video. The Cavs have ripped off 3 wins in a row in this series and have covered the spread in each of those games to put the Pistons in a 3-2 hole. Cleveland is a -174 moneyline favorite according to FanDuel Sportsbook, and the Pistons are a +146 underdog. Check out the game odds for tonight.

New sports bettor? See our guide

Pistons in a Must-Win Game

The Detroit Pistons blew a 9-point lead late in the 4th quarter before falling to the Cavs in overtime in a crucial Game 5. James Harden had 30 points to lead the Cavaliers while adding 8 rebounds and 6 assists in a 117-113 win. Max Strus was huge off the bench for the Cavaliers as he was 6-8 from deep and scored 20 points.

The Pistons got a huge performance from Cade Cunningham as he had 39 points, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds. The rest of the team had a rough night with Tobias Harris going 6/19 from the field while Daniss Jenkins was just 2/8 from deep.

Tonight, the Pistons have their season on the line, and they need a win on the road. They lost Games 3 and 4 in Cleveland.

Cade Cunningham Props

The Pistons need another huge game from Cade Cunningham, who has been carrying a heavy load during this postseason. He is averaging 30.0 points and 7.7 assists per game in the playoffs, but the Pistons find themselves on the brink of elimination again. Cade is scoring 26.6 points per game in the series against the Cavaliers after coming off averaging 32.4 points per game against the Magic in the first round.

How will he perform tonight? Check out some prop odds for Cunningham for tonight. He is +650 to score the first bucket. He is -178 to have at least 25 points. Cunningham has scored at least 25 points in 10 games in this postseason.

First Basket Scorers

Jarrett Allen is the leader when it comes to scoring the first basket, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. He is listed at +440 to drop in the first bucket. He is followed by Evan Mobley at +450 and Donovan Mitchell at +500. Check out more first basket odds for Game 6.

21+ Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Responsible Gaming Resources

To that end, I also appreciated his recent appearance on the Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast with Rob Bradford, and although the whole thing is a good listen, I was obviously most interested in his discussion about the departure from the Cubs. As always, his openness and candor is striking, and you really feel for the guy:

Bradford: When you were let go by the Cubs, did you want to get back into it right away?

Ross: Oh, no. I was depressed, embarrassed. You go through a bit of self-evaluation. It’s all over – everybody knows – and my phone was just blowing up. I put it down for a couple days. I was embarrassed to even go out. I don’t know why – I didn’t do anything wrong – but it’s just embarrassing to get fired and everybody wants to know what happened, or you got screwed, or everybody’s got their take. But I’m someone who tries to assess the situation. What a blessing it was to be able to manage the Cubs with no coaching experience. I just had to process exactly how I felt, and that takes time.

When you get let go on a contract, the great thing is they’re still paying you for a bit. So I was like, all right, I’m going to take a step back and take a deep breath. Because when I got done playing, even though I’d been retired since ’16, I went straight into Dancing with the Stars, then ESPN, then worked in the Cubs’ front office – I was going through a divorce – a lot of chaotic stuff in my life, and then straight from that into managing. Managing, you just never turn off. And when you leave and there’s nothing you have to get up and go to work for, it’s like – okay, what do I do now? You just have to sit back and see what’s next.

And I think I was following the Cubs super hard in ’24, just because that’s my team. How are they going to do without me?

Bradford: That must be a weird dynamic.

Ross: Oh, it’s the worst. You’re rooting for the players … but you hope they lose [laughing]. I’m like – that’s a terrible way to feel. Because you love those guys. I’m texting Happ and Nico and Dansby when they go deep, shooting them a text, a boom emoji or something. But then you kind of hope – it’s just human nature. Every time I went back to play a team I used to be on, you want to beat the crap out of your old team. I’m over that now. I still follow the Cubs and root for them. Time heals. Looking back, I was so blessed. The people there are great, the fans are great, Tom, the ownership, Jed – I enjoyed working with him. No real ill will.

That really is all just so human. Ross knows why he was let go, but he also believe he would’ve been successful if he stayed. So you can understand some STRONGLY conflicting feelings. Why wouldn’t he feel like that? If it were me, I would absolutely want to see that the team struggled after I was gone (at least for a little while, and then, like Ross, I would get over and probably love them again.)

As far as his future goes, Ross says that for as difficult as the managerial gig is, he’d do it again in a heartbeat. It’s really hard for me to imagine him not getting another shot at some point when he decides he’s ready.

See the whole podcast here:

As was the case last year with the inaugural class, the Blackhawks have split the ballots in two: one Heritage Ballot (players who completed their Blackhawks career before the 1999-2000 season) and the Modern Era Ballot (2000 – present).

Let’s start by taking a bit of a deeper look at the players on the Heritage Era Ballot. There are some true greats in the history of the franchise whose names a lot of fans might not know or appreciate.

Voting is open now and will close on June 30, 2026. Full details on eligibility, ballot structure and the voting process are available at Blackhawks.com/HOF.

Ed Belfour, Goaltender

• Hockey Hall of Fame inductee
• Calder Trophy
• NHL All-Rookie Team
• Vezina Trophy — twice
• Jennings Trophy — three times
• NHL All-Star Team, First Team — twice
• NHL All-Star Game — three times
• Blackhawks Career (8 years): 415 games played, 201-138-56, .903 save pct, 2.65 GAA, 30 shutouts

In parts of eight seasons with the Blackhawks, Eddie the Eagle led the league in shutouts four times and blew up as a rookie during the 1990-91 season, leading the NHL with 43 wins and capturing the Calder, Vezina, Jennings and finishing third in Hart Trophy voting. On Jan. 25, 1997, Belfour was traded to the San Jose Sharks for Ulf Dahlén, Michal Sýkora and Chris Terreri.

Doug Bentley, Forward

• Hockey Hall of Fame inductee
• Captain
• NHL All-Star Game — five times
• NHL All-Star Team, First Team — three times
• NHL Goals Leader — twice
• NHL Assists Leader — twice
• Blackhawks Career (12 years): 565 games played, 217 goals, 314 assists, 28 game-winning goals

Bentley, who famously starred for the Blackhawks with his brothers Reg and Max during the 1940s and early 1950s, was an exciting offensive threat for the Blackhawks. He finished in the top-five in Hart Trophy voting three times. All but 20 games of his NHL career were spent playing for the Blackhawks. He was the Blackhawks captain for three seasons (1942-44, 1949-50).

Charlie Gardiner, Goaltender

• Hockey Hall of Fame inductee
• Captain
• Stanley Cup champion (1934)
• Vezina Trophy — twice
• NHL All-Star Team, First Team — three times
• Blackhawks Career (7 years): 316 games played, 112-151-52, .903 save pct, 2.02 GAA, 30 shutouts

Gardiner was born in Scotland, moving to Winnipeg when he was seven. He joined the Blackhawks in 1927 and became one of the best netminders in the NHL. He served as the captain of the Blackhawks during the 1933-34 season, which closed with a Stanley Cup championship. Gardiner played much of that season dealing with physical issues. Sadly, on June 13, 1934, Gardiner died of a brain hemorrhage brought on by a throat infection. Gardiner led the NHL in games played in six of his seven seasons and led the league in shutouts twice.

Johnny Gottselig, Forward

• Captain
• Two-time Stanley Cup champion
• Blackhawks Career (16 years): 591 games played, 176 goals, 196 assists, 30 game-winning goals

Gottselig played his entire 16-year NHL career for the Blackhawks in the early days of the franchise’s history. He was a key member of the first two championship teams. He finished third in Hart Trophy voting in 1939. Gottselig was the Blackhawks’ captain from 1935 to 1940 (five seasons).

Dirk Graham, Forward

• Captain
• Selke Trophy (1990-91)
• Blackhawks Career (8 years): 546 games played, 152 goals, 191 assists, 26 short-handed goals

Graham was the Blackhawks’ captain for seven seasons after he was acquired from Minnesota on Jan. 4, 1988 for Curt Fraser. His iconic moment as a Blackhawk was a hat trick — the game’s first 16 minutes and 18 seconds — in the elimination game of the 1992 Stanley Cup Final against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Graham is also the first Black captain in NHL history and is still the Blackhawks franchise’s all-time leader in short-handed goals.

Dennis Hull, Forward

• NHL All-Star Game — five times
• Blackhawks career (13 years): 904 games played, 298 goals, 342 assists, 43 game-winning goals

“The Silver Jet” spent all but the final 55 games of his NHL career with the Blackhawks, skating alongside his brother, Bobby “The Golden Jet” Hull until Bobby bounced for Winnipeg.

Cliff Koroll, Forward

• Blackhawks career (11 years): 814 games played, 208 goals, 254 assists, 53 power play goals

Koroll, who played with Keith Magnuson at the University of Denver, was instrumental (with Maggie) in the founding of the Blackhawks Alumni Association. He scored at least 20 goals in five consecutive seasons in the mid-1970s and led the NHL in games played four times. He spent his entire career with the Blackhawks.

Chico Maki, Forward

• NHL All-Star Game — twice
• Blackhawks career (14 years): 841 games played, 143 goals, 293 assists, 24 game-winning goals

Maki played his entire NHL career for the Blackhawks from 1961-76. The unique asterisk on his NHL career is he dressed for the first two games of the 1961 Stanley Cup Final but did not play. The Blackhawks still put his name on the Cup. Maki did not make his regular-season NHL debut until the following season.

Mush March, Forward

• Two-time Stanley Cup champion
• Blackhawks career (17 years): 761 games played, 153 goals, 231 assists, 22 game-winning goals

Another player from the early years of the Blackhawks franchise, he was a key member of the first two Stanley Cup championship teams. March played his entire career for the Blackhawks and led the league in games played four times.

Pit Martin, Forward

• Co-Captain
• Masterton Trophy
• NHL All-Star Game — four times
• Blackhawks career (11 years): 740 games played, 243 goas, 384 assists, 51 power play goals

Martin was co-captain of the Blackhawks with Stan Mikita (1975-76) and with Mikita and Magnuson (1976-77). He led the league in games played three times and finished tenth in Hart Trophy voting following the 1969-70 season. Unfortunately for Martin, his quality career in Chicago is often a footnote on one of the worst trades in Blackhawks history; he was acquired from Boston with Gilles Marotte and Jack Norris on May 15, 1967 for Phil Esposito, Ken Hodge and Fred Stanfield. He is still one of only two Blackhawks to win the Masterton Trophy.

Bill Mosienko, Forward

• Hockey Hall of Fame inductee
• Lady Byng Trophy
• NHL All-Star Game — five times

Blackhawks career (14 years): 711 games played, 258 goals, 282 assists, 28 game-winning goals

Mosienko played his entire career for the Blackhawks and was one of the first superstars for the organization in the 1940s and 1950s. He still owns the record for the fastest hat trick in NHL history. Mosienko led the league in games played in two seasons.

Bob Murray, Defenseman

• NHL All-Star Game — twice
• Blackhawks career (15 years): 1,009 games played, 132 goals, 382 assists, 873 penalty minutes

Murray played his entire 15-year NHL career for the Chicago Blackhawks and was a rock on the blue line. Today, among Blackhawks defensemen all-time, Murray ranks third in games played (behind only Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook), second in goals scored (behind only Doug Wilson), fifth in assists and fifth in even-strength points.

Eric Nesterenko, Forward

• Stanley Cup champion
• NHL All-Star Game — twice
• Blackhawks career (16 years): 1,013 games played, 207 goals, 288 assists, 1,014 penalty minutes

If you’re of a certain age, you remember Nesterenko as Rob Lowe’s dad in the movie “Youngblood.” If you’re a bit older, you remember him as a rugged forward who was a member of the 1961 Stanley Cup championship Blackhawks. He is still one of only eight players to appear in 1,000 games for the Chicago Blackhawks. Nesterenko also still ranks second in club history with 22 short-handed goals.

Jeremy Roenick, Forward

• Hockey Hall of Fame inductee
• NHL All-Star Game: four times
• Blackhawks career (8 years): 524 games played, 267 goals, 329 assists, 108 power play goals, 38 game-winning goals

Roenick was an electrifying forward for the Blackhawks to start his career in the late-1980s and early 1990s, recording seasons of 103, 107 and 107 points in 1991-92, 1992-93 and 1993-94, respectively. JR appeared in four straight NHL All-Star Games for the Blackhawks and finished tenth in the Hart Trophy voting after the 1993-94 season. Among players who appeared in at least 300 regular-season games for the Blackhawks, Roenick’s 1.14 points per game ranks second in franchise history behind only Denis Savard.

Doug Wilson, Defenseman

• Hockey Hall of Fame inductee
• Norris Trophy
• NHL All-Star Game: six times
• NHL All-Star Team, First Team — once
• NHL All-Star Team, Second Team — twice
• Blackhawks career (14 years): 938 games played, 225 goals, 554 assists, 80 power play goals

Wilson is still the Blackhawks franchise’s all-time leader among defensemen in goals scored (93 more than Bob Murray), assists (34 more than Duncan Keith), points (154 more than Keith), power play points (108 more than Chris Chelios), power play goals (32 more than Murray), short-handed goals (two more than Chelios) and game-winning goals (two more than Brent Seabrook). He, like Steve Larmer, is two decades overdue for his number to be retired by the Blackhawks organ-I-zation.

Cubs Prospects Report | May 15, 2026

Triple-A Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs suffered the lone loss of the minor league squads on Thursday, dropping their third straight matchup with the Nashville Sounds (Brewers).

After falling behind 1-0 in the second, the Cubs answered back in the third with RBI from James Triantos and BJ Murray to make it 2-1. After Nashville tied it in the bottom of the third, Iowa would add two more runs to take a 4-2 lead in the fifth on RBI from Kevin Alcántara and Scott Kingery. But again, the lead didn’t last long. Yacksel Rios allowed a run in the bottom of the fifth, then Corbin Martin allowed another in the sixth, and the game was tied yet again.

In the bottom of the seventh, still tied 4-4, Christian Bethancourt tried to nail a runner stealing third, but the throw was off target and sailed into left field, which allowed the go-ahead run to score for the Sounds, and in the eighth, Nashville added one more on a sac fly.

Iowa threatened in the ninth, getting runners on the corners with just one out. But after a sac fly of their own from Justin Dean, they were kept off the board and fell 6-5.

While Iowa lost, the player of the game for them was Pedro Ramirez. Ramirez collected four hits at the plate in five appearances, scored a run, and stole a base. Thursday’s performance upped his batting average to .317 on the season.

Notable Performances

• Pedro Ramirez | 4-5, R, SB
• BJ Murray | 3-4, R, RBI, 2B, BB
• James Triantos | 1-5, R, RBI, 2B

FINAL: Sounds 6, Cubs 5 | Box Score

Double-A Knoxville Smokies

Knoxville took their matchup with the Columbus Clingstones (Braves) on Thursday behind a stellar combined pitching performance and an influx of power at the plate. The Smokies took an early 2-0 lead with a solo homer in the first from Carter Trice, then another in the second from Ethan Hearn. In the fifth, it was a two-run blast from Alex Ramírez that doubled the lead and made it 4-0. Ramírez would add another RBI with a single in the seventh that increased the advantage to 5-1.

But the story of the night was the Smokies’ pitching staff. Jake Knapp opened and struck out five hitters through 2.2 innings of work. He didn’t allow a hit and issued just one walk. From there, Jace Beck took over, and he allowed a run over three innings. After Beck, it was Frankie Scalzo Jr. and Evan Taylor who came on to close out the game. Over 2.2 innings, they combined for four strikeouts, just two hits, and no walks.

Notable Performances

• Alex Ramírez | 2-5, HR, 3 RBI
• Ethan Hearn | 2-4, HR
• Jake Knapp | 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 5 K, BB

FINAL: Smokies 5, Clingstones 1 | Box Score

High-A South Bend Cubs

If you like offense, I sure hope you caught what the South Bend Cubs did on Thursday! After dropping yesterday’s matchup with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers) 11-6, they roared back for a dominant 25-run performance in a 25-6 win. We’re not going to go through the play-by-play of all 25 runs, but let’s go through some of the top performances and highlights.

For starters, everyone in the lineup chipped in with at least one hit, and all but one hitter (Ty Southisene) recorded an RBI. Matt Halbach paced the lineup with six RBI, and Justin Stransky was right behind him with five. Kane Kepley drove in a pair himself and scored five runs. Oddly enough, despite scoring 25 runs, the Cubs only knocked two balls over the wall, but they combined for 20 hits on the day.

The Cubs did fall behind early in this one, surrendering three runs in the first and falling behind 3-0. However, starting in the fourth, they scored at least one run in every inning and scored 15 times in the eighth and ninth innings combined. All in all, it was a really fun day for the South Bend Cubs!

Notable Performances

• Matt Halbach | 5-5, HR, 5 R, 6 RBI, 2 BB
• Kane Kepley | 4-5, 5 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB
• Justin Stransky | 2-5, HR, 2 R, 5 RBI

FINAL: Cubs 25, Timber Rattlers 6 | Box Score

Low-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Pelicans picked up a relatively drama-free, easy win over the Augusta Green Jackets (Braves) on Thursday. After a scoreless first, Geuri Lubo broke the tie with a two-run blast in the second inning, giving Myrtle Beach a 2-0 lead. Then, in the third, Josiah Hartshorn doubled the lead with a two-RBI double, making it a 4-0 advantage.

The score remained the same until the seventh inning, when the Pelicans added two more to their lead. Hartshorn came up big yet again, this time belting a two-run homer, giving Myrtle Beach a 6-0 edge.

On the mound, the Pelicans got a great outing from Dominick Reid. Reid went six innings, allowed just one hit, struck out four, and didn’t issue a walk. Following him, Aiden Moffett and Daniel Avitia combined to finish out the win, allowing only a run on three hits with four strikeouts and just one walk.

Notable Performances

• Josiah Hartshorn | 2-4, HR, 4 RBI, 2B
• Alexis Hernandez | 2-3, 2 R, 2B, BB
• Dominick Reid | 6.0 IP, H, 0 R, 4 K, 0 BB

FINAL: Pelicans 6, Green Jackets 1 | Box Score

In case you haven’t been following along here lately, the Brewers have surged back from last place in the NL Central to just 2.5 games out of first, with a record seven games over .500. Also, I hate them.

And the White Sox, while only one game over .500 on the season, are having more fun maybe than any team in the league over the past few weeks. They’re riding a five-game winning streak, they’re 16-8 over their last 24 games, and they’re 12-9 at home, where this series will be played.

And given that they’re an upstart young team hosting a “contending” Cubs team, you know every win they steal will be even sweeter.

There is some good news, though. And that’s the fact that the White Sox have been way better against lefties (115 wRC+, 5th in MLB) than righties (97 wRC+, 19th in MLB) this season. That’s fortunate because the Cubs are throwing three straight righties in Edward Cabrera, Jameson Taillon, and Colin Rea.

Of course, Cabrera is actually coming off his worst start of the season against the Rangers, who tagged him for 5 earned runs on seven hits in just 5.0 IP. He’s allowed seven homers over his last four starts and just hasn’t quite looked as dominant as we know he can be yet this season.

Likewise, Colin Rea (starting the finale on Sunday) also had a tough time against the Braves, who got him for an identical 5 ER on 7 hits, but over just 4.1 IP.

Jameson Taillon, by contrast, is riding a nice three-game stretch (3.00 ERA over 18.0 IP), and we know he can lock in like this for six(ish) weeks at a time. So hopefully, he stays hot.

On the flip side, I thought I’d be happier to learn that the Cubs will miss White Sox prospect Noah Schultz this weekend (and I am, to an extent), but the results have been a little inconsistent to start the year, and the Cubs have hit lefties a good deal better than righties so far this season.

Plus, the three pitches the Cubs have drawn have each been pretty darn successful this year.

Sean Burke, 26, has a 3.68 ERA, a tiny 5.6% walk rate, and a minuscule 5.4% barrel rate. He just got lit up by the Rays, but before that was on a heater following his first start of the year: 2.27 ERA (3.37 xERA) over six starts and 35.2 IP.

After pitching like a fine back-end guy from 2022-2024, Davis Martin, 29, is breaking out in a big way this season. His strikeout rate has exploded (27.1%), his walk rate has been cut in half (5.2%), and the barrel rate is also well under control. He’s also thrown 6.0+ innings in all but two starts this season (and one of those was 5.2 IP), and he has allowed 1 or fewer runs in six of eight games.

Fortunately, on Sunday, the Cubs will get Erick Fedde.

Fedde, 33, does have slid results this season (3.77 ERA), but the peripherals tell a VERY different story: 4.16 xERA, 6.04 FIP. And that’s because he’s got just a 14.7% strikeout rate, which is well below a playable level long-term, especially when he otherwise has a 10.4% barrel rate. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a fine veteran pitcher who has clearly found some success, but he’s the softer matchup this weekend.

The bottom line there, then, is if the Cubs can grab a win in either of the first two games, I like their chances to take the series in the finale.

Now, there’s another wrinkle here, at least for tonight. And that’s the bullpen usage. If Daniel Palencia is still not greenlit for back-to-back games, he’ll be unavailable tonight.

Likewise, Phil Maton threw back-to-backs, so he’s likely out. Hoby Milner threw 25 pitches over 2.0 innings last night, so he’s probably out. And Jacob Webb threw 13 pitches on Tuesday and 16 pitches last night. He might be available, but probably won’t be the first guy Craig Counsell goes to.

Fortunately, even when he doesn’t pitch particularly well, Edward Cabrera (tonight’s starter) tends to pitch into (at least) the sixth inning. So hopefully there aren’t quite as many innings to cover as usual.

Offensively, we know the Cubs’ bats have been brutally quiet/cold for about a week, and you may have heard something about the White Sox hitting well. Yeah, well, check this out:

Last 7 Days:

White Sox: 134 wRC+ (1st in MLB)
Cubs: 43 wRC+ (30th in MLB)

Last 14 Days:

White Sox: 118 wRC+ (3rd in MLB)
Cubs: 87 wRC+ (21st in MLB)

🫣

— Michael Cerami (@Michael_Cerami) May 15, 2026

I really hope the offense decides to wake up, like … tonight/immediately. Because that’s uglier than I thought it would be for longer than I thought it was going on.

Lastly, everyone’s been sharing this already, so I guess I’ll jump on board: This is the first time the Cubs and White Sox have met with both teams over .500 since 2008 (excluding the COVID season).

Cubs vs White Sox – Pitching Probables:

Game 1: Friday, May 15 at 6:40 PM CT at Rate Field
Broadcast Info: Marquee Sports Network, CHSN, MLB.TV Free Game of the Day, WCIU TV, ESPN 1000, 104.3 The Score

• Cubs: Edward Cabrera, RHP
• White Sox: Sean Burke, RHP

Game 2: Saturday, May 16 at 6:10 PM CT at Rate Field
Broadcast Info: Marquee Sports Network, CHSN, ESPN 1000, 104.3 The Score

• Cubs: Jameson Taillon, RHP
• White Sox: Davis Martin, RHP

Game 3: Sunday, May 17 at 1:10 PM CT at Rate Field
Broadcast Info: Marquee Sports Network, CHSN, ESPN 1000, 104.3 The Score

• Cubs: Colin Rea, RHP
• White Sox: Erick Fedde, RHP

Cubs vs White Sox – Key Injuries:

Chicago Cubs:

• Matthew Boyd, SP
• Hunter Harvey, RP
• Riley Martin, RP
• Caleb Thielbar, RP
• Jordan Wicks, SP
• Tyler Austin, IF/OF (60-Day IL)
• Porter Hodge, RP (60-Day IL)
• Cade Horton, SP (60-Day IL)
• Shelby Miller, RP (60-Day IL)
• Justin Steele, SP (60-Day IL)

Chicago White Sox:

• Kyle Teel, C
• Everson Pereira, OF
• Austin Hays, OF
• Taj Bradley, SP
• Ky Bush, SP
• Prelander Berroa, SP
• Drew Thorpe, SP
• Mike Vasil, RP
• Brooks Baldwin, OF/IF
• Tanner Murray, IF/OF

Here are the latest Bulls Bullets.

Bulls Bullets — May 15, 2026

• The Bulls are considering bringing back several of former head coach Billy Donovan’s supporting staff next year, and may even look at lead assistant coach Wes Unseld Jr. to replace Donovan, reports K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network.

• Two well-regarded former Golden State Warriors assistant coaches are getting into the mix for the multiple NBA head coach openings this offseason. Anthony Slater of ESPN reports that Terry Stotts — a former longtime Portland Trail Blazers head coach — and former NBA All-Star Jerry Stackhouse are going to now be in pursuit of greener pastures. That means, in theory, that they could be had by our rebuilding Bulls.

• At 2-0, our reconstituted Chicago Sky are now one of just two undefeated WNBA clubs a week into the season — along with Angel Reese’s Atlanta Dream, of course. Center Kamilla Cardoso has already developed a strong pick-and-roll chemistry with new All-Star point guard Skylar Diggins. She’s averaging 15.0 points and 10.5 rebounds thus far this season, mostly on the strength of a 22-point, 14-rebound effort in a 98-83 win over the Portland Fire in the Sky’s season opener. New addition Rickea Jackson has been another exciting standout, helping Chicago stay perfect in a 69-63 win against the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday with an 18-point night.

• Chicago power forward/center Jalen Smith may be trapped on this roster for the time being, as a talented, NBA-middle-aged big man on a reasonable deal. That said, he was almost shipped out the door by the prior front office regime. Adam Aaronson of the Philly Voice reports that the Philadelphia 76ers tried to acquire Smith from Chicago at the deadline for multiple second-rounders.

• New Bulls senior vice president of basketball operations Stephen Mervis has been a grinder since Day 1. Even as a third-year University of Florida law school student, he was an ardent follower of Draft Express whiz Jonathan Givony, and the duo connected at the 2013 Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. You know who almost certainly has never heard of Jonathan Givony, to this day? Marc Eversley or Arturas Karnisovas.

• Former Bulls guard Acie Law was also reportedly brought aboard this week, and will serve as the team’s vice president of player personnel. Play-by-play Chicago announcer Adam Amin recently hopped on 104.3 The Score to discuss the Law and Mervis additions.

“If it were a traditional structure, I’d imagine Mervis would probably be like the No. 2, essentially. I don’t know what that’s going to look like in this current structure, or whatever the changes are going to be,” Amin said. “Law’s got a really good scouting background — he was with Brooklyn this past year, they really, I thought, did a great job in their draft… And then Mervis is a salary cap guy, which I think is incredibly important right now, because the Bulls, [more than] any team in the NBA, are gonna have more acreage to roam in terms of exploring what they want to do with that extra money.”

• Above our Bulls in the 2026 NBA Draft race, there appears to be a real possibility that the Washington Wizards could trade down from the No. 1 pick. Marc J. Spears of Andscape reports that the Utah Jazz, owners of the No. 2 selection, have reached out to Washington about a swap. Presumed top selection AJ Dybantsa has allegedly grown comfortable in Utah, where he’s lived since his senior year of high school. Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, Duke power forward Cameron Boozer, and North Carolina power forward/center Caleb Wilson are the other anticipated talents set to be selected in the top four. Chicago will have the No. 4 selection.

• Tim Bontemps of ESPN, meanwhile, suggested on the must-listen Hoop Collective Podcast that he was skeptical that top Utah decision makers Danny and Austin Ainge would surrender future draft equity for a current prospect. His Hoop Collective colleague Brian Windhorst posited that a team other than the Jazz may be intrigued by a potential trade up the board.

• Spears also reports that Dybantsa has indeed met with the Bulls at the NBA Draft Combine this week — along with the Wizards, Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings, Brooklyn Nets, Atlanta Hawks, and Dallas Mavericks.

• Former two-time All-Star Boston Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas has been hired as a team scout for the Seattle area, reports The Boston Globe‘s Adam Himmelsbach. Thomas’ career essentially never recovered after he played through a major hip injury in the 2017 playoffs for Boston. Despite Thomas leading the team to the Eastern Conference Finals that spring (Boston’s run included a first-round knockout of our “Three Alphas”-era Bulls), the Celtics traded him away to the Cleveland Cavaliers as part of a blockbuster package for Kyrie Irving during the subsequent offseason. He quickly became an injury-prone journeyman, sapped of his signature athleticism.

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