The Chicago Cubs own a pair of 10-game winning streaks this season and have been one of the best teams in baseball for most of the year, but a recent skid in which they suddenly forgot how to hit has certainly caused a bit of a lull.

While starting pitching has been the Cubs’ primary bugaboo this year, mostly due to injuries, that hasn’t been the problem over the last week. Chicago has gone just 1-4 over its last five games, scoring a grand total of five runs in the process.

You certainly can’t point to one player in particular for the Cubs’ sudden offensive struggles, as there is plenty of blame to go around. But there is no question that Moises Ballesteros’ recent dropoff has played a significant role in the team’s slump.

Ballesteros has gone just 2-for-39 over his last 13 games, with both of his hits coming on May 3. He is currently mired in an 0-for-23 rut, and he hasn’t drawn a walk for seven straight contests. And just think: the 22-year-old was batting .400 less than a month ago.

So, is Ballesteros already in danger of losing his job?

Chicago Cubs could demote Moises Ballesteros

Ballesteros has been one of the top prospects in Chicago’s system for quite some time now, and seeing him break out in such a major way earlier this season was definitely rewarding.

However, it’s becoming abundantly clear that opposing pitchers have adjusted to Ballesteros, and the 22-year-old has not made his own proper adjustments to counter it. That could result in the Cubs ultimately sending him back to Triple-A Iowa before more damage is done.

As a whole, Ballesteros’ 2026 numbers look decent, as he is slashing .248/.308/.467 with six home runs and 20 RBI over 117 plate appearances. But he has homered just once since April 28, and his lack of walks is a problem.

While Chicago would absolutely love to keep Ballesteros in the lineup because of his potential, it’s also important to not risk ruining his confidence as a hitter. The youngster is officially in the danger zone with his current slump, and while a demotion is not what anyone would like, it might be for the best.

We’ll see if the Cubs allow Ballesteros to work his way out of this quagmire or if they simply decide a trip back to the minor leagues is best for all parties involved.

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It was announced on Friday that Sam Sianis, longtime owner of the famed Billy Goat Tavern, passed away at the age of 91. Sianis’ business is known nationwide for the yelling of “Cheezborger! Cheezborger! Cheezborger! No fries, chips!” Especially after being immortalized by the late John Belushi, Bill Murray, and Dan Aykroyd on SNL.

While a celebrated Chicago establishment, the Sianis Family and the Billy Goat Tavern were longtime parts of infamous Chicago Cubs lore.

It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Sam Sianis — the legendary, longtime owner of Billy Goat Tavern and a true Chicago original. Sam passed away peacefully this morning in his sleep, surrounded by his loving family.

Sam was more than a… pic.twitter.com/sL5BlIX7N0

— Billy Goat Tavern (@Cheezborger) May 15, 2026

Sianis and the old Cubs “curse”

Sianis was the nephew of the Billy Goat Tavern’s founder, William “Billy Goat” Sianis, who established the business in 1934. He was known for putting a “curse” on the Cubs during Game 4 of the 1945 World Series when he was not allowed to bring his pet goat, Murphy, into Wrigley Field. A frustrated Sianis left the park saying, “The Cubs ain’t gonna win no more. The Cubs will never win a World Series so long as the goat is not allowed in Wrigley Field.”

That’s what the family says at least. He also apparently sent a telegram to then-Cubs owner P.K. Wrigley after the series, asking, “Who stinks now?”

A celebration of our 90th Anniversary wouldn't be complete without the Curse of Billy Goat Sianis. It all started in the 1945 World Series against Detroit and stayed with the Cubs until Sam Sianis rang the original goat's bell during the 2016 World Series, breaking the Curse!… pic.twitter.com/ckTyFtmRT2

— Billy Goat Tavern (@Cheezborger) November 22, 2024

William died in 1970, but Sam had spent decades trying to lift the jinx his uncle had placed on the team. On numerous occasions, he brought goats into the park. This included Game 7 of the 2003 NLCS, to the displeasure of manager Dusty Baker. While it never seemed to work, Sianis and his family were finally absolved in 2016 when the Cubs won it all.

And thus, another era in Chicago has sadly ended, though the famous tavern will live on. May Sam Sianis rest in peace, and the Billy Goat curse get further in the rearview mirror. (It’s all so silly looking back at it)

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As the Chicago Cubs focus on this season and on making a deep playoff run, they also have to be keeping one eye on the future.

More News: Chicago Cubs: What would be the cost of trading for impact pitching?

Specifically, they have to pay attention to filling several roster spots next year—currently filled by veteran players likely to leave via free agency.

Among the players possibly gone after this 2026 season are Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, and Carson Kelly.

Happ and Suzuki probably present the biggest conundrums for the Cubs front office.

Losing both corner outfielders would be a tough hit to take for a Chicago team focused on establishing a winning environment for the foreseeable future. The pool of available outfield talent on the 2027 market is relatively shallow, too. So, finding a replacement for either would be difficult.

Life without Happ and/or Suzuki

More News: Chicago Cubs’ Shota Imanaga beats himself up over loss: “I should have kept them to zero”

Realistically, the Cubs won’t be able to re-sign both Happ and Suzuki. Given the amount of money they spent in signing free agent Alex Bregman and in extending Pete Crow-Armstrong and Nico Hoerner, there won’t be a lot of money to move around—especially considering the fact that they will absolutely have to sign at least one high-end starting pitcher to cover for Imanaga, Boyd, and Taillon possibly leaving. There’s actually a chance that the Cubs won’t be able to keep either Happ or Suzuki.

The most likely scenario, though, is that the Cubs sign one of their corner outfielders and then scramble for an internal replacement for the open position.

Matt Shaw has been given playing time in right field. Michael Conforto has come alive as a fourth outfielder, but he’s just a one-year rental. Prospect Kevin Alcantara has been banging home runs in Iowa, but there’s still doubt as to his readiness for the majors.

Now, throw standout prospect Pedro Ramirez into the corner outfield mix.

Pedro Ramirez gets left field playing time

On Thursday, the 22-year-old Ramirez shifted from his usual third base spot to left field—and continued his excellence at the plate with a 4-for-5 evening against the Nashville Sounds.

On the year, a surging Ramirez is hitting .317 with 9 home runs and 39 RBIs, forcing his way into recognition as the Cubs’ no. 2 prospect.

The young talent began this baseball year on a tear and turned heads with his performance in spring training. As a matter of fact, manager Craig Counsell has said that he wouldn’t hesitate in bringing Ramirez up to the majors right now if the Cubs needed another infielder.

“I wouldn’t have hesitated out of spring training. We told him that,” Counsell said.

“He had a wonderful spring. He was the player that the other players talked about. There’s always that guy in spring training.”

“He’s a big-leaguer,” Counsell added. “He’s going to be a good big-leaguer. He’s got a really good head on his shoulders, really good baseball intelligence. It’s great to see him off to a good start and really taking another step.”

Ramirez is highly valued within the Cubs organization for his maturity, versatility, and an offensive game that has taken a full step forward this season. If he’s not dealt in a package for high-end pitching by the trade deadline, he will find a way on to the big league roster before too long. The quickest and most obvious right now seems to be via the outfield.

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The Chicago Cubs are finding themselves in an interesting dilemma when it comes to their pitching.

More News: Chicago Cubs’ Shota Imanaga beats himself up over loss: “I should have kept them to zero”

Injuries have plagued the staff and there’s no doubt that the strain of the losses will take a greater toll as the season advances. Cade Horton is out for the season. Matthew Boyd is out until, at least, the All-Star break following surgery to repair meniscus damage. Justin Steele suffered a setback in his recovery from elbow surgery and his return has been pushed back. Meanwhile, in a bullpen that has also been battered by injury, Caleb Thielbar and Hunter Harvey remain on the IL.

It’s universally acknowledged—and even acknowledged by the front office itself—that the Cubs will have to make at least one meaningful trade and maybe a couple of smaller ones to fortify their pitching for the coming pennant race.

What can (would) the Cubs trade for pitching?

More News: Chicago Cubs: Alex Bregman taking flak for offensive doldrums

The question, however, is how much will Chicago have to give up to get the arms they need and, secondly, whether they have the prospect capital in their organization to make those trades possible. Also, with the slated comebacks of Boyd and Steele in the second half, how much pitching will they even need down the stretch.

Cubs insider Sahadev Sharma just tackled that three-pronged question in a Cubs Mailbag column for The Athletic, specifically focusing on the team’s ability/willingness to land a significant front-of-rotation starter.

Per Sharma:

“It would take an aggressive offer and be the type of move the Cubs front office would typically view as an overpay. The fact that they don’t have tradeable draft picks (only competitive balance round picks can be moved) hurts as well, as those seem to move the needle…

If there are more sellers this year, rental pitchers will cost legitimate prospects; far away guys with potential, someone in the middle tier (rather than top 100ish) or just a prospect the acquiring team is high on that may not be universally loved. Very rarely do we see big-time prospects being moved for rentals anymore. It’s just not what front offices, especially ones like the Cubs, like to do…

As far as a legit ace, who is under control beyond this season, it’s going to cost a pretty penny. Chicago likely has enough for that kind of deal…If a pitcher who is under control for even longer becomes available, maybe a name like Wiggins isn’t untouchable.”

Sharma would also mention rumored Cubs target Freddy Peralta, offering some fairly good news for the team’s chances of landing the impact rental from the Mets:

“As far as moving Peralta, it’s going to take a good prospect, but perhaps not an obviously great one…”

Cubs trade bait

Mentioned in the mailbag are prospects such as Pedro Ramirez, Josiah Hartshorn, Kevin Alcantara, Jefferson Rojas, Jonathan Long, Kane Kepley, Owen Ayers, Brooks Caple, Dominick Reid, and Grant Kipp.

Even top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins is not entirely off the board, per Sharma, if a trade can be made involving a high-end pitcher with years of team control.

For now, it would appear that young talent at the major league level—like Matt Shaw and Moises Ballesteros—would not be shopped around while the team is vying for a playoff spot. But everyone else might be up for grabs.

But the temptation for the ever-cautious Cubs front office may be to go modest in the pursuit of trades in hopes that Boyd and Steele make an impact upon their return.

Time will tell what path the Cubs take in all of this.

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A year ago, Shota Imanaga was at a crossroads. His first season in Chicago began with promise, as he made the All-Star game and threw a no-hitter.  But last season, he unraveled after suffering a left hamstring strain on May 5, 2025, which sidelined him for nearly two months. After his return, the rest of the season was marked by inconsistency, diminished fastball life, and a league that seemed to have caught up to him. As a result, the Cubs fans and media had given up on him.

When the offseason arrived, the Cubs extended a qualifying offer, thinking he would not accept it and hit free agency. Instead, Imanaga accepted it, much to the surprise of the Cubs and the fans. He bet on himself and on the idea that the pitcher who took the league by storm in early 2024 was still in there somewhere.

So far, that bet is paying off in 2026.

Imanaga hasn’t just bounced back. He’s pitching like one of the most effective pitchers in the National League, and Wednesday’s outing against the Atlanta Braves was the latest example. Facing one of baseball’s deepest lineups, he went seven innings, allowed minimal hard contact, and kept the Cubs in the game throughout. Yet he still took the loss — a reminder that pitcher wins don’t always tell the story.

More importantly, he’s giving the Cubs exactly what they lacked during last year’s turbulence: a dependable, every‑fifth‑day stabilizer. Injuries and inconsistency have hit the rotation in 2026, but Imanaga has been the constant. This is the version of Imanaga the Cubs envisioned when they first signed him. The version they hoped they’d see again when he accepted the qualifying offer. The version that now complicates their future.

The Cubs have a huge financial decision awaiting this offseason

Imanaga is set to hit free agency again after the 2026 season. So are Jamison Taillon and Matthew Boyd. Three veteran starters, three expiring contracts, and a front office that has to decide how much of its future it wants to tie to pitchers in their 30s. Taillon has been steady but unspectacular. Boyd is already 35 years old and has been on IL twice.

But if Imanaga continues pitching like this, he won’t be looking at another one‑year qualifying offer. He’ll be looking at multi‑year commitments.

It is a gamble Jed Hoyer may have to make, as the Cubs have learned that pitching development is unpredictable. So far, Ben Brown has pitched well in the last two games as a spot starter. But has not gone past 4 innings in both games. Jordan Wicks has struggled with both injuries and inconsistencies.

Meanwhile, Cade Horton, who had high hopes coming into this season, is out for the remainder of the 2026 season due to damage to his right ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) on April 3rd. He might not pitch again until 2028. And their top pitching prospect, Jaxon Wiggins, who already underwent Tommy John surgery in 2023, has not pitched since April 4th, and his return is up in the air.

If Imanaga is repeating his 2025 struggles, the decision would be simple. But he reinvented himself and stabilized the rotation this season. Now he’s pitching his way into a major payday. Let’s not forget his fellow countryman, Seiya Suzuki, is also a free agent after this season. Losing both hurts their marketability in Japan, while Munetaka Murakami is growing the Chicago White Sox’s reputation.

The Cubs won’t just have to decide whether they can afford to keep him. They’ll have to decide whether they can afford not to.

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The Chicago Cubs dropped their fourth straight game, this time coming up short, 4-1, against the MLB-best Atlanta Braves Wednesday evening at Truist Park.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Alex Bregman taking flak for offensive doldrums

Amid continued struggles with a suddenly flat-lining offense, the strained and banged-up Cubs pitching staff has mostly held up. And that was also the case in this last game, where starter Shota Imanaga had another really good outing.

Through 7 full innings, the lefty allowed 2 earned runs on 5 hits and didn’t walk anybody. His stuff was effective, as it’s been throughout the season so far, with 6 strikeouts and 29% of his pitches generating a whiff or being called a strike, per observation of MLB.com’s Perla Paredes.

Imanaga burning with self-criticism

More News: Chicago Cubs: Two veteran pitchers may be suddenly available to aid strained staff

Still, Imanaga was beating himself up a bit after the game as he spoke to media.

“Reflecting on my outing today, if I didn’t give up any runs, then the Cubs would have had a chance to win,” Imanaga said via interpreter. “I should have kept them to zero.”

That’s certainly an admirable sentiment, although it’s probably not very mentally helpful or realistic.

The only even marginal miscue of the outing for Imanaga was the solo home run allowed to Drake Baldwin in the bottom of the fourth, on a slider that was actually low and out of the zone. Baldwin did a good job of reaching down and flicking it out of the park.

Imanaga, however, once again put the blame on himself for the big hit.

“If you see the at-bat, there’s a slider that [Drake Baldwin] swung at that was outside the zone,” Imanaga asserted. “I think that slider he hit a homer on, that was closer to the zone. He put a good swing on it, but I also didn’t execute my [pitch].”

Shota has been shining

On the season, the Japanese star is sporting a 2.32 ERA over 9 starts and 54.1 innings. He’s become the most consistently effective starter on a rotation that has suffered through some significant injury issues and is currently working without its top 2 projected starters, Cade Horton and Matthew Boyd.

A boost in velocity and some tinkering with pitch selection has resulted in improved execution for Imanaga over last year, where he struggled at times and went through an especially rough patch late in the season.

“Shota was awesome against a team that’s been that good offensively,” manager Craig Counsell told reporters after the game. “To shut them down into the eighth inning…he pitched wonderfully.

“He did a great job, and it’s a shame we couldn’t just do a little more on the other side of the ball to get him some runs.”

Imanaga beating himself up after a loss, like he did Wednesday, isn’t really something new. In a February edition of his podcast, the pitcher opened up about his poor performance for the Cubs in the postseason and how it brought shame to him.

“After we lost, I went to the locker room to clean up,” Imanaga said. “I thought fans might be harsh because I didn’t perform well in the postseason, but some said ‘Thank you for letting us enjoy this season.’ I felt ashamed I let them down and wished I could have shared the joy of winning with them.”

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The Chicago Cubs went out and signed the third baseman of their dreams this past January and were uncharacteristically generous in doing so.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Two veteran pitchers may be suddenly available to aid strained staff

After unsuccessfully courting Alex Bregman prior to the 2025 season, the front office amped up efforts to bring him aboard this year, eventually landing the three-time All-Star with a 5-year, $175 million deal that would guarantee the 32-year-old a key spot on the roster through the rest of his playing prime.

And while Bregman has been lauded for his leadership role in the clubhouse and his overall welcomed approach to the game, his offensive numbers have been remarkably mid.

This wasn’t an issue when the Cubs were riding high on a pair of 10-game winning streaks. However, now that the team is mired in an ugly 4-game skid, people are starting to grumble.

Bregman garnering attention for low production

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Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report recently spotlighted Bregman as the one Cubs player who “Desperately needs to break out ASAP.”

Per Miller:

“Bregman’s production hasn’t been nearly as underwhelming (or downright woeful) as most of the players on this list. However, the only reason we haven’t been talking on a regular basis about him being one of the biggest disappointments is because the Cubs have one of the best records in spite of his shortcomings.

Bregman’s strikeout rate (16.6 percent) is his worst since his rookie season, while both his slugging percentage (.356) and OPS (.687) are well below his previous career worsts. And prior to homering on Tuesday, he had just one round-tripper in his previous 37 games. Not exactly living up to that five-year, $175M contract thus far.”

The former Astros and Red Sox star, currently sporting a .246 batting average and .694 OPS, has been absolutely league-average across the board in most offensive categories. That’s not a bad thing, but it’s also not a great thing for someone who was expected to assume a veteran on-field leadership role. The fear for many is that “league average” right now, as he’s working on the back side of his physical prime, may turn into a deep free fall sooner than anyone had anticipated. The elevated strikeout rate is especially concerning in that regard.

Too early to panic?

But maybe, also, there’s a bit of still-unfounded panic in worries about the veteran. A case could be made that Bregman has actually been the hottest Cub through the team’s recent 4-game slump and offensive drought, posting a .333 average with a home run and an RBI in his three games played over that stretch.

Regardless, Chicago is not likely to sit Bregman down anytime soon. They have too much invested in him and, also, too much belief in what he might eventually bring to the lineup. Having a capable third base sub in Matt Shaw readily available, though, does give manager Craig Counsell the opportunity to rest the veteran and pull him from potentially unfavorable matchups on occasion.

Right now, there’s no reason to hit the panic button about Bregman. It’ll be another story if it’s August and the Cubs’ prized free agent acquisition is still a middle-of-the-pack offensive presence.

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Chicago Cubs top prospect Jaxon Wiggins is currently on the shelf due to elbow inflammation, an injury that surfaced after his second minor-league outing of the season on April 4.

The injury did not appear to be too serious, as it looks like Wiggins will avoid surgery. He is currently rehabbing, and while there is no exact timetable for his return, the hope is that Wiggins could retake the mound at some point in June.

Whether or not that actually holds, however, remains to be seen.

We have received some updates on Wiggins’ progress since getting injured, and most recently, the right-hander was scheduled to throw a live batting practice session this past weekend as he slowly works his way back.

However, a recent update from Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic may have Cubs fans feeling a bit unsettled.

Latest update on Chicago Cubs pitcher Jaxon Wiggins is rather cryptic

Sharma received a question in a mailbag asking about Wiggins’ status, and his answer was rather murky.

“Wiggins was supposed to throw a live BP over the weekend, and the latest I’ve heard is that he’s currently building back up,” Sharma wrote. “The Cubs are intentionally being very careful about this process to try to keep him as healthy as possible. Can they actually do that? Well, see above — it’s not easy.”

He was supposed to throw a live BP? Did he actually throw it? And what does he’s “currently building back up” actually entail? Considering Wiggins is rehabbing, you would hope that he is building himself back up, right?

Sharma’s conclusion is not exactly encouraging either, but that’s surely partially due to the fact that Chicago has been actually ravaged by injuries to its pitching staff. Cade Horton is out for the season, Matthew Boyd is on the IL due to a torn meniscus and Justin Steele had a setback in his own rehab.

Wiggins is the top-ranked prospect in the Cubs’ system. Last season, he made 19 appearances and 18 starts between Single-A, Double-A and Triple-A, logging a 2.77 ERA while allowing just 44 hits and racking up 97 strikeouts over 78 innings of work. The 36 walks were a bit concerning, but the stuff is obviously there.

In two starts at Triple-A before going down this year, Wiggins had posted a 5.63 ERA and a 1.500 WHIP.

Hopefully, the 24-year-old is able to return to the mound with no issues.

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The Chicago Cubs‘ offense has betrayed them during this current losing streak, but everyone knows that pitching is actually the biggest issue for the Cubs right now.

Chicago lost Cade Horton for the season, saw Matthew Boyd go down with a torn meniscus and was hit with a gut punch when Justin Steele suffered a setback. In a perfect world, Colin Rea and Ben Brown would both be in the bullpen, but they have now been forced into the starting rotation due to the injury issues.

The Cubs are expected to aggressively peruse the trade market for potential solutions between now and the MLB trade deadline, but the problem is that teams are not very likely to move significant pieces now when they have until Aug. 3 to do so.

That means Chicago may have to explore some other options, such as pouncing on intriguing pitchers that get released.

A perfect example of that is Eric Lauer, who was just DFA’d by the Toronto Blue Jays, and Jordan Campbell of Cubbies Crib thinks he would be a perfect fit.

Chicago Cubs could be a great fit for Eric Lauer

Lauer actually spent four seasons playing for Craig Counsell in Milwaukee between 2020 and 2023, so a reunion between him and the Cubs skipper would certainly be interesting.

“To be clear, there is some risk with Lauer’s profile, but that is essentially going to describe any move the Cubs make before trade talks start in earnest later this summer,” Campbell wrote. “Yes, there’s a concern that the Blue Jays, a team in need of pitching, gave up on Lauer, but the Cubs aren’t in a position where they can be too selective over potential moves.”

Lauer logged a 6.69 ERA in eight appearances and six starts for the Blue Jays this season, allowing 38 hits and an alarming 11 home runs over 36.1 innings of work. He also registered just 26 strikeouts while issuing 16 walks.

While those numbers are definitely concerning, Lauer is a year removed from going 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA for Toronto, surrendering 90 his while posting a much more respectable 102 strikeouts through 104.2 frames.

The 30-year-old also put together a couple of rather impressive campaigns for Counsell during his time with the Brewers, pitching to the tune of a 3.19 ERA over 24 outings and 20 starts in 2021 and following that up with a 3.69 ERA through 29 starts in 2022.

Lauer owns a lifetime 4.26 ERA and could at least represent a viable long relief option/spot starter for a Chicago team that needs as much pitching depth as it can get right now. He certainly wouldn’t be the most exciting addition, but the Cubs can’t afford to be too picky at the moment.

The post Cubs linked to move for intriguing pitcher Craig Counsell once loved appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Earlier this spring, former Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks accepted a role with the Detroit Tigers as a special assistant focused on pitching development. The move reunited Hendricks with former Cubs executives Scott Harris and Jeff Greenberg, though it was still disappointing for many fans to see the longtime Cub take on that type of role outside of the organization.

Now, shortly after that move, history appears to be repeating itself as former Cubs outfielder Jason Heyward is reportedly joining the Los Angeles Dodgers organization as a special assistant. Maddie Lee was first to report the news, though Heyward’s exact role or area of focus has not yet been announced.

While Heyward’s tenure with the Cubs was often criticized because of his offensive regression after signing a massive contract, many fans still have a soft spot for him. He remained an elite defender throughout much of his time in Chicago and, of course, was a key part of the club’s 2016 World Series championship team.

Interestingly, Jesse Rogers of ESPN revealed that the Cubs did speak with both Hendricks and Heyward about returning to the organization in off-field roles. However, both ultimately chose to join other organizations, each of which is arguably positioned as a contender in its respective division.

Former Chicago Cubs players Kyle Hendrick and Jason Heyward are now working behind the scenes for 2026 contenders

Hendricks landed in Detroit in a strong overall situation, joining a team that has reached back-to-back ALDS appearances. While Detroit has been hit hard by the loss of ace Tarik Skubal for the next few months, they remain in a relatively weak AL Central, keeping the door wide open for a division push.

On the other hand, the Dodgers remain a powerhouse despite some recent struggles and currently not sitting atop the NL West. Even so, they are still widely expected to be firmly in the mix and contending deep into October.

For the Cubs, the broader takeaway isn’t simply seeing former players land roles with other organization, it’s the growing trend of familiar faces finding opportunities elsewhere rather than returning to Chicago, even with the club currently leading its division and positioned as a contender this season as well.

While these decisions are shaped by a variety of factors, it underscores a simple reality: as memorable as the Cubs’ recent era was, including a championship run, that legacy doesn’t necessarily translate into automatic post-playing reunions once careers come to an end.

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The Chicago Cubs will almost certainly add a starting pitcher before the MLB trade deadline, even after acquiring Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins over the winter.

Cade Horton is out for the season, Justin Steele’s timetable has been warped thanks to a recent setback and Matthew Boyd is on the injured list due to a meniscus tear. Throw in the fact that Cabrera hasn’t exactly looked great, either, and yeah; the Cubs definitely need another arm in their rotation.

The good news for Chicago is that there should be no shortage of options available between now and Aug. 3, and the Cubs have already been linked to big names like Robbie Ray and Sandy Alcantara. But while either one of Ray or Alcantara would be fine additions, there is another pitcher Chicago should avoid at all costs: Zac Gallen.

The Arizona Diamondbacks could move Gallen in the coming months, and it’s important to remember that the Cubs were pitched as a potential free-agent destination for him this past offseason, as well. But would Chicago really pursue a trade for a pitcher who is clearly declining?

Chicago Cubs should avoid Zac Gallen at all costs

There was a time not too long ago when Gallen was one of the best pitchers in baseball. He finished third in NL Cy Young voting as recently as 2023, and in 2022, he pitched to the tune of a 2.54 ERA while posting a minuscule 0.913 WHIP. He also racked up 192 strikeouts over 184 innings.

That Gallen appears to be long gone.

The 30-year-old began declining in 2024 when he recorded a 3.65 ERA and 2.89 K/BB ratio, and last season, his ERA ballooned to 4.83 as his strikeout-to-walk ratio continued to dip. He remained on the open market for quite some time in free agency as a result, but ultimately returned to the Diamondbacks on a one-year, $22 million contract.

Things have gotten even worse for Gallen this season, as he lays claim to a 5.65 ERA through his first nine starts. His WHIP has climbed to 1.535, and his punchout rate has plummeted with Gallen logging a 6.1 K/9.

Gallen’s velocity is relatively the same, but his breaking stuff has fallen off a cliff. Perhaps it’s mechanical and can be fixed, because it’s not like Gallen is that old. But the Cubs should not be the team to take that chance.

There should be plenty of other more compelling options than Gallen available, and Chicago should see those through.

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The Chicago Cubs are currently on a 3-game losing streak and mired in an offensive slump where they’ve scored just two runs and registered only eight hits over the last three games.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Owen Caissie’s struggles in Miami are ugly

Yet, they still sit atop the competitive NL Central Division and they’re still boasting the third-best record in all of baseball (27-15), behind the Atlanta Braves and Tampa Bay Rays.

And to make things especially amazing, the Cubs have been able to have this level of success while sporting a banged-up, strained pitching staff hobbled with injury.

Emerging ace Cade Horton was lost for the season in just his second start of the year with an elbow injury that required surgery. Opening Day starter Matthew Boyd is currently serving his second stint on the IL, this time on the shelf with a meniscus injury requiring surgery. He’s expected back some time after the All-Star break. Meanwhile, ace Justin Steele has suffered a setback in his recovery from last year’s elbow surgery and is also looking at a return date some time after the All-Star break.

The bullpen has been touched up as well, with relievers Caleb Thielbar, Hunter Harvey, and Riley Martin still on the IL and Daniel Palancia, Phil Maton, and Ethan Roberts just having recently returned from injury.

Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer has talked about the team’s interest in pursuing trades but, realistically, nothing big is likely to come through until closer to the August 3 trade deadline.

So, that means Chicago will have to work its way through about two-and-a-half months of fill-ins and stopgaps until something truly impactful can be acquired. That doesn’t mean, however, that some solid pieces to the pitching puzzle can’t be added to hold the team over to the deadline.

The Cubs may be looking at two such pickups essentially laid at their feet right now.

Eric Lauer DFAd by the Blue Jays

More News: Chicago Cubs: Two realistic — but very unsexy — pitching trade targets

Left-handed swingman Eric Lauer was just DFAd by the Toronto Blue Jays after a rough start to this 2026 season.

The 8-year veteran currently has an ugly 1-5 record with a 6.69 ERA after 8 appearances (6 starts). Last season, though, he bounced back from a 2-year run of Tommy John-related inactivity and recovery with a 3.18 ERA over 104.2 innings pitched. Throughout his career with the Blue Jays, Brewers, and Padres, he’s posted a lifetime ERA of 4.26 through 156 games.

Lauer, at the very least, would give the Cubs a live body and some innings. His ability to move between the rotation and the bullpen would give the team some added versatility as well. He does have a track record of major league success, so maybe the team’s pitching braintrust could get him back on track.

Matt Bowman may opt out of Twins contract

Righty reliever Matt Bowman might also be available very soon as he could opt out of his minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins if they don’t bring up him to the majors by this weekend.

The 34-year-old has bounced around a few teams since being initially released by the Twins in August of 2024. He would spend time with the Baltimore Orioles and Houston Astros for the next season-and-a-half before being brought back to the Twins organization. Overall, he has a 4.38 lifetime ERA over 7 years, spread out over 7 teams.

Bowman is currently posting an ERA of 1.77 with a ground ball rate of nearly 55% over 20.1 innings at Triple-A St. Paul.

Any quality sinkerball pitcher would profile well when paired with the Cubs’ elite infield defense and Bowman could be a nice addition to a bullpen in need of consistency.

Obviously, Bauer and Bowman are not elite-level pitchers. But they could be quality role players on a Cubs team that needs a steady supply of arms to get them to the trade deadline or to a point where Steele and Boyd are back in action.

The post Chicago Cubs: Two veteran pitchers may be suddenly available to aid strained staff appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs offense has suddenly and abruptly gone ice cold. Over the last three games, they’ve scored just two runs and registered only eight hits.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Two realistic — but very unsexy — pitching trade targets

Of course, these things happen with teams. Offenses go through slumps and dry spells and this recent 0-3 run is only extraordinary when comparing it to the way the Cubs’ bats were cooking as recently as last Friday.

But there are some signs of a turnaround, specifically with two of the team’s most important young bats—Pete Crow-Armstrong and Moises Ballesteros.

Ballesteros coming alive?

More News: Chicago Cubs’ series versus Braves will show just how good they really are

In Tuesday’s game against the MLB-best Atlanta Braves, the 22-year-old Ballesteros crushed the ball for two outs of his 0-for-3 evening.

Evan Altman of Cubs Insider talks about the DH’s two hard-hit outs:

“The Cubs then drew three straight walks to load the bases for Moises Ballesteros, whose 107.1 mph exit velocity was the second-hardest of the game. The only problem is that it had a -1 degree launch angle and went to shortstop Ha-Seong Kim for an RBI forceout that limited the Cubs’ ability to keep adding on. If he produces that same contact 100 times, he’d end up with 48 hits…

Two innings earlier, Mo Baller hammered a liner that ate up Ozzie Albies for a moment before the second baseman gathered the ball and threw to first. At 105.8 mph and 9 degrees, it had a .760 xBA.”

Through this rough extended slump for the rookie, he’s not looked hopeless and helpless at the plate, despite what his .067 batting average and .314 OPS in the month of May may otherwise indicate.

This recent trend of getting good contact will lead to big results, eventually.

PCA is due for big things

Meanwhile, Crow-Armstrong’s offensive turnaround is still more theoretical than rooted in cold, hard fact, but metrics are screaming that a change will come.

Tony Andracki of Bleacher Nation noted this in a recent piece chronicling the weight training changes inspired in PCA by Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams:

“And he’s seen a pretty significant jump in bat speed, up to 74.3 mph this season compared to 72.7 mph last year.

Crow-Armstrong’s bat speed ranks 54th in MLB, ahead of superstar sluggers like Gunnar Henderson, Pete Alonso and Bryce Harper.

His average exit velocity is up this year as a result: 91.8 mph compared to 89.5 mph last year.”

The 24-year-old is still hovering around the .240 mark and has been limited to just 4 home runs so far this season, but up until this recent 3-game skid, he had been making more contact for actual hits. Overall, his increased bat speed and subsequent boost in exit velocity should offer a real reason to believe that his power game will get elevated soon enough.

The Cubs will definitely need the bats of Ballesteros and Crow-Armstrong to start pulling their weight if the goal is a deep postseason run. Given the current dire state of their banged up pitching staff, Chicago will absolutely need to start putting more runs on the board.

The post Chicago Cubs: These 2 young stars may be on the verge of going nuclear appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs’ battered bullpen is getting some relief of its own, as veteran reliever Liam Hendriks is joining the organization. According to Britt Ghiroli of The Athletic, the Cubs and Hendriks are finalizing a minor league contract.

Hendriks, 37, is a veteran right-hander of 14 major league seasons and has played with six different franchises. Hendriks’ time in the big leagues included three seasons with the Chicago White Sox (2021-23). During his time with the White Sox, Hendriks went 14-7 with a 2.76 ERA, recorded 76 saves in 132 appearances, and was a two-time All-Star.

More News: Cubs’ Moises Ballesteros in line to win a major award in MLB

The native Australian has not pitched in the big leagues this season, spending his time in the Minnesota Twins organization. The Twins released Hendriks on May 20. Hendriks appeared in 14 games with the Boston Red Sox last season until inflammation in his right hip at the end of May cost him the rest of the 2025 season.

The Chicago Cubs’ injury situation created a situation to sign Liam Hendriks

Injuries to the bullpen prompted the Cubs to sign Hendriks, with four members from the bullpen on the injured list. Left-handers Jordan Wicks (left forearm, radial nerve irritation) and Caleb Thielbar (left hamstring strain) should be returning soon, as they’re on rehab assignments.

Right-hander Hunter Harvey’s (right triceps inflammation) setback on May 7 in his bullpen session is what really prompted this move. Harvey’s timeline for return is to be determined, per MLB.com.

Since he has not pitched this season, Hendriks will need time to build himself up in the minor leagues. The Cubs need pitching, more moves similar to signing Hendriks could be made to fill the innings manager Craig Counsell needs filled.

The Cubs will likely be one franchise in the market starting and relief depth at the trade deadline.

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Back in the mid-2010’s, it appeared as if former Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant was on his way to being one of the premier stars in Major League Baseball. In 2015, he was named the NL Rookie of the Year while hitting .275/.369/.488 with 26 home runs and 99 RBI. The following year, he was the NL MVP after hitting .292/.385/.554 with 39 home runs and 102 RBI.

In seven seasons with Chicago, Bryant hit .279/.378/.508 and made five All-Star teams. Since leaving the Cubs, though, he has struggled to stay on the field. So much so that his massive contract is now considered among the worst in professional sports.

Former Chicago Cubs star Kris Bryant may not play again

Back in 2022, Bryant signed a seven-year $182 million contract with the Colorado Rockies. Entering the fifth year of the deal, he has appeared in just 170 games and has hit just .244/.324/.370 with 17 home runs and 61 RBI.

In April, Bryant was diagnosed with chronic lumbar degenerative disk disease and placed on the 60-day IL. He has not appeared in a game this season and may not ever be able to play again. For these reasons, FanSided recently ranked his contract with the Rockies as one of the worst in baseball:

“Kris Bryant’s contract might be the worst in the majors right now, given the fact that he hasn’t played a game this season and there’s a non-zero chance he’ll never play another MLB game. When it comes to being the most untradeable, though, I wouldn’t go that far because of the length.

“As bad as this contract is, Bryant is only under contract through the 2028 season. Even if Bryant doesn’t retire before then, therefore taking his contract off the books, the length isn’t such a deal breaker that if the Colorado Rockies were to be eager enough to attach a prospect to get his contract off the books, they might actually be able to do so. It’s a bad contract, but not the most untradeable.”

It truly is too bad that Bryant’s career has been decimated by injuries as he has gotten older. What was once a promising career has been derailed. Hopefully, he can at least recover to the point where the rest of his life is not affected too much.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Cubs may have to do the unthinkable to trade for a starting pitcher
• Cubs pitcher selected in 2025 MLB draft makes noise in Carolina League
• Cubs could plug glaring hole with surprise trade candidate

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago Cubs are 27-15 and still in first place in the National League Central Division despite their three game losing streak. While the primary issue during this brief slide has been their lack of offense (they have scored two runs in three games), the main concern going forward this year is the starting pitching.

Shota Imanaga has been stellar, no doubt; but the fact of the matter is that three of their preferred starting pitchers, Justin Steele, Cade Horton, and Matthew Boyd, are all hurt. As the season drags on, the Cubs will need even more depth in the rotation, and they may have to look to the trade market to find it.

The Chicago Cubs have been urged to trade Kevin Alcántara for Sonny Gray

One pitcher that is expected to be on the market is current Boston Red Sox right-handed starter Sonny Gray. Formerly of the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals, Gray is 3-1 with a 3.54 ERA. Since the Red Sox are under-performing as a team this year, many believe Gray could be on the move at the deadline.

And if made available, The Athletic believes Gray could go to Chicago, but that such a trade may cost them Kevin Alcantara:

“The Red Sox are off to a terrible start and could use a reset. Gray is an obvious candidate to be moved as a pending free agent. But would Boston’s chief baseball officer, Craig Breslow, make a challenge trade involving a young starter such as Payton Tolle or Connelly Early?

“This past offseason, the Red Sox were eyeing both Nico Hoerner (who is no longer available) and Matt Shaw. Maybe a top prospect such as Kevin Alcántara would be enticing? The Cubs could improve this year’s club while also building out their rotation for the future.”

Gray has a mutual option for 2027, which means that the Cubs could get him for more than just the rest of the 2026 season.

Alcántara is currently hitting .246/.342/.592 with 13 home runs and 27 RBI in Triple-A Iowa.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Cubs may have to do the unthinkable to trade for a starting pitcher
• Cubs pitcher selected in 2025 MLB draft makes noise in Carolina League
• Cubs could plug glaring hole with surprise trade candidate

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago Cubs are in dire need of starting pitching, and everyone knows it. Cade Horton is out for the season, Justin Steele had a setback and Matthew Boyd is on the injured list as a result of a freak meniscus tear.

Not only that, but offseason addition Edward Cabrera has been in the middle of some concerning struggles, which has left the Cubs’ rotation incredibly vulnerable.

Chances are, Chicago will add a starting pitcher between now and the trade deadline, and unlike last year where the Cubbies were frustratingly timid when it came to swinging trades, they will probably be fairly aggressive this time around.

The San Francisco Giants have a couple of arms in Robbie Ray and Logan Webb that could interest the Cubs, so expect to hear Chicago discussing potential trades with the Giants. But Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer has floated a wild scenario in which the Cubs would also take on slugger Rafael Devers in a possible deal with San Francisco.

Could the Chicago Cubs take back Rafael Devers in a trade?

It seems rather unthinkable that Chicago would even consider this, and to be fair, Rymer does not seem to think it will happen, either. But he mentioned the possibility when talking about potential landing spots for Devers, who is now on the trade block.

“The Cubs need starting pitching a lot more than they need another bat. And even if they could get Logan Webb or Robbie Ray alongside Devers, is he really worth playing over the ascendent Moisés Ballesteros at DH?” Rymer wrote.

I actually could envision a scenario in which the Giants are willing to cut the Cubs a break on the trade package if they are willing to take back Devers and the $226.5 million remaining on his contract — which runs through 2033 — in return.

In such a situation, Chicago certainly would not have to surrender as many valuable prospects, which would be appealing. But why in the world would the cost-conscious Cubs want to absorb that much money, particularly for a horrible fielder who owns a .677 OPS this season?

Yes, Devers is a lifetime .274/.347/.502 hitter, so he will likely right the ship at the plate at some point, but I’m not sure Chicago would want to test that theory. Not at Devers’ price.

If San Francisco does ultimately insist on attaching Devers to Ray or Webb in a trade, the Cubs should — and most certainly will — look elsewhere.

The post Cubs may have to do the unthinkable to trade for a starting pitcher appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Last summer, the Chicago Cubs selected right-handed pitcher Dominick Reid out of Abilene Christian with the 90th overall pick in the third round of the 2025 MLB Draft, making him the first pitcher taken in their draft class. Known for his swing-and-miss arsenal, Reid posted an impressive 11.4 K/9 rate during his final collegiate season, and that ability to miss bats has quickly carried over to the Carolina League. His strong start recently earned him recognition from MLB Pipeline as the hottest pitching prospect in the Cubs organization.

Chicago Cubs pitching prospect Dominick Reid is making some noise in the Carolina League

Reid, the Cubs’ No. 15 overall prospect according to MLB Pipeline, opened his professional career with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, the organization’s Single-A affiliate. While he endured a rough stretch in mid-April in which he allowed three earned runs in back-to-back outings before surrendering four earned runs in another start, he has otherwise shown flashes of dominance.

Three of his seven starts this season have been scoreless outings, a reminder of the upside that made him an early-round draft pick. Although he has yet to work more than five innings in a start, Reid has been especially sharp in May, recording six strikeouts in each of his last two appearances while allowing just one combined run. Overall, he owns a 3.49 ERA and an impressive 10.5 K/9 ratio on the season.

On the mound, Reid’s changeup has looked every bit as effective as it was during his college career, but it has not been his only weapon. His low-90s fastball with run and his curveball have also played major roles in his early success this season, giving him the type of three-pitch mix that could help solidify his long-term future as a starter — especially after the development of a reliable third pitch was viewed as one of his key areas for improvement entering the year.

Although it is still early in Reid’s professional career, the initial returns have been encouraging for the Cubs. His ability to generate strikeouts and showcase a developing three-pitch arsenal has quickly made him one of the more intriguing arms in the organization’s lower levels. If he continues to build consistency and handle a larger workload as the season progresses, Reid could climb the Cubs’ prospect rankings and establish himself as a legitimate long-term starting pitching prospect to watch.

Related: Cubs prospect propels into MLB’s top 100 rankings with early-season power surge

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The Chicago Cubs have been one of the best teams in baseball this season, and they have been achieving that in the face of considerable adversity.

Not only is Cade Horton out for the season, but Matthew Boyd is on the injured list due to a freak accident and Justin Steele had a setback. Plus, Edward Cabrera has become a major concern in the starting rotation, and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better.

Nevertheless, the Cubs are 27-14 and have already put together two 10-game winning streak this year, quite a remarkable feat.

You do have to wonder, though, if Chicago’s starting pitching issues will catch up to the team at some point in the near future. That’s why Jed Hoyer and the front office should take a very proactive approach to the MLB trade deadline, something the Cubs didn’t really do last season.

Chicago has already been linked to names like Freddy Peralta and Robbie Ray, but another potential trade candidate could become of interest to the Cubbies: Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Nick Martinez.

Chicago Cubs should pursue a trade for Nick Martinez

Martinez signed a one-year, $14 million contract with the Rays late in free agency this past offseason, and the move has certainly paid dividends for Tampa Bay.

The 35-year-old has pitched to the tune of a 1.70 ERA through eight starts, allowing 40 hits and registering 31 strikeouts over 47.2 innings of work. The strikeout numbers obviously aren’t impressive, but when you consider that Martinez has only issued 10 walks, his stats as a whole are very solid.

Chances are, Martinez will regress a bit at some point, as evidenced by his .252 BABIP and 3.85 xERA, but he would still represent a very viable pickup for a contending team like the Cubs. The veteran owns a very respectable lifetime 4.04 ERA across 288 appearances and 137 starts, and he probably wouldn’t be too costly.

Now, why would the Rays — who are shockingly in first place in the AL East — trade their top pitcher? Well, they’re the Rays, first of all. Tampa Bay is known for trading players even when it is displaying signs of being a playoff team. Second, it’s fair to ask just how much longer the Rays will maintain their current level of performance.

Yes, names like Peralta and Ray are for more enticing, but if Hoyer does not want to surrender a substantial stash of prospects (which is very Hoyer-like), he may settle on a pitcher like Martinez who, while not flashy, would absolutely bring some stability to Chicago’s rotation.

The post Chicago Cubs could plug glaring hole with surprising trade candidate appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have a few players on the roster who could be walking away with some fine hardware. Second baseman Nico Hoerner is a possible MVP candidate, while Moises Ballesteros could win Rookie of the Year.

Ballesteros is one of the Cubs’ best hitters and was ranked as one of the favorites to win the award.

Chicago Cubs Moises Ballesteros is a favorite to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award

According to MLB.com’s Jason Foster, who polled MLB experts, Ballesteros ranked fifth to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award. Infielders Konnor Griffin, Sal Stewart, JJ Wetherholt, and right-hander Nolan McLean finished ahead of Ballesteros in the voting.

More News: Chicago Cubs: One area on the roster that needs to improve

“Like others on this list, Ballesteros made noise in his initial callup last season, posting an .868 OPS in 20 games for the Cubs,” wrote Foster. “And like the others, he’s back at it this season. The lefty swinger leads all qualified NL rookies with a .500 slugging percentage and an .827 OPS, while his six homers rank third among the group.”

Overall, through 36 games, Ballesteros is batting .265 with an .827 OPS and six home runs. The last Cubs rookie to win the Rookie of the Year Award was third baseman Kris Bryant in 2015. In 151 games that season, Bryant batted .275 with a .858 OPS and mashed 26 home runs.

McLean is the odds on favorite to win the award, as he is 1-2 with a 2.78 ERA and has struck out 57 in his first eight starts. Barring injury to McLean, and unless Ballesteros can go on a massive hot streak, a top five finish wouldn’t be to bad for the 22-year-old.

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The Chicago Cubs are 27-14 through the first 41 games of the 2026 season. They are currently 3.5 games up in the National League Central Division on the back of two separate 10-game winning streaks. Despite numerous injuries to their starting rotation, the Cubs offense has been able to support the pitchers they have remaining.

What is more, multiple players that Chicago thought would be strong contributors on offense have gotten off to slow starts. The good news, though, is that others have been able to pick up their slack.

The even better news is that these struggling players have reputations for busting out of slumps.

The Chicago Cubs grab top-4 ranking in MLB power rankings

The Athletic recently released their updated MLB power rankings and included a reason for each team to have hope going forward in 2026. Chicago came up ranked fourth and their reason for hope was that their lineup has been able to shoulder the burden of winning games in the midst of their pitching injuries:

“The Cubs employ nine hitters with an OPS better than .715. The three outcasts are Alex Bregman, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Dansby Swanson, who all have the talent and track records to make you think they’ll ultimately get to that level, too. The NL Central is really good and really deep, and that’s probably the best way to describe the Cubs’ offense, which is why they stand atop the rest.”

Indeed, Bregman, PCA, and Swanson are off to incredibly slow starts. While there is concern about PCA due to his poor second half in 2025, Bregman and Swanson have a history of evening out throughout the course of the season. If two or all three of those hitters can bounce back, the Cubs’ offense will be an even bigger force going forward.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• 2 Cubs players stood out for the wrong reasons over the weekend
• Cubs slugger said to be on “borrowed” time in Chicago
• 2 realistic, but un-sexy, pitcher trade targets for Cubs

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Chicago Cubs offense named as their 1 reason to have hope in 2026 appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs are off to a hot start, having one of the best records in all of baseball here in early May. Chicago is getting it done with impressive pitching, despite losing Cade Horton for the season, Matthew Boyd for extended time and not having Justin Steele.

The injuries to the rotation have hurt and it’s expected that the Cubs will make a move.

They have been connected to a few pitchers already. But one arm they reportedly could pursue is someone they have liked for years. Now, in 2026 the time could be right to strike and land another top-end starter for a playoff push.

Chicago Cubs linked to Robbie Ray again

On Monday, The Athletic writers Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma looked at 10 starters the Cubs could look at to acquire. Among them was Robbie Ray and Logan Webb of San Francisco. Now, the Giants may not be ready to sell just yet but if they do, the duo suggests the Cubs should contact them.

The typically reliable Webb just landed on the injured list with bursitis in his right knee, and he has a 5.06 ERA. Assuming the knee issue isn’t significant, that shouldn’t scare off the Cubs, whose excellent defense would support Webb and his 58.5 percent ground-ball rate.

Webb is an innings-eater, and he won’t hit the free-agent market until after the 2028 season. The price to acquire him would be enormous, but he is a legitimate ace.

Ray is an arm the Cubs have liked for years. His injury history is much spottier than Webb’s, but the results are certainly there this season (2.76 ERA, 1.095 WHIP), and he’s an impending free agent. He makes a lot of sense for the Giants to move.

Ray would be a cheaper option for the Cubs. He’s set to be a free agent so it’s unlikely Chicago would have to part ways with a big prospect. They don’t want to have to give up a top prospect unless they are going after a star arm.

Getting a starting pitcher will likely be on top of Chicago’s list as the deadline approaches. But we could see the Cubs make a mover earlier. And if they do, don’t be surprised if it’s with the Giants.

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The Chicago Cubs are 27-14 and in first place in the National League Central Division. After a slow start to the season that saw them dwelling in last place, they have rattled off two separate 10-game winning streaks. Very few teams in MLB history have accomplished this feat, and Chicago did it before the end of May.

Throughout their hot stretch, multiple players have stepped up in a variety of ways. What should not be lost, though, is how well the starting rotation, led by Shota Imanaga, has been performing despite the loss of so many crucial pieces.

The Chicago Cubs starting rotation has been lifted by Shota Imanaga

Over the course of the off-season, Chicago made a couple of moves to bolster their starting rotation. Despite these, though, they have seen starter after starter go down with injury.

But they have kept on winning. Led by Imanaga, who is 4-2 with a 2.28 ERA, the Cubs pitching staff has weathered the storm of injuries, and was ranked eighth by Bleacher Report in their starting rotation rankings:

“They lost Cade Horton for the year after just two starts, and Justin Steele is nowhere near returning from an IL stint that began more than 13 months ago. The Cubs also recently lost Matthew Boyd to a bizarre knee injury.

“Yet, somehow, this rotation has more than held its own, thanks in large part to Shota Imanaga looking a whole lot better than he did toward the end of last season. Edward Cabrera has also proven to be a solid addition.”

One has to wonder, though, if the rotation is going to remain stable as it is. Clearly, many do not think so given the numerous trade rumors linking the Cubs to starting pitchers from losing teams.

While nothing seems imminent, the fact remains that in order to keep performing at a high level, the starting rotation is going to need a boost at some point.

Until then, it is great to recognize the early-season heroics Imanaga and Edward Cabrera have brought to the team.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• 2 Cubs players stood out for the wrong reasons over the weekend
• Cubs slugger said to be on “borrowed” time in Chicago
• 2 realistic, but un-sexy, pitcher trade targets for Cubs

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago Cubs looked like a team capable of outrunning their flaws during their recent 10-game winning streak. Their pitching staff is holding together despite losing starter Matthew Boyd, relievers Caleb Thielbar and Riley Martin to injuries.

They went 7-0 at Wrigley Field, which included a 4-game sweep over the Cincinnati Reds, featuring 3 consecutive walk-off wins. It felt sustainable only if you didn’t look too closely.

The Texas Rangers made everyone look closely.

The Cubs dropped two of three in Arlington over the weekend, losing the last two games by a combined 9-0 score. On Sunday, Rangers starter Jacob DeGrom flashed his old self, striking out 10 Cubs batters, allowing only 3 hits and 0 walks, with Nico Hoerner having 2 of the 3 hits.

While losing two out of three against the Rangers is nothing to be ashamed of, this series was a reminder that the margin for error is microscopic, and the players they’re counting on the most are starting to show strain.

Moisés Ballesteros hits the rookie wall — Hard

After sitting out the first two games, Moisés Ballesteros looked completely overmatched against deGrom on Sunday. He is hitting only .163 in his last 15 games. After a scorching start that made him look like the Cubs’ next homegrown star, the league has adjusted, and Ballesteros has not adjusted back.

Meanwhile, Michael Conforto, who started at DH in the first two games, has been swinging the bat well. He had a huge walk-off home run against the Reds last Monday night. After a slow start, he is starting to show the plate discipline, power, and ability to lengthen the lineup. And right now, the Cubs need someone who can grind at‑bats and give them professional swings against elite pitching. Why was he not in the lineup against DeGrom on Sunday?

The Cubs need to protect Ballesteros from overexposure, especially with the league adjusting and the schedule tightening anyway. Demoting him to the lower half of the lineup or playing Conforto on certain matchups gives him the breather he needs.

A slight shift in playing time is not a demotion. It is part of his development, which Ballesteros needs to understand and must learn from to take the next step.

Edward Cabrera’s command issues finally cost him

The Cubs acquired Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins this past offseason, hoping he would pitch like an ace. He opened the season with ace‑level outings, but the last several starts have shown rising hits, reduced swing‑and‑miss, and more hard contact. And on Saturday, he gave up 7 hits and 5 earned runs in a loss that snapped their 10-game winning streak.

MLB analyst Nape Roper said the other day that he saw Cabrera’s regression coming in his recent tweet.

Cabrera faced regression last night, allowing 5 ER over 5 innings, surrendering two solo shots to Josh Jung and Justin Foscue.

The same trends were present, including a lack of velocity and less movement on the curve. https://t.co/4iZmKqTOy0

— Nate Roper (@NateRoper_) May 10, 2026

Cabrera has now allowed three or more earned runs in six straight starts and dragged his ERA upward, erasing the early‑season optimism around his stuff.

The concerns Roper pointed out are:

• Velocity is down nearly 1.5 mph from April
• Whiff rate on the changeup has cratered
• Hard contact is up, especially early in counts
• Hitters are sitting on his fastball

Fans know the Cubs desperately need to add another frontline starter. But it will not happen for another month or two. And with the rotation already decimated by injuries — Horton out, Steele out, Boyd out — Cabrera has to stabilize things and needs to be an ace of this staff. Instead, his performance against the Rangers showed he has suddenly become the biggest question mark in a rotation.

The post Two players stood out for wrong reasons for Cubs this weekend appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs are certainly not starving for offense this season, as they rank fifth in the majors in batting average, fourth in OPS and are tied for third in runs scored. So they aren’t really looking to add pieces to their lineup right now.

That’s bad news for top prospect Kevin Alcantara, who has already smashed 13 home runs at Triple-A Iowa this season and is clearly ready to hit the big leagues at any moment.

The problem is that the Cubs’ outfield is stocked with Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki, and with Moises Ballesteros mashing at DH, there really is no room for Alcantara at the current point in time.

A position change could be possible for the 23-year-old, but even then, where would he play? The Cubs’ infield is pretty set, and he certainly isn’t moving to catcher.

It’s looking more and more like a trade is the most likely out come for Alcantara, and Jordan Campbell of Cubbies Crib has tabbed the slugger among three players who are on the chopping block with the trade deadline in sight.

Is Kevin Alcantara doomed with the Chicago Cubs?

The Cubs traded another top outfield prospect in Owen Caissie during the offseason, sending him to the Miami Marlins in exchange for pitcher Edward Cabrera.

Chicago still finds itself in need of more pitching, and with some impressive names potentially littering the trade market between now and Aug. 3, it stands to reason that Alcantara could be on the move, as well.

“No, Kevin Alcantara isn’t with the big-league club, but it feels like he is on borrowed time with the organization,” Campbell wrote. “The Cubs didn’t seem eager to have Alcantara break camp with the team this season, and while he could be an option to replace Ian Happ or Seiya Suzuki next season, it feels like he’s going to be their biggest trade chip at the deadline.”

Yes, it is worth noting that both Happ and Suzuki are slated to hit free agency at year’s end, so Chicago could always wait another year to unleash Alcantara (although he did briefly make his major-league debut in 2025). But with the Cubs knocking on the door to a World Series this season, they may not want to wait that long.

Alcantara is Chicago’s third-ranked prospect behind pitcher Jaxon Wiggins and middle infielder Jefferson Rojas, but Alcantara may be the most MLB-ready of the group. That means time is running out for both sides in the Windy City, so if the Cubs move him by the deadline, it would not be the least bit surprising.

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The Chicago Cubs have been hit with a brutal series of injuries to their pitching staff that threatens to pull the rug right out from underneath them.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Michael Conforto is making the most of his second chance

Currently on the shelf is emerging ace Cade Horton, who will be out for the season after elbow surgery, and Opening Day starter Matthew Boyd, who should be back from surgical meniscus repair at some point after the All-Star break. Lefty ace Justin Steele, meanwhile, suffered a setback in his recovery from last year’s elbow surgery and is also looking to return at some point after the break.

The bullpen, meanwhile, has also been hit hard. Caleb Thielbar and Hunter Harvey are still out while Phil Maton and Daniel Palencia have just gotten back from the IL.

If the Cubs look to be a serious postseason player and possible contender for a championship, they will need to fortify their pitching staff via trade.

Unfortunately, much of the team’s young talent is already at the major league level and the farm system isn’t exactly overrun with top-shelf prospects at the moment. So, Jed Hoyer and the front office will have to strike that balance between what they expect in terms of return and what they can conceivably give away without hurting their major league product.

There are prospects to trade away, of course, and many of them find their paths to the big leagues currently blocked. The Cubs will just have to find the right deals for the right players and may have to settle for one or two one-year pickups rather than a true stud with years left of team control.

The Athletic’s recent piece by Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma, naming 10 pitchers the Cubs could target for before the trade deadline, goes through some of the major targets, as well as some of the under-the-radar possibilities. Two particular names jumped out as especially realistic, given the trade capital the team has to work with.

Michael Soroka back to the Cubs?

More News: Chicago Cubs: Why it’s the perfect time to trade this top prospect

Per Mooney, Sharma:

“Soroka was mostly a disappointment after the Cubs acquired him at last year’s trade deadline, but that was due to injury. And the Cubs were probably onto something with Soroka, a one-time All-Star starter who has made meaningful mid-career adjustments.”

Cubs fans had a fit last season when the team’s biggest acquisition at the trade deadline was Michael Soroka, who had the goods, but also sported a significant history of injury and a likely role as a back-of-rotation starter at best.

And they really had a fit when the righty went on the IL after just two innings in Chicago. Soroka did come back and have a nice September, but he would then move on to a one-year deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks via free agency.

The Cubs liked Soroka enough to trade for him, though, and they felt his style fit in well with their defense behind him. They probably still feel that way and they just might be tempted to bring him back if the asking price is right.

Foster Griffin to complete his comeback

Per Mooney, Sharma:

“The Nationals may have found a viable major-league starter in Griffin, a pitcher the Cubs extensively scouted in Japan. A 2014 first-round pick by the Kansas City Royals, Griffin bounced around before landing with the Yomiuri Giants. In leaving Nippon Professional Baseball after three strong seasons, Griffin wasn’t overwhelmed with interest — the Nationals signed him to a one-year, $5.5 million contract — but the early returns (4-1, 2.12 ERA) are promising.”

The Nationals are going nowhere this year and will lose Griffin to free agency at the end of this season anyway. The Cubs have shown interest in the lefty in the recent past and could probably get him from Washington for a modest trade package.

So, there are deals to be made out there for the Cubs—deals which won’t cost them major league talent or essential prospects. It’s a guarantee that they’ll be trying to pull off something impactful as soon as possible.

The post Chicago Cubs: Two realistic — but very unsexy — pitching trade targets appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs felt that they had ended their 2025 season with a chance to make some tweaks and field a truly special team in 2026. The team’s moves this past offseason showcased that mindset as they were more aggressive than usual in adding talent and plugging roster holes.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Owen Caissie’s struggles in Miami are ugly

They traded for emerging powerhouse starter Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins. Four days after that, they signed three-time All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman to a big 5-year deal. They also went about restocking a depleted bullpen over the course of the winter via four free agent signings (Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, Jacob Webb, and Hunter Harvey).

As the Cubs began the season, there were big expectations and even some World Series chatter. And even through an ugly run of pitching injuries that should’ve hobbled them, the team held steady and performed well. They have two 10-game winning streaks, a solid placement atop the NL Central Division, and currently have the second best record in the National League (the third best in baseball).

But even through Chicago’s successes, there has been the question of just how good they are. Were they a true force to be reckoned with over the long haul or just a pretty solid team on some incredible temporary hot streak?

The Cubs’ big test in Atlanta

More News: Chicago Cubs: Why it’s the perfect time to trade this top prospect

That question may be answered in the upcoming series against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park.

The Braves currently hold the best record in all of baseball and have been killing it in every area of the game.

Offensively, they are first (or tied for first) in batting average, slugging percentage, and wRC+ while ranking in the Top 4 in home runs and on base percentage. They are also sporting an MLB-leading +87 run differential.

In terms of pitching, the Braves—like the Cubs—have suffered through some high-profile injuries, but have managed to surpass what Chicago has been able to do with their own strained staff. They will come into Tuesday’s matchup with the best rotation ERA in baseball (3.03) and the third best bullpen ERA (3.31).

From back-to-back shutout losses

The Cubs are no slouches in any of the above categories, but the Braves have been putting in some truly elite work so far this year. And they’ll be walking into this Atlanta buzzsaw coming off tough back-to-back shutout losses to the Texas Rangers.

“Obviously, losing a series here is not how you want to go into an off day, but there’s a lot to be really excited about,” Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon told reporters after Sunday’s 3-0 loss in Arlington. “Hopefully, tomorrow’s just a really good day to reset for everyone, physically, mentally, emotionally and come out ready because Atlanta’s, I think, maybe, got the best record in baseball, up there with us. So, it should be a really good series.”

The next three games should tell a lot about how good this Cubs team truly is.

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The Chicago Cubs have been one of the best teams in Major League Baseball and sit atop the National League Central by three and a half games. The Cubs recently won 10 straight games (April 28 to May 8) and are 10-5 in their last 15 games.

With a top-five offense — the Cubs are fifth in batting average (.252) and fourth in OPS (.764) — the Cubs have had one of the better pitching staffs, despite a handful of injuries. The Cubs have the seventh-best starting staff (3.77 ERA and 1.17 WHIP), with the bullpen ranking 13th in ERA (3.87) and eighth in WHIP (1.24).

More News: Chicago Cubs could be without All-Star left-hander until July

Even though the starting staff has been a bright spot for the Cubs, the injuries they suffered recently could come back to haunt them later in the season.

The Chicago Cubs need to add to their pitching staff to stay competitive in a tough National League

According to MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian, “inquiring about pitching help” as the trade deadline approaches is what the Cubs need to do to counter the injuries they’ve sustained.

“The Cubs have been on a historic run of late, winning 15 consecutive home games at Wrigley Field and already having two double-digit win streaks overall,” wrote Bastian. “The offense has been firing on all cylinders, while the pitching staff has been performing well amid a steady stream of injury issues. In the rotation, Cade Horton is out for the year, Justin Steele recently had a setback in his comeback bid, and, most recently, Matthew Boyd needed left knee surgery. The Trade Deadline is still two-plus months away, but the Cubs should start looking into a potential impact arm to add to the rotation. More bullpen depth should be on Chicago’s to-do list, too.”

The recent injury to left-hander Matthew Boyd (knee surgery) leaves a massive hole in the starting rotation, especially after right-hander Cade Horton will miss the rest of the year with Tommy John surgery. The good news for the Cubs is Boyd will likely return in June or July, but with this being his second time on the injured list, the Cubs will need to monitor his innings. Boyd had a left bicep strain in early April, which kept him on the shelf until April 22.

Reports have tied the Cubs to the New York Mets right-hander Freddy Peralta, who would give the Cubs a legitimate No. 1 starter. However, the Cubs may be hesitant to trade for Peralta, as he is a free agent after this season and will require a decent sized haul to trade for him.

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The Chicago Cubs are 27-14 through their first 41 games and sit atop the National League Central Division. Over the past couple of years, Craig Counsell has helped the Cubs become a force in the regular season and has already won 200 games as manager.

Of course, the plethora of young talent the organization has provided him with has helped. Indeed, the Cubs have one of the brightest groups of young stars in all Major League Baseball, one that will keep them competitive, hopefully, for years to come.

The Chicago Cubs have a core four that is among the best in Major League Baseball

Recently, Bleacher Report ranked the best young cores in Major League Baseball. Of course, Chicago made its list, coming in ranked fifth, with stars Cade Horton, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Moises Ballesteros, and Matt Shaw being named as their core-four:

“It is most unfortunate that the fourth member of this quartet suffered a UCL injury and will miss not only the rest of 2026 but likely a significant chunk of 2027, as well. Horton almost won the NL Rookie of the Year last season. He has a 2.66 ERA through his first 125.1 IP. Here’s hoping he is able to return good as new.

“On the not-injured side of things here, PCA started slow at the plate but has come around in a big way over the past few weeks—while remaining maybe the most valuable defensive asset in the sport today.

“Ballesteros, on the other hand, ended April with an OPS north of 1.000, picking up Crow-Armstrong’s slack while becoming a near-everyday fixture in the lineup. He now has an .869 OPS 54 games into his career, which is better than the .861 mark Anthony Rizzo had for his 10 seasons in the Windy City.

“Though Matt Shaw has gone from “primary third baseman” in 2025 to “put me in coach, I’m ready to play” in 2026, he has been a better hitter in his second season. With both Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki slated for free agency this winter, Shaw figures to become a primary corner outfielder in 2027. In the meantime, he has been that super-utilityman that seemingly every contender needs these days.”

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Cubs prospect surges into top-100 MLB rankings after early success
• Owen Caissie’s struggles in Miami are ugly
• It’s the perfect time for the Cubs to trade this prospect

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago Cubs are 27-14 through the first 41 games of the 2026 MLB season. A popular preseason pick to win the National League Central, Chicago currently leads the division by 3.5 games over the Milwaukee Brewers, who won the NL Central in each of the previous three years.

After a slow start to the year, the Cubs have rattled off two different 10-game winning streaks and appear to be the force that many thought they would be.

Looking back on the first quarter of the season, there are several players who have lived up to expectations, and others who have come up short in many ways.

Chicago Cubs players deserving of an A on the first quarter report card

Chicago has been fortunate to have several players live up to or exceed the expectations set for them before the season began. Some others have yet to completely meet those set for them, but are getting along just fine and hopefully will find more success as the season goes on.

So far, though, these three players are especially worthy of some recognition.

1. Nico Hoerner

Chicago’s All-Star/Gold Glove second baseman is, once again, proving that he is one of the best players at his position in the league. Through the first 41 games of the season, Nico Hoerner is hitting .278/.351/.426 with four home runs, 28 RBI, and eight stolen bases.

What is more impressive, though, is that he has walked (16 times) more than he has struck out (15 times).

2. Shota Imanaga

When the Cubs extended Shota Imanaga a one-year $22 million qualifying offer, many fans were upset/confused. He was 9-8 with a 3.73 ERA in 2025 and most did not believe he was worth it.

But with Chicago’s starting pitching rotation decimated by injury this year, Imanaga has been a stabilizing force. Through eight starts in 2026, he is 4-2 with a 2.28 ERA.

3. Seiya Suzuki

Another player that was considered unpopular with fans entering 2026, Seiya Suzuki missed the first few weeks of the season due to a knee injury he suffered during the World Baseball Classic. Since his return, though, he has been one of the better bats in their lineup.

In 27 games played, Suzuki is hitting .293/.403/.535 with seven home runs and 16 RBI. Last year, he hit .245/.326/.478 with 32 home runs and 103 RBI. It was the first time he hit 30+ home runs and drove in 100+ runs in his Major League career.

Chicago Cubs players that get an F on their first quarter report card

While the players listed above have played well and arguably are exceeding the expectations fans had for them, others on the team are not living up to the hype that surrounded them going into the season.

If the Cubs are going to hold off their division rivals, the following players need to snap out of it and start producing.

1. Alex Bregman

After signing a five-year $175 million contract with Chicago in free agency, Alex Bregman was thought to be the offensive replacement for Kyle Tucker, who ditched the Cubs for Los Angeles.

Through the first quarter of the season, though, Bregman is hitting just .233/.328/.333 with three home runs and 13 RBI. Last year, he hit .273/.360/.462 with 18 home runs and 82 RBI in Boston.

Needless to say, the Cubs were hoping for a lot more from Bregman than they have been getting.

2. Phil Maton

Chicago’s bullpen has been dealing with some injury issues themselves, and Phil Maton has been among those that have spent some time on the injured list.

Even when healthy, though, Maton has struggled half the time. He is currently 0-1 with a 7.45 ERA in 11 appearances this season. Fortunately, he has not allowed an earned run in his last five appearances, so perhaps he is turning a corner. Up to this point, though, his overall performance has not been what the Cubs expected.

3. Dansby Swanson

Make no mistake, Dansby Swanson is still one of the best defensive shortstops in the game. However, his performance at the plate this season has been sub-par, even by his standards. In his first three seasons with Chicago, Swanson hit .243/.313/.408.

This season, he is hitting .201/.313/.373. His walk percentage is up, which is nice; but his batting average on balls in play is down. Hopefully he gets some better luck at the plate going forward, but as of now it is concerning to see him flirting with the Mendoza line.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Cubs prospect surges into top-100 MLB rankings after early success
• Owen Caissie’s struggles in Miami are ugly
• It’s the perfect time for the Cubs to trade this prospect

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago Cubs are 27-14 and currently lead the National League Central Division by 3.5 games. While they have lost two games in a row (in shutout fashion), they recently won 10 games in a row for the second time this season. Up next, they travel to take on the Atlanta Braves in a three-game series, which will put them up against a team with a very similar record as theirs.

Despite their last two losses, no one is sleeping on the Cubs anymore. They have endured injury after injury in the starting rotation, yet keep on finding ways to win.

The Chicago Cubs take the third spot in BR’s MLB power rankings

Before the 2026 MLB season began, many baseball experts picked the Cubs win the National League Central Division. Their slow start to the year, though, had many second-guessing their predictions.

As mentioned, though, Chicago is now one of the handful teams throughout the history of the game to post two different 10-game winning streaks in the same year, and the Cubs have played just 41 games.

Due to their recent blazing success, Bleacher Report has ranked them as the third-best team in Major League Baseball:

“The Cubs are riding a 15-game winning streak at Wrigley Field following their four-game sweep of the Reds last week, and have already ripped off a pair of 10-game winning streaks overall through their first 41 games. Veteran Michael Conforto is 7-for-14 with three doubles and two home runs in May.”

Indeed, Chicago has needed contributors from all over their roster in order to help them get this far. Outfielder Michael Conforto has bounced back from his horrendous 2025 season better than the Cubs may have hoped.

Last year, he hit .199/.305/.333 with 12 home runs and 36 RBI for the Los Angeles Dodgers. So far this year, he is hitting .364/.473/.659 with two home runs and eight RBI in Chicago.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Cubs prospect surges into top-100 MLB rankings after early success
• Owen Caissie’s struggles in Miami are ugly
• It’s the perfect time for the Cubs to trade this prospect

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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Early-season power surge has lifted Chicago Cubs infielder Pedro Ramirez into MLB’s top 100 prospect rankings

Known primarily for his defense after winning a minor league Gold Glove Award in 2025, Ramirez began turning heads this spring with impressive exit velocities and several home runs during big league camp in Spring Training. He has carried that momentum into the regular season, already launching a career-high nine home runs at Triple-A.

A career high nine home runs for Pedro Ramirez!🚀 pic.twitter.com/yPPdeQwIYF

— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) May 10, 2026

In addition to the home runs, Ramirez has also mashed 10 doubles early in the year. His .573 slugging percentage and .960 OPS both represent career bests, making his offensive breakout one of the more encouraging developments in the organization. The key now will be sustaining this level of production as the season progresses, especially considering the club is only 37 games into the year.

The post Cubs’ prospect propels into MLB’s top 100 rankings thanks to early-season power surge appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs finally pulled the trigger on the trade for Edward Cabrera this offseason, after eyeing the emerging powerhouse starter for the better part of a year-and-a-half.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Why it’s the perfect time to trade this top prospect

They paid a steep price to get the 28-year-old right-hander, though. In the deal, Chicago sent over their no. 1 prospect OF Owen Caissie as well as infield prospects Cristian Hernandez and Edgardo De Leon.

For the Cubs’ front office, it was a deal worth making for the here and now, as Cabrera’s presence in the starting rotation could considerably fortify the team’s efforts to make a legit run at a championship. Also, the native of the Dominican Republic would be under team control through the 2028 season.

And even though Cabrera’s early-season shine has grown dull in recent outings—he has a 5.19 ERA over his last 6 starts—the Cubs look to have “won” the trade.

Caissie has been a complete disaster for the Marlins.

Owen Caissie is really struggling in Miami

More News: Chicago Cubs: Ben Brown is a true rotation x-factor

Excluding a walk-off home run in the opening series and a .348 batting average through the first seven games of the season, the 23-year-old’s 2026 has been brutal.

Since April 4, Caissie’s hitting .154 with no home runs and 6 RBIs. On the season, he’s slashing .198/.254/.317 with an OPS of .571. He’s also sporting a ridiculously high strikeout rate of 41.2% through 114 plate appearances.

“Adjusting to major league pitching is the hardest thing a player is ever going to do,” justified Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix.

“With guys like Owen, he has never failed at any point in his career,” Bendix added. “So what happens when you get punched? What happens when you get knocked down? You have to figure out a way to get back up and adjust. Players do that at different points in their careers. It takes them different amounts of time.”

Yes, all of that is true. And the Marlins are the right team for a young prospect looking to work through some issues at the major league level. After a hot start, the team has settled into its proper level as a lower-tier club, currently second-to-last in the NL East Division, ahead of the surprisingly lowly New York Mets.

And now it appears as though injury has entered the picture. Caissie was scratched from Sunday’s game against the Washington Nationals due to “left triceps discomfort.”

Cubs dodged a bullet

If the Cubs had held on to him, there’s would’ve been some real issues, aside from them not having Cabrera to help fill out a banged-up starting rotation. Caissie surely would’ve been sent back down to Triple-A a good while ago. Like everyone saw last year with Matt Shaw’s early struggles, Chicago has no time for player development as they try to win a pennant.

The original plan looked to be a platoon situation for the young outfielder in right field, sharing time with Seiya Suzuki and also getting at bats as a left-handed designated hitter. It looks as though that absolutely would not have worked out.

It’s still early in the season and very early into Caissie’s career. So the Cubs may eventually rue the day they let him go for three years of Cabrera. But, right now? There’s no trader’s remorse at all.

The post Chicago Cubs: Owen Caissie’s struggles in Miami are ugly appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs are in first place, atop the NL Central Division by 3.5 games. They’re also tied for the best record in all of baseball.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Ben Brown is a true rotation x-factor

But there are issues behind the feel-good winning vibes of the last few weeks.

They’ve lost Cade Horton, one of their top starters and an emerging ace, for the year following elbow surgery. They’ve also lost Opening Day starter and last year’s pitching MVP, Matthew Boyd, who will be out for awhile after suffering a freak meniscus injury requiring surgery. Ace Justin Steele has suffered a setback in his recovery from last year’s elbow surgery.

The bullpen has also been hit hard by injury, with Caleb Thielbar and Hunter Harvey still on the shelf and Phil Maton and closer Daniel Palencia just returning from their own stints on the IL. So far, the pen has held strong, even with some emergency relief arms filling in.

But, realistically, the Cubs will have a really tough time reaching their championship goals without at least one other front-of-rotation starter and some added high-end depth in relief. That means trades are a must.

Cubs must trade their prospects

More News: Chicago Cubs: Michael Conforto is making the most of his second chance

Chicago will have to part ways with some of their prospects to bring in an arm or two.

Currently, Triple-A Iowa is loaded with talented prospects who find their path to the majors blocked. First baseman Jonathon Long (no. 6 prospect) carries a big bat, but Michael Busch is ahead of him in Chicago. Double-A star SS/2B Jefferson Rojas (no. 4) is blocked by Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner, who just signed a six-year extension with the Cubs. 3B/2B Pedro Ramirez (no. 8) won’t get a starting gig as long as Alex Bregman is around. 2B/OF James Triantos (no. 9) and OF Brett Bateman (no. 20) are also without any real path to the majors.

But the ideal trade piece may be no. 4 prospect OF Kevin Alcantara, who is grabbing all the headlines with an incredible power surge early this season.

With 13 home runs so far, the 23-year-old leads the International League and has showcased some elite power chops.

Mixed feelings on the red-hot Kevin Alcantara

But underneath the long ball tally, the prospect who came over from the Yankees in the 2021 Anthony Rizzo trade remains essentially the same player who has had scouts debating his prospect value for the last few years. His strikeout rate is still a very high 34.5% and he’s still very much a feast-or-famine type player. There remains a lot of doubt about whether his long swing and overall approach can translate to big league success.

However, he’s also very toolsy and remains an attractive player because of that.

The big-time power this year, along with the promise he still has as a multi-tool asset, makes his trade value higher than it’s ever been.

Although the Cubs are facing the possibility that they may lose both corner outfielders Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki to free agency at the end of this year, they may have to bite the bullet and trade away Alcantara. It also must be taken into consideration that 2026 will be the last minor-league option year for him and that the Cubs will soon have to make the decision to push him to the majors or let him go.

The post Chicago Cubs: Why it’s the perfect time to trade this top prospect appeared first on ChiCitySports.

During the offseason, the Chicago Cubs knew they needed to address their starting rotation, so they went out and swung a trade to acquire Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins.

The Cubs sent top outfield prospect Owen Caissie to the Marlins in exchange for Cabrera, a steep price to pay. But given how good Cabrera was last year and how much Chicago needed another, it was deemed worthwhile.

Early on, that appeared to be the case, as Cabrera did not allow a run in either of his first two starts, picking up right where he left off in 2025.

Things have since changed, though, as the right-hander has labored significantly over his last six outings. Cabrera has surrendered three-plus runs in each of them, including a five-spot in a loss to the Texas Rangers on Saturday.

There clearly seems to be an issue with Cabrera, and Chicago absolutely must get it fixed.

Chicago Cubs must find the problem with Edward Cabrera

What made Cabrera such an enticing young hurler during his time with the Marlins was his velocity and strikeout rate. He regularly sat around 98 mph on his four-seam fastball, and he averaged 10 punchouts per nine innings throughout his five-year tenure in South Beach.

That hasn’t really been the case for Cabrera in 2026.

Cabrera’s velocity has dipped considerably this season, as he is averaging just 95.8 mph on his four-seamer. His breaking ball has also fallen off considerably, going from one of the best in baseball last year to only decent with the Cubs … and he is getting tagged because of it.

After surrendering just 17 home runs in 26 starts last season, Cabrera has already given up seven homers in eight starts in 2026, with all seven of them coming over his last four outings.

Is the 28-year-old injured? Is something wrong mechanically? I would say it could just be regression, but that doesn’t explain the sudden dip in velocity, which has resulted in Cabrera logging just 8.4 strikeouts per nine innings.

What’s ironic is that Cabrera’s biggest issue has always been his control. This year, he owns a career-best 2.9 BB/9, and yet, his 1.317 WHIP is higher than his lifetime average of 1.310. Why? Because he has allowed 46 hits over 46.1 frames.

The Dominican native does have an injury history, so it might be worth it for Chicago to examine him to see if something is wrong. Otherwise, this could go very south, very fast.

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The Chicago Cubs have already been tested heavily by injuries to their pitching staff this season. From Opening Day starter Matthew Boyd, to rising ace Cade Horton, closer Daniel Palencia, and several others along the way, Chicago’s pitching depth has been stretched thin early in the year as the organization continues searching for healthy reinforcements.

One player who briefly appeared with the Cubs earlier in April was left-handed reliever Charlie Barnes. He tossed three innings against the Philadelphia Phillies on April 13, allowing three earned runs during the outing. After being shuffled between the major and minor leagues in the weeks that followed, Barnes was eventually designated for assignment, where the Los Angeles Dodgers quickly claimed him.

Former Chicago Cubs depth piece Charlie Barnes is now a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers

30 year old Barnes saw his first MLB action in five years with the Cubs in April. His only other big league action came in 2021 with the Minnesota Twins, the team that drafted him, when he made eight starts (nine appearances) and threw 3.0 innings with a 5.92 ERA. He now joints the Dodgers 40-man roster, in which fan favorite Tommy Edman was transferred to the 60-day injured list.

Edman is recovering from off-season ankle surgery, and is expected to return at some point this season. Meanwhile, Barnes was assigned to Triple-A after being claimed by the Dodgers, but stands a good chance at factoring into their bullpen rotation at some point due to a mass amount of injures in Los Angeles’ bullpen.

Interestingly, the injury parallels between the Cubs and Dodgers are very real, yet both teams continue finding ways to win games. While Chicago has emerged as arguably the hottest team in baseball, coming off back-to-back 10-game winning streaks and tied with the Braves for the league’s best record at 27-13, the Dodgers still loom as perhaps their biggest competition, not only because of their talent, but because they are chasing a third straight World Series title and have a loaded roster.

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The Chicago Cubs‘ farm system has been loaded with prospects for quite some time now, and little by little, they have been moving some of their top youngsters for established talent.

They traded Cam Smith for Kyle Tucker two offseasons ago. This past winter, they jettisoned Owen Caissie for Edward Cabrera. And now, with the Cubs looking like bona fide World Series contenders in May, it stands to reason they could part with more elite prospects in order to land more star players.

One prospect that has long been on the radar is pitcher Jaxon Wiggins, who Chicago managed to keep out of the Cabrera deal (the Miami Marlins were more interested in adding offense, anyway), but when it comes to swinging a trade for someone like New York Mets right-hander Freddy Peralta (or any other top arms that might be available), Wiggins may not be so safe.

That’s assuming, of course, other teams would actually desire Wiggins at this stage.

Wiggins is currently sidelined due to right elbow inflammation, which could scare some clubs away from acquiring him as a major piece of a blockbuster deal before the trade deadline. That’s especially based on general manager Carter Hawkins’ recent comments.

Chicago Cubs might have trouble trading Jaxon Wiggins

Of course, there is no evidence that the Cubs even want to trade Wiggins, but let’s be honest: teams are going to be asking about the 24-year-old … if he gets healthy.

The problem is that Wiggins’ status is very much in the air, and Hawkins didn’t exactly give the former second-round pick a huge vote of confidence when discussing his impending return.

“He’s definitely a guy that’s on the radar but not somebody that we’re writing in ink,” Hawkins said in 104.3 The Score.

Hawkins indicated that Chicago’s plan is to eventually work Wiggins into the starting rotation, but elbow issues can absolutely be tricky, so the Cubs will certainly be treating the righty with kid gloves as he continues his rehab.

Chicago has plenty of other prospects in it system that would be of interest to other teams, but Wiggins is the only pitcher the Cubs have in their top 10. The next closest is right-hander Kaleb Wing, who MLB.com ranks as Chicago’s 12th-best prospect.

There is no question that Wiggins’ health could complicate the Cubs’ trade deadline plans, particularly considering that adding another starter is the team’s biggest need right now.

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The Chicago Cubs have the best record in baseball at the moment (27-12) and a nice 3.5 game lead atop the NL Central Division. They’re also riding high on a 10-game winning streak, which matches an earlier 10-game winning streak that ended just three games prior to this most recent “W” run.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Michael Conforto is making the most of his second chance

This insane—and historic—run of success is especially incredible considering just how battered and strained the team’s pitching staff has been.

The Cubs lost Cade Horton for the year following elbow surgery. They’ve lost Matthew Boyd on two separate occasions now, with this latest freak injury of the meniscus requiring surgery and an IL stint that could last until after the All-Star break. They’ve also lost several key components of their bullpen and a few backup pieces as well.

Yet, they keep winning.

“It just feels like we’re talking about somebody different every night,” manager Craig Counsell recently told reporters, referring to this run of hero-of-the-day victories.

Ben Brown: Hero of the day…and beyond?

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In Friday’s 7-1 win over the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Ben Brown earned the hero-of-the-day distinction.

Asked to move into the rotation after Boyd’s injury, the 26-year-old showcased the increased poise, maturity, and pitch decisions he’s been displaying all season as a multi-inning bullpen asset.

Over four innings, the hard-throwing right-hander gave up no runs, no hits, and only walked one. It was a commanding, impressive performance, but it just continued the storyline of a young pitcher who is finally looking like his self-actualized self.

Since April 11, Brown has a 0.47 ERA in 19 innings over 9 appearances. In his last 4 outings, he’s allowed just one hit over 8.2 innings. Overall, he’s 1-1 with a 1.82 ERA over 13 appearances this season.

“We couldn’t have asked for anything more,” Counsell told reporters after the game. “He was dialed in. He was sharp. He was pounding the strike zone. He was getting quick outs. To get him through four innings was, I think, unexpected, to say the least.”

Becoming his best self

Brown has shown flashes of brilliance since coming over from the Philadelphia Phillies organization in the 2022 trade for reliever David Robertson, but consistency was always the issue. The addition of a sinker ball to his pitch repertoire this offseason has given him an effective and useful third pitch—especially for a team with such a brilliant infield defense.

“There’s so many different layers to the situation,” Brown told media after this recent outing, spreading the accolades around. “Our pitching staff is just better because our defense is so good. Our pitching staff can breathe a little bit because our offense is playing so well. Our pitching staff is incredibly deep because our coaches are so solid. There’s so many causes and effects.”

If Brown is becoming his best self, the Cubs may have found the starting pitcher they’ve so desperately needed since Horton went down and Boyd followed him. It would take an immense amount of pressure off the front office in their pursuit of a front-of-rotation starter for a team with championship aspirations.

Of course, it’s still early in the season and Brown has had things go sideways on him before. But this definitely looks like a different pitcher this time around. And even if the Cubs do end up targeting a high-end starter at the trade deadline—as they really should—a sharp and commanding Brown would be a blessing in the three months or so leading up to that pickup.

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The Chicago Cubs went all last season without a true fourth outfielder. As a result, starters Ian Happ and Pete Crow-Armstrong, especially, were forced to play almost every inning of the season.

More News: Chicago Cubs GM offers important update on top pitching prospect’s recovery from injury

Coming into 2026, one of the focal points for the team was bench depth and the front office tackled the fourth outfielder issue by picking up Justin Dean, Chas McCormick, Dylan Carlson, and then Michael Conforto to compete for that key backup spot.

Conforto, who languished through a horrible 2025 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, was picked up on a minor league deal, but eventually got the backup outfielder gig, as well as an Opening Day starter spot due to the knee injury of right fielder Seiya Suzuki.

Dodgers fans had a chuckle at the Cubs’ decision at the time. Last year, the veteran alternated between being a punchline and a target for angry LA fans after a season that saw him hit a meager .199 and get left off the postseason roster.

Nobody’s laughing at the Cubs’ folly anymore.

Conforto: From punchline to hardline

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The 33-year-old is killing it so far this year as a bench asset and has even started to get some starting time in right field. As of this writing, he’s hitting .375 with 2 home runs and 8 RBIs in limited play. He’s also coming off the hottest week of his recent career—one where he banged a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth to get the Cubs past the Cincinnati Reds 5-4 on Monday and went 6-for-10 overall with 2 homers, 3 RBIs, and one excellent catch up against the brick-and-ivy at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs are looking like geniuses for giving the 11-year-veteran a shot this season, on a more-than-reasonable $2 million contract.

Underlying metrics, though, made the case that Conforto could possibly have a rebound year. Even in his career-worst 2025, he hit the ball hard, didn’t chase bad pitches, and had a top-tier walk rate. Ultimately, it was a low-risk gamble that is paying off– especially under manager Craig Counsell, who’s using the left-handed hitter in just the right matchups.

Counsell’s perfect matchups

For example, in Monday’s walk-off heroics, Conforto was used as a pinch-hitter for Matt Shaw against the Reds’ tough righty closer Emilio Pagan.

“What Michael did, it’s so hard,” Counsell told reporters after that game. “He didn’t have an at-bat this weekend. It’s no at-bats in four days. There’s nobody on base. But, he’s got the ability to do that. And he got a pitch up and put a great swing on it…Before the home run, he puts together a good at-bat just to get to that pitch. [I] respect how hard that at-bat is, and to deliver in that situation is just really hard to do and should make you enjoy it even more.”

Admittedly, we have a very small sample size on which to judge Conforto. But he’s already exceeded expectations and, realistically, the bar isn’t set very high for what’s expected from a fourth outfielder anyway.

All in all, this offseason pickup may turn out to be one of the smartest for the team and a crucial one down the stretch.

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While it’s only May and the Chicago Cubs have a long way to go this season, fans are feeling special about the team. Some might compare the fun to the “Golden Era” of a decade ago, and the team that won it all.

Of course, this era has yet to see a title and three straight NLCS appearances. That said, coming off a 92-win season and postseason series win last year, paired with a crazy 20-3 run this year, this current regime has given Cubs fans a thrill not felt in at least 7-8 years. The names are different, and it feels different.

These Cubs have seemingly less “household” hype

One big difference that stands out is how the player names hold up in the baseball world. It can feel like the current Cubs top guys do not get quite the recognition and hype that those of the previous regime did, outside of arguably Pete Crow-Armstrong and Alex Bregman.

A decade ago, Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, Jon Lester, and Jake Arrieta were common baseball headliners. They were making the All Star games, getting MVP and Cy Young votes, and were truly baseball’s “darlings”. That core was consistently among the top in arbitrary power ranking lists from baseball and sports publications.

With this core, there’s the feeling that this team has so many underrated players. Nico Hoerner, a 4.8 fWAR player last year, has been getting snubbed from top player rankings. Michael Busch had a power and slug production season last year on par with Rizzo in his prime years, yet he flew under the radar compared to the star status Rizzo had. Heck, Seiya Suzuki has a higher OPS (.826) in a Cubs uniform than Kyle Schwarber did as a Cub (.816) in nearly the same number of games played (557 vs. 551).

The list goes on, and none of the previously mentioned current Cubs have made an All Star game yet despite their recent success.

Is being “underrated” so bad?

One thing to emphasize, this all does not suggest the current Cubs don’t get national attention. They are still a big market team with a national fanbase under baseball’s microscope. The streak they have been on has been talked about everywhere; it’s not being ignored. It’s just a different feeling from the last decade.

In some ways, not having the hype level the previous core got is nice. This team does not have a 108-pound goat on its back. There is a huge desire to win another World Series title, but there’s not the pressure of it being “The” title. No other Cubs title in our lifetimes (if there is one) will be that one.

Sometimes it’s okay to appreciate a good player(s) who does not constantly come with pomp and circumstance. It makes one fan feel like they are truly “their” players in a funny way. It’s also nice to enjoy a team for what it is and not try to make it like your father’s Cub team. No matter what happens, this Cubs era will have its own place in history. For better or for worse.

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Despite dealing with numerous injuries, the Chicago Cubs continue to surge and pile up wins. On Friday night, they secured their second 10-game winning streak of the season, improving to 27-12 and extending their lead in the competitive National League Central to 3.5 games.

One steady force in the Cubs’ lineup this season has been veteran outfielder Ian Happ. In the midst of a contract year, Happ currently leads the team with nine home runs, 28 walks, and an .869 OPS among qualified hitters. He is also carrying a 29-game on-base streak into Saturday, putting him one game away from reaching a 30-game streak, a feat no Cubs player has accomplished since 2012.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ is one game away from a 30 game on-base streak

A walk and a hit on Friday night in the Cubs’ eventual 7-1 win over the Texas Rangers extended Ian Happ’s on-base streak to 29 consecutive games. In Major League Baseball, only Nick Kurtz of the Athletics has a longer streak, currently at 31 games.

If Happ reaches safely just one more time, he’ll cross the 30-game threshold, a mark no Cubs player has reached since Bryan LaHair’s 2012 All-Star season. LaHair’s run ultimately stopped at 31 games, meaning Happ is now within striking distance of not only matching that stretch but potentially surpassing it as early as next week if the streak continues into upcoming games.

What makes the run even more notable is the consistency it’s required over a month of play. This streak began during the second game of a double header on April 5. Over this stretch, Happ has remained one of the most reliable table-setters in Chicago’s lineup, slashing .269/.410/.500.

Happ’s on-base streak has become one of the Cubs’ most steady storylines amid their early-season surge. As he closes in on a mark not seen since 2012, his consistency continues to set the tone at the top of the lineup and underscores his value in a contract-year breakout.

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The Chicago Cubs are riding high right now, atop the NL Central Division and tied for the best record in all of baseball at 26-12. They’re also in the midst of a nine-game winning streak (and a fifteen-game winning streak at home).

More News: Chicago Cubs named possible Los Angeles Dodgers conqueror

Their pitching staff, however, has taken some major hits.

Emerging ace Cade Horton was lost for the season in just his second start of the year, a victim of an elbow injury that required surgery. Opening Day starter Matthew Boyd is now in his second stint on the IL, this time after a freak meniscus injury that required a surgical repair.

The bullpen has also been hit hard as most of the Opening Day relief corps either finds itself on the IL or has just come back from an IL stint.

Even at the Triple-A level, pitching injuries have hit hard.

Top Pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins was put on the shelf after just his second start of the year for the Iowa Cubs. At first, the reports were just of a “sore arm,” but that was later changed to “right elbow inflammation” as he was placed on the minor league IL.

Jaxon Wiggins injury update

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The 24-year-old hasn’t pitched since, but he is scheduled to start throwing soon. Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins recently gave an update on the highly-regarded prospect in an interview on the Mully & Haugh Show at 104.3 The Score.

Per Hawkins:

“His rehab’s been positive…He’s got a live BP this weekend, so we’re getting closer to getting him back in games. Obviously, he’s got electric stuff, He’s the type of guy that looks like a major league pitcher. We just gotta get the consistency of performance once he’s healthy and then, obviously, the consistency of health. So, he’s definitely a guy that’s on the radar, but not somebody we’re not writing in ink. Our step one is just getting healthy. Step two is figuring out of he can help us. Hopefully, it’s going to be a good problem to have as we have to figure out a way to get him into our rotation or bullpen at some point down the line.”

Most didn’t really expect the 6-foot-6 right-hander to make an impact on the major league team this season, but there was some hope that he might become a surprise breakout star like Horton last year, who started the year as the top pitching prospect and then proved his mettle with the big league Cubs.

That hope for Wiggins in 2026 may be out the window, considering the care the Cubs may give to his arm the rest of this season.

A history of injury

Wiggins was drafted in the second round by the Cubs in 2023, despite still recovering from Tommy John surgery in college. Last season, he made the climb from Double-A to Triple-A, amid plenty of concern regarding his rehabbed injury and fatigue. The organization made a concerted effort to cap his innings and kept a careful eye on the wear and tear on his arm.

Still, he managed to excel. Across three levels in 2025, he posted a 2.19 ERA in 78 innings with 97 total strikeouts.

In just two games this season, he has an ugly 5.63 ERA, but registered 10 strikeouts in 8 total innings.

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The Chicago Cubs have reason to believe that they’re fielding a special team right now.

More News: Chicago Cubs named possible Los Angeles Dodgers conqueror

Even after suffering through an unprecedented run of pitching injuries, they are still riding high on a 9-game winning streak (fifteen wins in a row at home) and are sitting atop the NL Central Division, tied for the best record in all of baseball.

But how long could it be before reality sets in and the team starts coming back down to earth as their projected two top starters sit on the IL, with Cade Horton lost for the season and Matthew Boyd gone until at least the All-Star break after suffering a freak meniscus injury? Ace Justin Steele also suffered a bit of a setback in his own recovery from elbow surgery last year and isn’t expected back until later in the year,

Then, there’s the bullpen, which has also been besieged by injury.

The only real option for the team to build its pitching staff for a real run at postseason glory, at this point, is via trade.

And, apparently, the Cubs front office is thinking the exact same thing.

Cubs linked to Freddy Peralta trade talk

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Per MLB insider and Cubs beat writer Bruce Levine, via Twitter/X:

“According to industry sources the Cubs are one of the teams the Mets have talked to about acquiring RHP Freddy Peralta. June 1st is a target time for the Mets to either get back into the race or move the soon to be free agent. Peralta and Craig Counsell share a mutual bond.”

Although big trades like this generally don’t happen until the trade deadline, there has to be urgency within the Cubs organization to get something big and meaningful done as soon as possible. Almost three months remain until the August 3 trade deadline this year and a lot could happen between now and then.

Mets in “sell” mode?

The Mets traded for the right-handed Peralta this offseason, bringing him over from the Milwaukee Brewers to be an anchor atop the Mets rotation. So far, he’s done his job, but the Mets have been in full collapse mode anyway.

Through eight starts this year, he has a 2-3 record and a 3.12 ERA.

With Peralta eligible to become a free agent at the end of this year and the Mets going nowhere, it’s looking more and more likely that the two-time All-Star could be dealt at the trade deadline or even sooner.

The 29-year-old Peralta pitched the first six years of his major league career in Milwaukee under the guidance of manager Craig Counsell.

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The Chicago Cubs pulled off their ninth straight win on Thursday, thumping the Cincinnati Reds 8-3 to sweep their four-game series with the downward-bound division rivals. They also managed to post their fifteenth straight victory at Wrigley Field.

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The team now stands atop the NL Central Division by 3.5 games and shares the best record in all of baseball with the Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees.

And they’re doing this with a pitching staff that has been stressed and strained with an unprecedented run of injury misfortune—the latest being Opening Day starter Matthew Boyd, who had to undergo meniscus surgery after a freak injury playing with his children.

But, still, there’s reason for optimism as Chicago’s winning streak continues, despite carrying a starting rotation that’s 40% replacement and a patchwork bullpen at the moment.

Beating down the Dodgers

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There’s so much optimism that the Cubs were named by ESPN as a team that could “take down” the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers.

MLB insider Jesse Rogers believes that, when it comes to position players, the Cubs can not only hang with the back-to-back World Series champs, but they could also outdo them.

Per Rogers:

“The Cubs’ offense can hang with the Dodgers’ bats, especially the further you go down the lineup. That becomes even more true when you include players coming off the bench. Chicago has hitters who can beat you 1 through 9 in its lineup — and its pinch hitters are also OPS’ing over 1.000 for the season. That depth has created waves of offense and dream platoon matchups for manager Craig Counsell.

The two teams are already neck and neck in many offensive categories, but the Cubs are also better equipped to survive injuries around the diamond. If Chicago loses its best player — who is that anyway? — there won’t be a huge drop-off. If the Dodgers lose Ohtani, Katie bar the door.”

And what about the pitching?

Rogers even believes that the Cubs’ banged up pitching staff is not too far behind the Dodgers’ high-profile, big-ticket staff.

If the goal is postseason success, the Cubs would be able to put together a more-than-solid three-man playoff starting rotation with the new and improved Shota Imanaga, Edward Cabrera, and a returning Boyd or Justin Steele (who are both targeted to return around the All-Star break. They’d also be able to reach for a viable fourth starter with Jameson Taillon or Colin Rea. This is assuming, of course, that the front office doesn’t go out and acquire a front-of-rotation arm at the trade deadline.

When it comes to the bullpen, Rogers points out that both have been putting up similar numbers, but that the Cubs’ closer Daniel Palencia is the best reliever on either team with the Dodgers’ Edwin Diaz on the IL.

Yes, this is all very, very optimistic and it’s making the assumption that the Cubs won’t suffer some significant fall from grace or, more likely, another major injury or two.

But, as things stand right now, the Cubs certainly seem to be a proper match for Los Angeles, even if the face-to-face record stands 2-1 in favor of the Dodgers so far this season. The second half of 2026 should be really interesting as the Cubs’ injured arms begin to come back.

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The Chicago Cubs addressed their starting rotation during the offseason, swinging a trade to acquire Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins. The problem is that their pitching staff has experienced considerable loss since then.

Cade Horton is out for the season due to an elbow injury, Justin Steele had a setback and Matthew Boyd is now sidelined thanks to a freak meniscus tear.

As a result, the Cubs will almost certainly be in the market for another starter between now and the trade deadline, and the good news is that there should be plenty of intriguing names available before Aug. 3.

Chicago didn’t make any significant moves last summer, but this year feels different. The Cubs are one of the best teams in baseball and appear to have most of the ingredients needed for a World Series run. So fans should expect Jed Hoyer to be more active this time around.

That could mean completing a major trade for a top arm, and Jordan Campbell of Cubbies Crib has offered an interesting solution: San Francisco Giants left-hander Robbie Ray.

Could the Chicago Cubs try to trade for Robbie Ray?

The Giants entered play on Friday just 14-23 and in last place in the NL West, so if they continue at this trajectory, selling at the trade deadline seems likely.

That could mean Ray may be on the move, and Campbell has tabbed him as a natural fit in Chicago.

“Ray may be the ideal candidate for the Cubs,” Campbell wrote. “He’s in the final year of his deal and owed $23 million. With the Cubs willing to go into the luxury tax this season, they could offer to take the remaining money off the Giants’ books. If the Giants are looking for a long-term option at second base, the Cubs also have several infield prospects who could be of interest.”

Of course, the Cubs may not want to pay an exorbitant price for a guy who could simply walk at the end of the season, but Ray could definitely be of significant help … depending on the version Chicago gets.

Ray won a Cy Young award with the Toronto Blue Jays back in 2021 when he logged a 2.84 ERA and led the majors with 248 strikeouts. However, he led the league in walks the season prior, and he missed most of 2023 and 2024 due to Tommy John surgery.

The 34-year-old has long been a strikeout machine (10.8 K/9), but his lifetime 3.91 ERA is not what you would expect from a Cy Young winner.

Ray has been good thus far in 2026, having posted a 2.95 ERA over his first seven starts.

Considering his overall pedigree, Ray would absolutely comprise a compelling target for Chicago.

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One defining storyline of the Chicago Cubs’ 2026 season has been injuries. From free-agent addition Tyler Austin beginning the year on the IL following offseason surgery, to losing Cade Horton for the season, Justin Steele suffering a setback, closer Daniel Palencia going down, and most recently Matthew Boyd injuring his meniscus while bending down to play with his kids , an injury that required surgery and is expected to sideline him for at least six weeks, it feels like Chicago simply cannot catch a break.

Despite all of that, the Cubs continue to win games and sit atop a highly competitive National League Central. They would not be in that position without several players stepping up in key moments, and one of the biggest has been Ben Brown. His career in Chicago had been rocky prior to this season, but after finding success in the bullpen, Brown is now set to return to the rotation following Boyd’s injury.

Out of both necessity and as a reward for his strong performance, the Chicago Cubs are moving Ben Brown back into the starting rotation.

Friday, May 8 was originally slated to be Boyd’s turn in the rotation, but according to Bruce Levine, that start will now go to Brown. Interestingly, the organization chose Brown instead of Javier Assad, who has filled in effectively when needed this season. Brown has not exceeded 50 pitches in any outing so far, but with Boyd expected to miss multiple weeks, the team anticipates he will stretch out quickly and take on a larger workload in the rotation moving forward.

With Boyd and others sidelined, the Cubs are essentially being forced to adjust on the fly, but Brown’s recent progression gives them a workable solution. This year Brown has a 2.10 ERA over 25.2 innings pitched, with every outing spanning multiple innings. If he continues building up his workload the way the team expects, this temporary fill-in could quickly turn into a more stable rotation role, helping Chicago weather one of its more difficult early-season injury stretches.

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The Chicago Cubs are in desperation mode to find pitching help this week after Matthew Boyd suffered a freak meniscus injury that required surgery.

In addition to Boyd, the Cubs lost Cade Horton for the season due to an elbow injury that required surgery. Chicago starting pitcher Justin Steele won’t return as soon as the team hoped after he suffered a setback this spring.

And that’s nothing to say of the injuries inside the bullpen.

On Thursday, Chicago traded cash considerations to the Athletics for a pitcher with a whopping 27 ERA this season.

Per Bruce Levine, the Cubs traded for right-handed pitcher Tyler Ferguson.

Ferguson, 32, first made his debut in the MLB in 2024. He’s made one appearance this season, giving up two home runs, four hits, and four runs in 1.1 innings pitched in a 9-1 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday.

And it’s no wonder the A’s canned him two days after that performance.

In 2025, Ferguson had a 4-2 record with a 4.66 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in 58.0 innings pitched.

Fans on social media reacted to the trade, and it’s not surprising the Cubs faithful were less than enthusiastic.

Chicago Cubs trade for Tyler Ferguson criticized

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“27.0 ERA. Fantastic,” wrote a fan.

“I fully expecting Jed to do something like this, just to get an arm on the roster,” posted another.

“Always good to keep an open mind but in this also on a short leash,” posted a fan.

“Just like Pomeranz he was just in AAA and pitching meh and came over and dominated. Trust the cubs pitching staff to find and fix whatever they found intriguing,” hopes another.

“I mean I could give you a 27 Era lol,” wrote a fan.

“Have they ever watched Tyler Ferguson pitch? What did we get? $20?” posted another.

The Cubs will hope Ferguson will pitch better with a fresh start in Chicago. He’ll act as a band-aid until the Cubs staff gets healthier this summer.

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Follow me on Twitter at @JordanSig, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Jordan Sigler via email at jordanmsigler@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago Cubs are on a roll and have been one of the best teams in baseball this season, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some areas in which they should upgrade.

For example, the Cubs’ starting rotation has taken a big hit with Cade Horton being done for the season and Justin Steele having a setback. Plus, Matthew Boyd recently hit the injured list due to a freak meniscus tear.

Yes, Chicago acquired Edward Cabrera over the winter, but it’s becoming increasingly obvious that it could use another arm in its rotation. The good news is that there should be some decent names available between now and the trade deadline.

While Sandy Alcantara and Joe Ryan could represent the two best arms available, the asking prices for both will surely be astronomically high, and there is no guarantee that either the Miami Marlins or Minnesota Twins, respectively, move either pitcher.

However, Zachary Rotman of FanSided has identified another much cheaper option for the Cubs, and he could be nearly as effective: New York Mets right-hander Clay Holmes.

Chicago Cubs linked to major trade deadline deal with New York Mets

Holmes signed a three-year, $38 million contract with the Mets last year and was solid in 2025, logging a 3.53 ERA while allowing 150 hits and registering 129 strikeouts over 165 innings of work. He has been significantly better in the early stages of 2026, and with New York already teetering on the brink of being out of playoff contention, it could move him.

Rotman also feels that Holmes would be a perfect fit in the Windy City.

“A pitcher dealing this well would fit on any team, but Holmes makes a ton of sense for the Cubs in particular because of his pitching style,” Rotman wrote. “Holmes is a ground ball machine. He ranks in the 93rd percentile with a 57.4 percent ground ball rate per Baseball Savant, and he finished last season in the 94th percentile. The Cubs’ infield defense has three Gold Glovers in Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner and Alex Bregman, and Michael Busch is an above-average defender, too. There’s a chance Holmes would be even better with the Cubs’ infield defense behind him.”

Holmes has posted a 1.69 ERA across his first seven starts this season, having recorded a minuscule 0.984 WHIP. He isn’t really striking hitters out (6.5 K/9) and his 3.65 indicates that he may be getting a bit lucky, but again, because Chicago’s infield defense is so good, Holmes can get away with being a ground-ball pitcher.

The 33-year-old would not be nearly as costly as Alcantara or Ryan, so he could represent a much better bang-for-your-buck option for the Cubs. If the Mets continue spiraling, Jed Hoyer should probably place a call to the Big Apple to see if a trade can be consummated.

The post Cubs connected to Mets’ breakout star in potential trade deadline heist appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs’ starting rotation has not been lucky on the injury front. Left-hander Matthew Boyd was the latest starter to wind up on the injured list with a knee injury.

Boyd didn’t suffer a left meniscus tear while playing on the field with the Cubs, but while playing with his kids. According to USA Today columnist Bob Nightengale, Boyd underwent a partial left knee meniscectomy to repair his meniscus.

Boyd’s timetable for return is questionable, but the Cubs are hopeful the All-Star will return at some point in July. This is Boyd’s second time on the injured list this season, as he had a left biceps strain in early April.

More News: Chicago Cubs sit atop one of the most ‘chaotic’ divisions in MLB

Boyd made three starts after coming off the injured list on April 22, throwing 14.2 innings, allowing 17 hits, nine earned runs, walking three and striking out 14. The 35-year-old’s last start came against the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 3, where he tossed six innings.

It’s a repair of the meniscus, which happened in freak injury simply playing with his kids at home. https://t.co/CEx5n809id

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) May 7, 2026

The Chicago Cubs need to be smart about adding starting pitching depth at the trade deadline

The Cubs’ starting rotation is now down three starting pitchers with Boyd’s injury. Right-hander Cade Horton will miss the rest of the season after leaving a start with a forearm strain, while left-hander Justin Steele had a setback in his recovery from Tommy John surgery.

Thankfully for the Cubs, left-hander Shota Imanaga and right-hander Edward Cabrera have done well to hold things down at the top of the rotation. Imanaga is 3-2 with an ERA in seven starts, while Cabrera is 3-0 with a 3.27 ERA in his seven starts.

Right-hander Jameson Taillon has also held his own, with a 2-1 record and an ERA in seven starts.

The Cubs also don’t have many 40-man options to replace Boyd in the rotation, with right-hander Ben Brown being the most immediate option, given he has starting experience. However, Brown has thrived in his role out of the bullpen this season (1-1 with a 2.10 ERA) and may not be used in that capacity.

Adding at the trade deadline (Aug. 3) will be critical for the Cubs to help replace Boyd’s production.

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The Chicago Cubs really shouldn’t be doing what they’re doing right now. They shouldn’t be winning—eight in a row as of this writing and fourteen in a row at home. They shouldn’t be atop the NL Central Division, tied for second best record in all of baseball.

More News: Chicago Cubs named as ideal landing spot for Met and former Brewer Freddy Peralta

They’ve lost one of their projected top two starters, Cade Horton, for the year after elbow surgery. They’re dealing with the second time Opening Day starter Matthew Boyd has been put on the shelf, this latest issue being a freak meniscus injury that requires surgery.

“We’re gonna have to fill in around him for sure,” manager Craig Counsell told reporters. “That’s going to be our task.

“There’s no benefit to doing that [dwelling on the run of pitching misfortune]” Counsell added. “This is an opportunity for somebody. Through those opportunities, good things can happen. That’s how you have to see it.”

A good chunk of their bullpen, by the way, has also gone down to injury with a couple of key arms still on the IL.

This team, though, has been leaning on an opportunistic grinding offense along with a remaining pitching corps that has been picking up the slack, plus, of course, a hefty dose of old school grit and gumption.

Good news!

More News: Chicago Cubs: Unlikely hero goes from two DFAs to a spot on a first place bullpen

But would it be too Pollyanna corny to say that there’s actually some good news to be found among all the pitching dreariness?

First, Boyd’s injury wasn’t as extensive as initially feared.

Per GM Carter Hawkins:

“It’s more than a month for sure, and then we’ll kind of figure it out from there. It was not a full repair. It was more of a trimming (of the meniscus).”

If all goes according to plan with rehab, that probably has his return coming sometime soon after the All-Star break.

Ace Justin Steele, by the way, is also having his return targeted for post-break after suffering a bit of a setback in his rehab from elbow surgery last year.

Back in the bullpen, Daniel Palencia and Phil Maton are already pitching. Caleb Thielbar and Hunter Harvey are throwing and set to amp up their rehab routines, with the lefty Thielbar likely to get back sooner. Gavin Hollowell, who is back from injury as well, has been activated and will be in Chicago for Thursday’s game. Ethan Roberts and Jordan Wicks are also active again, working things through at Triple-A.

Aces in the hole

Meanwhile, Cubs’ offseason pickup Kyle Wright, a former 21-game winner for the Atlanta Braves who saw his career sidelined for almost three years due to injury, is slowly inching his way back to a full-time return. The 30-year-old righty is set to join the Triple-A Iowa Cubs at some point this week and is reportedly reaching mid-90s in bullpen sessions.

The Cubs are also getting back some of the emergency callups they had to DFA due to roster considerations—such as Vince Velasquez and Yacksel Rios, who both posted a 0.00 ERA during their brief major league assignments—and returning them to Iowa, just in case.

Even top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins, who was shut down in Iowa for a month due to elbow inflammation, has resumed a throwing program.

So, the cavalry is on its way—even though the soldiers are holding down the fort just fine right now.

With Boyd and Steele back in the rotation for the pennant push and the bullpen back to being filled with quality arms and options, the Cubs are set up for postseason success. Unless, of course, their pitchers keep getting injured.

The post Chicago Cubs good pitching news: The cavalry will be coming! appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs are the hottest team in baseball right now, winning their eighth-straight game overall and doing it in comeback fashioned. Chicago has won all three games against the Cincinnati Reds this week by coming from behind in dramatic fashioned.

With those wins, the Cubs have won 14-straight at Wrigley Field and 18 of their last 21 games overall. It’s safe to say they are red hot.

During the latest win on Wednesday night, Chicago blew a two-run lead in the ninth inning before rallying in the bottom of the frame to go to extras. From there, Michael Busch had another walk-off, sending the Wrigley Field faithful home happy. It also delivered a milestone win for manager Craig Counsell.

Craig Counsell gets 200th win as Chicago Cubs manager

In his third season with the franchise, Counsell has the Cubs playing their best baseball of his tenure. Coming off a playoff appearance last season, the Cubs are primed for a big run. But on Wednesday, he hit a personal milestone of 200 wins with the franchise.

200 wins in Cubbie blue for The Skipper 👏 pic.twitter.com/aZ9TBPGiT9

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) May 7, 2026

Counsell is the 19th manager to reach the milestone in Cubs’ history and is four wins away from passing Gabby Hartnett on the list. He does have a long ways to go to get to the top as Cap Anson has the most wins in franchise history with 1,282 from 1879-1897.

In his first two seasons in Chicago, the Cubs have won 83 and 92 games. They have 25 early in May already and are approaching a 100-win pace. It shouldn’t be long before Counsell is climbing the all-time wins list in Cubs’ history.

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The Chicago Cubs keep winning—eight in a row overall and fourteen in a row at home—while their pitchers keep getting injured.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Unlikely hero goes from two DFAs to a spot on a first place bullpen

The latest injury is of the freak variety as, on Wednesday, Opening Day starter Matthew Boyd suffered a meniscus injury playing with his children that would require surgery. As of this writing, the Cubs do expect him back, but the return may not be until some point after the All-Star break.

It’s certainly been a strange year so far as the injuries pile up along with the wins.

The problem is that, at some point, reality will set in and the team won’t keep being able to will their way through glaring pitching weakness and lack of depth.

The team recognizes this, as president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer has been acknowledging that he’s already looking for trade options.

One very viable option is over in the NL East, on the flailing New York Mets.

Freddy Peralta to the Cubs?

More News: Chicago Cubs: Michael Busch coming alive is a really big deal

Right-handed starter Freddy Peralta was brought over from the Milwaukee Brewers to be an anchor atop the Mets rotation. He’s been doing his job, but the Mets all around him have not.

Through eight starts this year, he has a 2-3 records and a 3.12 ERA.

But with Peralta becoming a free agent at the end of this year and the Mets going nowhere, it’s looking likely that the two-time All-Star could be shipped out at the trade deadline or even sooner.

And, well, why not to the Cubs? Preferably sooner rather than later.

Curt Bishop of SI.com recently named the Cubs as one of two logical landing spots for the former Cubs NL Central nemesis:

“The Chicago Cubs are at the top of the National League Central and have won eight consecutive games, but their pitching staff has taken a lot of hits. Left-hander Matthew Boyd is back on the injured list due to knee troubles, and Cade Horton had Tommy John surgery.

The Cubs need somebody to eat innings and carry the torch in the rotation, and Peralta could be that guy. A trade to the Cubs would also reunite him with his former manager Craig Counsell, who was in charge in Milwaukee from 2016-23.”

A perfect fit

Jim Bowden of The Athletic also recently named Peralta as one of the top pitchers likely to be traded at the deadline.

Per Bowden:

“While he hasn’t been quite as good as he was last year with Milwaukee, he’s pitched to his career norms and has given the Mets reliable innings every five days.

Peralta’s command isn’t always perfect, but he typically misses bats, has one of the best changeups among starters and his four-seam fastball is very effective. He’s made at least 30 starts in each of the last three seasons.”

With the Cubs overstocked with prospects at the Triple-A level who have no real path to an every day gig with the big league squad, it might be time to start emptying out Iowa. And adding a proven ace-level starting pitcher for a team headed to a postseason run would be a smart move.

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The Chicago Cubs addressed their starting rotation during the offseason, swinging a trade to acquire Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins. But unfortunately for the Cubs, a season-ending elbow injury for Cade Horton, a freak Matthew Boyd meniscus injury and a Justin Steele setback have created a need for another pitcher.

Fortunately, Chicago has been rolling regardless of the issues with its starting rotation, but at some point, the injuries will catch up to them.

The Cubs failed to add a significant arm at the trade deadline last year, but it seems hard to imagine Jed Hoyer not making a push for an impactful hurler this time around. That’s especially with Chicago looking like a bona fide World Series contender right now.

While it’s still too early to identify clear trade targets, you can kind of get a feel for who might be available between now and Aug. 3.

On that note, Jake Misener of Cubbies Crib has pitched a very intriguing potential option for the Cubs: Boston Red Sox right-hander Sonny Gray.

The Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox could be trade partners

The Red Sox have gotten off to a miserable start over the first month-and-a-half of 2026, which resulted in the firing of manager Alex Cora and his entire staff.

Barring a jarring turnaround over the next several months, it seems likely that Boston could look to ship out some veterans at the deadline, and Gray seems like a prime candidate.

“Elsewhere, Sonny Gray makes sense – especially if the Marlins hold onto Sandy Alcantara and/or Joe Ryan’s injury turns out to be something serious,” Misener wrote. “Gray wouldn’t break the bank in the way those two would, but could add another veteran piece to the mix to solidify the Cubs’ starting rotation.”

We now know that Ryan’s elbow injury did not result in any structural damage, so it appears he’s fine. But it does seem doubtful that Chicago would match the Minnesota Twins’ asking price for Ryan, anyway. Gray is a far more realistic candidate.

The 36-year-old has posted a 3.54 ERA through six starts this season, although his 4.32 FIP and sudden dip in strikeouts (4.8 K/9) are certainly a bit concerning. The trade cost would probably be pretty low, although it should be noted that the Red Sox acquired Gray via trade with the St. Louis Cardinals themselves over the winter.

Gray is making $31 million this season, but $20 million of his 2026 salary is being covered by the Cardinals. He has a $30 mutual option for 2027, which features a $10 million buyout.

The veteran is a three-time All-Star who finished second in AL Cy Young award voting as recently as 2023 during his time with the Twins.

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The Chicago Cubs have been one of the top teams in Major League Baseball so far this season. With some questions about the starting pitching depth, it appears it will continue to be tested as one pitcher is hitting the injured list. Let’s take a closer look at what happened and what this means for the Cubs going forward.

Matthew Boyd is undergoing meniscus surgery

Starting pitcher Matthew Boyd is heading to the Injured List for a second time this season. Cubs manager Craig Counsell announced that Boyd is going to be out for the “foreseeable future” as he will undergo surgery on his meniscus. ESPN’s Jesse Rogers is reporting that the injury happened while he was sitting down to play with his children, which leaves a lot of questions. However, this leaves a hole in the starting rotation for the Cubs until Boyd is able to return to the team.

Boyd has been struggling this season as the veteran lefty is 2-1 with a 6.00 ERA and a 1.292 WHIP across 24.0 innings (five starts). However, the top of the Cubs’ rotation is going to have a bit of a change. Currently, this is the team’s starting rotation:

1. Shota Imanaga
2. Matthew Boyd
3. Edward Cabrera
4. Jameson Taillon
5. Colin Rea

With Justin Steele still recovering from his injury and Cade Horton out for the remainder of the 2026 season, there are still options for the team to consider. They can either sign or trade for a starting pitcher with some intriguing starters available. There are some names in their own minors who likely will fill the void in names like Kyle Wright, Will Sanders, or Connor Noland. The length of time that Boyd will be on the shelf has not been announced, but it will be intriguing to see how the front office decides to handle the unfortunate situation. In terms of Boyd, maybe some time away from the field could get him back to his 2025 stuff.

The post Matthew Boyd will be out for the “forseeable future”, will require surgery appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs‘ offense has not been much of an issue this season, as they rank third in runs scored, fourth in batting average and fourth in OPS thus far in 2026. However, they should always be open to improvements, both for now and the future.

Say what you want about Jed Hoyer, but he has certainly made some shrewd deals over the years to put together what is now one of the best teams in baseball, and while he was unfortunately gun shy at last year’s trade deadline, that doesn’t necessarily mean he will stand pat this season.

With the Cubs having so many key players preparing to hit free agency after the campaign concludes, Hoyer may want to begin making preparations for 2027 as well as attempting to bolster his roster for a World Series run this year.

The good news is Hoyer can do both things simultaneously, and Jordan Campbell of Cubbies Crib has pitched a rather intriguing potential trade target in that regard: Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Ryan Ward.

Could the Chicago Cubs pull off a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers?

Campbell hearkened back to the Cubs’ January 2024 trade with the Dodgers, when they acquired first baseman Michael Busch from Los Angeles in exchange for prospects Jackson Ferris and Zyhir Hope.

Busch has ultimately developed into a critical cog in Chicago’s lineup, having smashed 34 home runs to go along with an .866 OPS in 2025. He has gotten off to a slow start this season, but lately, he appears to be coming out of it.

Ward could comprise a similar option for the Cubbies.

“There certainly would be some risk involved in this type of deal for the Cubs. It likely would require a prospect with the ceiling of becoming the next top guy in the system (Pedro Ramirez?), but it might be worth it for the Cubs, considering Ramirez is ultimately going to be blocked by the time he’s ready for the major league level,” Campbell wrote. “In other words, the Cubs have a chance to trade an ascending blocked prospect for a blocked prospect who could fill an area of need as soon as next season.”

Over 652 plate appearances with the Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate last year, Ward slashed .290/.380/.557 with 36 homers and 122 RBI. He also bashed 34 long balls the year prior. Thus far in 2026, he is slashing .295/.410/.536 with six dingers and 37 RBI in Triple-A. He also made a brief appearance with LA’s big-league club, going 2-for-6 with an RBI in two games before being sent back down.

Now 28 years old, Ward is running out of time to earn a long-term job with the Dodgers, so perhaps the Cubs can swing a deal for him now and potentially use him to replace Seiya Suzuki, who will be hitting the open market next winter and stands to get paid.

The post MLB: Cubs linked to trade for NL rival slugger who just bashed 36 home runs appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs made headlines on January 7 when they pulled the trigger on a major trade with the Miami Marlins to bring over emerging powerhouse starting pitcher Edward Cabrera.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Michael Busch coming alive is a really big deal

Lost amid the Cabrera news, however, was a much smaller acquisition made by a Cubs front office focused on beefing up pitching depth.

On the same day Chicago added Cabrera, they also claimed lefty Ryan Rolison off waivers from the Chicago White Sox.

Rolison overshadowed by Cabrera addition

More News: Chicago Cubs barraged by pitching pickup suggestions

The 28-year-old former Colorado Rockies first round draft pick had been having a rough offseason. He was traded from the Rockies to the Atlanta Braves for cash considerations in November. In December, he was DFA’d by the Braves and claimed off waivers by the White Sox. Then, in January, he was DFA’d by the White Sox and claimed off waivers by the Cubs, where he was immediately assigned to Triple-A Iowa. Last season with the Rockies, he posted an ugly 7.02 ERA in 31 games and 42.1 innings pitched.

He was picked up by the Cubs as part of a January-February stockpiling of arms that now seems absolutely prescient in the wake of the team’s wild rash of pitching injuries through the first five weeks of the season.

So far, Rolison, Corbin Martin, Charlie Barnes, Vince Velasquez, and Yacksel Rios have been called up from that emergency minor league stockpile and asked to give innings.

Rolison, however, has made the biggest impact among the call-ups.

Taking advantage of the opportunity

In the last two games, Cubs manager Craig Counsell called on him to shut down the Cincinnati Reds offense in order to facilitate a Cubs comeback win—which they did, on both occasions.

Since coming up to the big leagues, Rolison has a 3.12 ERA through 6 appearances and 8.2 innings pitched. All of his earned runs came in one poor outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 1.

Aside from that flat performance, he’s been lights out. On the year, he has 10 strikeouts in his 8.2 innings against only 2 walks.

“It’s not normal to have [8.2 innings] with this new team and have four of your appearances be in huge situations,” Counsell told reporters on Tuesday, after the Cubs’ seventh-straight victory and their eighteenth in twenty-one games. “I don’t think that’s normal, but that’s the situation he’s been put in.

“I think, in a lot of ways, Ryan might tell you he’s been waiting a long time for this opportunity. And sometimes that’s what making a career for yourself is about. You got a shot, you get an opportunity. We’ve talked a lot about when we’ve had these injuries, it’s going to create opportunities and somebody’s going to take advantage of them And Ryan’s done a heck off a job taking advantage of an opportunity.”

So far, this Rolison redemption story fits well with the narrative of the Cubs being the place to go for a down-on-his-luck pitcher in search of a rebirth. Hopefully for the both the Cubs and Rolison, the good news story keeps going through the season.

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The Chicago Cubs have been convinced about Michael Busch’s “for realness” almost from the moment they brought him over in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers in January of 2024 for well-regarded prospects Jackson Ferris and Zyhir Hope.

More News: Chicago Cubs barraged by pitching pickup suggestions

And the team has been steadfast in their belief that he would be THE Cubs first baseman over the long haul.

Right now, the day after a tenth inning Busch walk-off single versus the Cincinnati Reds, following an eighth inning home run to tie the game, the confidence seems absolutely warranted.

But that confidence was in danger of being shaken early in this 2026 season when the 28-year-old was buried in an ugly career-worst slump.

Busch’s brutal slump

More News: Chicago Cubs: What Conforto’s walk-off HR says about team’s undervalued strength

Through the end of April, Busch was hitting just .193 with 2 home runs and 11 RBIs. If you excluded his 3-for-4 Opening Day performance, things looked even uglier as he posted a miserable .173 batting average from March 28 to April 29. At one point, he went through an excruciatingly rough 0-for-30 run.

His defense was still solid and he was still the same positive presence in the clubhouse, but the bat was dead.

“It’s been pretty frustrating,” Busch said at the time. “I think I’ve built a solid enough foundation to kind of try to get back and try to just continue to work.

“I think balancing that through the season is challenging, and it always will be, but sometimes, it’s part of this game. I think when things are going this way offensively, you just try to find a way, whether it’s defensively or on the bases, to help this team win. At the end of the day, that’s all that matters.”

To make matters worse, Chicago was all-in on Busch after last year’s 34 home run, 90 RBI season that all but cemented his spot as the team’s sole first baseman. They had picked up Tyler Austin as a backup, but Busch was 100% the guy.

And when Austin went down with a knee injury, Busch was not only THE first baseman, he was the ONLY first baseman.

That’s why his slump was so scary for a Cubs team with deep postseason aspirations. There was no Plan B after Busch.

Snapping out of it

Thankfully, though, Busch began May on fire and hasn’t cooled down yet.

In May, so far, he’s hitting .471 with a 1.487 OPS and has 8 RBIs in five games. He’s playing a big role in the Cubs’ current 7-game winning streak, as well as their 13-game winning streak at home.

And that’s great for Chicago because, with a pitching staff besieged by injury, they absolutely don’t need another roster crisis to work through.

Busch has been a plug-and-play guy throughout his three years with the team, someone they could just put into the lineup and not worry about. He wasn’t a superstar presence, he just delivered. And the Cubs will need that as they push hard for a postseason run.

“[It’s] Another win…Keep stacking them,” Busch told Marquee Sports Network after the walk-off, as ‘Go Cubs Go’ still played over the Wrigley Field sound system. “The fans make it the best place in the world to play. I’m just thankful to be a Cub.”

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As of May 6, the Chicago Cubs sit in first place in the National League Central (24-12).

The National League Central has proven to be one of the better divisions in Major League Baseball. The St. Louis Cardinals are two-and-a-half games behind the Cubs, and the Cincinnati Reds are four games back.

The Cubs have the players on the roster to compete this season. But with the Central so “chaotic,” adding at the trade deadline will help set the Cubs apart from everyone else.

The Chicago Cubs adding to the right areas of the roster at the trade deadline will be key to competing in a “chaotic” NL Central

According to MLB.com’s Will Leitch, the National League Central is considered the third-most chaotic division in Major League Baseball, with a score of 7/10. Per Leitch, if the Cubs weren’t leading the Central, it would’ve ranked higher, as all five teams are over .500.

“The Cubs are atop this division, which most people predicted. That’s the only reason this division isn’t in one of the top two spots on this list,” wrote Leitch. “But the notion that all five teams in the NL Central — the NL Central! Of all divisions! — would be above .500 a week into May would have been thought of as absurd. All five teams over .500? How is that even possible? The Brewers are the three-time defending division champions, so it’s not that shocking that they’d be a winning team, and the Reds were in the playoffs last year, even if hardly anyone remembers seeing them there thanks to a two-game NL Wild Card Series sweep.”

More News: Chicago Cubs Nico Hoerner is considered a favorite for NL MVP

Adding at the trade deadline (Aug. 3) will be critical for the Cubs to separate themselves from the rest of the division. The offense is in good shape, as it’s the fourth-best in batting average (.258) and OPS (.780), but the starting rotation could use another arm.

Left-hander Shota Imanaga and right-hander Edward Cabrera have been great to open the season. Imanaga is 3-2 with a 2.40 ERA in seven starts, while Cabrera is 3-0 with a 3.27 ERA.

But the rotation has seen its fair share of injuries. Right-hander Cade Horton will miss the rest of the season due to Tommy John surgery, while left-hander Justin Steele suffered a setback in his throwing program, delaying his return.

With left-handers Matthew Boyd (6.00 ERA) and right-hander Jameson Taillon (4.24 ERA) struggling, possibly adding another top-tier starter could put the Cubs over the top.

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Since Dansby Swanson arrived in Chicago, Cubs fans have been hoping for more from their seven-year, $177 million investment. During his final seasons with the Atlanta Braves, the power-hitting shortstop launched 25 and 27 home runs while driving in 88 and 96 runs, respectively. Since 2023, however, his production has dipped, topping out at single season highs of 24 home runs and 77 RBIs.

To begin the 2026 season, Swanson has found some success with the long ball, ranking second on the Cubs with six home runs. However, a low batting average of .202 still leaves plenty to be desired. One under-the-radar aspect of his game this year, though, is his improved plate discipline as he’s drawing walks at a career-best rate and consistently seeing a high number of pitches per plate appearance, making him far from an easy out even while hitting near the bottom of the order.

Dansby Swanson is quietly becoming a thorn in opposing pitchers’ side and it’s no accident

Despite hitting near the bottom of the order, Swanson is doing his part to deepen the Cubs lineup by refusing to give away at-bats. He’s averaging 4.24 pitches per plate appearance this season, ranking 19th in MLB, and that approach has translated into more walks, currently at a career-best 15.3% rate. His 21 walks on the year is second best in the Cubs lineup.

These improvements are no accident. Swanson has taken a more selective approach at the plate, with his first-pitch swing rate down nine percent from his career average. Overall, he’s swinging at just 42% of pitches, also a a career low. That added patience has led to longer at-bats and increased walk totals, a valuable trait for any contending team looking to get more production from the bottom of its lineup.

If this approach holds, Swanson’s impact will extend well beyond traditional counting stats. By grinding out at-bats, wearing down pitchers, and consistently getting on base, he’s helping set the table for the top of the Chicago Cubs lineup while adding balance throughout the order. The batting average, power, and runs batted in numbers may still fluctuate, but this more disciplined version of Swanson gives Chicago something just as valuable: reliability and resistance in every plate appearance.

The post The underrated aspect of Dansby Swanson’s game that is going unnoticed in 2026 appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Gabriela Jaquez is all set for her rookie season with the Chicago Sky. She entered the league with a lot of hype surrounding her following a successful collegiate campaign with the UCLA Bruins. The 22-year-old played a key role in the program’s national championship run.

The Sky selected her at No. 5 to bolster their guard rotation. Jaquez participated in the team’s WNBA preseason slate, coming off the bench in both matchups. She scored 12 points and grabbed three rebounds against the Phoenix Mercury on April 25. Jaquez added four points and four rebounds versus the Atlanta Dream on Wednesday. The team finished 0-2 in the tune-up games.

While her production may not be mind-blowing, head coach Tyler Marsh will likely give her ample playing time. Jaquez can play at both guard spots and showcased her efficiency from the field in college.

Chicago Sky’s Gabriel Jaquez throws first pitch in Cubs game

Jaquez visited Wrigley Field on Tuesday. She threw the first pitch ahead of the matchup between the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds. The Sky posted two photos and one clip of the guard from her visit to the venue. They added their reaction in the caption.

“’this is far’ 😭 @gabrielajaquezz threw out the first pitch in today’s @cubs game!” the Sky wrote.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Chicago Sky (@chicagosky)

The Cubs are hosting the Reds for a four-game series that started on Monday. The home team won the opener 5-4.

Meanwhile, Jaquez and the Sky will begin their regular season on Saturday against the Portland Fire. The team aims to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 campaign, winning only 10 of its 44 games.

Chicago made several offseason moves, including trading Angel Reese to the Dream on April 6. The franchise revamped its roster by bringing in several veterans like Skylar Diggins, Rickea Jackson and Dijonai Carrington. They are expected to help end the Sky’s two-year postseason drought.

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The Chicago Cubs are 24-12 and in first place in the National League Central Division. Currently, they hold a 2.5 game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals. Riding a seven-game win streak, their second long win streak of the season, the Cubs appear poised to be a force to be reckoned with in the National League this year.

As the season goes on, Chicago will be gauging the trade market for pitching depth. Justin Steele‘s return has been delayed and Cade Horton is out for the year. While the current rotation has held down the fort, it is inevitable that they will need to add another pitcher (or two) this summer.

Michael Conforto could be traded by the Chicago Cubs

Bleacher Report recently published an article in which they named the one player from each team that could be traded ahead of the MLB deadline. Their selection for the Cubs was Michael Conforto:

“Raise your hand if you had kind of forgotten that Conforto even signed with the Cubs until he hit that walk-off home run on Monday night. (*Raises own hand*) He hasn’t played a ton, but that dinger brought his triple-slash to .323/.436/.548 in 39 trips to the plate, all but one of which came against right-handed pitching.

“And though last season with the Dodgers was a disaster for him, there would be quite a bit of interest in Conforto as the LHB half of a corner outfield or DH platoon if the Cubs made him available right now.”

Clearly, Conforto does not have a big role in Chicago, especially with Moises Ballesteros hitting primarily against right-handed pitching as well.

As the season goes on, it stands to reason that other Cubs pitchers may need IL stints for ailments that tend to pop up every year. There are any number of teams that may be willing to part with a pitcher in exchange for Conforto’s bat.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Pete Crow-Armstrong provides learning moment as Cubs rally again
• Cubs linked to All-Star trade that would give fans chills
• Cubs barraged by pitching pickup suggestions

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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On May 15, the city of Chicago will live another day to remember: the MLB Crosstown Classic will put the White Sox and the Cubs in the same dome, to play a memorable baseball game. The excitement will last three days, from the 15th to the 17th of May, in Guaranteed Rate Field. The fiery Series between North Side and South Side sees the Cubs in front, leading 77-75 after a total dominance in 2025, when they closed the season with a 5-1 score against the Sox. Now everything is almost ready for a revival of the flame and the fight for Chicago is on.

Every spring, in the Windy City, the Crosstown Classic turns a regular MLB series into a full-blown civil war that engulfs the entire city, pitting the North Side against the South Side. 2026, obviously, is no exception. Games like this defy all logic and prediction, and betting on the outcome is far from simple. For those who still want to bet on the game, no matter what, sportsbook deposit match bonuses are just the thing, because they provide a convenient starting budget to use on events with uncertain outcomes, like this one.

A historic rivalry

Recently, the Cubs swept the floor with the Sox, winning 12 of the last 14 Crosstown Classics. This is a terrible statistic for the proud Sox, who can’t stand to lose to their rivals anymore. The rivalry between the two baseball teams in Chicago is a peculiar one. The Cubs and White Sox don’t play in the same league, so these games are usually meaningless in terms of the season. The Series, however, is a true civil war among neighbours. Mayor Daley, arguably the most popular first citizen in the history of the city, used to close City Hall to go watch the game and some of the most passionate sports fans in the country would eagerly run at the throat of their neighbour simply because he is wearing the cap of the other franchise. It’s almost madness and this is exactly what makes these matches so compelling to watch.

The Crosstown Classic is all about family and tradition.

It’s about bragging rights, obviously, and is about memory. In 1906, when the first Classic was played, there was snow in Chicago, and from that day onward the Classic became part of the city’s history. Nowadays, the Cubs are a tier above and are looking to bigger games, but for several years the Cubs and White Sox were at the same level and the game was fair and balanced. Right now, the Cubs are not looking to actively develop players. With the roster they have, they want to win, as Craig Counsell recently underlined. The White Sox are not at that level, at least for the moment.

Cultural impact on Chicago

If you ask a citizen of Chicago about the Classic, he or she will tell you something close to these lines.

“This rivalry is more than just baseball within a city’s limits. It’s about Hyde Park versus Rogers Park; the South Side Irish, Morgan Park, Mt. Greenwood and Beverly. It’s about Old Comiskey and Wrigley, it’s about the Union Stockyards and Union Station. It’s about Al Capone, Bugs Moran, Earl Weiss, the Polish, the Irish, the Italian, the Hispanics and the African-Americans. Each of them contributed to the city’s rivalry.”

In a city where the winds always blow fiercely, they do so in an even stronger way when the Classic is scheduled.

Going back to the game itself, the Cubs are the strong favourites to win. This is an unpredictable rivalry and the Sox had their moments but we can’t undervalue the talent their opponents have at their disposal. The Cubs dominated in recent years and are expected to keep on doing just that in 2026. So far, the Cubs already won several games and are in second position in their division. The Sox, on the other hand, are not in a good shape and their losses are considerably more than their wins. Shane Smith will probably handle the first pitcher’s duties for the White Sox, while the Cubs will ride with their depth: Matthew Boyd; Cade Horton and Edward Cabrera make for a strong pitchers’ rotation.

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The Chicago Cubs are red hot, winning 16 of their last 19 games including 12 straight. But Monday night’s win was another thriller.

After having to wait out a rain delay, the Cubs found themselves trailing 3-0 to division rival Cincinnati. They battled back to tie the game but then trailed again 4-3 going into the bottom of the ninth. That’s when Pete Crow-Armstrong made a big impact.

As the lead-off hitter in the inning, Crow-Armstrong hit a triple as he put himself in scoring position. Two batters later, Nico Hoerner brought him in with a sacrifice fly. Crow-Armstrong scored standing up, but it was what happened in the dugout after that gained some more attention.

WE ARE TIED! pic.twitter.com/JuhgyvKyDz

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) May 5, 2026

Pete Crow-Armstrong, Matt Shaw having a learning moment in dugout

As you see above, Crow-Armstrong scores standing up and it was a lot closer of a play that it should have been. There certainly should have been a slide and usually it’s the on-deck hitter’s responsibility to signal slide or not.

After the play, the cameras caught Crow-Armstrong emphatically explaining to Matt Shaw, the on-deck hitter, that he needs to give him that signal to slide or not.

PCA reminding Matt Shaw that he can’t be a bystander in the on-deck circle after he was almost thrown out at the plate standing up on a Hoerner’s game-tying sacrifice fly to deep left field. #Cubs #FlyTheW pic.twitter.com/6eToREKLwx

— BoKePo (@bkporcaro) May 5, 2026

There’s nothing wrong with this. It’s just two competitors getting on the same page and making sure it doesn’t happen again. Crow-Armstrong was happy about the walk-off win for the Cubs and Michael Conforto as well.

“I think it is super cool when somebody can end a baseball game in that sort of way after having to be ready each time that there may be a pinch-hit opportunity,” Crow-Armstrong said after the game.

Getting the win certainly helped things. The Cubs are rolling and are looking like one of the best teams in baseball here in early May.

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The Chicago Cubs are now a decade removed from winning their first World Series since 1908, but it feels like just yesterday.

The Cubs haven’t exactly experienced a ton of postseason success since then, but this year’s team seems to have a bit of a different feel to it. Of course, it would still help if Jed Hoyer went out and actually made some moves at the trade deadline this time around.

Remember: last year, Chicago largely stood pat at the deadline while rival squads around them made significant moves. It ended up coming back to bite Hoyer and Co. the rest of the season, and Cubs fans surely do not want to see a repeat of such inactivity.

So, what areas could Chicago address between now and Aug. 3?

Well, the Cubs could definitely afford to bolster their bullpen, and Jake Misener of Cubbies Crib has pitched a potential target that would put Chicago fans right in their feels: Aroldis Chapman.

Could the Chicago Cubs trade for Aroldis Chapman?

Chapman joined the Cubs at the trade deadline in 2016, coming over in a deal with the New York Yankees. Chicago sent then-top prospect Gleyber Torres back to the Yankees in the trade.

There were certainly some bumpy moments for Chapman in the playoffs, but he ultimately played a pivotal role in helping the Cubs win the World Series, logging a 1.01 ERA while racking up 46 strikeouts over 26.2 innings for Chicago during the regular season.

Misener would like to see the left-hander — who is currently pitching for the Boston Red Sox — back in the fold.

“Pairing Chapman with Daniel Palencia at the back of the Cubs’ bullpen would give Craig Counsell one of the best late-inning duos in all of baseball,” Misener wrote. “He’s got the experience and there’s familiarity on both sides of the equation, so this is a name to keep an eye on.”

While Theo Epstein was calling the shots back in 2016, Hoyer was a member of Chicago’s front office, so he knows Chapman well.

In 12 appearances with the struggling Red Sox this season, Chapman has pitched to the tune of a 0.77 ERA, allowing just seven hits while registering 14 punchouts across 11.2 frames. He surely wouldn’t come cheap, but reuniting with the eight-time All-Star would certainly be an exciting move for the Cubs.

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The Chicago Cubs have had a charmed 2026—despite a long and unprecedentedly brutal run of pitching injuries that has besieged the team over the first five weeks or so of the season.

More News: Chicago Cubs: What Conforto’s walk-off HR says about team’s undervalued strength

Emerging ace Cade Horton was lost for the year (and beyond) with an elbow injury requiring season-ending surgery. Opening Day starter Matthew Boyd then went on the IL and missed three starts. Relievers Daniel Palencia, Phil Maton, Hunter Harvey, Caleb Thielbar, Ethan Roberts, and Riley Martin all went down to injury as well, although Palencia and Maton are now back on the big league roster. Even lefty ace Justin Steele has seen his return from elbow surgery put off due to a setback in his recovery.

The Cubs have had to dig deep into their bag of reserve, minor league contract arms picked up in the offseason. Emergency call-ups Corbin Martin, Ryan Rolison, Charlie Barnes, Vince Velasquez, and Yacksel Rios have all seen innings this year as the team worked to cope with the loss of so much major league pitching at once.

And Chicago is not out of the woods yet. Even when guys like Thielbar and Harvey return, there will still be need for starting pitching depth and some more bullpen assets.

Big trades won’t be coming anytime soon

More News: Chicago Cubs-Kyle Tucker “real” story revealed on live TV?

But it’s still early May and big, impactful trades are unlikely to be on the table until closer to the August 3 trade deadline. So, the pitching help they clearly need right now has to come via small trade or, most likely, from digging through arms discarded by other teams.

“I’m sure it’s going to be a summer of working through our internal guys, but external is going to be a real thing as we go on,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer told reporters last Friday, while acknowledging that he’s constantly on the lookout for smaller transactions.

“It’s also May 1, and it takes awhile for those things to happen,” Hoyer added. “We’re going to have to wait and handle those things internally.”

On Sunday, it was announced that Chicago had picked up lefty Luis Peralta off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals.

Suggested pitching pickups

Fans and media have been tossing out numerous other suggestions when it comes to who the Cubs could realistically add to get them pitching-right until a bigger acquisition can be made.

The Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins, for example, have recently DFAd veterans Carlos Carrasco and Chris Paddack, respectively. The 39-year-old Carrasco is a 17-year MLB veteran who hasn’t posted a quality full season since 2018. The 30-year-old Paddack has gone nearly as long since actually delivering the goods.

Both right-handers can be used as swingmen and as emergency spot starters. But, of course, they were let go for a reason. They’ve been horrible. Although, in terms of live bodies, they are probably slightly more alive than what’s left of the Cubs emergency depth pitchers.

Ryan Shea of SI.com also recently shared a trade proposal that could be pulled off now, three months before the deadline.

Shea proposes the Cubs acquire Lance McCullers Jr. from the Houston Astros in return for the Cubs no. 29 prospect, 19-year-old infielder Fernando Cruz, who is the cousin of former Cub Starlin Castro and is regarded as one of the more toolsy prospects in the Cubs organization.

McCullers is a 32-year-old right-handed starter who has missed three full seasons due to major injury (2018, 2023, 2024) and really hasn’t been right since. He’s posted a 6.32 ERA so far this year through 6 starts and 31.1 innings.

This isn’t an impact acquisition, but it would give the Cubs another arm who can eat up innings.

Suggestions have also popped up regarding reunions with former Cubs relievers Andrew Chafin and Carl Edwards Jr., who find themselves available at the moment.

Chicago may just decide to hold on until the beginning of August and keep shuffling arms back and forth to fill the staff voids. But it certainly wouldn’t be a bad idea to explore one or a couple of the above suggested pickups. As we’re all learning, you can never have enough pitching.

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The Chicago Cubs won their sixth in a row—and twelfth in a row at home—against the surprisingly sharp division rival Cincinnati Reds Monday night via 5-4 nail-biter. A ninth inning rally which ended with a Michael Conforto pinch-hit walk-off home run to win the game had Wrigley Field rocking.

More News: Chicago Cubs may have lucked into the perfect bullpen pickup

Chicago is now two games atop the NL Central Division with a 23-12 record, holding the second best record in the National League and the third best in all of baseball.

Conforto’s game-winner—which came after a Pete Crow-Armstrong triple and Nico Hoerner sacrifice fly to tie the game—still has teammates and fans glowing.

“What Michael did, it’s so hard,” Manager Craig Counsell told reporters after the game. “He didn’t have an at-bat this weekend. It’s no at-bats in four days. There’s nobody on base. But, he’s got the ability to do that. And he got a pitch up and put a great swing on it…Before the home run, he puts together a good at-bat just to get to that pitch. [I] respect how hard that at-bat is, and to deliver in that situation is just really hard to do and should make you enjoy it even more.”

Conforto and the deep Cubs bench

More News: Chicago Cubs-Kyle Tucker “real” story revealed on live TV?

But beyond the veteran outfielder’s tale of “castoff to walk-off” redemption this season, the bigger story centers around the Cubs’ much improved bench, which has become a real asset.

Last season, the bench was a liability more than anything.

The 40-year-old Justin Turner proved himself to be too limited. There was no real fourth outfielder. The infield backup situation was just a revolving door of subpar hitting and disappointing defense. As the team made it’s way to the postseason, they had to accept the reality that the starting eight would just not be able to take time off to rest and re-energize.

This year, however, is a different story.

Matt Shaw has excelled in his spot as super utility man, wielding a solid and increasingly mature bat while spending time at third base, second base, first base, and at all three outfield positions. Moises Ballesteros, as a the team’s firmly established designated hitter, has afforded the luxury and flexibility of having a third catcher on the 26-man roster. The veteran Conforto, meanwhile, is about as secure a fourth outfielder as one can have.

An asset down the stretch

The overall depth of this 2026 team also makes for great situational pinch-hitting possibilities, as was shown in Monday’s win when the lefty Conforto replaced the right-handed Shaw against Reds closer Emilio Pagan.

Per Jesse Rogers of ESPN:

“Cubs pinch hitters have a 1.068 OPS in 33 AB’s this season after Michael Conforto’s walk off homer against the Reds tonight.”

The benefit of having so much depth should really be felt later in the season when fatigue and injury start to enter the picture for the every day players. The versatile Cubs bench has recently allowed for Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner to take days off while they dealt with minor injury issues.

The eventual return of injured first base pickup Tyler Austin—targeted for post-All-Star break—should add even more depth to the Cubs roster.

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The Chicago Cubs made a big free agent signing this off-season, inking third baseman Alex Bregman to a five-year $175 million contract. Of course, this signing was made because Chicago missed out on re-signing outfielder Kyle Tucker, who was lured to the Los Angeles Dodgers by a four-year $240 million contract.

So far this year, Bregman has been off to a slow start, but has also been an important veteran leader. When the Cubs got off to a slow start, the long-time veteran helped keep the club grounded and has been a key voice in their recent surge to the top of the National League Central Division.

Tucker, meanwhile, has been incredibly disappointing for the Dodgers.

Former Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker named one of MLB’s biggest busts of 2026

To be fair, no one was very surprised to see the Dodgers throw $60 million a year at one of MLB’s biggest free agents this past off-season. However, many questioned whether or not Tucker was worth that much.

According to Bleacher Report, he has not lived up to the contract and has been deemed one of baseball’s biggest busts so far this year:

“So far with the Dodgers, though, he has been a replacement-level player.

“The biggest issue has been breaking balls.

“The ones that he does hit, he typically hits hard. In fact, his average exit velocity against breaking balls (90.5 MPH) is the highest it has been since 2019. But he is just 4-for-23 with 11 strikeouts, with sliders, in particular, causing major issues—1-for-12 with seven Ks.

“We are, of course, talking about a minuscule sample size. And entering this season, Tucker was 89-for-399 (.223) with 27 home runs and a 26 percent strikeout rate against sliders. He could hammer one tomorrow and instantly change the narrative.

“All the same, it’s an early hole in his swing that has kept him from even remotely living up to that massive contract.”

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Cubs’ Nico Hoerner considered a favorite for NL MVP
• Cubs may have lucked into their next perfect bullpen pickup
• Cubs-Kyle Tucker “real” story reveals on national TV?

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago Cubs are riding a six-game win streak and currently are 23-12. Their latest hot streak has them sitting in first place of the ultra competitive National League Central Division. Over the course of the last couple of weeks, multiple players have started to gain national attention for their strong performances.

Before the season began, many predicted that the Cubs would win the NL Central due to their strong roster. Since overcoming their slow start to the year, multiple players are starting to gain national attention and early-season All-Star predictions.

The Chicago Cubs have 3 players predicted to be National League All-Stars

Over the course of the past several weeks, multiple Cubs players have emerged as team leaders offensively and defensively. In order for them to overcome their horrid start, they needed these players to remain consistent while the rest of the roster around them figured it out.

Now that they are in first place, three Chicago stars are predicted by Bleacher Report to represent the Cubs in the MLB All-Star Game.

Nico Hoerner

Considered by many to be the best second baseman in the game, Nico Hoerner is also a MVP candidate. Despite this, he is not predicted to be the starting second baseman for the National League. BR predicts that will be Milwaukee Brewers star Brice Turang.

Hoerner, though, was predicted to be named as a reserve. He is currently hitting .299/.369/.460 with four home runs, 27 RBI, and seven stolen bases.

Ian Happ

Winner of the last four NL Gold Gloves in left field, Ian Happ is off to a strong start to the 2026 season. He is currently hitting .242/.377/.500 with eight home runs and 15 RBI.

While his batting average is around where it has been the last few years, his on base percentage is 35 points higher than his career average, and his slugging percentage is on pace to be the best of his career.

Shota Imanaga

When the Cubs extended the one-year $22 million qualifying offer to Shota Imanaga this off-season, many fans were upset. He had a down year in 2025 and fans were not sure he would be worth the salary.

It sure is a good thing they retained him, though. Amidst numerous injuries to the starting rotation, Imanaga has been a stabilizing force. He is currently 3-2 with a 3.20 ERA and 0.85 WHIP.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Cubs’ Nico Hoerner considered a favorite for NL MVP
• Cubs may have lucked into their next perfect bullpen pickup
• Cubs-Kyle Tucker “real” story reveals on national TV?

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner is a player in the National League and Major League Baseball who quietly produces. At the plate, Hoerner is a career .283 hitter with a .729 OPS and 779 hits.

A two-time Gold Glove winner (2023 and 2025), Hoerner finished 19th in the MVP voting last season, but has not been named to an All-Star team in his eight seasons in The Show.

This season has proven to be no different for Hoerner. In 34 games, Hoerner is hitting .299 with a .829 OPS (highest of his career) with 10 doubles, four home runs and 27 RBI. Hoerner has also been his usual self on defense, posting 18 defensive runs saved in 267.0 innings at second base this season.

More News: ESPN rewards Chicago Cubs with a high grade for hot start in April

Hoerner’s early success this season, especially after signing his extension (six years, $141 million), has put him in the conversation to win the National League MVP award.

Chicago Cubs Nico Hoerner could be putting himself in line to receive or win the National League MVP award

With Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani ranked as the favorite in a recent poll of over 40 MLB.com experts (28 first-place votes), Hoerner ranked fifth to win the award. MLB.com’s Jason Foster notes that Hoerner is a “well-rounded player,” which is helping his chances to dethrone Ohtani.

“Hoerner’s one of those players whose traditional stats don’t scream “MVP,” but the infielder has certainly been of tremendous value to the Cubs as one of the most well-rounded but underrated players in the game,” wrote Foster. “The two-time Gold Glove winner received MVP votes last season (he finished 19th in the voting) when he was worth 6.2 bWAR. He’s on track for that kind of value again this season, with a .301/.375/.466 slash line entering Monday, along with seven Outs Above Average, which ranks fourth among all position players.”

Hoerner certainly has a chance to receive votes this season, but taking down Ohtani may be a tall task to tackle, given he pitches. In 30.0 innings this season (five starts), Ohtani is 2-1 with a 0.60 ERA and struck out 34. Even though it is unlikely Hoerner will win the MVP award, he is putting himself in line to receive votes to be the starting second baseman in the All-Star game in Philadelphia this summer.

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The Chicago Cubs may have just had a viable, healthy bullpen option practically dumped into their laps.

More News: Chicago Cubs-Kyle Tucker “real” story revealed on live TV?

Veteran lefty and former Cub Andrew Chafin has opted out of his deal with the Cincinnati Reds, per MLB insider Jon Heyman, and is now a free agent.

The availability of an experienced bullpen arm with a proven track record of success should be a big deal for a Cubs team hobbled by a rash of pitching injuries.

Although Phil Maton and closer Daniel Palencia have returned from their IL stints, relievers Hunter Harvey, Caleb Thielbar, Riley Martin, and Ethan Roberts are still not back with the squad. Emerging ace Cade Horton, meanwhile, is out for the season following elbow surgery and returning ace Justin Steele’s recovery from elbow surgery last season has suffered a setback.

The injuries have been so debilitating that the Cubs have had to rely on offseason minor league pickups Corbin Martin, Ryan Rolison, Charlie Barnes, Vince Velasquez, and Yacksel Rios to fill gaps and provide innings.

Andrew Chafin, back to the Cubs?

More News: Chicago Cubs: Red-hot Happ, Suzuki making free agency decision extra hard for Cubs

Chafin could be slotted right in as a short-relief lefty arm, covering right now for the loss of both Thielbar and Martin.

The 35-year-old was signed to a minor league contract by the Reds this past offseason and has been very good with Triple-A Louisville, posting a 0.96 ERA through 10 appearances.

Over the course of his 12-year major league career—spent with 8 teams—the southpaw has a 3.35 ERA over 643 games and 542 innings pitched with 591 career strikeouts. Last year, he delivered a 2.41 ERA over 33.2 innings with the Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Angels.

With the Cubs, Chafin posted a 2.13 ERA from the tail end of the 2020 season to the 2021 trade deadline where he was dealt to the Oakland A’s for Daniel Palencia and Greg Deichmann.

For the last couple of seasons, rumors have popped up about a reunion between Chafin and the Cubs, who always seem to be looking for bullpen arms, preferably of the discount or reclamation project variety. The 2026 Chafin certainly represents both discount and reclamation.

Risk vs. Reward

His career 3.89 walk rate per nine innings is concerning and is trending upward. Through the 2024 and 2025 seasons, his combined 5.00 walk rate is well past what should be tolerated from a late-inning reliever, even one with an elite strikeout rate those last two seasons of 10.6 per nine innings.

Picking up Chafin would no doubt be a gamble, but it would be a low-risk/low-cost gamble with a possible huge upside. Even under a worst case scenario, adding the veteran to the bullpen gives the Cubs a quality arm with a long history of success who would, at least, be an upgrade over the minor league offseason pickups they’ve recently been relying on to fill holes.

Paired with another former Cub back on the market, Carl Edwards Jr., the Cubs might do well to explore reunions as a temporary fix to this recent tidal wave of pitching misfortune.

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The Chicago Cubs traded away their 2024 no. 1 draft pick Cam Smith, a solid every day third baseman in Isaac Paredes, and a promising young pitcher in Hayden Wesneski prior to the 2025 season for just one guaranteed year of the free-agency bound Kyle Tucker.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Red-hot Happ, Suzuki making free agency decision extra hard for Cubs

Then, they didn’t really make much of an effort to re-sign the right fielder.

It was an odd move from a front office known for its pragmatism and conservative mindset—unless you really followed the Cubs and one of their major issues last season.

Tucker’s extended slump over the final three months of the season (and into the playoffs) hobbled a Cubs offense that he had helped fortify through the first three months. Even more frustrating, however, was a perceived lack of fire in getting his game turned around.

The four-time All-Star spent his final month as a Cub nursing a calf strain, languishing on the IL, and then working as a no-pop, no-RBI DH with a batting average hovering around league average.

The Cubs-Tucker “real” story

More News: Chicago Cubs activate Daniel Palencia, DFA veteran pitcher

Nobody from the Cubs blasted Tucker for the fizzle. On the contrary. The team was supportive and complimentary—even after they made it clear that they would be moving on by signing third baseman Alex Bregman to a 5-year, $175 contract.

But, little by little, the real story behind the public story is starting to emerge. Omitting Tucker from their official 2025 highlight reel at the Cubs convention in January certainly raised a few eyebrows. There have also been dribs and drabs making their way to the public, painting Tucker as a cold, detached loner who never quite bonded with the team.

Former Cubs pitcher and current broadcast analyst Rick Sutcliffe is the first to go on the record with what the organization may have really thought about Tucker.

Blasted over live TV

“I had a lot of people in Spring Training ask me about Tucker and Bregman,” Sutcliffe said during a recent telecast on the Marquee Sports Network. “What’s the difference? Is this just the same kind of deal? You got the same kind of player? I didn’t know then. I know now. No. Yeah their career averages are .272. Both of them. But this is a completely different guy. This guy is there to help everybody. Nothing against Kyle Tucker. He was quiet. He just didn’t chat. He didn’t really do anything with anybody other than himself and his computer.”

From a guarded, PR-conscious organization like the Cubs, an over-the-air statement like that is like slamming a bat into a big toe.

Nobody has made much of Sutcliffe’s declaration and the team has not made any official statement regarding it. If pushed, Chicago would surely fall back on the “that’s Sutcliffe’s personal opinion and doesn’t represent the views of out team” line.

But there was a reason the Cubs let Tucker drift away into free agency without putting up the slightest bit of a fight—and it didn’t have to do completely with the money or years attached to his contract.

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The Chicago Cubs have been playing some spectacular baseball over the first month-plus of the 2026 MLB campaign, as they sit at 22-12 and in first place in the NL Central heading into their four-game series with the Cincinnati Reds that begins Monday.

Everything seems to be clicking for the Cubs right now, this in spite of the fact that their pitching staff has been ravaged by injuries.

But while the health situation of Chicago’s arms has been a rather hot topic of discussion, what seems to be getting lost in the fog of the Cubs’ start has been the relatively non-existent bat of third baseman Alex Bregman.

Chicago signed Bregman to a five-year, $175 million contract during the offseason, hoping he would anchor a lineup that was, at the time, in the process of losing Kyle Tucker. Instead, Bregman has actually been a weak link.

Through the team’s first 34 games, Bregman is slashing .243/.333/.353 with three home runs and 12 RBI over 156 plate appearances. Yes, the 18 walks are nice, but the Cubs aren’t paying Bregman $35 million annually — with a full no-trade clause, to boot — just to walk.

Should the Chicago Cubs be concerned about Alex Bregman?

When Chicago first inked Bregman, a whole lot of people called it an overpay. Considering that the three-time All-Star has been in rather significant decline since his ridiculous 41-homer season with the Houston Astros back in 2019, the concern was understandable.

Even last year, Bregman was good, but not great, slashing .273/.360/.462 with 18 long balls and 62 RBI across 495 trips to the dish with the Boston Red Sox.

But it’s important to remember that in 2024, his final year in Houston, Bregman managed a .768 OPS thanks to a brutal start. He did perform much better during the second half of the campaign, but he dug himself quite a hole over the first several months.

Is that what Bregman is doing here?

The former first-round pick is now 32 years old, so it’s fair to wonder if he is on a downturn. And if his 2026 struggles continue, do the Cubs have enough juice to compensate for it?

Ian Happ has been off to a torrid start, and guys like Carson Kelly and Moises Ballesteros have been tearing the cover off the ball. Is any of that sustainable, though?

Especially when you consider how much Pete Crow-Armstrong has labored thus far, any dip in production from any of Chicago’s top producers could make Bregman’s rough start much more worrisome. And if that does happen, the Cubs could be in for a rude awakening.

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The Chicago Cubs were one of the better teams in April, finishing the month with a 17-9 record. The Cubs saw contributions from the core members of their lineup, outfielders Ian Happ (.893 OPS) and Seiya Suzuki (.928 OPS), leading the charge.

Cubs rookie catcher Moises “Mo Baller” Ballesteros has also produced this season, hitting .317 with a .978 OPS (leads the team) and six home runs. The Cubs have also seen a solid run from two members of the starting rotation, left-hander Shota Imanaga (2.40 ERA and 0.85 WHIP) and right-hander Edward Cabrera (3.06 ERA and 1.19 WHIP).

More News: Chicago Cubs: Is it time to ‘panic’ about Pete Crow-Armstrong?

The Cubs’ depth has also proven to be successful, with infielder/outfielder Matt Shaw bouncing back after a tough rookie season — Shaw is hitting .278 with a .786 OPS in 30 games after batting .226 with a .690 OPS in 126 games last season. Receiving production from every aspect of the roster, the Cubs got a pretty solid grade for the start to their season.

The Chicago Cubs received an A- for how they finished April

According to ESPN’s David Schoenfield, the Cubs’ hot start in April earned them the third-highest grade, with the New York Yankees (A) and the Atlanta Braves (A+) finishing higher. Schoenfield notes that the depth puts them at the top, with first baseman Michael Busch struggling in April (batting .188 with a .553 OPS).

“The sign of a good team is one that has the roster depth to overcome slow starts and injuries,” wrote Schoenfield. “That has been the case with the Cubs. Michael Busch was the Cubs’ best hitter last season and hit .173 without a home run in his first 22 games. Seiya Suzuki sat out the first 12 games. Pete Crow-Armstrong hit one home run in his first 29 games. Closer Daniel Palencia went down early because of a lat strain. Despite all of that, the Cubs are still averaging more than five runs and manager Craig Counsell has expertly managed the late-game bullpen, with seven different relievers picking up saves. Cade Horton‘s season-ending injury is a huge blow to the rotation, and the Cubs don’t really have an ace, but the expectations should be high for this team.”

Beginning May with a 3-0 record, the Cubs look like they continue their hot start into the second month of the season. Busch has started to turn things around at the plate, hitting .271 with a .854 OPS with two home runs and 14 RBI in his last 15 games, which helped raise his season average to .218. Right-hander Daniel Palencia was activated on Sunday after his time on the injured list.

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The Chicago Cubs are off to a blazing start to the 2026 season. Sitting at 22-12 following a 10-game overall winning streak and a separate 11-game home winning streak, Chicago enters a crucial four-game series against the Cincinnati Reds beginning Monday, May 4, holding first place in what has quickly become one of baseball’s most competitive divisions.

With every National League Central team sitting above .500, the division has emerged as one of the strongest groups in baseball early this season. The Reds are the lone club without a positive run differential, largely because of losses over the weekend by margins of eight and 10 runs that skewed their numbers. Still, the depth of the division’s success is evident elsewhere, as the Reds have already posted two separate five-game winning streaks this season while the Milwaukee Brewers have gone 5-2 over their last seven games.

That said, the Chicago Cubs’ upcoming four-game series against the Cincinnati Reds carries added significance despite it still being early in the season. The matchup could help shape the tone for the rest of May, a month in which Chicago is scheduled to play 14 divisional games.

To open the series, the Cubs will be challenged by an unfamiliar power arm as they look to continue their winning streak at Wrigley Field. Cincinnati is expected to call up Chase Petty to make the start, giving Chicago its first look at one of the Reds’ hardest-throwing young pitchers.

Chase Petty will take the ball for the Cincinnati Reds on Monday against the Chicago Cubs

Originally selected in the first round of the 2021 MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins, Chase Petty was acquired by the Reds in the Sonny Gray trade in March of 2022. Petty made his MLB debut last season, appearing in three games spread across April, May, and June, but the transition proved difficult early on. The right-hander allowed nine earned runs in his debut and surrendered four more in his second outing.

That said, Petty is an electric arm who routinely works in the upper 90s and can reach triple digits with his fastball at times. His slider sits around 91 mph, while his changeup and sweeper both come in just below 90 mph, giving him a power-heavy arsenal across the board.

The Reds’ current No. 7 prospect still hasn’t fully put everything together, as command issues and walks have allowed hitters to capitalize on his fastball at times. Even so, the raw stuff is undeniable, and as an unfamiliar arm for the Chicago Cubs, he will present a challenging test in this matchup.

In a series with early-season division implications, how the Cubs handle an unfamiliar, high-octane arm like Petty could set the tone for the entire set. If Chicago can work deep counts and force him into the strike zone consistently, they’ll have a strong chance to extend their momentum and continue their push even further atop the division.

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The Cubs added more pitching depth to the organization by claiming lefty Luis Peralta from the Cardinals, per Marquee’s Taylor McGregor. The Cardinals DFA’ed him last week, just days after they claimed him from the Rockies. Peralta, 25, is the younger brother of All Star pitcher Freddy Peralta, who Cubs fans are very familiar with from his days in Milwaukee.

Peralta was added to the 40-man roster and optioned to Iowa.

#Cubs today claimed LHP Luis Peralta off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals and optioned him to Triple-A Iowa.

— Taylor McGregor (@Taylor_McGregor) May 3, 2026

What can Peralta bring?

Peralta has not pitched much in the Majors, accumulating only 31.1 career innings with the Rockies from 2024 to 2025. He sports a career 6.03 ERA, 6.31 FIP, 1.8 WHIP, 30 strikeouts, and 23 walks. Most of the damage was done last season when he surrendered 20 earned runs in 19 innings (9.47 ERA).

Cannot say things have gone well in the Minors recently, either. This season with the Rockies Triple-A affiliate, Albuquerque, Peralta gave up 14 earned runs and walked 13 batters in 7.1 innings. He did fan 14 down there, but it doesn’t do much good when the ERA reads 17.18, and he’s walked nearly as many as he’s struck out. Overall, he is a career 4.95 ERA, 1.5 WHIP, 12.3 K/9, and 5.7 BB/9 pitcher in 320 minor league innings.

Walks are clearly an issue for him, while he can strike guys out. He throws a mid-90s fastball, curveball, and occasional changeup. The curve has gotten the most whiffs, unsurprisingly, and the fastball has been beaten up by MLB hitters. Peralta’s track record is not great, and expectations should not be high, but the Cubs have found plenty of arms to rework. Plus, he is only 25.

Low risk, high-reward depth move in the end.

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The Chicago Cubs have been playing at an incredible level, especially at home right now. There are a lot of players who are stepping up to help the team continue to add wins to the ledger, including some who could’ve been gone after last season. With Chicago winning 10 consecutive home games and making a case for one of the top teams in baseball, there’s a lot to like. Let’s take a closer look at one person who has significantly changed fans’ perception of him this year.

Ian Happ gushes over Shota Imanaga’s beginning of 2026 season

After a strong 2-0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, Cubs left fielder Ian Happ discsused how starting pitcher Shota Imanaga has been impressing people. However, he is not surprised that he is dominating the way he has been.

“This is who Shota is. The second half of last season was more of coming off injury and some other things than the actual version of Shota… We saw this guy in ’24 and how good he can be He’s done a great job of continuing to grow in this league. He learned from last year.”

Imanaga pitched incredibly well once again with seven scoreless frames. This is his fourth quality start in his previous five outings, continuing to make a case for a dark horse NL Cy Young Award season.

Imanaga has certainly used what he learned to his advantage. Through seven starts, he is 3-2 with a 2.40 ERA and a 0.85 WHIP across 41.1 innings with a 10:43 walk-to-strikeout ratio. One thing he has done to significantly improve is keep the ball in the park, allowing just three homers thus far after allowing 31 in 2025. After questions about if he would return to Chicago this offseason, he is pitching extremely well on the qualifying offer. With a looming free agent decision to be made, Imanaga has certainly turned heads for people across baseball.

With the Cubs having starting rotation depth issues this year, Imanaga’s performances have been even bigger. It will be intriguing to see if the 32-year-old lefty can pitch this well for the entire season.

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The Chicago Cubs, as of this writing, are officially in first place, atop the NL Central Division with a 21-12 record. They have the second-best record in the National League and the third-best in all of baseball.

More News: Chicago Cubs activate Daniel Palencia, DFA veteran pitcher

And this is while being slammed with a barrage of early-season pitching injuries that would’ve broken lesser teams already.

Assuming most of the injured arms come back and nobody else goes down for an extended period of time, the Cubs are actually in a really good place to make some noise this postseason.

But, after that, there’s another big problem awaiting them—a possible mass exodus of veteran talent via free agency at the end of this 2026 season.

Among the names potentially eligible for free agency are Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, Carson Kelly, Ian Happ, and Seiya Suzuki. This is an especially vexing situation when it comes to the two outfielders on the list.

Happ and Suzuki making free agency decision difficult

More News: Chicago Cubs President confirms need for trades amid rash of pitching injuries

Left fielder Happ and right fielder Suzuki are both having tremendous years so far and both are making the case for a return to the Cubs. Happ’s impact has been all over the field—both offensively and defensively—and he’s on a pace to have a career year with the bat. Suzuki, meanwhile, has been raging since a knee injury kept him sidelined for the first two weeks of the season. He’s also on pace to have a career offensive year.

It’s widely believed, however, that Chicago won’t be willing or maybe able to bring both back.

So, what do they do?

Happ is the more consistent of the outfielders and has four consecutive Gold Gloves to prove his defensive worth. Suzuki is the more explosive, but unpredictable, of the two with the greater offensive upside. Both are 31 and are considered in the physical prime of their careers.

Will they stay or will they go?

The corner outfielders have had impending free agency on their minds since the offseason and neither is sounding all that sure that they’ll be back with Chicago for 2027 and beyond.

“I’m not sure,” Suzuki told ESPN’s Jesse Rogers, via interpreter, during spring training. “It depends on my performance. If I perform well, I want to stay. I feel like I still haven’t put up the numbers that people are expecting me to. It comes down to how I perform.”

Happ also sounded unsure of his Cubs future during Cactus League play.

“It’s been a true honor for me to represent this great city, organization and fan base,” Happ told reporters at the time. “The reality of this is, you can’t control if the team wants you back. It’s totally plausible another chapter elsewhere awaits me.”

Unlike teammates Nico Hoerner and Pete Crow-Armstrong, Happ and Suzuki are unlikely to get extension deals. If/when they head out into the open market, they’ll be among the top position players in a fairly weak free agent talent pool ahead of the 2027 season. Teams will be willing to pay a handsome price to have one or the other on their team.

The Cubs just have to decide if they want to spend that kind of money to bring them back when they will also, most definitely, need pitching replacements as well.

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The Chicago Cubs would be justified—at least somewhat—in trying to spin a “the cavalry is coming” storyline when it comes to their banged up and beleaguered pitching staff.

More News: Chicago Cubs President confirms need for trades amid rash of pitching injuries

For those needing a refresher on what’s been happening injury-wise over the first five weeks of the season—it’s been ugly. The list of injured Cubs pitchers so far this season, at both the major league and Triple-A levels, is long: Cade Horton, Matthew Boyd, Phil Maton, Hunter Harvey, Daniel Palencia, Caleb Thielbar, Ethan Roberts, Riley Martin, Porter Hodge, Jordan Wicks, Gavin Hollowell, and Jaxon Wiggins. And that’s not even including ace Justin Steele, who just suffered a setback in his recovery from elbow surgery last year.

But, yes, it could be said that a cavalry IS coming.

Palencia activated; Cubs pitching on the comeback?

More News: Chicago Cubs: Nico Hoerner reveals secret to his early season power surge

Boyd and Maton are already active. Roberts, Wicks, and Hollowell are also back, pitching for the Iowa Cubs. Thielbar has resumed throwing and is expected back mid-May. Harvey, meanwhile, is a step behind Thielbar in his recovery and has just started a throwing program.

The Cubs also announced on Sunday morning that closer Daniel Palencia has been activated from the IL.

The right-hander was placed on the IL April 17 and originally diagnosed with an oblique strain, which was later changed to a milder and easier to rehab lat strain.

After a single rehab outing with the Iowa Cubs, the team had seen enough to feel confident in bringing him back to the big league roster. In two-thirds of an inning against the St. Paul Saints on May 1, Palencia struck out one, allowing one hit and no runs. His velocity was an eye-catching 100-102 mph and he threw 14 of his 19 pitches for strikes.

The plan going forward

“Optimistic we can get him back here after that outing, if all things go well,” manager Craig Counsell told reporters before the Cubs’ 6-5 Friday win over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field.

“He’ll go back to getting outs. We’ve got to get Danny pitching. We want to get him pitching a lot. He’s got five innings right now.”

So far this year, Palencia has only made 5 major league appearances, with his last being on April 12.

To make room on the 26-man roster, veteran right-hander Yacksel Rios was designated for assignment. The 32-year-old, 7-year veteran had been picked up by Chicago—his sixth major league team—in the offseason on a minor league contract as a depth piece. He had only pitched in one game, going 1.2 scoreless, hitless innings on April 26 against the Dodgers. If/when he clears waivers, he’ll probably be welcomed back to the Cubs’ Triple-A squad.

But having Palencia back is definitely good news for a roughed-up Cubs pitching staff that has lost many of its top arms and has had to dip into their pitching reserves for emergency fill-ins.

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After signing his lucrative six-year ($115 million) contract in the offseason, Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has not been like he was last season. Through 33 games, Crow-Armstrong is hitting .236 with a .654 OPS and three home runs.

Crow-Armstrong’s slow start in April is a stark contrast to his start last season, where he batted .312 with a .953 OPS and hit six home runs in 24 games in April. Because of this slow start and failure to live up to his contract so far, some are thinking it’s time to press the panic button on someone who was an All-Star last season.

Pete Crow-Armstrong’s struggles with the Chicago Cubs label him as someone to panic about

According to MLB.com’s Thomas Harrigan, Crow-Armstrong was given the label of “time to panic.”

“Crow-Armstrong’s incredible center-field defense means he doesn’t have to be much more than a league average hitter to be one of the Cubs’ most valuable players,” wrote Harrigan. “However, he hasn’t met that offensive benchmark for some time. He’s recorded three homers with a .664 OPS and a 93 OPS+ through 32 games, this after producing just four homers with a .578 OPS over his final 57 games last season. Crow-Armstrong’s penchant for swinging at pitches outside the strike zone is worse than ever — his 45.5% chase rate is among the highest in MLB — and pitchers are clearly taking advantage.”

More News: Nobody expected this Cubs player to become so important in 2026

Despite Harrigan’s label, Crow-Armstrong has been doing well as of late, as he’s riding a four-game hitting streak. During his hitting streak, the 24-year-old has driven in six RBI, hit two home runs, walked three times and collected 10 total bases.

Crow-Armstrong has also been his usual Gold Glove self in center field this season. Crow-Armstrong is posting an impressive defensive runs saved (43). As Crow-Armstrong is seemingly getting hot, the Cubs center fielder could be on track to start living up to the expectations of his contract.

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Heading into the 2026 season, the Chicago Cubs already appeared to have most of their pitching staff firmly in place. Even with Justin Steele opening the year on the injured list, before suffering a setback, Chicago still featured a talented starting rotation that included Matthew Boyd, Edward Cabrera, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, and Cade Horton.

The bullpen also had defined roles entering the season. Daniel Palencia was slated to handle closing duties, while newcomer Phil Maton and returning veteran Caleb Thielbar were expected to frequently work the late innings ahead of him. With Colin Rea already penciled in as the club’s primary bulk innings option, there initially did not appear to be a clear Opening Day roster spot available for Ben Brown, who finished the 2025 season with a 5.92 ERA over 25 games (15 starts).

However, Brown forced Chicago to keep him on the roster after an impressive spring training that featured the addition of a new sinker to his arsenal. Just over a month into the season, injuries have since pushed him into a crucial multi-inning relief role, and he has responded by becoming one of Chicago’s most valuable arms. Most recently, that included recording his first save of the year, further highlighting just how important he has become to the Cubs’ early success.

Ben Brown has become a very important piece of the 2026 Chicago Cubs

This season, Craig Counsell has turned to Brown out of the bullpen 11 different times, and the right-hander has consistently delivered length. Brown has logged at least 2.0 innings in every appearance except one outing of 1.2 innings, while maxing out at 3.1 innings in relief.

Across 24.2 total innings, he has posted an impressive 1.82 ERA and 0.97 WHIP. More importantly, Brown looks completely in command on the mound, pitching with confidence, trusting the defense behind him, and finally producing the type of results Cubs fans have been waiting years to see.

What makes Brown’s emergence even more important is how he’s not only provided innings, but he’s done so in high-leverage spots as well. Whether it is covering multiple innings or protecting late leads (2 holds and one save), Brown has quickly become one of the most trusted arms on the roster. Entering the year, simply making the Opening Day team felt uncertain. Now, just over a month into the season, it is hard to imagine where Chicago’s pitching staff would be without him.

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Cubs starter Shota Imanaga threw another gem on Saturday afternoon, tossing seven shutout innings against the Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field. Imanaga improved his season ERA to 2.40 in seven starts (41.1 IP).

Imanaga has looked much sharper than he did post-hamstring injury last year. It is worth noting that he posted a 2.77 ERA over his first seven starts in 2025, before pitching to a 4.09 ERA the rest of the season (18 games). However, the quality of what Imanaga is doing now is still notably better than his start to 2025, despite the fairly similar ERA.

Imanaga is much crisper to start 2026

While the results were good for Imanaga over his first seven starts last year, the underlying numbers tell a different story.

The 2.77 ERA over his first seven starts in 2025 came with a 4.93 FIP, 6.9 K/9, 30 strikeouts, and seven homers surrendered in 39 innings. Compare those to Imanaga’s 2.40 ERA over his first seven starts this year, which includes a 2.73 FIP, 9.4 K/9, 43 strikeouts, and three homers surrendered in 41.1 innings.

Shōta Imanaga, Dirty 84mph Splitter. ✌️

5th K thru 5 pic.twitter.com/y7jLv3l6xF

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 2, 2026

Whiffs are such a bit part of this story, as well as cutting the home runs in half over this compared sample size. His stuff has looked crisper and has been much more efficient in preventing the ball from being put in play vs. last year. Looking back at those starts early in 2025, it’s easy to see where he was more “grindy” than dominant.

Keeping it going

Imanaga is such an important piece to this rotation now. A fully healthy rotation with Cade Horton and Justin Steele would have him as a mid-rotation starter. With Horton done for the year, Steele not being back until after the All Star break, and Matthew Boyd struggling, Imanaga is now arguably seen as the top guy in the rotation.

With the uncertainty regarding how Imanaga would bounce back, and Horton being part of the equation, this was a very different outlook in Spring. Even with knowing that Steele was not going to be ready to start 2026. The outlook of Boyd, Horton, and Cabrera above, with more available depth at the time, made Imanaga’s value feel different.

While there will inevitably be some bad starts with flyballs leaving the park at will, having this type of stuff from Imanaga will go a much longer way than many may have thought heading into this season.

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The Chicago Cubs came into spring training with the firm belief that their arm depth would make for an upgraded pitching staff over the 2025 product, which seemed to falter and then collapse as the team pushed its way into the postseason. And, really, why wouldn’t they feel that way?

More News: Chicago Cubs: Daniel Palencia kills it in rehab outing, topping out at 102 mph

They added emerging powerhouse starter Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins via trade. They picked up four veteran free agent relievers to restock a depleted bullpen. They’d be getting a full year from breakthrough star Cade Horton. Shota Imanaga was looking stronger and more confident than last season. Javier Assad was healthy and ready to go. Even lefty ace Justin Steele was due to return around mid-May or June from last year’s elbow surgery.

As a matter of fact, there was a consistent storyline in some corners of the media pointing out that the Cubs maybe had too much pitching for too few openings and should consider trading a couple of arms for some bench assets.

Well, it only took about a month to change the Cubs’ pitching outlook entirely.

In short, things have been a disaster.

Cubs pitching misfortune

More News: Chicago Cubs: Nico Hoerner reveals secret to his early season power surge

Horton is lost for the season after elbow surgery. Matthew Boyd went on the shelf and missed three starts. Relievers Daniel Palencia, Phil Maton, Hunter Harvey, Caleb Thielbar, Ethan Roberts, and Riley Martin have all gone down to injury. And now, it looks like Steele’s return will be pushed back to the more nebulous “sometime this season” after a setback in his recovery.

Chicago has had to fall back on the reserve of arms they picked up in the offseason via minor league contract. Corbin Martin, Ryan Rolison, Charlie Barnes, Vince Velasquez, and Yacksel Rios have all seen innings this year—way earlier and much more urgently than imagined.

So far, the Cubs have managed to keep winning through the misfortune. But that clearly can’t go on forever. It certainly doesn’t bode well for their offseason chances when the staff is populated with so many replacement arms.

The usually poker-faced Cubs front office is starting to show at least a bit of alarm in their acknowledgment that they will definitely have to dive into the trade market to find some quality pitching plug-ins.

Cubs will be diving into the trade market

‘‘I’m sure it’s going to be a summer of working through our internal guys, but external is going to be a real thing as we go on,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer told reporters on Friday.

He would also reveal that they are already pursuing trades and that, right now, they are busy “looking really consistently for small transactions.”

“It’s also May 1, and it takes awhile for those things to happen,” Hoyer declared. “We’re going to have to wait and handle those things internally.”

But if the Cubs are indeed serious about making this year their year, they’ll have to do something big by the August 3 trade deadline. And they’ll have to accept the reality that they may have to empty out their farm system—especially their Triple-A squad—to make it happen.

Currently, top Cubs prospects 1B Jonathon Long, SS/2B Jefferson Rojas, 3B/2B Pedro Ramirez, 2B/OF James Triantos, and OF Brett Bateman all find themselves blocked at the major league level and could be part of a trade.

Matt Shaw, who has been the subject of trade rumors since the Cubs acquired Alex Bregman in the offseason, has proven himself valuable as a super utility player off the bench and may not be made available in a deal.

Rumored Cubs trade targets have ranged from Sandy Alcantara and Joe Ryan to Kodai Senga and Luis Severino.

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The Chicago Cubs are riding a wave of almost unprecedented pitching misfortune as they barely pass the one-month mark of this 2026 season. It’s just been injury after injury with the pitching staff, causing the team to quickly go through their pitching reserves at the Triple-A level.

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But there’s at least some good news to be found when it comes to Chicago’s troubled pitching corps. Closer Daniel Palencia, who was placed on the IL April 17 with a left oblique strain that was later revised to a much more manageable left lat strain, made a rehab outing for the Iowa Cubs and looked pretty good.

Palencia is sharp and strong in rehab outing

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Pitching against the St. Paul Saints, the right-hander came into the game in the fifth and pitched a scoreless two-thirds of an inning. In the outing, he struck out one, allowed one hit, and threw 14 of 19 pitches for strikes. His velocity ranged from 100-102 mph in the appearance.

Prior to the rehab outing, Cubs manager Craig Counsell was non-committal when talking about whether Palencia would be immediately returned to his closer role.

“Optimistic we can get him back here after that outing, if all things go well,” Counsell told reporters before the Cubs’ 6-5 Friday victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field.

“He’ll go back to getting outs. We’ve got to get Danny pitching. We want to get him pitching a lot. He’s got five innings right now.”

The hard-throwing 26-year-old, coming off a breakthrough 2025 where he started the year in Triple-A and seized the Cubs’ closer role before mid-May, has a total a total of five appearances so far this year, with the last being on April 12. He’s struck out five and has yet to allow a run in this limited run.

Injuries have hobbled the Cubs

The Cubs desperately need some of their top arms to return to active duty if the goal is to make a run at a championship this year. So far, they’ve held together remarkably well considering the tsunami of injuries, but it’s only a matter of time before reality catches up to them.

Chicago lost emerging ace Cade Horton for the year with an elbow injury that required surgery, in just his second start of the season. Opening Day starter Matthew Boyd lost three starts due to a left biceps strain. Then came Phil Maton (right knee tendonitis), Hunter Harvey (right triceps inflammation), Ethan Roberts (finger laceration), Palencia (lat strain), Caleb Thielbar (hamstring), and Riley Martin (elbow inflammation). Down in Iowa, reliever Porter Hodge was lost for the season after UCL surgery. Even top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins has been placed on the IL with right elbow inflammation.

As emergency fill-ins, the Cubs have had to call up offseason minor league pick ups Corbin Martin, Ryan Rolison, Charlie Barnes, Vince Velasquez, and Yacksel Rios.

A healthy and effective Palencia will bring stability to the back end of the bullpen and return one more piece to a pitching puzzle that has been a mass of chaos. His rehab is expected to be just a one-and-done proposition.

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The Chicago Cubs lost one of their key hitters during Friday’s 6-5 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

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Second baseman Nico Hoerner entered Wrigley Field with no issues, but started feeling tightness in his neck during warmups. He started at the top of the lineup for Chicago, earning a hit and scoring a run in the first inning before being pulled from the game in the second inning.

On Saturday, the Cubs revealed their starting lineup. Hoerner will not start and Matt Shaw, who came in for Hoerner on Friday, will take over at second base and bat seventh in the lineup against the Diamondbacks. Michael Busch, batting .203 sigh two home runs and 13 RBIs, will be the leadoff hitter for the Cubs.

Hoerner is batting .297 with four home runs and 26 RBIs. He told reporters on Friday that he did not suffer an “injury” but couldn’t play to the best of his abilities with the neck issue.

“It’s not an injury, but the kind of thing where it didn’t leave me in a place to be myself today,” Hoerner said, via MLB.com.

Chicago Cubs hope Nico Hoerner can return next week

Cubs manager Craig Counsell believes Hoerner has a muscle issue. He hopes the second baseman can return early next week.

“It got worse on the swing and run around the bases,” Counsell said. “He tried to go out there in the second and he couldn’t throw. He just couldn’t move his neck at all. It’s a muscle thing. We’ll see how he’s doing [Saturday]. It may be a day or two, but I think it’ll be fine after that.”

On Saturday, things have not improved to the point where Hoerner can play. It’s an unfortunate circumstance for the Cubs, who will lose the leader in hits (38) and RBIs against the Diamondbacks.

Shaw is batting .289 with three home runs and 10 RBIs. He’s been a key player to fill in for players who are injured or need time off this season.

Given the state of the injured pitching staff in Chicago, the team needs its offense to at its best as it climbs up the National League Central. The Cubs, with a 20-12 record, are tied with the Cincinnati Reds for first place in the division.

For More Chicago Sports:

Follow me on Twitter at @JordanSig, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Jordan Sigler via email at jordanmsigler@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago Cubs‘ pitching staff has been absolutely ravaged by injuries this season, and that includes the bullpen, where the Cubs are still missing some vital pieces.

Yes, Daniel Palencia is on his way back, but several other relievers are still sidelined, and we don’t even know how Palencia will look once he returns from his lat injury.

The Cubs have managed to go 13-3 over their last 16 games — which included a 10-game winning streak — in spite of all of their injuries, but at some point, it’s going to catch up to them, so they should probably take action now.

Of course, finding options this early in the season is exceedingly difficult, especially with an expanded playoff field. Unlike years ago where some clubs would already be preparing to sell by now, too many teams are still in the playoff hunt.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t any potential solutions, though, and the New York Mets may have just handed a rather familiar option to Chicago on a silver platter: Carl Edwards Jr.

The Chicago Cubs could reunite with Carl Edwards Jr.

The Mets decided to DFA Edwards earlier this week, a rather puzzling move considering that he had logged a 1.50 ERA while registering 11 strikeouts over six innings this season. But it’s the Mets, so nothing they do should surprise anyone at this point.

As for the Cubs? Well, Edwards spent the first four-plus seasons of his big-league career in Chicago between 2015 and 2019 and played a pivotal role in the Cubs’ bullpen during their World Series run in 2016.

In fact, Edwards has been pretty reliable wherever he has gone, owning a lifetime 3.51 ERA while averaging 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings. During his stint in Chicago, he posted a 3.30 ERA and a 12.1 K/9, so his best run was certainly in the Windy City.

Jordan Campbell of Cubbies Crib likes the idea of reuniting with Edwards, and it makes perfect sense.

“Is the pitcher healthy? Do they have MLB experience? If the answer to both of those questions is yes, then the Cubs need to try to bring them into the organization. Assuming Edwards clears waivers, he has the right to refuse an outright assignment. A case can also be made that the Cubs should just skip that step and put in a claim on their former bullpen staple,” Campbell wrote.

Yes, Edwards has always had command issues, but he has also always seemed to wriggle his way out jams. Plus, with Chicago’s bullpen being in such dire straits, the Cubs might just want to snatch the best available option.

We’ll see if the Cubs try and make a move on the 34-year-old.

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The Chicago Cubs are 20-12 on the season following their 6-5 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night. The win, in addition to the Cincinnati Reds losing to the Pittsburgh Pirates, have put Chicago in a tie for first place in the National League Central Division.

In what was a concerning moment, though, two-time Gold Glove second baseman Nico Hoerner was removed from the game with neck tightness. Fortunately, it does not sound like it will be anything that will keep him more than a couple of days.

Indeed, the Cubs have had to overcome a plethora of injuries to their pitching staff already this season, as well as slow starts to several of their most important hitters. Through it all, though, Hoerner has been an impressive leader and offensive force.

Nico Hoerner is the Chicago Cubs early season MVP

Unfortunately, the Cubs saw two players that hit over 30 home runs last year, Michael Busch and Pete Crow-Armstrong, get off to incredibly slow starts in 2026. Despite their overall lack of offensive production throughout April, Hoerner helped make sure Chicago kept putting up runs.

So far this season, Hoerner is hitting .297/.374/.461 with four home runs and 26 RBI. He also has seven stolen bases. He leads the Cubs in RBI and has the highest WAR on the team (2.0).

Of course, he also has been stellar on defense as well with a .991 fielding percentage. Currently, Hoerner has a 0.5 dWAR; last year, he had a career-best 2.3 dWAR. If he continues on his current trajectory, he will have his best defensive season ever, and he has already won two Gold Gloves!

Moises Ballesteros certainly could be considered for the team MVP as he is hitting .324/.386/.595 with five home runs and 16 RBI. But he only adds value offensive against right-handed pitching while Hoerner plays every day and is one of the best defensive players in the league.

Hopefully his neck tightness goes away quickly because the Cubs certainly need him to keep producing the way he has in order for them to keep pace in the National League.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Cubs impressive streak at home highlights recent dominance
• Former Cubs phenom has become a strikeout machine
• Cubs named top landing spot for 2x NL MVP at MLB trade deadline

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago Cubs have been one of baseball’s hottest teams since the middle of April. From April 14-24, they rattled off a 10-game winning streak that included two series sweeps of the Philadelphia Phillies and another against the New York Mets. Although they briefly stumbled with a three-game skid on the West Coast following that stretch, Chicago quickly answered with another three-game winning streak.

Altogether, the Cubs are beginning to look like a dominant force, particularly at Wrigley Field where they continue to feed off the energy of their home crowd. That trend continued Friday night when Chicago escaped with a 6-5 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, extending its winning streak at Wrigley Field to nine straight games.

Chicago Cubs impressive winning streak at home reaches nine games

Dating back to Sunday, April 12, when the Cubs defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field, Chicago has yet to lose on its home field. Three of the wins during this stretch have come by a single run, but perhaps even more impressively, the Cubs have been held under four runs just once during the streak despite battling through the cold spring conditions that have hovered over Chicago for much of the season.

Overall, this dominant stretch at Wrigley Field has given the Cubs their longest home winning streak since 2017. During that season, Chicago pieced together nine straight victories at home, highlighted by sweeps of the Toronto Blue Jays and Pittsburgh Pirates before the streak ended in the finale of a four-game series against the Atlanta Braves. The Cubs ultimately finished 48-33 at home that year, and their 92-win campaign was enough to secure the National League Central division crown.

If the Cubs can continue turning Wrigley Field into a true home-field advantage, they are going to remain one of the most dangerous teams in the National League, which is easily the most competitive division in baseball this year. While it is still early in the season, this recent run is beginning to resemble the type of momentum carried by some of Chicago’s most successful teams of the last decade.

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The Chicago Cubs needed another pitcher over the winter, so they made the painful decision to trade top outfield prospect Owen Caissie to the Miami Marlins in exchange for right-hander Edward Cabrera.

While Cabrera was terrific in 2025, many looked at the deal with a side eye given his injury history and considering the buzz surrounding Caissie. Was it really wise to move Caissie in exchange for an injury-prone pitcher who has really only had one good season?

Well, the early returns for the Cubs have been decent, as Cabrera owns a 3.06 ERA through his first six starts. Yes, he has surrendered three earned runs in each of his last four outings, but he hasn’t gotten shelled, and he owns a respectable 3.70 FIP and 1.189 WHIP.

It would be nice if the 28-year-old started striking out more batters, as he is averaging a pedestrian 7.4 punchouts per nine innings, but perhaps that will come with time.

But what about Caissie? Well, after a strong start to the 2026 campaign, the former top prospect has fallen into quite a quagmire.

Former Chicago Cubs prospect Owen Caissie has become a strikeout machine

Caissie has played in 29 games thus far this season and owns a .207/.250/.345 slash line with two home runs and 15 RBI over 96 plate appearances.

As if Caissie’s rough slash line weren’t bad enough, a deeper look into his numbers shows that the 23-year-old is struggling even more than you would imagine, as he has already struck out 41 times over this first month-plus in Miami.

That’s good for a strikeout rate of 42.7 percent, which could indicate that Caissie was not yet prepared for big-league pitching.

The 6-foot-4 outfielder played very well for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic, managing a 1.241 OPS across 21 trips to the dish, but over the course of a larger sample size, his production has faded significantly.

Remember: Caissie did have strikeout issues in the minor leagues, as well, as he fanned 121 times through 433 plate appearances at Triple-A Iowa in 2025. He was also rung up 159 times over 549 trips to the dish in 2024.

So, yeah: this isn’t really anything entirely new, but he also wasn’t striking out at this ridiculous rate.

Perhaps Caissie will get straightened out as the season progresses, but there is no doubt that “Big Red” has not gotten off to a very auspicious start with the Marlins.

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The Chicago Cubs finished the month of April with a record of 19-12 and in second place in the National League Central Division. While they got off to a dreadful start, they met the woeful New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies at the right time, and rattled off nine straight wins against them in what turned out to be an 11-game winning streak for Chicago.

The NL Central, though, is turning out to be a juggernaut. No team in the division finished April below .500, and all teams are separated by less than a handful of games.

As the season goes on, the Cubs will face numerous obstacles on their way to taking back the division and, hopefully, going to the World Series. Being active at the MLB trade deadline should be in the cards for them this year.

Chicago Cubs named a top trade destination for Bryce Harper

While many may assume that the Cubs are going to be in the market for a starting pitcher (or two) given the injuries to their starting rotation, Bleacher Report suggests that Chicago is a top landing spot for two-time NL MVP Bryce Harper:

“As they already rank third in scoring despite little help from incumbent first sacker Michael Busch, the Cubs don’t truly need Harper as an upgrade.

“Yet even if that is the case, the Cubs are in a perfect spot to not leave good enough alone. The point of adding Harper would be to make a key strength even more ironclad. And while Busch had a good year in 2025, he’s neither an up-and-comer nor someone the Cubs have a lot invested in. His leash should be short.

“The goal wouldn’t merely be to win the NL Central for the first time since 2020. It would be to fire a broadside at the Dodgers and Braves ahead of potential matchups in October.”

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Nico Hoerner latest Cubs player with injury; leaves mid-game
• Nico Hoerner reveals secret to his early season power surge
• 11-year pro with Cubs reunites with former executives in Detroit

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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Nico Hoerner has been playing at a MVP level for the Chicago Cubs throughout the first month of the season. Following a six year, $141 million contract extension, the 28 year old has easily been their best player on the diamond each and every night. Through 32 games, he has a .297/.374/.461 slash line with four home runs, 26 RBI, seven stolen bases, all while maintaining elite level defense at second base.

Unfortunately, on Friday May 1 he became the latest Cubs player to have an injury. He joins position player Tyler Austin, who underwent surgery this off-season, along with pitchers Hunter Harvey, Porter Hodge, Cade Horton, Riley Martin, Shelby Miller, Daniel Palencia, Ethan Roberts, Justin Steele, Caleb Thielbar, and Jordan Wicks to be injured.

Nico Hoerner abruptly leaves Chicago Cubs game on Friday

In the second inning of the Cubs versus Arizona Dimaondbacks game, Hoener was pinch hit for by Matt Shaw. His removal from the game was surprising, but at Talkin Baseball they went back and saw him grimacing multiple times while running the bases the inning prior.

Nico Hoerner grimaced while running the bases in the first inning and has now been removed from the game pic.twitter.com/6KxxWj6RK7

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) May 1, 2026

Moments later, the Marquee broadcast revealed that Hoerner was removed due to left sided neck tightness.

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The Chicago Cubs had been urged by fans and media to extend free agency-eligible Nico Hoerner all through the second half of last season up until the start of this season. Thankfully, they obliged with a 6-year, $141 million extension announced shortly after Opening Day.

More News: Chicago Cubs not having Kyle Tucker non-buyer’s remorse

The tenacious second baseman, who’s been an elite fielder and one of the best contact hitters in all of baseball, had been an absolute fireplug at the end of the 2025 regular season and throughout the playoffs. He had become a crucial part of this Cubs team and was rewarded as such by the rich contract.

The 28-year-old Hoerner responded in the right way—by being even more of his best self.

So far, he’s been a defensive dynamo on the field and has added extra fire to his offensive game.

Nico’s power surge

More News: Chicago Cubs: Daniel Palencia injury update actually sounds like good news

31 games into the 2026 season, he’s already hit 4 home runs while sporting a career-high slugging percentage (.449) and OPS (.819). He’s leading the team in RBIs with 26—a number that also ties him for fourth in baseball. His home run-per-at bat rate this year is 31.75 as opposed to the 85.57 rate he posted last season, in what was considered a career offensive year for him.

The two-time Gold Glover has always been a good, smart hitter with elite-level contact ability, but there’s just more there this year. He’s pulling the ball more, getting it into the air more, and just generating more impact overall.

Hoerner attributes the development to simply being more selective at the plate and, essentially, being okay with taking pitches—and strikes—in search of one he can actually drive.

“As a player who makes a lot of contact, it’s a skill set, it’s a bonus. But it’s also something that can limit me if it’s weak contact in good counts to hit,” Hoerner told The Athletic. “It’s something I’ve known for a long time. I obviously know hitting the ball hard off the ground is better. It takes a while to understand how that shows up for you individually. I definitely don’t have that down yet. But I have a better idea of pitches I hit well.”

Counsell on Hoerner’s power moves

Cubs manager Craig Counsell has noticed the adjustments and fully endorses the changes.

“Nico could get into the habit of just playing defense as a hitter. He’s great at it, which means the ball is going to be in play. But it kind of created a swing that didn’t let him drive the ball,” Counsell also told The Athletic.

“He has always had the move to drive the baseball. He’s just gotten more confident in this move he has worked on trusting and understands both things can still happen. He can still make elite contact and drive the baseball because his move is cleaner…He can get underneath the baseball instead of kind of just diving forward and putting it in play.”

Hoerner’s currently on a pace to hit just over 18 home runs, which is not a whole lot when stacked against some of the league’s bigger sluggers. But when you factor in his overall hitting ability, his defense, his speed on the bases, and the impact he has on the clubhouse, he’s an MVP-level asset to the Cubs and worth every penny they invested in him.

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The Chicago Cubs have a lot of players who can swing the bat well at the MLB level. They had success finding players that can swing the bat well throughout the system with names like Moises Ballesteros, Ian Happ, and Nico Hoerner going through the Cubs farm system. But which current prospect is hitting the best this season? Let’s take a closer look at who it is.

Pedro Ramirez is considered the hottest hitting prospect for the Chicago Cubs right now

The trio of Jim Callis, Jonathan Mayo, and Sam Dykstra wrote an article highlighting the top-performing offensive prospect for each MLB team. Chicago had their eighth-ranked prospect in third/second baseman Pedro Ramirez on this list. Below is what the trio said about his hitting thus far:

“Signed out of the same Venezuelan training program along with Moises Ballesteros in 2021, Ramirez has similar bat-to-ball skills and is demonstrating newfound power. His seven homers in 26 Triple-A games are just one shy of his career high, and he’s hitting .311/.383/.602 while ranking second in the Minors in total bases (62) and RBIs (29).”

In addition to what they wrote, Ramirez is a switch-hitter who can balance out a lineup. He is still awaiting a call to the big leagues to make his MLB debut, but there’s a bit of a logjam at the positions he plays. He also has shown the ability to run the bases well, swiping 10 bases on 11 attempts this season. This is his first taste of Triple-A, so it could be a little while before the front office wants to call him up.

However, it will not be much longer if he continues to hit at this type of level. With a 1.005 OPS and the need to improve a bit more defensively, it will not be too long until he gets the call to Wrigleyville.

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From 2014 through 2024, Chicago Cubs fans grew accustomed to seeing Kyle Hendricks factor into the starting rotation. Nicknamed “The Professor,” the crafty right-hander built a lengthy career on precision and command, spending 11 seasons anchoring Chicago’s rotation. In 2025, Hendricks spent the lone season of his career outside the organization, making 31 starts for the Los Angeles Angels.

After announcing his retirement this past offseason, Hendricks is already set to return to baseball in a new role. Just one month into the regular season, he is joining the front office of the Detroit Tigers, where he will reunite with a pair of executives who overlapped with him during his time in Chicago.

Former Chicago Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks is reuniting with Scott Harris and Jeff Greenberg in Detroit

From 2012 to 2019, Scott Harris worked his way up through the Chicago Cubs front office, eventually earning the title of assistant general manager before departing the organization. After a brief stint as general manager of the San Francisco Giants, he was hired as president of baseball operations for the Detroit Tigers in 2022.

Meanwhile, Jeff Greenberg spent a decade with the Cubs organization from 2011 through 2021, also climbing the ladder to assistant general manager. Following a short stop in the NHL, Greenberg joined the Tigers as their general manager in 2023.

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The Chicago Cubs have been hit by the injury bug this season, losing more than a handful of players on the pitching staff. Despite that, they are still off to a good start but really need to avoid any major injuries.

On Tuesday, during the win over the San Diego Padres, they had another potential injury scare.

Shortstop Dansby Swanson left the game in the bottom of the second inning after stealing a base in the top half. The Cubs replaced him with Nico Hoerner who shifted to short while Nicky Lopez moved to second. There wasn’t much news in terms of the injury but now we found out the reason why.

And it was due to a left glute cramp.

Swanson avoided a serious injury and after the game, manager Craig Counsell provided a key update on him which is good news.

Dansby Swanson is feeling good after leaving Tuesday’s game

The shortstop should be fine and avoided missing any time for the long term. That’s great news and Counsell’s words after should provide some more comfort for Cubs fans.

“He’s feeling good,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said after his team’s 8-3 win over the Padres. “It happened on the slide, so I think his hip and glute got jammed up when he hit on the slide. He’s feeling pretty good. We’ll see how he feels tomorrow, but optimistic that it’s not something serious.”

Swanson made his mark early in the game despite the injury. He had a two run double that got the Cubs on the board and while the Padres battled back to tie the game, Chicago prevailed in the end.

The shortstop will not be in the lineup for Wednesday’s game, but he should return for Friday vs. Arizona.

Swanson has been a key piece to the Cubs’ defense this season and early on his bat has been impressive too. Feels like the Cubs dodged some potential bad news.

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The Chicago Cubs don’t look to be having non-buyer’s remorse when it comes to Kyle Tucker.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Daniel Palencia injury update actually sounds like good news

The team essentially let the right fielder walk into free agency this past offseason without much of an effort to keep him aboard. The lack of a real try to re-sign the four-time All-Star following just one year with the team—after trading away their no. 1 draft pick Cam Smith, third baseman Isaac Paredes, and pitcher Hayden Wesneski to get him—sort of speaks volumes.

It also raised a few eyebrows when their official 2025 highlight real used to kick off the Cubs convention in January showed no footage of Tucker.

And now, Chicago can look at the stat sheets and box scores and totally justify using that Tucker money to sign Alex Bregman and a couple of relievers instead.

As of this writing, Tucker is hitting just .239 with 3 home runs and 15 RBIs for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who signed him to a “Dodger-y” 4-year, $240 million contract in January.

These aren’t really irredeemably “bad” stats, but they’re not $60 million AAV stats by a long shot.

Patience running thin for Kyle Tucker in LA

More News: Chicago Cubs: PCA named “biggest disappointment” by ESPN, Hoerner and Ballesteros get props

The slow start has already stirred up some negativity among fans and media.

Per Billy Heyen of Sporting News:

“They had just traded for Kyle Tucker a year earlier, but when he hit free agency in the offseason, they didn’t really pursue him. They let teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays battle for his next contract.

The Cubs may have known what was coming, or they may have gotten lucky.

But so far, Tucker’s deal with the Dodgers hasn’t worked out.

He signed an absurd four-year, $240 million contract—that’s $60 million a season, although some is deferred.

And so far, Tucker has been a below league average hitter. His OPS+ is just 96, which means he’s been 4% worse than the league average bat.”

Dylan Hernandez of AOL.com was just as harsh, even after a walk-off hit Monday night by Tucker versus the Marlins:

“The purported grand prize of the most recent free-agent class, the $60-million-a-year left-handed hitter is batting just .236, even after his ninth-inning heroics. His batting average and OPS are the lowest of any of the Dodgers’ regular starters, and his early-season slump already prompted Roberts to drop him in the lineup from second to fourth.”

Tucker’s “trying too hard”

“I think he’s probably trying a little bit hard,” Dodgers hitting coach Aaron Bates told The Athletic. “He’s just getting settled in a little bit. Everyone’s always trying hard, so I don’t want to say it that way, but it’s more so (that he’s) trying to force it, maybe force hits.”

Bates’ conciliatory words reflect all of the Cubs coaching staff’s words last season as Tucker languished through a career-worst slump that began on July 1 and never actually ended.

Tucker’s poor performance and a perceived lack of fire to turn things around even drew boos from the usually mega-loyal Wrigley Field fans. A late season calf strain made things even worse as he sat out a bunch and only contributed as a DH in the postseason.

By the end of his Cubs run, the fans who were rabid about re-signing him throughout the entire first half of the season, were absolutely silent when they saw that the front office was moving on.

Tucker may turn his season around and start putting up elite numbers. It’s still April, after all. But the Cubs won’t be missing him or cursing his departure. In Chicago, he just wasn’t the right player for the right team at the right time.

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While Cubs fans collectively groaned Tuesday afternoon after hearing about Justin Steele’s rehab setback, nobody is more bummed than Steele himself. The lefty starter, who has not pitched since April 2025 due to UCL surgery, was shut down after being diagnosed with a flexor strain. Things were going well, and his rehab looked to be in great shape before he recently started feeling something.

A bit less than 24 hours after the news officially broke, Steele posted on Twitter (X) updating the situation:

Well; this is obviously frustrating on many levels. It’s hard to put into words the emotions and mental state that something like this can leave you in. Nor do I want to really.

I just know I have given 100% and have done everything that’s been asked of me and at the end of the…

— Justin Steele (@J_Steele21) April 29, 2026

Steele is down, but not defeated

While fans and reporters process the news, both Steele and Craig Counsell have sent out optimistic messages. Neither denies that the setback is very frustrating, but both acknowledge that it has not taken Steele down. Steele in his message expresses his belief in himself and how eager he is to get back out there. There is no structural damage to the repaired UCL, and this setback is not season-ending.

Counsell in an interview with 104.3 The Score on Tuesday said, “We didn’t get news that Justin’s out for the year. He’s got an opportunity to pitch for the Cubs this year. We’re planning on him pitching for the Cubs later this season.” Steele will be re-evaluated in a month, and he will not be back until after the All Star break.

All Steele and the Cubs can do is roll with the punches and keep their heads high. Counsell knows that the challenge going forward will be greater with his best arm unavailable for an extended period. Especially with how many injuries there already are on the team. Hopefully, he is back in the second half and pitching meaningful innings down the stretch.

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The Chicago Cubs are still, apparently, going through a rash of pitching injuries that can’t possibly get any worse—until they do.

More News: Chicago Cubs urged to sign recently cut two-time All-Star closer amid bullpen emergency

Just yesterday, manager Craig Counsell revealed that ace Justin Steele, who has been rehabbing from a “revision repair” elbow surgery in April of last year, suffered a flexor strain in a bullpen session and is being temporarily shut down while that heals. The setback scraps the original plans to have the lefty starter back by late-May or June and pushes that back to the more nebulous ‘sometime in the second half.’

But at least there’s a bit of good injury recovery news that can be shared with a fretting fandom.

Closer Daniel Palencia threw a bullpen session on Tuesday and things seems to be going well.

Daniel Palencia and his bullpen session

More News: Chicago Cubs: PCA named “biggest disappointment” by ESPN, Hoerner and Ballesteros get props

Taylor McGregor of the Marquee Sports Network gave the Palencia update during yesterday’s game in San Diego versus the Padres:

“Daniel Palencia was throwing a bullpen here today. Really good news, considering that he’s about a week away from potentially returning. So, assuming everything checks out tomorrow—the high-intensity was built up—you could see him back in the major leagues very, very soon.”

Jordan Bastian of MLB.com confirmed the update and added to it:

“Closer Daniel Palencia (15-day IL, left lat) threw a bullpen session and then did some aggressive running and agility work on Tuesday, per Counsell. The manager said the pregame workout went well and noted that Palencia might be activated soon, if he recovers well into Wednesday.

‘It went very well,’ Counsell said. ‘We have to see what tomorrow looks like in terms of how does he feel? And then we’ll be able to determine the next step.’”

If all goes according to plan, the hard-throwing righty could be back in the bullpen as soon as next week. His return date was certainly helped by the fact that the original diagnosis of an oblique strain was later changed to a more mild lat strain on his non-throwing side.

Help!

Needless to say, the Cubs could definitely use another of their high-leverage arms coming back from the injured list.

Just about a month into this 2026 season, Chicago has already suffered through a bevy of pitching injuries that have the team reeling to dig up replacements.

They lost emerging ace Cade Horton, who had season-ending elbow surgery earlier this month. Opening Day starter Matthew Boyd lost three starts due to a left biceps strain. Then came Phil Maton (right knee tendonitis), Hunter Harvey (right triceps inflammation), Ethan Roberts (finger laceration), Palencia (lat strain), Caleb Thielbar (hamstring), and Riley Martin (elbow inflammation). Down in Triple-A Iowa, reliever Porter Hodge was lost for the season after UCL surgery. Jordan Wicks and Gavin Hollowell were lost for a bit. Even top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins had to be placed on the IL with right elbow inflammation.

As stopgap fill-ins, the Cubs have had to call up offseason minor league acquisitions Corbin Martin, Ryan Rolison, Charlie Barnes, Vince Velasquez, and Yacksel Rios.

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The Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers rivalry is starting to heat up. With the Dodgers being the clear favorite in the National League and to win it all, the Cubs are aspiring to be that still.

It started with Pete Crow-Armstrong’s comments about Dodgers’ fans. And now, an on-field incident is igniting things a little bit.

During a game over the weekend in Los Angeles, catcher Dalton Rushing recovered a wild pitch from Roki Sasaki, but wasn’t able to get the ball to second fast enough as Miguel Amaya was ruled safe.

Then, a replay from the broadcast showed Rushing mouthing what appeared to be the words “fat f—,” which drew a look from Nico Hoerner. But that’s as far as it went.

Now, Hoerner is regretting that and knows he should have confronted him more directly.

“Yeah,” Hoerner replied. “I wish that I had confronted him a little more directly, to be honest. I was pretty taken aback. It was just kind of a strange thing to experience, so yeah, I felt a little weird about that. […] I’m not saying I should’ve tackled the guy or anything, but still. At the end of the day, you just wanna have your teammates’ backs.”

This isn’t the first time Dalton Rushing has been involved in something

Dalton Rushing is starting to earn a reputation that you don’t want as a baseball player. And it’s his mouth that is getting him into trouble again.

Just a few weeks ago, Rushing accused the Colorado Rockies of cheating and then followed it up by saying something about San Francisco Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee after he suffered an injury.

That didn’t sit well with either NL West fan base. Now, it’s spelling over to other teams with the Cubs being the latest victim. Rushing is a good player and a key part to the Dodgers. But there’s lines you don’t cross and having that reputation is not a good thing in baseball.

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The Chicago Cubs snapped their three-game losing streak with a convincing 8-3 win over the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night. Pete Crow-Armstrong highlighted the victory with a three-run home run, just his second of the year. Edward Cabrera continued his strong start to his Cubs tenure, earning the win.

Rookie designated hitter Moises Ballesteros was 0-4 with a walk in the win, a hit-less performance that ended a short five-game hit streak and two-game home run streak.

Despite this, Ballesteros has been on a role to start out the season, proving he is the hitter that Chicago envisioned he would be when they added him to the Opening Day roster.

Chicago Cubs DH Moises Ballesteros gets top-five MLB rookie ranking

So far this season, Ballesteros is hitting .364/.419/.667 with five home runs and 16 RBI in 26 games this season. When Bleacher Report released their top-15 rookie rankings on Wednesday, Ballesteros came in fifth:

“Moisés Ballesteros seems destined to be a DH, given that he’s played less than a game’s worth of time in the field currently between catcher and first base. That’s fine, his bat plays enough to justify him as a DH.

“Rated the No. 34 prospect in baseball by B/R’s Joel Reuter entering the season, Ballesteros is currently hitting a crisp .397 with a 1.136 OPS. Granted, manager Craig Counsell has protected Ballesteros to this point, having him face almost exclusively right-handed pitching. If he continues to hit anything like this against righties, though, it will be hard not to give him more of a look against lefties.

“Even if Ballesteros ends up being a first base/DH type that plays primarily against right-handed pitching, there’s enough thump in the 22-year-old’s bat to think he’ll be a key cog for the Cubs for a long time.”

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Cubs star pitcher has setback in recovery
• Cubs see star leave with left glute injury
• Cubs claim former 2nd round pick after devastating Justin Steele news

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The Chicago Cubs have been dealing with an inordinate amount of injuries to the pitching staff this season. While they have aspirations of being contenders for the World Series, the early injury bug is giving some concerns. However, they have been able to overcome the rash of injuries and sit atop of the NL Central. They have been hoping that one of the pitchers was getting ready to return soon, but there has been a setback in his recovery. Let’s take a closer look at who it is and what happened.

Justin Steele suffers setback as he attempts to make 2026 Chicago Cubs debut

The Cubs are hoping that their rotation can get stronger with left-hander Justin Steele returning, but it appears there has been a setback.  Cubs manager Craig Counsell would go on 104.3 The Score and announce that Steele suffered a flexor strain and would be re-evaluated in one month.

“It’s a setback, there’s no question about it. It’s going to lengthen his return to play.”

ESPN’s Jesse Rogers first reported that he was shut down and Marquee Network MLB analyst Rick Sutcliffe reported it while on the Waddle and Silvy Show on ESPN 1000. Steele has been recovering from elbow surgery he underwent on April 18, 2025. He was officially placed on the 60-day Injured List ahead of the 2026 season and was eligible to return close to Memorial Day. This necessarily doesn’t mean he cannot return then, but puts that in serious jeopardy.

Chicago’s rotation has been thinned quickly this season once Cade Horton underwent UCL surgery earlier this month. The Cubs are hopeful for Steele’s return as their rotation currently looks like:

• Shota Imanaga
• Matthew Boyd
• Edward Cabrera
• Jameson Taillon
• Colin Rea

The 30-year-old All-Star pitcher has gone 32-22 with a 3.30 ERA in 102 career games (91 starts). It will be intriguing to see when he is able to get back on the mound.

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