The Chicago Cubs have a strong starting pitching rotation entering the 2026 season. A lot of veteran pitchers for Chicago had a strong season, but can they follow that up in 2026? There is one outlet who ranked the starting pitching rotations around MLB, so where did the Cubs wind up?
The Chicago Cubs rank 12th in The Athletic’s starting pitching rankings
The Athletic’s Jim Bowden ranked all the starting pitching rotations ahead of the 2026 season. For the Cubs, they are 12th on this list. The team made an addition with the trade for Edward Cabrera in the offseason. However, the team is sandwiched between the Cincinnati Reds and Baltimore Orioles. Below is what Bowden wrote regarding the Cubs’ starting rotation:
“The Cubs’ biggest offseason trade netted them Edward Cabrera, giving Chicago a well-balanced group of starters. Cade Horton was arguably the best pitcher in the National League from the end of July on last season, while Matthew Boyd was dominant for most of the season before fading a bit the last two months. Shota Imanaga and Jameson Taillon are solid mid-rotation starters.
“The key to this year’s staff could be the return of Justin Steele, who is rehabbing following elbow surgery. He always seems to be in the mix for the ERA title when healthy. I really like the upside of Horton and Cabrera, the stability of Boyd and the fact that Taillon and Imanaga can keep them in games.”
It appears that the lack of starting pitching depth is a concern for Bowden, as he only lists six starting pitchers on the roster. The team has Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton, Shota Imanaga, Edward Cabrera, and Jameson Taillon in the rotation. The only listed depth option is Justin Steele, who is still some ways away from returning to the mound. Chicago was best in baseball in starter WHIP (1.14) and BB/9 (2.26) in 2025, so they have great expectations going into 2026. It will be intriguing to see how the team’s starting pitching looks as the season begins.
Chicago Bears HC Ben Johnson couldn’t contain his excitement after the win vs the Packers
Read MoreFor More Great Chicago Sports Content
Get the latest Chicago sports news, analysis, and breaking stories on the Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, Cubs, White Sox, Sky, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, so you never miss a story on your favorite Chicago teams.
Follow us on Twitter at @chicitysports23 for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Chicago sports news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE
