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Chicago Cubs: Is it already time to sound the starting pitching alarm?

Paul Magno — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 16:58:20 +0000

The Chicago Cubs entered the 2026 season with significant depth in the area of starting pitching. While analysts weren’t blown away with the high-end potential of the rotation as a whole, most everyone agreed that the team’s strength was in its depth.

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Chicago started the regular season with five established starters (Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton, Shota Imanaga, Edward Cabrera, and Jameson Taillon) on the Opening Day roster, along with two rotation-capable swingmen (Colin Rea and Ben Brown). Reliable swingman Javier Assad was assigned to start the season in Triple-A Iowa, but would only be a phone call away from Wrigley. Jordan Wicks was also a name tossed about as a possible rotation fill-in. Meanwhile, ace Justin Steele is slated to make his return in May-June.

All told, that makes ten potential starters in the mix for a season where big things are expected.

Now, there’s talk that, maybe, the Cubs won’t have the rotation horses after all.

Horton’s injury spotlights Cubs rotation weak points

Apr 3, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Cade Horton (22) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

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Cade Horton’s forearm injury on Friday and subsequent placement on the 15-day IL is the biggest cause for alarm right now, of course. The 24-year-old right-hander was expected to be an ace-level presence on the mound after a second-half of 2025 that saw him emerge as an elite starter.

But Horton has been injury prone throughout his young career. Last year, he was shut down with a fractured rib late in the regular season and would miss the playoffs entirely. In 2024, he was shut down around mid-season with a shoulder injury. He already has a Tommy John surgery in his past.

At best, Horton had to be seen as a question mark when it came to full season duty.

New Cub Edward Cabrera also has a history of injury, with two stints on the IL just last year.

Matthew Boyd, regarded as injury-prone as well, pitched a full season last year, but it was his first 100+ inning campaign since 2019.

Shota Imanaga got smacked around a bit over the second half of last season and also got smacked around in his first start of this season.

Jameson Taillon got crushed during Cactus League play and looked touchable in his first official start of 2026.

Big problems ahead?

Colin Rea (53) delivers during the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

If one of the Cubs’ top starters falters and/or is forced to the IL for a long stretch of time, things will get rough. If a couple starters fall out, there’ll be huge problems. Because, yes, the Cubs have depth, but they’ll need more than seat-fillers. Rea, Brown, and Assad are solid, but there’s a reason they weren’t regarded as rotation fixtures.

For now, as Horton is assessed, the 35-year-old Rea will likely fill the young arm’s spot. The veteran was solid last season as the designated rotation-filler, with a 10-7 record in 27 starts and a 4.33 ERA (11-7, 3.95 ERA overall).

Chicago could do a lot worse when it comes to temporary replacements. But Rea doesn’t bring what Horton brings and “good enough for now” is not what an aspiring championship team needs near the top of their rotation.

For now, it’s reasonable to be alarmed about the team’s starting pitching, especially considering that the season is just beginning and a lot more could happen.

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Matthew Boyd responds with strong outing in Chicago Cubs’ win

Zack Pearson — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 11:09:10 +0000

After an impressive 2025 season with the Chicago Cubs, Matthew Boyd earned the right to be the team’s opening day starter. He’s leading what is considered one of the top pitching staffs in the national league. But Boyd’s season got off to a rocky start.

In the opener against the Washington Nationals, Boyd only lasted 3.2 innings. He gave up six hits and six runs in the game along with one walk in the game. That ballooned his ERA to 14.73 after just one start.

But then Wednesday happened and he made his second start of the season, this time against the Los Angeles Angels.

Matthew Boyd responds with big outing

Apr 1, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) delivers during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

Boyd was much better on Wednesday against the Angels, going 5.2 innings allowing just two hits, and one earned run. The biggest thing? He was getting swings and misses as he struck out 10 batters.

Following the game, he earned praise from his manager Craig Counsell.

“He established the change up really well early,” Counsell said on Wednesday after the game. “He played the front and back game, he was able to get strikeouts with the fastball and change up essentially. Just being in zone and competitive with the change up, really set him up as he went through the lineup the second time. He pitched really, really well. The swing-and-miss in both starts is always encouraging.”

It was a cold day with the wind blowing in, but Boyd did look like the 2025 version of himself. That’s encouraging for the Cubs who already got strong starts from Cade Horton and Edward Cabrera this season.

If Boyd can get better as the season goes on, the Cubs really could have one of the best rotations in all of baseball this season.

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Chicago Cubs SP Matthew Boyd reacts to dreadful MLB Opening Day

Jordan Sigler — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 22:23:35 +0000

The Washington Nationals got on the board first, taking a 1-0 lead on the Chicago Cubs in the second inning of Opening Day.

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The Cubs struck back in the third, taking a 2-1 lead on a single by Pete Crow-Armstrong that allowed Michael Busch to score.

But the fourth inning was a disaster for starting pitcher Matthew Boyd, who allowed four runs before Ben Brown came into relieve him with two outs. Brown gave up a two-run shot by Nationals center fielder Jacob Young, allowing Washington to take a convincing 7-2 lead before the Cubs’ next at-bat.

During his postgame news conference, Boyd told the media he felt like he was in a rhythm early, but didn’t make an adjustment when he needed to in the fourth inning.

“Was executing pitches and one whatnot, then just fourth inning,” Boyd said, via Marquee Sports Network. “Honestly, I just needed to make an adjustment faster and that, you know, I wasn’t able to. And, you know, that’s kind of the story of the game.

“Unfortunately, that was the difference maker that gave them a big enough lead to kind of roll with it. And that’s on me. I got to make an adjustment faster, and, you know, I’ll be better from it. But yeah, it’s unfortunate.”

A rough start for the Chicago Cubs

Sep 24, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) throws a pitch during the first inning against the New York Mets at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

More News: Could Chicago Cubs top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins be the next rookie surprise?

Boyd allowed six hits and six earned runs in 3.2 innings pitched. He struck out seven batters and walked one batter.

Washington outhit the Cubs 11-8. The Cubs only earned four runs in a 10-4 loss to Washington in front of 39,712 fans at Wrigley Field on Thursday.

The Cubs lost their first game of the season in 2025 to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Japan. The team still made the playoffs.

But Thursday’s loss shows how much work the Cubs have to do to compete for a postseason appearance in 2026.

Chicago will next host Washington on Saturday.

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Could Chicago Cubs top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins be the next rookie surprise?

Paul Magno — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 18:00:37 +0000

The Chicago Cubs are, maybe, not as secure in the starting pitching department as many thought they would be this winter.

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The names are there and there’s still an overflow of arms for the rotation, but just about every proposed starter has looked vulnerable this spring and depth has suddenly become a concern. Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, Edward Cabrera, and Shota Imanaga have been beaten up in Cactus League play and that makes one wonder about backups.

Colin Rea, Ben Brown, and Javier Assad will be around, but none project as high-end starters over the long haul.

But could the Cubs have another Cade Horton surprise this season?

The next Cade Horton surprise?

May 27, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell is interviewed by reporters prior to a game against the Colorado Rockies at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images

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Last year, top pitching prospect Horton came up from Triple-A in May, after Imanaga’s injury, and ended up blowing people away with a dominant post-All-Star break run.

This year, current top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins is being predicted by some to be the surprise pitching star of the season.

The 24-year-old Wiggins came to spring training this year as a non-roster invitee and turned some heads, despite getting touched up a bit in his limited play.

“There’s a lot of good signs with Jaxon, there are a lot of good things happening,” manager Craig Counsell told media. “The finishing touches can happen really fast is how I would describe it. But they can also take a while. That’s Jaxon’s job right now, just make himself a little bit more complete pitcher. It’s certainly very close.”

Big league expectations for Wiggins

Feb 17, 2026; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Jaxon Wiggins (70) poses for photo day at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

Michael Brauner of Sports Illustrated fully anticipates the 6-foot-6 Wiggins getting the major league call-up at some point this season:

“He was never going to break camp with the team, but he certainly could be on a similar trajectory as Cade Horton last year, starting the season in Iowa.

Making an impact on the coaching staff, Wiggins established himself as a name to watch and once Ballesteros officially graduates he will become the top prospect in the organization. Jed Hoyer has spoken often about how much pitching depth is needed, and the 24-year-old is the next one up.

It would be a significant surprise to not see Wiggins’ big league debut in 2026.”

Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic echoes the enthusiasm, although he holds back in predicting a likely big league debut in 2026 for the pitcher he describes as having “one of the best fastballs in the minors.”

Per Sharma:

“The fastball is in the upper 90s and has the type of vertical rise that is impossible to ignore. He also has a strong curveball, a quickly developing changeup and a slider. So what are the next steps?

…He has a walk rate well above 10 percent in each of his pro seasons. That has to change. That he walked just 5.9 percent of batters this spring was something that was taken note of. Now bring that into the season.”

Wiggins is, arguably, the last homegrown high-end starting pitching prospect in the Cubs farm system, at least for now. Fast-tracking his development and bringing him up to the majors this coming season will probably be a last resort for the Cubs– and a sign that the rotation is in deep distress.

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Chicago Cubs 2026 Opening Day 5-man starting rotation appears set

Robin Adams — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 23:00:21 +0000

The Chicago Cubs are days away from kicking off the 2026 MLB season with a three-game series against the Washington Nationals. They have spent the past several weeks in Arizona for Spring Training. During that time, they have answered many questions regarding the make-up of their roster.

One of the last questions to be answered, as is the case for most teams every year, is what five pitchers will make up their starting rotation.

Despite a plethora of quality candidates, it appears that the Cubs have finally settled on who their initial starting-five will be.

The Chicago Cubs seem to have figured out their Opening Day starting rotation

Oct 4, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) reacts after being taken out of the game against the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning of game one of the NLDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

It has been known for several days now that 2025 All-Star Matthew Boyd will be Chicago’s Opening Day starter. This decision was somewhat unpopular among fans. Many of them wanted to see Cade Horton get a chance to start on Opening Day, especially after Boyd struggled in the World Baseball Classic.

Of course, Horton is making the Opening Day roster for the first time in his career, and his spot in the rotation appears to be cemented.

Based on previous roster moves, the following five pitchers appear set to make up the Cubs’ initial starting rotation.

Matthew Boyd

2025 stats: 14-8, 3.21 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 31 starts, 154 strikeouts, 172.9 innings

Cade Horton

2025 stats: 11-4, 2.67 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 23 games (22 stats), 97 strikeouts, 118.0 innings

Shota Imanaga

2025 stats: 9-8, 3.73 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 25 starts, 117 strikeouts, 144.2 innings

Edward Cabrera

2025 stats (with the Miami Marlins): 8-7, 3.53 ERA, 1,23 WHIP, 26 starts, 150 strikeouts, 137.2 innings

Jameson Taillon

2025 stats: 11-7, 3.68 ERA, 1,06 WHIP, 23 starts, 98 strikeouts, 129.2 innings pitched.

As can be seen, on paper, this is an excellent starting rotation. Justin Steele is going to return at some point this season as well, and will fill in for whoever is injured or under-performing at that point.

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Chicago Cubs: Matthew Boyd and rotation get shocking poor assessment

Paul Magno — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 18:54:39 +0000

The Chicago Cubs took a gamble in signing oft-injured starter Matthew Boyd prior to the 2025 season on a 2-year, $29 million contract.

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The veteran lefty was coming off Tommy John surgery in mid-2023 and had just gotten back into the swing of things at the very end of the 2024 season. Plagued by an assortment of injuries, he hadn’t thrown over 100 innings in a season since 2019.

But the Cubs’ bet paid off. Boyd was brilliant last season, posting 14-8 record with a 3.21 ERA over 179.2 innings. With ace Justin Steele sustaining a season-ending elbow injury after just four starts, Boyd stepped in to become the Cubs’ ace the rest of the way.

The experts and analysts, however, are not very high on Boyd heading into the 2026 season and have almost unanimously predicted a prodigious fall from grace for the starter.

Boyd blasted with poor ranking

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In a collaborative piece for The Athletic ranking the top 50 starters in baseball, Andy McCullough, Will Sammon and Sahadev Sharma placed Boyd nearly at the bottom of the list. They actually him him tied for 49th.

Per The Athletic:

“Boyd made his first All-Star team in 2025, rewarding the Cubs for their faith in giving him a two-year, $29 million contract after an intriguing eight-start campaign with Cleveland in 2024. ‘Good for a solid, back-end arm,’ one executive said. But many of our panelists were pessimistic about Boyd putting together a repeat. ‘Very good 2025,’ one scout said, ‘but that was his first healthy year since 2020.’”

According to their tier system for the rankings, Boyd falls into the area of a fourth or fifth starter.

The Cubs plan on Boyd being their Opening Day starter and implied ace.

Overall, the Cubs starters rate poorly on this list, with the highest placed Cub being Cade Horton as a tie for no. 40 of the top 50. Newcomer Edward Cabrera comes in at 48, one spot below Boyd. Shota Imanaga and Jameson Taillon are unranked.

This assessment falls in line with MLB projections systems, which don’t view Chicago’s starting pitching in much of a positive light.

Cubs rotation “deep in meh and unexcitement”

Aug 24, 2025; Anaheim, California, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jameson Taillon (50) throws a pitch against the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images

Dan Szymborski, the developer of the computer-based ZiPS projection system, blasted the rotation as one “deep in meh and unexcitement.”

Per Szymborski:

“ZiPS sees the Cubs as having a very deep rotation that’s also very deep in unexcitement. There’s certainly some upside here, especially in Edward Cabrera, but ZiPS largely views the team as having a whole lot of broadly average starting pitching options. The good news here is that if Justin Steele has any setbacks, ZiPS likes the team’s replacement options. Even with especially bad luck in the injury department, the computer thinks Javier Assad will be adequate — it has him with an ERA considerably lower than his FIP, though some of that is thanks to the stellar Cubs defense — and that Ben Brown and Jordan Wicks would both be far more acceptable as starters if called into duty than they’ve shown so far. Heck, if Colin Rea or even Connor Noland were forced into starting some games, that wouldn’t be an apocalyptic scenario for the Cubs.”

None of this guarantees the Cubs starters a great, big fail this season. It does raise some concerns, though, that maybe the rotation is not as rock-solid as fans would like to believe. As always, time will tell.

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Chicago Cubs: Counsell talks to team, addresses huge issue ahead of 2026 run

Paul Magno — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 17:30:51 +0000

The Chicago Cubs have the team in place to make a big push to a championship. On the flip side of that big opportunity, though, is the reality that much of this current roster will not be back to make a second run at a title.

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A good portion of this team’s roster– including several core members– will either be eligible for free agency at the end of the coming season or staring down options for 2027. Atop the list of possible outgoing Cubs is Nico Hoerner, Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, Shota Imanaga, and Carson Kelly.

Anyone facing that kind of uncertainty could be forgiven for suffering through at least a bit of distraction. But with a real possibility of making some waves this offseason, manager Craig Counsell has the task of keeping his guys’ eyes on the prize.

“We certainly feel very confident in our team going forward, but it’s going to look different in ‘27 than this,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer told MLB.com. “There is going to be change. Craig has talked to the players about trying to embrace that.”

Counsell addresses 2026 elephant in the room

May 12, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell (30) reacts against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the seventh inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

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And Counsell has, indeed, already addressed the gigantic elephant in the room called ‘uncertainty.’

“[Boston Celtics head coach] Joe Mazzulla, who is one of my favorite coaches, said, ‘I go to bed questionable and wake up probable.’ None of us are guaranteed anything, and that’s really a great way to put it,” Counsell told media. “Like, why am I worried about what’s going to happen? I have to make sure I wake up the next day, so let’s just worry about what’s going on right now.

“The whole point of this is to be where your feet are, so I don’t think you worry about it. Everybody thinks about what’s next for them; that’s a natural thought for people to do. But when you have an opportunity like we have, it’s also easier to be where your feet are every day, be present, enjoy it and cherish it. That’s what we’ve talked about our goal being every single day: to enjoy what you have right in front of you.”

Focusing on the here and now

Sep 27, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner (2), center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4), left fielder Ian Happ (8) and shortstop Dansby Swanson (7) watch from the bench during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

That focus on the here and now will be crucial to a successful 2026. It just takes a small handful of distracted or overly-strained players to ruin a vibe and bring a team down.

There’s hope that at least two or three of these possibly outgoing Cubs could be retained. Ideally, second baseman Nico Hoerner would be one of them. It would also be nice to see at least one of the corner outfielders– Happ or Suzuki– extended, just because of how hard it would be to sign two starter-level corner outfielders in one free agent class. People would also probably not balk at the Cubs doing everything they can to hold on to Boyd.

Ultimately, though, business is business and the Cubs will make the decisions that go best with their business plan. Hopefully, those decisions are made after a very successful 2026.

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Chicago Cubs: Matthew Boyd speaks on Opening Day gig as contract uncertainty looms

Paul Magno — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 16:41:21 +0000

The Chicago Cubs took a gamble on Matthew Boyd prior to the 2025 season, signing the oft-injured lefty to a two-year, $29 million deal– and the bet definitely paid off.

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The Cubs front office made their move based on just about two months of 2024 data following his Tommy John surgery in 2023 and other assorted physical setbacks dating back to 2020. The veteran starter came into the 2025 season without having pitched more than 100 innings since 2019.

Prior to last season, Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy talked about the general expectations of Boyd in 2025– they’d be happy with just 120 innings of solid baseball from him.

Well, Boyd far exceeded those expectations and posted a 3.21 ERA in 179.2 innings pitched over 31 starts and performed his way into becoming the rotation’s ace.

He was rewarded for that stellar season by getting the Opening Day starter nod from manager Craig Counsell.

“You earn these things,” Counsell told reporters. “And Matthew has earned this with how he’s pitched last year and since coming back from an injury. He had a great season last year. He’s a very important player for us, and we’re excited to give him the ball on Opening Day.”

Boyd speaks on Opening Day gig

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Boyd, meanwhile, keeps being Boyd. Touched by the gesture of getting the 2026 opener gig, the honor weighs more heavily on him as his roots are steeped in Cubs lore, passed to him by his beloved late grandfather who was a hardcore Cubs fan.

“You don’t know if the opportunity is ever going to present itself again,” Boyd said of the Opening Day designation. “So it’s an honor. I mean, 162 games is a long season. It’s really cool to be out there to start it out.”

“Opening Day is special,” Boyd added, “but Opening Day at Wrigley is really something that is truly special. And I understand how much it means to Chicago fans.”

From the end of the line to a new beginning

MLB: Kansas City Royals at Chicago Cubs Jul 22, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) delivers a pitch against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

For a guy who was virtually on the way out of major league baseball or, at the very least, in extreme doubt over his physical ability to pitch again, the gig has to be especially satisfying. What could have been the end of the line ended up being the start of a new beginning.

“If I don’t believe it, who else will?” Boyd said of his mindset prior to the start of last season. “I knew my best was ahead of me. What I didn’t know is if I’d get the opportunity to show it.”

Now, what’s ahead for Boyd is a 2026 where the Cubs are expected to win the NL Central Division and make a deep playoff run. There’s also a crucial career decision awaiting him. Boyd and the Cubs have mutual options at the end of the season and that could mean that the 35-year-old might be pitching elsewhere next year.

For now, though, Opening Day– and then a long, grueling season– await.

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Chicago Cubs: Opening Day starter assignment spotlights rotation questions

Paul Magno — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 20:00:54 +0000

The Chicago Cubs, on Thursday, named Matthew Boyd their Opening Day starter. It was the safe, reasonable choice to make considering Boyd’s 2025.

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The veteran lefty came to the Cubs as a bit of a free agent gamble last season, coming off a long history of injury and Tommy John surgery in mid-2023. Originally targeted for 110-120 innings as a back-end-of rotation starter, Boyd exceeded all expectations and performed his way into being the ace of the staff with a 3.21 ERA in 179.2 innings over 31 starts.

So, yes, Boyd was the logical choice for Opening Day.

That designation, though, probably paints a clearer picture for the rest of the rotation order.

Boyd on Opening Day, and then what?

Feb 11, 2026; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Edward Cabrera (30) talks to the media during spring training camp at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

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The Cubs would probably want a power right-hander coming after the more nuanced lefty. That means probably Cade Horton, but it could also mean newcomer Edward Cabrera. Then, maybe, another nuanced lefty in Shota Imanaga. After that, either Horton or Cabrera, whoever didn’t land the no. 2 spot in the rotation. That would leave Jameson Taillon as the no. 5 starter.

A probable rotation might look like this (although, obviously, the order could easily be all scrambled up behind Boyd):

Matthew Boyd
Cade Horton
Shota Imanaga
Edward Cabrera
Jameson Taillon

Things get a bit more complicated, however, when Justin Steele returns after being on the shelf, recovering from elbow surgery last April. Upon his comeback (expected before mid-season), someone will have to be booted from their rotation spot. Who gets the boot will be determined, obviously, by who has been the least effective at the time of Steele’s return.

One also has to consider the fact that the Cubs have a pair of very capable swingmen in Javier Assad and Colin Rea, with Ben Brown also having starter potential. Assad has been having a killer spring so far and Rea performed admirably in the rotation last season, making up for the injury-related absences of Steele, Imanaga, and Taillon.

A Plan B, Plan C?

Knoxville Smokies pitcher Jaxon Wiggins (41) pitches during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Chattanooga Lookouts at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on June 3, 2025.

Some have theorized that Chicago could possibly go with a 6-man rotation for at least part of the season, given their depth and the need/desire to preserve arms for what they hope to be a deep postseason run.

They could also piggyback starters for a stretch of time, maybe pairing two for a single game, utilizing all of their nine potential starters to deliver multi-inning outings and save wear and tear on a staff that does have considerable injury and durability concerns. Although this strategy might end up taxing the bullpen disproportionately, essentially forcing a small handful of dedicated relievers to cover almost all relief innings.

Whatever the Cubs decide, the elephant in the room will always be the staff’s health and durability concerns. Boyd, Horton, and Cabrera have significant history of injury. Taillon and Imanaga spent a good amount of time on the IL last year. And Steele, of course, is coming back from major elbow surgery.

An ace in the hole may be top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins, who some are hoping could be the Cade Horton of 2026, moving up from the minors to win a spot in the Cubs rotation. There’s also hope that lefty Jordan Wicks can get healthy and finally put it all together for a good major league run.

For now, all the Cubs can do is lay down their pieces and play them. Soon enough, everyone will know whether a Plan B or C is necessary.

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Chicago Cubs fans not thrilled with choice of 2026 Opening Day starting pitcher

Robin Adams — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 19:08:47 +0000

Ever since before Spring Training began, many wondered who the Chicago Cubs would name as their 2026 Opening Day starter. For a while, many thought it would be Cade Horton, who dazzled as a rookie in 2025. After being called up, he went 11-4 with a 2.67 ERA in 23 games (22 starts).

Of course, the preferred choice would have been Justin Steele, but he will not be ready for the start of the regular season as he recovers from injury.

Indeed, there is a future where Horton will probably start multiple Opening Days for Chicago. But that future is not here yet, much to the dismay of fans.

Chicago Cubs fans disappointed Matthew Boyd will pitch on Opening Day

Mar 9, 2026; Houston, TX, United States; United States pitcher Matthew Boyd (31) reacts in the sixth inning against Mexico at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Today, it was reported that Matthew Boyd, who was an All-Star for the first time in his long career last season, is going to be the Opening Day starter.

Matthew Boyd opening day starter for Cubs

— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) March 12, 2026

Last year, Boyd was 14-8 with a 3.21 ERA in 31 starts for Chicago.

Despite his success last year, though, many Cubs fans are not happy:

Yeah, because he looked so good at the WBC

— Ken Barton (@kenthro3000) March 12, 2026

You’re joking

— Justin (@ChiFanJustin) March 12, 2026

Yikes

— Hmmm (Brad) (@CubsEnjoyerBANG) March 12, 2026

Why?

— (@bears_pain) March 12, 2026

Boyd had a good season for the Cubs last year, but struggled in his last outing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. He pitched 2.1 innings while giving up five hits and three runs.

This is likely why many fans are dismayed by his selection to start on Opening Day. It should be noted, though, that in two Spring Training appearances, Boyd has pitched 4.2 innings with a 1.93 ERA.

While he struggled in the WBC, he has performed well so far when with the Cubs in Arizona. With Horton still gaining experience, Boyd is a much safer option to be the Cubs starter for the first game of the season.

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Chicago Cubs All-Star expected to return to camp from the WBC

Zack Cariola — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 15:12:06 +0000

The Chicago Cubs will gain a familiar face in camp, with left-hander Matthew Boyd returning.

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According to New York Post columnist Jon Heyman, Boyd will return to get stretched out as a starter since he didn’t get enough innings in the World Baseball Classic. The 2025 All-Star pitched 2.1 innings, allowing five hits, no walks, and three earned runs.

Boyd made two starts in spring training before joining Team USA, with a 1.93 ERA and seven strikeouts in 4.2 innings. New York Mets right-hander Clay Holmes is in the same situation as Boyd and could also return to camp.

Matthew Boyd is expected to return to Cubs camp to be stretched out as starter for season since he wouldn’t get enough innings as a Team USA reliever. Clay Holmes is in a similar spot and may go back to Mets camp. Twins ace Joe Ryan is a candidate to take one USA roster spot.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 12, 2026

Matthew Boyd needs to focus on the season ahead for the Chicago Cubs

Mar 9, 2026; Houston, TX, United States; United States pitcher Matthew Boyd (31) reacts in the sixth inning against Mexico at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Boyd, 35, will likely be counted on to be the Cubs’ ace heading into this season, or the No. 2. The Cubs haven’t announced a starter for Opening Day, and Boyd is one of the candidates for the job. Right-handers Cade Horton and Edward Cabrera are also options for manager Craig Counsell.

Boyd had a breakout campaign in 2025 — 14-8 with a 3.21 ERA in 21 starts — after having Tommy John surgery in late 2023. The surgery cost Boyd most of the 2024 season, but it led to him signing his contract (two years, $29 million) with the Cubs.

The Cubs have a strong top three in the rotation of Boyd, Horton, and Cabrera. The Milwaukee Brewers and the Cincinnati Reds as the Cubs main rivals for the National League Central. So, hopefully, having a formidable starting rotation paired with a strong offense could help win the Central.

The Cubs will take on the Washington Nationals on March 26. Right-hander Cade Cavalli will be the Nationals Opening Day starter.

Mar 9, 2026; Houston, TX, United States; United States pitcher Matthew Boyd (31) delivers a pitch in the sixth inning against Mexico at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

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Chicago Cubs: Matthew Boyd ranked as one of the worst aces in MLB

Robin Adams — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 16:49:36 +0000

With Justin Steele out until early-to-mid season, Matthew Boyd is considered the ace of the Chicago Cubs pitching staff. There is good reason for this, too. Last year, his first season with Chicago, Boyd was 14-8 with a 3.21 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. He started 31 games and pitched 179.2 innings while striking out 154 batters.

He is entering the second year of his two-year contract with the Cubs, though there is a mutual option for 2027. However, as he is 35 years old and on the back nine of his career, there are concerns that he may not have what it takes to be the ace of a staff that is expected to compete for a World Series.

Chicago Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd gets low ranking among MLB aces

Last year, at 34 years old, Boyd was named to the All-Star team for the first time in his long Major League career. Indeed, it was his best season ever, and Bleacher Report is not sure he will be able to repeat it, ranking him 19th among MLB aces:

“At 34 years old, Matthew Boyd put together a career year for the Cubs, logging nearly 180 innings and earning a spot in the All-Star Game, making the two-year, $29 million deal Jed Hoyer gave him prior to the 2025 campaign look like a stroke of genius.

“The concern for Boyd has always been health, as he pitched just 263 total regular-season innings between 2020 and 2024. Given the history and that he’s in his mid-30s, it’s fair to have some skepticism about Boyd’s ability to match his workload from a year ago. Still, it’s an amazing turn of events that Boyd pitched well enough last year to be picked for Team USA’s World Baseball Classic roster.

“With a rotation headlined by Boyd, Cade Horton, Shota Imanaga, and Edward Cabrera, there’s a wide variance of outcomes for the Cubs in 2026. The ceiling is high, but a big part of hitting that potential is dependent upon Boyd making 30+ starts for the second season in a row.”

Healthy, as always, will be a major concern for the Cubs in 2026, especially with a starting rotation that is going to be without Steele for at least the first two months of the year.

As for Boyd, he was 46-69 with a 4.85 ERA in his career before joining the Cubs last season. Given his age, there is every reason to wonder if he will regress in 2026.

Hopefully, Chicago has enough quality pitching depth to make up for that if it happens.

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Chicago Cubs: A trade deadline shocker could become reality, per analyst

Paul Magno — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 16:39:26 +0000

The Chicago Cubs are heading into the 2026 season with great expectations and a feeling that this year could most definitely be their year. Part of the reason for such optimism is in the fact that their starting rotation is so deep and locked in.

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Barring some unforeseen surprise, the Cubs will start the season with a rotation of Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton, Edward Cabrera, Jameson Taillon, and Shota Imanaga. Then, possibly as early as May or June, Justin Steele should be coming back from last year’s elbow surgery.

That would give the team six viable starters, plus Colin Rea and Javier Assad as capable swingmen who could step in and take a rotation spot for a good period of time.

So, what would Chicago do with six starters (or possibly eight) and only five slots in which to put them?

An unprecedented trade

MLB: Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs
Aug 16, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Shota Imanaga (18) pitches during the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images

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Jake Misener of Cubbies Crib predicts that the Cubs could trade one of them away at the trade deadline for whatever they may need to take them comfortably into the postseason.

Per Misener:

“…Nobody is doubting the sheer volume of arms in the mix here. Cabrera and Horton are joined by Jameson Taillon, Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga – as well as Javier Assad, Colin Rea and Ben Brown, not to mention Justin Steele, who is expected to return in May or June.

That math doesn’t math – at least not when everyone is healthy. There could be a deal out there this summer to the Cubs’ liking, maybe to add a bona fide late-inning arm, and seeing Hoyer deal from a position of strength makes a decent amount of sense.”

Dealing from a position of strength

Oct 2, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jameson Taillon (50) throws during the first inning against the San Diego Padres during game three of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

It’s unprecedented for a likely playoff-bound team to trade AWAY a starter at the deadline. However, if the Cubs’ rotation stays healthy and Steele can return to ace-level form, the front office, as Misener says, could cut a deal from a position of strength.

Maybe they’d get a bullpen stud, someone who could add some end-of-game stability and step into a closer or co-closer role. Maybe the acquisition could be a proven power hitter.

Of course, such a deal would probably mean that their trade partners would also see themselves as contenders for postseason play. So, a trade like that would require some boldness from both sides.

But, why not? Imanaga and Taillon are free agency-eligible at the end of the season. Boyd, meanwhile, is staring down a mutual option at the end of 2026 and is not an absolute guarantee to return next year.

In a Cubs-perfect world, the team would still be carrying five starters into August with some solid backup behind them.

First, though, the Cubs have to stay healthy and live up to expectations. If not, any deadline trades would be sell-offs and not roster reinforcement.

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Chicago Cubs are not shoo-ins to win NL Central, according to analysts

Paul Magno — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 18:25:00 +0000

The Chicago Cubs have real reason to believe that they are the favorites to win the NL Central Division. They made a lot of impact moves this offseason and a lot of smaller depth acquisitions that provide ample insurance if/when plans go sideways.

More News: Chicago Cubs feeling good about recent Shota Imanaga developments

The biggest move may have been the signing of free agent third baseman Alex Bregman, who brings veteran leadership, a strong bat, and stellar defense to the team.

Right behind the acquisition of Bregman, in terms of potential impact, was the trade for emerging powerhouse starter Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins.

Then, there was the re-stocking of a depleted bullpen with four free agent relievers (Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, Jacob Webb, and Hunter Harvey).

And beyond all of that, Chicago went out of its way to acquire depth pieces at every possible position, but especially in the area of pitching.

So, yes, given their success last season and the moves made this offseason, it’s no mystery why the consensus opinion among fans and experts is that the Cubs will win their division.

But that belief is not universal.

The emerging Reds

Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona (77) addresses media at the Conclusion of a Cactus League game against the Cleveland Guardians, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Ariz. Guardians won 2-4.

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Steve Phillips of MLB Network is giving the Cincinnati Reds a real chance of winning the division this coming season:

“Their starting pitching matches up with anybody… I think the Reds have a real chance to win the NL Central this year. They’re going to be well beyond 78-79 wins.”

This past offseason, the Terry Francona-led Reds acquired free agent slugger Eugenio Suarez, who just happens to be a verifiable Cubs killer. They also made considerable efforts to rebuild their bullpen.

Given their spirited 2025, which led to an NL Wild Card spot, they will be a team to watch in 2026.

The Pirates as dark horse NL Central contenders

Sep 16, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) pitches against the Chicago Cubs during the third inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Robert Murray of Fansided is fancying the Pittsburgh Pirates as dark horse contenders to upset the Cubs’ hopes:

“Ryan O’Hearn compared them to the 2023 Baltimore Orioles, a group that came out of nowhere to win 101 games and the AL East, and it’s hard not to be impressed by what Pittsburgh is building.

Their pitching staff, headlined by Paul Skenes, speaks for itself. But now they have a credible offense with new additions such as Marcell Ozuna, Brandon Lowe and O’Hearn to pair with Bryan Reynolds, Oneil Cruz and more. Their new manager, Don Kelly, has drawn rave reviews from folks early on. I’m optimistic about what’s to come with the Pirates, and I know I’m not alone there.”

Both the Reds and Pirates are notably improved teams with, seemingly, real hunger heading into the 2026 campaign. The Milwaukee Brewers, however, should also never be counted out, even after trading away pitcher Freddy Peralta and making other high-profile subtractions.

The Cubs, meanwhile, do have some question marks and causes for concern.

Causes for Cubs concern

MLB: Chicago Cubs at Toronto Blue Jays Aug 13, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Cade Horton (22) delivers a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Chicago’s deep starting rotation, which will carry six viable starters when Justin Steele returns, is also full of health and durability concerns.

Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton, and Edward Cabrera have extensive history of injury. Steele is coming off elbow surgery that forced him to miss all of last season. Shota Imanaga was on the shelf with a hamstring injury for nearly 8 weeks in 2025. James Taillon, meanwhile, was on the IL twice last year.

Closer Daniel Palencia is due to resume his game-closing role in 2026. But, for as good as he looked for much of his breakthrough 2025, he looked just as bad down the stretch of the season. He posted an ugly 7.07 ERA in his final 17 regular season appearances, with an IL stint after the first week of September to boot.

There’s also the possibility of regression is some players who had career offensive years last season, such as Pete Crow-Armstrong, Michael Busch, and Seiya Suzuki.

Despite being the clear favorites to take the NL Central Division, the Cubs may have to scrap and fight their way to the top. People are starting to acknowledge that now.

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Chicago Cubs: Edward Cabrera shocks and awes in spring debut– “He’s the real deal”

Paul Magno — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 17:08:06 +0000

The Chicago Cubs gave up a lot to get Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins. In the deal to acquire the right-handed power pitcher, Chicago had to give up their no. 1 prospect Owen Caissie, their no. 11 prospect Cristian Hernandez, and promising 19-year-old Edgardo De Leon.

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The Cubs, however, walked away from the trade with zero remorse. They had tried to get him prior to the 2025 season as well as at the 2025 trade deadline last season, but weren’t willing to pull the trigger. This time, working under the belief that the young talent was on the verge of breaking though to next level success, they did.

Last season, Cabrera had a career year (8-7, 3.53 ERA with 150 strikeouts in 137.2 innings over 26 starts) and many believe there’s still a much higher ceiling for the native of the Dominican Republic, who is under team control through the 2028 season.

Cabrera dazzles in spring debut

Feb 11, 2026; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Edward Cabrera (30) talks to the media during spring training camp at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

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On Friday, the new Cub made his Cactus League debut versus the Cleveland Guardians at Sloan Park and looked absolutely stunning.

In two scoreless, hitless innings pitched, Cabrera struck out three. His fastball averaged an incredible 97 mph for his spring debut.

Per Yahoo! Sports’ account of Cabrera’s outing:

“Cabrera’s best pitch on Friday was his changeup. He induced three whiffs on that pitch alone, which included two swinging strike outs in the second inning. He perfectly placed his changeup at the bottom of the zone to both Gabriel Arias and CJ Kayfus. Both hitters then went down swinging.

It was an impressive spring debut for the new Cubs pitcher. He threw 20 of his 31 pitches for strikes and threw five different pitches in the game (four-seam fastball, changeup, curveball, sinker, and slider). 29% of his pitchers were either whiffs or called strikes.”

“I felt good,” Cabrera told reporters after the outing via translator. “I was trying to get all my pitches in the zone. That was my goal.”

The injury issue

Sep 25, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Edward Cabrera (27) looks on before delivering a pitch against the Minnesota Twins in the third inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

Cubs manager Craig Counsell has been high on Cabrera for quite some time and is focused on keeping the young arm on the right developmental path, something which goes hand in hand with keeping him healthy.

Injuries have been the one knock against Cabrera and the reason some teams reportedly shied away from trading for him. Over the course of his young pro career, the 27-year-old has had numerous health issues, including right shoulder and elbow problems that have limited his output. Last year was the first time he pitched more than 100 innings in the majors and, even then, he spent time on the IL twice, the second time with some concerning UCL/elbow issues.

The Cubs staff is focused on keeping Cabrera healthy with advanced training techniques and common sense workload management, in much the same way they helped the oft-injured Matthew Boyd stay healthy and productive throughout 2025.

“Because he’s had some injuries, he just hasn’t put together the seasons necessarily that kind of make you go, ‘Wow,’” Counsell said after Cabrera’s first outing. “I don’t think there’s a big change that we think needs to happen here. That’s not what the trade was about.

“We just think this is a talented pitcher coming into the right part of his career. The health part of this is a real thing that we have to get right to the best of our ability.”

The Matthew Boyd endorsement

“Edward’s the real deal,” Boyd told reporters. “You’re going to see it.”

“In terms of how to fine-tune your abilities,” Boyd added, “it’s like, ‘OK, here’s how we can optimize where you are in your career health-wise and help you go forward with that.’ All those little things — at least from my experience — were huge for me last year…

“You think, ‘OK, cool, they did that with me. Let’s see what they can do with a stallion.’”

And Cabrera has the ability to be that stallion in the Cubs rotation, adding swing-and-miss power to a starting crew more known for nuance and generating weak contact.

He also brings a definite swagger to the staff.

“With all due respect to everyone here, whenever I step on the mound, I think I’m the best,” Cabrera told the Marquee Sports Network earlier in the spring. “Every time I cross that white line and I get out there and start pitching, I’m the best.”

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Can the Cubs comfortably declare an ace of the staff?

Alex Patt — Sun, 22 Feb 2026 16:44:46 +0000

The Chicago Cubs will have no shortage of starting pitchers (assuming health) come Opening Day, but the question of who the ace of the staff will be still remains. Justin Steele would be the guy, but he will not be ready to pitch come March 26. Plus he will need to ramp up and shake off the rust once he returns.

Outside of Steele, the current rotation has several number one candidates, but there is currently no Carlos Zambrano, Jon Lester, or Jake Arrieta type shoo-in. Most of the Cubs’ healthy starters on paper are arguably considered 3-5 arms on other contending rotations. At least by more “traditional” standards, noting the dynamics of pitching staffs have evolved in recent years. So that’s a bit subjective.

Potential Cubs ace candidates.

When looking at an “ace candidate” right now, it’s primarily about who will start Opening Day. Who starts a postseason series is well down the road, assuming they get there. Based on history and/or abilities, the three arms that stand out are Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton, and Edward Cabrera.

Boyd is coming off a career year, pitching to a 3.21 ERA, 1.1 WHIP, 3.65 FIP, 7.7 K/9, and 2.1 BB/9 in 179.2 innings (31 starts). Of the three names mentioned, he is the veteran who has pitched in over 1,000 innings and made 199 career starts. Horton displayed ace-like potential in his rookie 2025 season. Over his last 14 starts last year, he pitched to a 1.36 ERA, 2.96 FIP, and 64 strikeouts in 73 innings. Cabrera is an electric arm that ranked in the 87th percentile in fastball velocity (upper 90s MPH), while ranking between 70th and 80th percentile in chase, whiff, and strikeout rates.

Boyd likely has the upper hand right now, considering the experience. Durability across a season is a concern based on his injury history, and his strikeout rate last year was not huge. Projections are still pretty solid though, even coming off a career year at age 34. Horton feels like the highest ceiling, though the workload is a question. Marcels Projections (via Baseball-Reference) are fairly bullish on the 24-year old righty, projecting a 3.23 ERA with an 8.1 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9 in 2026. Though just 117 innings pitched. It would be a bit more surprising to see Cabrera be the guy, but he’s got the stuff to be an ace.

Why not other Cubs starters?

Mar 29, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga (18) reacts after the seventh inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

While one cannot definitively rule out Shota Imanaga, he feels like a middle rotation guy going forward. He’s shown he can pitch well in the Majors, sporting a 3.28 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 8.2 K/9 and 1.5 BB/9 in 54 MLB starts. That said the weaknesses really showed in the later half of 2025. He’s a heavy flyball pitcher that gives up a lot of home runs; even in 2024 he surrendered 27 in 173.1 innings (58 in 318 innings total). He can generate whiffs with his repitor of pitches but he’s not overpowering. Worth noting the whiff rate last year was in the 44th percentile vs. being in the 72nd percentile in 2024.

This does not mean Imanaga cannot be an effective pitcher in 2026. It would just be hard to peg him as a 1 or 2 in a rotation right now.

Jameson Taillon has the most innings pitched of any starter on the staff (1,237), but he’s a lower to middle rotation type pitcher. He’s been a workhorse over the past few years, sporting a 3.43 ERA and only 81 walks over his last 385.2 innings pitched. He’s also given up his share of homers (101 over his past three seasons) while not having ace-like stuff that generates whiffs. Not a knock, he’s a good 3-4 starter who can be very effective while not dominant.

The rest of the pitching depth on the 40-man like Colin Rea, Javier Assad, Ben Brown and Jordan Wicks would serve as swing guys. Spring Training will paint a clearly picture on who will get pegged as the top dog in the rotation.

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Cubs announce starting pitchers for first 2 spring training games

Tyler Koerth — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 02:19:30 +0000

The Chicago Cubs are just days away from opening Cactus League play against the Chicago White Sox. Friday’s matchup will serve as their first spring training contest of the year, with the Texas Rangers scheduled for the following day.

While starting assignments in exhibition games don’t carry much weight, especially with pitchers typically limited to an inning or two early in camp, it’s notable that manager Craig Counsell is tabbing starters who are set to participate in the World Baseball Classic. That commitment played a role in how he structured the opening weekend rotation.

Chicago Cubs announce starting pitchers for their first two spring training games

According to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com, Jameson Taillon will take the ball Friday, with Matthew Boyd slated to start the following day. Taillon is set to represent Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic, while Boyd will suit up for Team USA, making it a priority for Counsell to get both pitchers on the mound early in camp.

“We’re kind of individualizing that (WBC players) a little bit at the beginning,” Counsell said. “Some guys won’t start for a couple days, because I don’t think they need to. But the WBC guys all definitely have more urgency to getting started.”

That added urgency makes sense given the condensed ramp-up period WBC participants face. Unlike pitchers staying in big-league camp all spring, Taillon and Boyd will soon transition into a more competitive environment. Getting them into game action early allows the Cubs to carefully build their workloads while ensuring they’re properly prepared for meaningful innings on an international stage.

It also reflects Counsell’s broader approach to spring training, balancing team needs with individualized plans. While Cactus League results are secondary, establishing rhythm and routine is not. For Taillon and Boyd, that process starts now, with an eye not only on the Cubs’ season but also on representing their respective countries in the weeks ahead.

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Chicago Cubs: 3 points of serious concern in 2026

Paul Magno — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 16:33:10 +0000

The Chicago Cubs have a lot going for them as they head into the 2026 season. Jed Hoyer and the front office have filled in holes and fortified the roster to build upon the successes of a spirited 2025 campaign that saw them make it to Game Five of the NLDS.

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Topping the additions were the pickups of third baseman Alex Bregman and emerging powerhouse pitcher Edward Cabrera. They also restocked a depleted bullpen with four veteran free agent relievers and several next-tier depth pieces.

All in all, the Cubs seem to be in a good place when it comes to living up to the projections that have them winning the NL Central Division and making a deep playoff run.

But this IS baseball and anything that could go sideways MIGHT go sideways. And the Cubs do have some significant concerns for the 2026 campaign. Here’s a look at three areas of concern that should have the Cubs and their fans legit worried.

Injury

Sep 9, 2025; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Cade Horton (22) walks to the dugout after pitching against the Atlanta Braves during the seventh inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images

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Yes, injury is always a concern for any major league team. In the Cubs’ case, though, there’s reason to move from concern to worry.

For one, most of their starting rotation has significant history of injury.

Matthew Boyd was fortunate to not have run into any injury issues in 2025, but, prior to that, he had suffered through physical setback after physical setback since 2019. Some may say he’s due for an injury of some sort.

Rookie phenom Cade Horton and newcomer Edward Cabrera also have a history of injury throughout their young careers. Last season, Horton was shut down in September with a rib fracture while Cabrera had two stints on the IL with arm issues. Ace Justin Steele, meanwhile, is coming off elbow surgery and is slated for a mid-season return.

Even Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, and swingman Javier Assad spent significant time on the IL last season.

When it comes to position players, Chicago was extremely fortunate in that none of the starters, except for Kyle Tucker, were put on the shelf due to injury. It’s almost a guarantee that they won’t be that fortunate this coming season.

Regression

Sep 24, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) reacts after scoring on a wild pitch thrown by New York Mets pitcher Clay Holmes (not pictured) during the fifth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

The Cubs’ offense was overwhelming throughout the first half of last season. To a great extent, it was this first-half drive that motored them comfortably to their postseason berth.

Chief among the driving forces behind their offensive surge were the now departed Kyle Tucker and guys like Pete Crow-Armstrong, Carson Kelly, Michael Busch, and Seiya Suzuki– all players who had career years in 2025.

In 2026, there’s significant chance of regression from all of the above and also a reason to believe that starters Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner may deliver results just a bit below what they were able to achieve last season.

In the area of pitching, Daniel Palencia had an eye-catching season as he came from Triple-A to win the closer gig on the big league squad. His late-season fade, though, gives some cause for concern about his long-term viability in that role. This was, after all, his first sustained run at the major league level and also his first run at being a full-time closer. A gambling man might wager that the 25-year-old is due for a heftier ERA than his 2.91 last season (which was still under 1.90 heading into late August) and a tougher time keeping his gig as the Cubs’ full-time closer.

Catching

MLB: Chicago Cubs at Athletics Mar 31, 2025; West Sacramento, California, USA; Chicago Cubs catcher Carson Kelly (15) high five teammates after the game at Sutter Health Park. Kelly hit for the cycle. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images

This is a very specific one, but it highlights, arguably, the biggest potential weak point on the roster.

Carson Kelly, offensively, had a career year in 2025, despite the modest .249 batting average, 17 home run, 50 RBI season totals. However, he had an outstanding first half of the season, hitting 12 of his 17 home runs and driving in 33 of his 50 RBIs before the All-Star break.

What he brings defensively and in terms of pitcher handling is a plus to the Cubs and worth him keeping his starting gig, regardless of his offensive production. But the picture behind him is not all that secure.

Miguel Amaya was good last season, in the little time he was actually healthy. Long, prolonged injury over multiple IL stints limited the 26-year-old to just 28 games and 103 plate appearances. And this, unfortunately, was not an unusual turn of events in the young catcher’s young career. Amaya has been injury-prone throughout his professional run.

Behind Kelly and Amaya, there’s Moises Ballesteros. Listed as, technically, the third catcher on the team, the rookie will be there entirely for his hitting prowess and not for a defense that can be generously described as a work in progress. Former Cub Christian Bethancourt was brought back to the team on a minor league contract, but if he gets the call-up, that means there’s big trouble with the catching situation in Chicago.

There’s plenty to be optimistic about as the Cubs head into the 2026 season, but it’s just statement of reality that the team is also counting on a lot of good fortune.

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Who the Chicago Cubs might extend and who they definitely will not

Paul Magno — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 18:09:32 +0000

The Chicago Cubs, in a lot of ways, are facing somewhat of a “win now” situation in 2026. Looking up and down the roster, one realizes just how much of the team’s core talent could be leaving after the coming season.

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Literally, half the 26-man roster could be departing Chicago after the 2026 campaign:

Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
Nico Hoerner
Matthew Boyd
Jameson Taillon
Shota Imanaga
Carson Kelly
Colin Rea
Caleb Thielbar
Hoby Milner
Jacon Webb
Hunter Harvey
Tyler Austin

Now, to paint a clearer picture, it should be noted that the Cubs hold club options on Rea and Webb for 2027 and that a mutual option is on the books for Boyd, Kelly, Thielbar, and Harvey (although, seriously, could Boyd be expected to take his one-year $15 million option for 2027 if he has another great season in 2026?).

Still, there’s no arguing that there will be major turnover in 2027 and that big decisions will have to be made, especially regarding the most senior veterans on the above list– Happ, Suzuki, Hoerner, Taillon, and Imanaga.

Will the Cubs opt to extend any of the above? Who will they let drift away into free agency, with everyone knowing full well that, realistically, the team won’t get into a bidding war for any of them once they’re on the open market?

Here’s a look at who the Cubs could likely extend and who will be saying goodbye to Chicago after next year.

Extending Nico Hoerner should be a no-brainer

Oct 6, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner (2) looks on before the game against the Milwaukee Brewers during game two of the NLDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images

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Nico Hoerner is the best Cubs second baseman since Ryne Sandberg. Period.

Aside from becoming one of baseball’s most consistent contact hitters over the last few seasons and establishing himself as a two-time Gold Glove winner, he’s also become a valuable team leader with the Cubs. Last season, as the offense slumped en masse, he practically carried the team through the latter part of the season and through the playoffs.

CBS Sports’ Mike Axisa estimates that a Hoerner extension might be had for about $120 million over 6 years. That’s a reasonable price for what the soon-to-be 29-year-old brings to the table, given his ability and his importance to the team. He’s already shown himself willing to sign a contract extension, going for a 3-year, $35 million deal prior to the 2024 season, so he could be open to another offer, with a fair and reasonable raise attached.

The Cubs front office should be tarred and feathered if they don’t try to make this happen.

Ian Happ might “steady” his way into a new deal

May 1, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Chicago Cubs left fielder Ian Happ (8) hits a single against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the seventh inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Left fielder Ian Happ is not the flashiest of talents or the most obvious of stars, but the Cubs’ decision on extending him may come down to the fact that they don’t want to head into 2027 needing replacements for both corner outfielders. If the choice comes down to extending the steady and consistent 4-time Gold Glove Happ or the more mercurial but higher offensive upside Seiya Suzuki, the Cubs’ preferred option may be Happ.

MLB writer Eric Cross recently pointed out just how steadily capable Happ has been, noting that the switch-hitter is the only major leaguer over the last three years to deliver “30+ Doubles, 20+ Home Runs, 75+ RBI, 85+ Runs Scored, and 80+ Walks.”

In 2024, Happ signed a 3-year, $61 million extension and, at 31 years of age, a similar deal would be reasonable for both parties, although Happ may push for more years.

So long to Chicago, welcome back for one last year?

MLB: St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs Jul 6, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki (27) points after hitting a home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the fifth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

Regardless of how well he performs in 2026, catcher Carson Kelly might be a necessary keep for 2027 (if he doesn’t choose to take his services elsewhere via his option). With the frequently-injured Miguel Amaya behind him and nobody close to major league-ready in the minors, the Cubs may need to keep Kelly around.

Relievers Rea, Thielbar, Webb, and Harvey could be back if they perform well in 2026, just because dependable bullpen arms are always a valuable commodity.

Boyd, as mentioned earlier, will likely opt to enter free agency and move on from his guaranteed $15 million in search of more money and more years if his 2026 season is anywhere as good as his 2025 run. If he fizzles in 2026, the Cubs may decline their part of the mutual option. Either way, Boyd may be pitching elsewhere in 2027.

Jameson Taillon and Shota Imanaga, meanwhile, are almost guaranteed goners as their price doesn’t match their expected performance. Given the Cubs’ starting pitching depth, the team could stand to lose both and use that combined $40 million saved to pursue a front-of-rotation replacement.

Suzuki will also likely be gone as he’ll definitely be looking for more than his current $19 million salary and the Cubs may be wary of keeping him onboard for another 5 years at well over $100 million.

So, yes, there will be some big chances coming for 2027. The hope, however, is that at least a couple recognizable names can be brought back.

The post Who the Chicago Cubs might extend and who they definitely will not appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago Cubs to adopt Dodgers strategy for Justin Steele and rotation?

Paul Magno — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 17:55:20 +0000

The Chicago Cubs had been eyeing hard-throwing right-hander Edward Cabrera for quite awhile, with buzz linking them to the Miami Marlins pitcher dating back to early last season. This offseason, they pulled the trigger on the trade to bring him aboard.

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The 27-year-old Cabrera will join a Cubs starting rotation that includes Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton, Jameson Taillon, Shota Imanaga, and returning ace Justin Steele, who may be back from elbow surgery sometime around the All-Star break.

If/when everyone stays healthy and Steele stays on schedule, this will give Chicago six viable starters, plus two capable swing men in Colin Rea and Javier Assad along with long shots Ben Brown, Jordan Wicks, and top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins waiting in the wings.

Uncertainty in Cubs’ pitching depth

More News: Chicago Cubs rotation is “deep in meh and unexcitement” says brutal ZiPS projection

On paper, this seems to be an embarrassment of riches. In reality, though, there’s a lot of uncertainty up and down the rotation, especially when it comes to durability. Boyd, Horton, and Cabrera all have significant history of injury. Steele is coming off major elbow surgery. Meanwhile, Taillon and Imanaga both spent significant time on the IL last season.

So, what can the Cubs do to preserve their arms and ensure that their best starters make it to the postseason?

Some have suggested a move to a 6-man rotation, which would give each pitcher an additional day of rest between starts.

It’s more likely, though, that manager Craig Counsell and company may look to an NL powerhouse, the World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers, for the answer.

Adopting the Dodgers model

Nov 1, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell (7) walks back to the dugout after th eighth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays during game seven of the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

The Dodgers’ rotation was strained throughout the majority of the regular season due to injury, with only Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivering more than 112.2 innings as a starter.

But Los Angeles was judicious with the return of injured/recovering starters Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, and even Shohei Ohtani. Careful and conservative with their respective comebacks, they were able to reintroduce all three to the rotation just in time for the pennant push and, more importantly, the postseason.

The strategy paid off as Yamamoto and the reasonably fresh threesome of Glasnow, Blake, and Ohtani accounted for more than 68% of the innings pitched in the postseason in another winning World Series run for the Dodgers.

Justin Steele

Mar 27, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Justin Steele (35) pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

It’s not hard to imagine the Cubs following that blueprint with their own rotation, especially with Steele, who could be key to the team’s postseason success. Over the last four years, Steele has been Chicago’s most reliable and effective starter, posting a 3.18 ERA over 82 starts in that period of time.

“It’s just one of those math equations you’re going to have to do,” Steele said of the timeline for his 2026 return, “because Dr. Meister [Steele’s surgeon and supervising physician] is going to probably have some innings limit [in mind].”

“That definitely eases your mind,” Steele added, referring to the Cubs’ rotation depth and the lack of rush to get him back in the mix, “knowing that it’s not a race to get back for Opening Day or something…So there’s definitely some comfortability knowing that I don’t have to rush.”

Given the Cubs’ starting pitching depth, it’s quite possible that the team could have multiple starters on an informal innings limit over the course of the season, maybe capped at four innings or so, with Rea, Assad, Brown, or Wicks serving as second-half-of-game starters to finish things off.

With this plan in place, the Cubs could walk into the playoffs with a solid core of fresh and effective starting pitchers and, subsequently, a fresh, rested bullpen as well. Last postseason, Chicago wilted in the NLDS, dragging along a taxed rotation that had been whittled down to two viable pitchers.

While the Cubs don’t have the mega-bank studs that LA has, this conserve and preserve strategy definitely would give them stronger footing if/when they make their 2026 postseason run.

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How the Chicago Cubs may luck into free agent Zac Gallen

Paul Magno — Sun, 25 Jan 2026 19:26:02 +0000

The Chicago Cubs have shaken things up considerably more this offseason than they were expected to do by most.

More News: Chicago Cubs rotation is “deep in meh and unexcitement” says brutal ZiPS projection

They acquired two long-targeted assets in third baseman Alex Bregman and starting pitcher Edward Cabrera, via free agency and trade, respectively. They restocked their depleted bullpen with four new free agent acquisitions– Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, Jacob Webb, and Hunter Harvey. The front office also spent some considerable money in keeping 2025 holdovers Shota Imanaga and Caleb Thielbar.

This is certainly enough for Chicago to comfortably sit back and wait on the coming season, content in knowing that they did enough to give themselves a real shot at a championship.

But there’s buzz out there that the Cubs may actually be pursuing one more major acquisition before the start of spring training.

Cubs still pursuing Zac Gallen?

Sep 3, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen (23) throws against the Texas Rangers in the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

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Veteran MLB insider Bruce Levine, during a segment on 670 The Score, recently revealed that the Cubs are still talking with free agent starter Zac Gallen:

“Those talks are ongoing. My reporting is the possibility is that it’ll be a shorter-term type of deal.”

Well, that’s certainly an unexpected and, honestly, somewhat puzzling development. After all, getting Gallen would give the Cubs six legit starters heading into spring training (alongside Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton, Edward Cabrera, Jameson Taillon, and Shota Imanaga) with a seventh, Justin Steele, due to return before the All-Star break.

Acquiring Gallen would also add another major salary to the payroll of a budget-minded team already close to crossing the first luxury tax threshold.

But, given current developments, the Cubs may benefit from being in the right place at the right time to land the free agent workhorse right-hander.

Gallen’s plan B

Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen (23) pitches against the Cleveland Guardians at Chase Field on Aug. 19, 2025.

The Rangers and the Mets recently satiated their hunger for starting pitching by trading for Mackenzie Gore and Freddy Peralta, respectively. The Red Sox signed Ranger Suarez. The Dodgers stuffed themselves with Kyle Tucker and Edwin Diaz. The Blue Jays also gorged themselves this offseason.

The market for Gallen is shrinking and the former Arizona Diamondback may have to fall back on a plan B when it comes to 2026. That’s where the Cubs and the possibility of a short-term deal may come in.

The 30-year-old starter is coming off a down season where he posted an ugly 4.83 ERA in 33 appearances. He’s young and fresh enough to sign a one-year contract, banking on a rebound 2026, and re-enter the free agent market in 2027 in search of a longer and more lucrative contract.

The Cubs have a well-deserved reputation as a team adept at turning around the fortunes of struggling pitchers. Just last season, they celebrated in the successes of rehabbed arms Matthew Boyd, Brad Keller, and Drew Pomeranz who played a big role in the team’s push to the postseason.

Money may not be as much of an issue

Chicago Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins answers questions from the media during the MLB GM Meetings at The Conrad Las Vegas. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images

As for the money, Cubs’ GM Carter Hawkins has said that the luxury tax constraints are “less of a consideration” this year since the team is now seen as a contender. The assumption is that the Cubs will pass the first $244 million luxury tax threshold in 2026 anyway, so they’ll have more than $20 million to play with before another penalty comes into play.

Per Jordan Campbell of Cubbies Crib:

“The assumption is that the Cubs, at some point, will go over the first level of the CBT, and there’s a silver lining in that. With the Cubs accounting for that, they now have around $23 million in space before reaching the next level at $264 million. In other words, the penalties the Cubs would pay if their payroll is at $245 million next season are the same as they would be if their payroll is at $263 million.

It suggests the Cubs could still have a move or two up their sleeve this offseason, if not, a healthy amount of space for in-season moves.”

Chicago also has pretty clean books, with only Bregman, Maton, and Dansby Swanson owed any significant money beyond 2026.

Gallen to the Cubs is a longshot, but stranger things have happened in baseball. Gallen’s best bet, with Framber Valdez still on the market ahead of him, may be to go for a short-term deal and position himself for 2027.

If the Cubs can scoop up a potential ace-level starter on a friendly deal, why wouldn’t they? Having too many starters is a good problem to have.

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Chicago Cubs rotation is “deep in meh and unexcitement” says brutal ZiPS projection

Paul Magno — Sun, 25 Jan 2026 17:57:25 +0000

The Chicago Cubs made headlines when they pulled the trigger on the trade they had been tied to since last trade deadline. The deal to acquire Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins cost the team their no. 1 prospect Owen Caissie and two other solid young talents, but most everyone agreed that the price was worth paying.

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By most accounts, the hard-throwing 27-year-old righty is an emerging powerhouse starter who turned the corner on his progress last season. In acquiring him, they also got three years of team control at a discount price until he becomes a free agent at the end of the 2028 season.

Now, the Cubs get to drop Cabrera into a starting rotation that also includes Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton, Jameson Taillon, and Shota Imanaga, with injured ace Justin Steele possibly making his comeback before the All-Star break.

All good news, right?

Not exactly.

Cubs starting rotation gets ugly ZiPS projection

May 31, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Edward Cabrera (27) pitches against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images

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A prominent MLB projection system doesn’t think all that highly of a starting rotation that’s generating widespread enthusiasm among Cubs fans.

The well-respected ZiPS is not convinced by the starting staff put together by Jed Hoyer and the front office, describing the admittedly deep rotation as also being “deep in meh.”

The Cubs’ rotation is projected to have just a combined 11.2 WAR next season, ranking them 19th in the league in starting pitching.

Dan Szymborski, the developer of the computer-based ZiPS projection system, elaborated on the projection of mediocrity:

“ZiPS sees the Cubs as having a very deep rotation that’s also very deep in unexcitement. There’s certainly some upside here, especially in Edward Cabrera, but ZiPS largely views the team as having a whole lot of broadly average starting pitching options. The good news here is that if Justin Steele has any setbacks, ZiPS likes the team’s replacement options. Even with especially bad luck in the injury department, the computer thinks Javier Assad will be adequate — it has him with an ERA considerably lower than his FIP, though some of that is thanks to the stellar Cubs defense — and that Ben Brown and Jordan Wicks would both be far more acceptable as starters if called into duty than they’ve shown so far. Heck, if Colin Rea or even Connor Noland were forced into starting some games, that wouldn’t be an apocalyptic scenario for the Cubs.”

Nearly the same or worse next season

Specifically, ZiPS sees Boyd and Horton falling somewhat flat next year, down slightly in WAR in 2026 (down .1 for Boyd and .3 for Horton). Imanaga and Taillon, meanwhile, are projected to achieve minor gains over last season ( up .4 WAR for Imanaga and .2 WAR for Taillon). Cabrera is projected to finish the season with a 1.9 WAR, which would place his impact on the team somewhere between what Boyd and Imanaga had in 2025. The projection system gives the returning Steele a 1.5 WAR, despite not knowing exactly when he might actually pitch.

But…

Being projected as a bottom-half starting rotation (along with the projection of a middle-of-the-pack bullpen) is not great news.

It should be taken into consideration, however, that this Cubs staff has a lot of intangibles swirling around it. Imanaga could conceivably have a nice rebound after a rough second half of 2025. Nobody is quite sure when Steele will return to full-time duty. Cabrera’s ability to perform in a new city under a new system is still an unknown factor.

There’s also the uncertainty surrounding a rotation full of durability and injury issues. A full year of a healthy Horton, for example, would make a major impact, even if his rookie year performance over the second half of the season proves to be an outlier run.

Overall, though, it’s just hard to look at the Cubs rotation, one through five, extending to Steele (with Colin Rea and Javier Assad as backups), and see extreme “meh.” We shall see.

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Chicago Cubs could address rotation questions with bold restructuring

Paul Magno — Sun, 18 Jan 2026 18:48:16 +0000

The Chicago Cubs went out and made the deal this offseason for the pitcher they had been linked to since last season’s trade deadline. In a trade that cost them their top prospect Owen Caissie and two infield prospects, the Cubs brought aboard right-hander Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins.

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Despite the feel-good vibes generated by this acquisition and the tremendous upside with Cabrera, there are definite risks involved in this move. The 6-foot-5 power pitcher, in what many see as a breakthrough year, had to be paused twice last season due to arm issues and has a history of injury throughout his pro career.

In that regard, Cabrera fits in with the rest of the proposed Cubs rotation, which is also filled with question marks regarding durability and health.

A rotation full of durability questions

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The oft-injured Matthew Boyd, with his surgically-repaired arm, smashed all expectations last season by avoiding the IL and delivering 179.2 innings in the regular season and 9.2 innings in the playoffs. Shota Imanaga missed almost eight weeks with a hamstring issue that may or may not have thrown off his game for the rest of the season. Jameson Taillon had two separate stints on the IL last year. Rookie revelation Cade Horton, who has an extensive history of injury throughout college and the minors, went down with fractured ribs in late September and missed out on the postseason entirely. Ace Justin Steele, meanwhile, only managed four starts before a season-ending injury that required elbow surgery (It’s estimated that he could return to the rotation around mid-season).

So, what do you do with a rotation where every single starter carries a significant risk of injury?

Cubs considering a 6-man rotation?

The idea of going from a 5-man rotation to a 6-man rotation is currently being considered by the team, according to MLB insider Bruce Levine:

“Depending on pitching staff health, the Cubs will be exploring using a six man rotation this season. Past injuries to Imanaga, Steele and a veteran mix of Boyd and Taillon makes this a logical approach. Rea and Assad are excellent swing men. 7 bullpen guys is a challenge.”

The idea has been brought up before, as recently as early last season when the Cubs’ rotation also gave some signs of frailty. This year, though, there seems to be more substance behind the buzz– and maybe an even greater need to keep the starters healthy over the long haul as the team aims for an extended postseason run.

Sam Olbur of the Locked on Cubs podcast is all for this 6-man rotation proposal:

“I love the idea. I think it really benefits some of these guys. I think if Boyd had an extra day, his last five, six, seven, eight starts. If Shota got an extra day every start. Man, I really think that benefits these guys and I’m interested in seeing it. Even a guy like Cabrera, who battled his injuries…I think it just benefits everybody. The Cubs don’t really have a guy on their team…to where, you’re like, ‘every fifth day, that guy’s going seven innings, he’s throwing 200 innings a year.’ They really don’t have that guy.”

Maintaining the rotation over the long haul

Sep 27, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jameson Taillon (50) delivers a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

And all of that is true. In the absence of a workhorse to eat innings, the Cubs will have to do whatever they can to make sure they have a strong core of starters throughout the pennant race and into the playoffs.

There will be the risk of throwing off the rhythm of starters used to a 5-man rotation. There will also be an added strain on the bullpen, which will then only be able to carry seven relievers rather than the customary eight.

The Cubs have depth when it comes to their rotation and at least three possible swing men– Colin Rea, Javier Assad, and Ben Brown– who can switch between starting duties and long relief. If the 6-man rotation idea is implemented, it may be put into play later in the season and maybe in spots where the schedule is less forgiving. It’s just as likely, though, that the starters’ innings will be monitored and long relief options employed more often.

As everyone learned last year when the Cubs’ rotation limped its way through the playoffs with only two viable starters, a team can never have enough pitching…and pitching options. Fortunately, the 2026 Cubs, barring a crazy rash of injuries, look to have the needed depth to make it over the long haul.

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Chicago Cubs linked to high-end free agent starter by multiple analysts

Paul Magno — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 15:15:50 +0000

The Chicago Cubs went into the NLDS with only two starting pitchers in manager Craig Counsell’s circle of confidence– Jameson Taillon and Matthew Boyd (and Boyd started off the series with a rocky performance). Predictably, that lack of pitching dominance and depth helped lead to the team’s exit from the postseason.

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And even though blame could be heaped on Cade Horton’s late season injury and the absence of Justin Steele due to elbow surgery, everyone knows that the Cubs were pulling into the playoffs, all along, at least one big arm short of being true contenders for a championship.

Chicago Cubs focused on pitching?

Jan 12, 2024; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer talks to the media after introducing pitcher Shota Imanaga (not pictured) during a press conference at Loews Chicago Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

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The team has reportedly acknowledged that as well, starting the offseason with a dedicated focus on pitching and, supposedly, a desire to acquire a front-of-rotation starter to facilitate a deep playoff run.

Confidence in actions over words is hard to come by, however, when it comes to the frugal and budget-minded Cubs ownership and their front office, led by president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer, perpetually tasked with finding overachieving assets at a bargain price.

But, for what it’s worth, the buzz about the Cubs spending on pitching this winter has been intense and non-stop. And even after reportedly bowing out of the Dylan Cease hunt when numbers started going too high, insiders are still talking up Chicago’s desire to go after a top starter.

Linked to Ranger Suarez

Sep 27, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Ranger Suarez (55) throws a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

The name of Ranger Suarez, who is one of many remaining free agent pitching options still on the market, has recently been brought up several times by several different media voices in connection with the Cubs.

With the Philadelphia Phillies last season, the 30-year-old notched a 12-8 record with a 3.20 ERA over 26 starts. Over the course of his 8-year major league career, the left-hander has posted a 3.38 ERA. In his last four seasons as a full-time starting pitcher, Suarez has established himself as one of the top tier starters in the game.

It’s questionable whether he can be called an “ace,” especially with his velocity having dipped in each of the previous three seasons. But the loss of speed has been accompanied by an increased understanding of location and a feel for throwing the right pitches at the right time. The complete package ranks him as, easily, a front-of-rotation starter who may downgrade to a mid or back-of-rotation asset by the end of his career run.

Tori Sheffer of the Phillies blog, That Ball’s Outta Here, has named the Cubs as one of the top landing spots for Suarez.

Per Sheffer:

“Even with Chicago Cubs Japanese southpaw Shota Imanaga surprisingly accepting the club’s qualifying offer, they’re still reportedly looking for pitching. President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said that acquiring additional pitching help is a main priority this offseason.

They need another established veteran to throw opposite their ace, righty Justin Steele when he returns. With three of their projected starters already over 34, Suárez would help secure their starting five for the long term, with youngster Cade Horton. Who better to fill the void as a No. 2 than Ranger Danger himself?”

MLB insider Ben Verlander has also issued his prediction of a Cubs-Suarez union.

Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report went so far as to include Suarez on his projected Cubs start-of-season starting rotation.

Per Reuter:

“With a 52.0 percent career groundball rate, Ranger Suárez looks like the ideal target to pitch in front of a strong defensive infield anchored by Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson up the middle. The Cubs will also get Justin Steele back at some point in 2026, though he is not expected to be ready for Opening Day.”

Cubs-Suarez union is actually doable

Aug 12, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Ranger Suarez (55) walks off the field during a pitching change in the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

ESPN is projecting Suarez to get a 4-year, $92 million contract, a price that would put him just a notch below the elite tier free agents like Cease and Framber Valdez. But for the Cubs, who’ve shied away from spending big on pitchers since signing Yu Darvish in 2018, Suarez’s projected price may actually be doable– especially considering that the contracts of Taillon, Boyd, and Imanaga will all be up at the end of the 2026 season.

Seriously, though, what’s not to love about a savvy sinker ball pitcher working in front of, arguably, the league’s best infield defense? The question will be whether the Cubs will be able to outbid several other teams who are similarly hungry for starting pitching and, historically, more willing to spend to get it.

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Team USA deepens their pitching staff with Chicago Cubs AS joining the team

Zack Cariola — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 20:18:42 +0000

The World Baseball Classic is not too far away (March), and Team USA has been building a formidable roster.

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Team USA already has great names occupying the roster, such as back-to-back American League MVP and New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, and the National League Cy Young Award winner from the Pittsburgh Pirates, Paul Skenes.

Adding yet another All-Star to their pitching staff, Team USA will be adding Chicago Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd, who announced he will be joining the team while appearing on the YouTube show “Foul Territory.”

“Yeah, you know, for me, my perspective is this, like any chance to get to represent our country is something that’s really special, and I’m grateful for this game,” Boyd said on “Foul Territory.” “It’s given me so many opportunities. I get to play a game for a living. You know, in 2009 on the 18 U team, I was the last cut in college. I was a replacement player. You know, I was the guy holding the spot for guys that were in the College World Series, and then, you know, I got sent home and went back to playing college summer baseball. So, you know, I definitely told the, you know, I told, I told the guys I was interested in doing it. And [Mark DeRosa] D-row called a couple weeks ago, and man, when he when he called it was something I just knew I wanted to do. So prayed about it. And, you know, I’m just, I’m super excited to get this opportunity, and, you know, represent Team USA to the best of my ability.”

BREAKING: Matthew Boyd announces he'll play for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic! pic.twitter.com/ei4NDEosw2

— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) December 3, 2025

Boyd, 34, was named to his first All-Star Team after signing a two-year $29 million contract with the Cubs with a $15 million mutual option for 2027. In 31 starts, Boyd went 14-8 with a 3.21 ERA and struck out 154 batters in 179.2 innings.

Chicago Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd adds value to Team USA’s pitching staff

Oct 4, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Chicago Cubs left fielder Willi Castro (1) takes starting pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) out of the game against the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning of game one of the NLDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images

Boyd, with his announcement, becomes the second pitcher to join Team USA’s starting rotation, with Skenes holding the mantle of Ace of the staff. Boyd also joins fellow All-Star and Cubs centerfielder, Pete Crow-Armstrong, who will likely be the starting centerfielder when games start.

Looking to take down the reigning World Baseball Classic champions, Japan, Team USA needs to add more top-level arms, like back-to-back American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal. Back-to-back National League MVP, Shohei Ohtani, leads Japan’s pitching staff, giving them a slight advantage.

MLB: All Star Game Workouts Jul 14, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; National League pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) of the Chicago Cubs on the field during workouts for the 2025 MLB All Star Game at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

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Chicago Cubs young stars projected to have disastrous 2026

Paul Magno — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 17:37:54 +0000

The Chicago Cubs had a disappointing end to their baseball year, going down in Game 5 of the NLDS to the Milwaukee Brewers after battling their way up from a 0-2 deficit in the series. But the season, as a whole, was a positive, filled with pleasant surprises.

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Among those pleasant surprises were a handful of young talents who emerged as high-end major league assets.

23-year-old Pete Crow-Armstrong, specifically, earned acclaim as a superstar-in-the-making as he showcased his multi-tool ability. Before the All-Star break, he had already crushed 25 home runs and had notched 71 RBIs, while stealing 27 bases, as he displayed an almost superhuman defense in center field.

Cade Horton started 2025 as the Cubs’ top pitching prospect, regarded as at least one year away from being major league-ready. Pitching injuries in early May led to him being brought up from Iowa much sooner than expected. The then-23-year-old performed solidly and impressed with his poise and confidence. Then, he blew up and became truly dominant. With a 1.03 ERA in 12 starts after the All-Star break, he earned recognition as the best pitcher in all of baseball during that stretch, until a rib injury ended his season in late September.

From pleasant surprises to harsh realities

Oct 4, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) reacts after the second inning of game one of the NLDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

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PCA and Horton were just two of several other pleasant surprises in 2025.

But, if projections are correct, a storybook 2025 may give way to some harsh reality in 2026.

FanGraphs’ Steamer projections paint a picture of widespread regression among Cubs’ stars, but the outlook is especially dismal when it comes to the team’s young talent.

Crow-Armstrong, for example, is projected to finish 2026 with his power numbers way down from last season, forecast to finish the year with just 20 home runs and 64 RBIs. His projected .251 batting average is just a tick higher than his .247 average in 2025.

Horton is projected to have an even more prodigious fall from grace with an 8-9 record and 4.33 ERA in 2026 after an 11-4, 2.67 ERA rookie season.

Other reality checks?

Oct 8, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs first baseman Michael Busch (29) celebrates with teamamtes after hitting a solo home run against the Milwaukee Brewers in the first inning during game three of the NLDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

First baseman Michael Busch, who affirmed his status as a big league star with 34 home runs on 90 RBIs last season, is projected to hit just 24 dingers with 65 RBIs in 2026.

Nico Hoerner, who many feel is the Cubs’ best second baseman since Ryne Sandberg, performed well all season, but was especially red-hot down the stretch and in the playoffs. In 2026, FanGraphs projects him to hit .284, thirteen points below his .297 mark last year.

Daniel Palencia, who came up from the minors early in the season and earned his spot as the team’s closer, is projected to finish 2026 with a 3.61 ERA following a 2.91 ERA in 2025.

Chicago Cubs are downward-bound across the board

This predicted downward-bound trajectory is not just among the team’s young stars. The analytics company has targeted everybody as due for regression in the coming year. Seiya Suzuki, Ian Happ, Dansby Swanson, and Ian Happ are all projected to have diminished power numbers. Pitchers Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, and Jameson Taillon, meanwhile, are all predicted to have significantly elevated ERAs from their 2025 showings.

Third baseman Matt Shaw is actually the only Cub projected to have a better year in 2026. That improvement, however, is minimal– a .242 batting average over 2025’s .226, with 15 home runs versus last year’s 13.

It should be pointed out that while FanGraphs’ projections are generally regarded as one of the most accurate and reliable projection systems around, they are not infallible. Their Cubs projections ahead of the 2025 season, for example, were similarly conservative, bordering on pessimistic. (They projected PCA with just 20 home runs, for example).

However, there’s plenty of food for thought in FanGraphs’ numbers. Crow-Armstrong probably isn’t as good as his first-half performance last year and certainly not as bad as his second-half showing. There’s also the question of how much an absent Kyle Tucker will diminish the collective offensive effort. On the pitching side, there’s reason to believe that Horton, Boyd, and Palencia overperformed and are due for a more humbling season this coming year.

As is always the case, time will tell. March/April is still a long ways away.

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Chicago Cubs: Why Imanaga’s return dooms the Cubs to a mediocre winter

Paul Magno — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 18:00:59 +0000

The Chicago Cubs are definitely okay with Shota Imanaga being back in the starting rotation for 2026. They wouldn’t have extended him the $22 million qualifying offer if they weren’t.

More News: Why the Chicago Cubs need to stay far away from incoming Japanese free agent star

The problem all along seemed to be investing in a third year when it comes to a 32-year-old whose home run issues started becoming a genuine problem, with 12 home runs given up in his last six regular season starts and two horrendous playoff outings. That’s why they declined their 3-year, $57 million option on the Japanese star. The feeling is that Imanaga is more than capable of turning things around in 2026, but that it would be too much of a gamble to bank on him staying on track for 2027 and 2028 as well.

In turn, Imanaga did his part and turned away his 2-year, $30 million player option. The Cubs then followed up with the qualifying offer, which was a win-win of sorts as they still had a chance of retaining the lefty’s services for one season, but also stood to gain draft pick compensation should he be lost in free agency.

As things would turn out, Imanaga accepted the Cubs’ offer on Tuesday, postponing a free agent run until after next season. He rejoins a starting rotation also featuring Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton, Jameson Taillon, and a returning (at some point) Justin Steele, along with backups Javier Assad and Colin Rea.

Hello again, Shota Imanaga; Goodbye free agent studs?

Oct 1, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Shota Imanaga (18) reacts after giving up a two-run home run in the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres during game two of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

More News: Chicago Cubs urged to reconsider possible interest in Dylan Cease

The big question for fans, though, is whether Imanaga’s return will impact the Cubs’ publicly declared pursuit of pitching this winter.

According to a payroll projection from FanGraphs, the Cubs’ payroll now sits at just over $191 million after counting in Imanaga return (also counting arbitration-related salary increases). That places the team about $53 million under the first luxury tax threshold of $244 million.

Assuming the Cubs will want a buffer for in-season acquisitions, a safe assumption would be that the team will have about $35-40 million to play with this offseason– if Cubs ownership allows the front offices to spend up to the threshold.

Would it also be a safe assumption that this might take the Cubs out of the running for a high-end free agent starting pitcher?

Money, money, money

Sep 24, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dylan Cease (84) delivers during the second inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

ESPN is projecting top-of-the-mark free agents Dylan Cease and Framber Valdez to pull in multi-year contracts making $29 million and $28 million, respectively. If those projections prove to be accurate, that would leave the Cubs with just about $11-$12 million with which to rebuild their bullpen and acquire at least two reliable bench assets. This also means, by the way, that Kyle Tucker is a goner– if this hasn’t been made obvious already.

It most definitely doesn’t seem in character for the Cubs to overshoot budget markers, even though they could justify it this offseason with so many contracts potentially going off the books at the end of 2026 (Imanaga, Boyd, Taillon, Rea, Ian Happ, Nico Hoerner, Seiya Suzuki, Carson Kelly).

Chicago Cubs, once again bargain hunters?

Chicago Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts (R) smiles next to Chicago Cubs President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer (L) before a baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

So, this means Chicago will, again, most likely do their free agent shopping in the bargain bin. Using the justification that they will have five strong starting pitchers and two capable backups, they will likely aim low when it comes to starters, maybe opting for reclamation projects on a one-year deal.
Their bullpen approach will be similar, as they search for under-the-radar assets at a bargain price.

The biggest chance at adding an impact arm will be via trade, as the Cubs are rumored to be interested in the Marlins’ Edward Cabrera and loosely tied to pitchers such as the Twins’ Joe Ryan and the Royals’ Kris Bubic. Cabrera would be especially appealing to Chicago as he’s under contract through 2028, making club-friendly money.

Barring a big trade, though, this winter may turn out to be a dud of an offseason as ownership braces itself for a bad blood labor dispute in 2027 and a likely lockout.

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Chicago Cubs tied to $157 million possible pitching power grab this winter

Paul Magno — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 17:44:49 +0000

The Chicago Cubs, if they’re serious about making a deep playoff run in 2026 and possibly even having a chance at a championship, need to get serious about their pitching.

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Being serious means that they have to stop shopping exclusively in the bargain bin, looking for reclamation projects and fringe arms on a budget, gambling on pleasant surprises. The Cubs were very fortunate last season that the bet on Matthew Boyd paid off and that Cade Horton came up from the minors to have a remarkable run in the starting rotation. Colin Rea also performed above expectations in 2025.

If things had played out according to reasonable expectations from Boyd, Horton, and even Rea, Chicago may have finished lower in the standings and nowhere near a playoff spot.

This coming season, the team can’t count on Boyd and Horton– two players with significant histories of injury– to replicate last season’s success and Rea, by all accounts, may find himself in the bullpen, working long relief and spot starting. Shota Imanaga, meanwhile, may be gone altogether, after the Cubs declined his option.

Pitching as the primary focus

More News: Chicago Cubs urged to reconsider possible interest in Dylan Cease

Sure, Justin Steele is due back from elbow surgery at some point in the season. But the Cubs are going to need much more than half-a-season of a rehabbed Steele and crossed fingers that everyone else holds up. They’ll also, by the way, be tasked with rebuilding almost their entire bullpen. That’s why the team, itself, has declared pitching it’s primary focus this winter.

“We’re gonna have an active offseason,” president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer told reporters at the GM meetings in Las Vegas. “Take that for what it’s worth. I think the largest focus will be on pitching; I think that’s obvious looking at our depth chart. We’re in pretty good position on the position player side; on the pitching side, we’re thinner.”

Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report is taking Hoyer at his word and predicting that the Cubs will actually go deep in their free agent spending, specifically when it comes to starting pitchers.

Targeting an ace as well as a veteran?

Sep 14, 2025; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez (59) pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the second inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

First, Kelly projects the Cubs to land lefty ace Framber Valdez, formerly of the Astros.

Per Kelly:

“The Cubs probably need to find a way to add multiple impact starters to go with Matthew Boyd and Cade Horton. Framber Valdez would be a good name to start with…

Since the start of the 2022 season, Valdez is second among all starters in innings pitched (767.2) and fifth in WAR (16.5), per FanGraphs…

Valdez is not without faults as a free agent. First of all, he’s entering his age-32 season, so he’s a couple years older than some of the other arms available this winter, such as Suárez, Cease and Gallen. Secondly, while he was an All-Star this past year, he struggled in the second half of the season, posting a 5.20 ERA after the Midsummer Classic.”

Kelly estimates the Valdez contract at $114 million over four years with a $25 million club option for 2030.

The analyst also ties the Cubs to right-hander Lucas Giolito, as the veteran’s fall-back option behind the Yankees. He estimates the free agent contract of the former White Sox mainstay to be two-years at $43 million with a $20 million club option for 2028. The 31-year-old had a bounce back year in 2025, posting a 3.41 ERA over 26 starts after three consecutive seasons full of injury and inconsistency.

A rebuilt Chicago Cubs starting rotation

Sep 17, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (54) pitches against the Athletics during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Adding Valdez and Giolito to the Cubs’s starting five would certainly signify a major shift in club philosophy regarding spending on pitchers. It would also fortify the rotation ahead of 2027 when Boyd and Jameson Taillon could be gone via free agency.

A rotation of Valdez, Boyd, Horton, Taillon, and Steele, with Giolito worked into the mix somewhere, would be elite. It would also free up names such as Javier Assad and Ben Brown to be moved via trade for bullpen talent and/or a quality role player for the bench.

But banking on the Cubs spending $157 million for six years of pitching reads a little like fan fiction, given the team’s historically frugal ways. Maybe one or the other could be signed, with hopes and prayers affixed to them targeting Valdez over Giolito. But, even then, it’s hard to be optimistic.

Maybe the team’s big pitching acquisition will come via trade, as rumored. Maybe they’ll just fall back on working the fringes of free agency, looking to grab the right arm at the right time for the most team-friendly contract. As always, time will tell.

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Chicago Cubs seriously eyeing Padres free agent starter Michael King, per insiders

Paul Magno — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 17:50:16 +0000

The Chicago Cubs, by most accounts, will be players in the free agent market when it comes to starting pitching this offseason.

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The question, however, is to what degree they’ll be players.

There’s already plenty of buzz about the Cubs’ interest in former Cub top prospect Dylan Cease, who will be moving on from the San Diego Padres via free agency. Japanese import Tatsuya Imai has also been a name tossed about by media. To a much lesser extent, Framber Valdez has been mentioned as a good fit for the Cubs’ needs as well.

But it could also be very possible– some people would say, likely– that Chicago could target starting pitchers from the second tier of the 2026 free agency talent pool. It would certainly be in character for the frugal Cubs to try and take a riskier stab at a front-of-rotation arm for less money and/or a shorter contract.

Chicago Cubs interested in other Padres free agent starter

Sep 16, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Michael King (34) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

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If that is the objective this winter, a recent report in The Athletic, regarding the Cubs’ interest in former Padres starter and free agent Michael King, makes a lot of sense.

Via the collaborative piece by Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney:

“Michael King is another pitcher the Cubs have on their radar, viewing him as a starter with big upside when healthy. His work ethic, intelligence and feel for pitching are attributes that the Cubs previously targeted with free agents such as Jameson Taillon and Matthew Boyd.

King’s right shoulder became an issue this year, limiting him to just 15 starts with the San Diego Padres. In terms of process, the Cubs can point to their work with Michael Soroka this year. It’s not a perfect example — Soroka went on the injured list with a shoulder problem almost immediately after the Cubs acquired him at the trade deadline. But by the end of the season, Soroka had made some slight delivery tweaks and boosted his velocity back toward peak levels.”

Michael King as the new Matthew Boyd?

The right-handed King, who the Cubs reportedly asked about at the trade deadline last season, declined his part of a $15 million mutual option and is expected to also turn down the Padres’ $22 million qualifying offer.

Although an elite-tier starter when healthy, King struggled with staying on the field last season. He only managed 15 starts in 2025 while dealing with a nerve issue in his right shoulder and a subsequent knee injury. He would finish the year with a 3.44 ERA over 73.1 innings. In 2024, his first full year as a starter after transitioning from the bullpen, he registered a 2.95 ERA over 173.2 innings.

Some feel that the 30-year-old King could be had on a deal similar to the one the Cubs used to sign Matthew Boyd (two-years, $29 million) last season, although probably at a higher AAV, maybe in the neighborhood of $18-19 million per season.

The thought is that King, much like Boyd, might be available on a shorter contract as he proves that he can stay healthy and replicate past success.

A good fit for both parties

Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer speaks before introducing Craig Counsell as new Cubs manager during a press conference in Chicago. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

If this free agency run is all about proving himself fit for a more lucrative contract down the road, King could do a lot worse than signing on with the Cubs, who have a good reputation for rehabbing arms and facilitating pitching comebacks.

If the Cubs lose out on King, but are still determined to go after King-like projects on Boyd-like deals, there will be many names from which to choose this offseason. Brandon Woodruff, Merrill Kelly, and Chris Bassit, among others, could be fits. King, however, would be the youngest of the bunch and the one with the least mileage.

It’s still very early in the offseason, though, and a lot could happen that might deviate the Cubs from their plans. At the very least, this is a positive sign that the team is actually looking to improve its pitching with some new blood.

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Chicago Cubs’ target no. 1: Picking up an ace on the cheap

Paul Magno — Sun, 02 Nov 2025 23:05:31 +0000

The Chicago Cubs limped into the final games of the NLDS against the Milwaukee Brewers, carrying with them a strained, battered pitching staff held together by true grit and manager Craig Counsell’s savvy guidance.

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Right before their elimination in Game Five, the Cubs were down to two semi-reliable starters (Jameson Taillon and Matthew Boyd) and maybe three relievers worthy to be in Counsell’s circle of trust.

But there was a lesson to be learned at the end of the Cubs’ postseason run. They need pitching. They need the kind pitching that makes a good team into a credible championship team. They need the kind of pitching that can’t be built around coupon cutting, bargain bin shopping, and the cross-your-fingers hope of pitchers wildly overperforming.

The unbelievable World Series MVP performance of the Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto should highlight just how much of an impact elite starting pitching can provide to a serious championship-level team.

Chicago Cubs starting pitching: Insurance needed

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The Cubs are also staring down the distinct possibility that there may be some regression from starters Boyd and rookie Cade Horton, who both have a history of injury and could be looking at some slippage from their 2025 showing. Shota Imanaga faded down the stretch and was horrible in the postseason. The fall from grace was so prodigious that there’s no guarantee Chicago will even pick up his option for next season. Justin Steele, meanwhile, is not a lock to return to form after elbow surgery last April.

With that in mind, the Cubs need to be focusing on acquiring some real pitching muscle this offseason. Media and fans are already looking ahead to how the team can do just that.

First, though, it would probably be wise to disregard any of the top free agent starting pitchers available. Framber Valdez, Dylan Cease, Michael King, Zac Gallen and Shane Bieber will all be too rich for the tastes of Cubs ownership, which has not invested in a front-of-rotation free agent starter since Yu Darvish in 2018 (and then proceeded to trade him away, three years into a six-year deal). Despite the buzz regarding the team’s interest in Cease, it just doesn’t seem likely that they’ll be fishing in deep waters for the big pitching fish.

So, that leaves trade as the only way to add a high-end starter.

Trade targets?

May 2, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Joe Ryan (41) pitches against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey, in a recent Boston Red Sox mailbag column, talked up the potential asking price for right-hander Joe Ryan from the Minnesota Twins. The info relayed to her suggests a very affordable deal for a front-two starter who still has two years before free agency.

Per McCaffrey:

“Dan Hayes, The Athletic’s Twins writer, suggested Minnesota would be seeking two top-50 prospects, one with a mid-ceiling and one more of a lottery ticket.”

The Cubs are not overstuffed with top prospects at this point. So, one can assume that approaching the Twins for Ryan would mean probably giving up someone like Owen Caissie or Moises Ballesteros and Jonathon Long/Jefferson Rojas/James Triantos.

Chicago’s willingness to make such a deal would hinge on their willingness to gamble on winning big these next two seasons.

Controllable arms

Mar 27, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara (22) looks on against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Ryan was a sought-after asset at the trade deadline last season, but the Twins opted to hold on to him. The Nationals’ Mackenzie Gore, the Pirates’ Mitch Keller, and the Florida Marlins duo of Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera were also tied to the Cubs at the deadline

Ryan, Gore and Alcantara will become free agents at the end of the 2027 season. Cabrera and Keller won’t become free agents until after the 2028 season.

If the goal is controllable pitching without the free agent mega-contracts, a trade will be the way to go, even if it costs a good chunk of prospect capital.

Another option is more Cubs-like, though– look for reclamation projects, gamble on pleasant surprises, and hope for the best.

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Chicago Cubs: Dylan Cease free agent interest confirmed, per reports

Paul Magno — Sat, 01 Nov 2025 17:18:07 +0000

The Chicago Cubs, per very early reports, are targeting front-of-rotation pitching this offseason. Specifically, they have their eyes on the San Diego Padres’ hard-throwing right-hander Dylan Cease, according to various media reports.

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Cease, who turns 30 on December 28, will officially become a free agent shortly after the World Series and is expected to move on from the Padres in search of greener pastures and a more lucrative contract.

The question is whether the Cubs would be that team to provide the payday he’s expected to command (estimated at $158 million over six years by Spotrac), especially with plenty of other teams also looking to add a high-end starter heading into 2026.

Chicago Cubs have legit interest in Dylan Cease

Sep 18, 2024; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dylan Cease (84) is congratulated in the dugout after a pitching change in the ninth inning against the Houston Astros at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-Imagn Images

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MLB insider Bruce Levin feels that, at the very least, the Cubs are in the running and considered a top contender for the services of their former top prospect, who they traded to the White Sox back in 2017.

“According to MLB insiders I know, people in the know in other organizations, they feel the Cubs will be there among the top suitors (for Dylan Cease),” Levine said during an interview with 670 the Score. “I would say it’s highly likely – like for sure – that he’s going to be looked at by the Cubs and be continued to be pursued.”

On the surface, this reported interest in Cease flies in the face of what would normally be expected of Cubs ownership and the front office. Chicago has shied away from big-ticket free agent starting pitching since signing Yu Darvish to a multi-year contract in 2018.

The Cubs’ current rotation seems already set from one to five, with Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, Cade Horton, and a returning Justin Steele. Colin Rea and Javier Assad will also be around as backup.

But, realistically, there’s a great deal of uncertainty when it comes their starting five.

Starting pitching concerns

The Cubs still have to decide whether to pick up their option on Imanaga, who faded considerably as last season progressed and collapsed completely in the postseason. Boyd had a remarkable bounce back season after a long stretch of injury, but he also began to fade late in the season. There’s considerable concern that he’ll experience some degree of regression this coming season. Horton was a surprise breakthrough asset and, arguably, the best pitcher in all of baseball through the second half of 2025. However, the rookie has a history of injury and missed the final days of the regular season, along with the entire postseason, due to another physical setback. And when it comes to Steele, there’s no guarantee when, exactly, he’ll come back from his elbow surgery and whether he’ll be as dependable as he’s been in previous years.

Chicago also needs to take into consideration that Taillon and Boyd will become free agents at the end of the 2026 season, along with Rea.

So, it does make sense for the team to lock in an elite-tier starting pitcher who will be a guaranteed presence for this coming season and beyond.

But will Cease be that guy?

Bringing Cease aboard?

Oct 5, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Dylan Cease (84) throws a pitch in the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game one of the NLDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

That depends on a lot of things. Money will be an issue, even though Chicago is in a good position to be buyers this offseason. But a power-throwing righty would sure look good sandwiched between softer-throwing, more nuanced pitchers like Boyd and Imanaga. It would also be nice to carry an elite arm into postseason play when/if the Cubs make the playoffs again.

Cease is due for a better season this year after posting a 4.55 ERA in 2025. His velocity hasn’t dipped and his stuff remains solid. He also has the odd quirk of delivering better results in even-numbered years, which shouldn’t mean much of anything to the analytics-driven Cubs, anyway (Cease posted an average ERA of 4.53 ERA in 2019, 2021, 2023, and 2025 while notching an average ERA of 3.00 in 2020, 2022, and 2024).

But, most of all, adding Cease would mean adding another top arm to the front of the Cubs rotation. And, as we’ve all learned, a playoff-serious team can never have too much pitching.

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Chicago Cubs president appears to be doubling down on failed 2025 strategy

Paul Magno — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 22:11:50 +0000

The Chicago Cubs’ 2025 season can’t really be seen as a failure. It was a bit disappointing, however, when the team started off so hot and than cooled down considerably in the second half of the season. It was especially disappointing to see how the team’s pitching limped into the postseason.

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By the end of the NLDS, the Cubs were down to two somewhat reliable starters and maybe three relievers in manager Craig Counsell’s circle of trust. One shudders to think of the blood bath that would’ve ensued had the Cubs advanced to meet the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS.

Although a flat-lining offense was a big issue throughout the second half of the season and into the postseason, the lack of pitching depth will resonate in many minds as the biggest issue facing a 2026 team that is now expected to make the playoffs once again.

The Chicago Cubs didn’t do enough at the trade deadline

MLB: Cincinnati Reds at Chicago Cubs

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Fingers have been pointed at Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer for not being aggressive enough in pursuit of arms at the trade deadline.

For a team said to be “all-in” when it came to a deep playoff run and expected to be mega-aggressive at the deadline to acquire the talent it needed, the Cubs were disappointingly conservative. In the area of pitching, Hoyer only brought in swing man Michael Soroka (who went to the IL just two innings into his Cubs debut) and middle relievers Andrew Kittredge and Taylor Rogers.

The late season acquisitions weren’t enough to have much of an impact. Ultimately, the Cubs’ inability to fortify themselves with high-end pitching led to a staff that seemed to be held together by nothing other than grit and wishful thinking.

Thing would’ve been significantly worse had Cade Horton not emerged as a shockingly dominant force after the All-Star break. It’s possible that the Cubs may not have even made the playoffs at all if the rookie hadn’t willed himself into becoming the rotation ace before suffering a season-ending rib fracture late in the regular season.

Hoyer has blamed his modest deadline haul on the exorbitant asking price for pitching from teams. Stories have surfaced about potential trade partners asking for Cade Horton or Matt Shaw in exchange for controllable high-end pitchers.

Enough wasn’t done before the season, either

Some will also point out, though, that the rush to pick up pitching in late July would not have been an issue if Hoyer and the front office had acquired depth in that area before the season.

At some point, the Cubs were looking for top shelf arms during the offseason, with buzz popping up about talks with various teams. A deal with the Florida Marlins for lefty Jesus Luzardo was nixed by the Cubs over issues related to the pitcher’s physicals.

So, the Cubs went into the season, rolling the dice on free agent pickup Matthew Boyd as a solid rotation piece and Ryan Pressly as a bounce-back closer.

Boyd panned out, Pressly didn’t. But then Justin Steele suffered a season-ending elbow injury in April. Javier Assad was unable to pitch until later in the season. Jameson Taillon and Shota Imanaga had IL stints.

Surprising seasons from Boyd, Horton, and a pieced-together bullpen got the Cubs what they needed to make the postseason. It wasn’t enough, however, to get them into the elite playoff tier, where pitching really, really matters.

Jed Hoyer speaks, appears to double down

MLB: Cleveland Guardians at Chicago Cubs Jul 3, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA. Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer speaks before a baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Guardians at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Hoyer acknowledged this in his recent season wrap-up press conference.

“Obviously, at the end, with some injuries and the nature of the series we played, I think there was probably some depth that we could have used on the pitching staff,” Hoyer told media. “That’s an area that we’ll always continue to try to focus on.”

The off-putting part of Hoyer’s address to the media was that he didn’t seem to be all too committed on doing anything different in 2026.

While there needs to be a focus on acquiring dominant pitching talent that makes for missed balls, Hoyer still seems insistent on his long-held strategy of manning the staff with lower-profile pitchers who need a good defense behind them to get outs.

“When the ball is not in play is better than when it’s in play, by definition,” Hoyer said. “You’re always looking for stuff and strikeouts. We’ll continue to push that. But I think the combination of our pitching infrastructure and a combination of our defense, I think we can get the most out of a lot of pitchers because I do feel like we make plays and I think that that shows up almost every night.”

All of that is true to an extent. It’s also true that a staff pitching like that has a very small margin for error and is very vulnerable to misfortune. The 2025 Cubs were very fortunate to get as far as they did with so many pitching injuries and letdowns. You can’t count on being fortunate in 2026.

Hoyer and company need to be aggressive this offseason in finding elite-level pitching. They need depth so that the coaching staff doesn’t have to be constantly juggling and pulling off minor magical feats to get through games.

If not, the Cubs could find themselves back to the middle of the pack, missing out on the postseason after a season that could’ve (and should’ve) been even more successful.

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Chicago Cubs: Harsh realities await 2026 pitching product

Paul Magno — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 14:00:43 +0000

The Chicago Cubs have a pitching problem– and it’s a pretty considerable one.

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Looking back at the end of their 2025 playoff run, it was almost a face-saving thing that they got eliminated in Game Five of the NLDS by the Milwaukee Brewers. There would’ve been a blood bath in the NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers if the Cubs’ pitching staff, such as it was at the end of the divisional series, had rolled up against Ohtani and company.

By the end of the five-game series against the Brewers, the Cubs had decided to shy away from using starter Shota Imanaga and were down to a two-man rotation of Jameson Taillon and Matthew Boyd (who, himself, was one start removed from a terrible postseason outing).

Chicago Cubs pitching limped to the 2025 finish line

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They could’ve used Colin Rea as a rotation piece and probably would’ve given Imanaga another start, just out of necessity. There were also rumblings over rookie phenom Cade Horton coming back from a fractured rib for the NLCS, but that had to be considered the longest of long shots.

There were some issues in the bullpen, also, as high-leverage guy Daniel Palencia had looked relatively pedestrian while Andrew Kittredge and Michael Soroka got touched up a bit.

So, yeah, things would’ve gotten pretty ugly as the Cubs’ pitching came limping into the NLCS.

However, as much as fans would like to think otherwise, it’s not likely that the Cubs are going to do a whole lot this offseason to make themselves significantly deeper and better in the pitching department.

Don’t expect an ace free agent acquisition

Sep 20, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez (59) delivers a. pitch during the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

First, remove the notion that Chicago is digging deep into their pockets to pull a stud starting pitcher from the top of the free agency pool. The Cubs aren’t spending monster money on Framber Valdez, Dylan Cease, or even Zac Gallen. There’s also little possibility of a monster trade to bring someone like Sandy Alcantara aboard.

Most likely, ownership and the front office will count on a returning Justin Steele (who could be back from his elbow surgery by opening day or late-spring) as their top 2026 starting rotation addition and the picking up of Imanaga’s option as their top financial maneuver. In doing so, they’ll also be crossing their fingers that Boyd doesn’t regress, that Horton stays healthy and dominant, and that Imanaga finds his form again.

The conservative-minded Cubs will be content with a front five of Steele, Boyd, Imanaga, Horton, and Taillon with Colin Rea, Ben Brown, and Javier Assad as the fall-backs. On the surface, that IS a pretty solid rotation, but there’s also a lot of history of injury and inconsistency in that group as well.

Bullpen business as usual

Daniel Palencia (48) reacts after getting the final out on Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo (2) against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the ninth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

In the bullpen, there will be massive turnover as five of the eight relievers on the NLDS roster are eligible for free agency and one (Kittredge) has a big $9 million team option over his head. Given the team’s history on such matters, it appears unlikely that bullpen standouts Brad Keller, Drew Pomeranz, and Caleb Thielbar will be brought back on a significantly beefed-up contract.

This means that the Cubs could very well see Palencia and Brown as the only holdover bullpen pieces from the end of 2025. The team will count greatly on the healthy return of Eli Morgan and the rebound of guys like Porter Hodge and Jordan Wicks. They’ll also look to once again piece together a solid bullpen with reclamation projects and strategic bargain bin one-year free agent pickups.

There could be a plethora of late-inning, closer-capable arms available this offseason— like Edwin Diaz, Robert Suarez, Ryan Helsley, Devin Williams, and Kyle Finnegan– but the Cubs will likely once again err on the side of frugality and roll the dice on Palencia, hoping that he doesn’t experience significant regression from his first year as a closer at the major league level.

If there are any deals or free agent pickups this offseason, expect them to be relatively minor. Barring unexpected injury, they’ll be fine with their starting rotation and insistent on their ability to build a competent bullpen on the cheap.

Unfortunately, this mindset could see the Cubs suffering through the same kind of postseason dilemmas they saw this season.

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The Chicago Cubs have 6 finalists for Gold Glove award

Zack Cariola — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 17:35:30 +0000

The Chicago Cubs have a lot of work to do this offseason to fix their roster, which failed to get them past the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Division Series.

The failures of the pitching staff showed during the series, as the Cubs and manager Craig Counsell turned to a bullpen game in Game 5, which hopefully will lead to them finding someone to pitch behind Matthew Boyd.

The one thing that didn’t fail the Cubs this season was their defense. One of the best in Major League Baseball, the Cubs have six finalists for the Gold Glove award, with two previous winners.

The Chicago Cubs have six finalists for the Gold Glove award

In a division (the National League Central) that features two of the top teams in baseball for defense, the Cubs have the most players to finish as a finalist for the Gold Glove award, with starting pitcher Matthew Boyd, left fielder Ian Happ, second baseman Nico Hoerner, rookie third baseman Matt Shaw, centerfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, and catcher Carson Kelly all receiving the honor.

Your 2025 @RawlingsSports Gold Glove Finalists. pic.twitter.com/bV64rOY2w6

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) October 15, 2025

Happ is a three-time winner (2022-2024), while Hoerner has one (2023) under his belt. Boyd, Crow-Armstrong, Shaw, and Kelly have never won the award before in their careers.

The Cubs should build on their defense moving forward

Sep 18, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Matt Shaw (6) throws to first to get Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson (not pictured) out in the eighth inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

The Cubs could explore signing and trading for players to boost their defense and prevent runs, especially with the pitching staff they currently have, as defense is quickly becoming a barometer for teams to be successful.

With the Cubs’ unwillingness to spend big, signing players like Jose Iglesias, who is a defensive first player, but has a good bat, could be an option for the Cubs this offseason.

Sep 23, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Jose Iglesias (7) celebrates with catcher Freddy Fermin (54) after hitting a home run during the eighth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images

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Chicago Cubs dejected, but defiant after NLDS loss: “We owe more playoff baseball to this fan base”

Paul Magno — Sun, 12 Oct 2025 21:00:17 +0000

The Chicago Cubs’ 2025 season has come to an end. With the 3-1 loss to the division rival Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday night at American Family Field, the Cubs have been eliminated from the NLDS. They will have to move on to thoughts of next year as the Brewers move ahead to face the Dodgers in the NLCS.

Despite the loss, it’s hard to come away from this year with feelings of failure.

Prior to the season, hopes centered around simply making the playoffs and accounting well for themselves once there. Baseball Prospectus projected 90.6 wins for them. In the final 2025 tally, the Cubs won 92 games in the regular season, beat the San Diego Padres in the Wild Card Series, and then battled back from a 0-2 deficit against the Brewers in the best-of-five NLDS to force a Game Five.

There was plenty to criticize in this particular playoff run, like the team’s woeful 5-for-40 mark with runners in scoring position throughout the postseason and the 4-for-27 mark in the NLDS. Saturday’s series-deciding loss stung especially hard because of how tremendous the team looked in the previous two games.

But, all in all, 2025 was better than most anyone could’ve imagined last offseason.

After the tough defeat, the Cubs ruminated on the sweet and sour of this season. They expressed their disappointment and their love for one another, as well as their heartfelt belief that the Cubs fan base deserves more and better from them.

Craig Counsell provides perspective

Oct 4, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell (11) looks on against the Milwaukee Brewers during the fifth inning of game one of the NLDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images

“I think it’s the five games we played at Wrigley Field in the playoffs kind of tells you what means so much to it,” manager Craig Counsell told reporters. “I think it meant so much to our players to do that, to provide that for our fans. And that’s what you do: You honor the uniform; you honor the place. That’s like not the results goal, but that’s always like what our job is to do, is to do those two things.

“And we did that. We didn’t get it done today, and that hurts. Man, it doesn’t feel good, but I think when you zoom back a little bit, we did some good things as well…I’m disappointed, I’m sad. I think this team did a lot to honor the Chicago Cub uniform.”

PCA on the sting of losing and sad goodbyes

Pete Crow-Armstrong, the team’s 23-year-old burgeoning superstar, spoke to reporters after the game, red-eyed, holding back tears, with his voice trembling with emotion. Equal parts upset over the loss, the disappointment of the Cubs fans, and having to say goodbye to some outgoing 2025 teammates, he spoke from the heart.

“We all go hug each other and stuff, but I don’t think that really does a full year’s justice,” Crow-Armstrong said. “That will be the toughest part moving forward, kind of understanding that it may not be the same faces in here next year, and that’s gonna suck…

“We owe more playoff baseball to this fan base.”

The motivation in this elimination

Sep 17, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd (left) and manager Craig Counsell (right). They celebrate after defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates to secure a spot in the 2025 play-offs at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Lefty starter Matthew Boyd, who bounced back from a horrendous Game One drubbing to lead the team to victory in Game Four, put being a Cub into perspective. He vowed to use the sting of Saturday’s loss as motivation for next year.

“I think when you get to put on those pinstripes, it’s really special and it’s something you realize it’s bigger than you,” Boyd told reporters. “I think we all collectively know that. From spring training, Couns reminded us of that, and I believe we left it all out on the field.

“We came up short, we’re going to get better from it, but we did leave it all out on the field. We gave it everything we got. We’re going to use that experience to get to where we want to go next year and do everything we can to avoid this feeling next season.”

Lefty starter Shota Imanaga, still smarting from two poor postseason outings, echoed Boyd’s vow to take this negative and make it a positive.

“Feel that pain of that loss and carry that into the offseason and use that,” Imanaga said via interpreter Edwin Stanberry. “So for me, it’s just I feel that, and I don’t want to forget that feeling, and that’s going to help me build to become a better player.”

Crow-Armstrong showcased the right mindset in his closing words to the press on Saturday night.

He vowed to carry with him all of the positive moments of this postseason and use that as motivation to grab at those highs year after year.

“Those were two of the best games of my life,” he said of the two NLDS games against the Brewers at a raucous Wrigley Field. “I think that that’s just, again, more motivation to be able to do it year in and year out.”

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Chicago Cubs are all about the intangibles — character, resiliency, and the Wrigley rabid

Paul Magno — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 22:50:43 +0000

The Chicago Cubs, with their stunning 6-0 win over the division rival Milwaukee Brewers, have now evened the best-of-five NLDS 2-2, battling past back-to-back elimination games at Wrigley Field.

On Thursday, the windows of Wrigleyville rattled and vibrated with the noise of Cubs fans who showed up early and just never shut up, in firm belief that their guys could pull off another crucial win in a do-or-die playoff game.

If pure energy could will a win into reality, Thursday’s game was proof positive.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy felt the fans’ impact. The Cubs, also, most definitely felt the impact.

Chicago Cubs fans help push team forward

Oct 9, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs fans react after defeating the Milwaukee Brewers in game four of the NLDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

Game Four starter Matthew Boyd, who turned in 4.2 scoreless innings to avenge the drubbing he took in Game One, talked up the Wrigley loyal showing up in full support. Forty minutes before game time, as he was jogging and warming up, the stands were already packed and “going crazy.”

“There’s nothing like that,” Boyd said of the Cubs fan base. “It’s really special. They create such an environment here. It makes it a great place to play when you’re a Cubbie and it’s a hard place to play when you’re not.”

Left fielder Ian Happ gave the fans reason to cheer in the first inning when he hit a three-run home run off Brewers starter Freddy Peralta to give the Cubs a 3-0 lead. Up until that moment, the veteran Cub– and the last remnant of past Cubs winning playoff teams– had been batting .095 in the postseason.

“To do it in that atmosphere, in front of these fans,” Happ told media after the game, “they’ve been here every day. It doesn’t matter if it’s a Tuesday in the middle of June, they’re here. To give them that experience and to hear that roar was really special.”

“The crowd was incredible tonight,” manager Craig Counsell told reporters afterwards. “I’ve never seen a baseball game like that. That was just amazing what they did tonight.”

A team deserving of rabid support

Oct 9, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs right fielder Kyle Tucker (30) reacts after hitting a home run against the Milwaukee Brewers during the seventh inning in game four of the NLDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

And if there’s one team deserving of such a rabid and game-swaying fandom, it’s this 2025 Cubs team.

One can take shots at the ownership’s frugality and the front office’s frustratingly conservative mindset. One could point at the many roster holes facilitated by the failures and/or flaws of the suits in charge. But the team, itself, is special.

From spring training to the present, the 2025 Cubs have worked as a unit, putting the team ahead of personal glory, and proudly, without ego, admitting that when they falter as individuals, they know their teammates will have their backs.

This aspect of the Cubs’ character led directly to what everyone saw on the field Thursday.

From ultra-veteran Justin Turner overseeing pre-game batting practice for the struggling Pete Crow-Armstrong and Matt Shaw to Matthew Boyd’s motivational role in reviving and reinvigorating reliever Daniel Palencia after a disastrous Game One, the Cubs are showcasing the kind of constitution that leads to great things.

Building on this foundation

Oct 9, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) reacts after defeating the Milwaukee Brewers in game four of the NLDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

They, most assuredly, have their deficiencies and roster holes. It’ll be a tall task to ask very much more of them this postseason.

But this team won’t roll over for anybody and, even as things look darkest, it’ll be hard to keep them down for long. Whether they win or lose on Saturday, they’ve proven their point.

Hopefully, the higher-ups build upon the foundation established this season with this crew of Cubs. Greatness is within reach.

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Chicago Cubs’ game four starter inspires dread and optimism

Paul Magno — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 19:31:04 +0000

The Chicago Cubs, after dropping the first two games of the best-of-five NLDS, will be playing with their backs against the proverbial wall for the rest of the way against the division rival Milwaukee Brewers. They will take the field at Wrigley on Thursday night facing the same do-or-die scenario they overcame in Wednesday’s 4-3 victory.

The team just announced that Matthew Boyd will be starting the crucial encounter, matched against Brewers ace Freddy Peralta.

Although there was some discussion and debate regarding the starting pitcher for Game Four, Boyd was really the only choice to make. Given the limited starting pitching options available to the team on Thursday, it was either going to be Boyd or a bullpen game that would further tax a significantly taxed relief corps.

Matthew Boyd was the only Game Four option

Despite the realities of the situation, many will rightfully wince at the idea of hinging the entire season on a Matthew Boyd who, on just three days’ rest, looked absolutely flat in a Game One drubbing on Saturday. In that high-stakes outing, he got the hook with just two outs in the first inning after giving up 6 runs on 4 hits and a walk.

But, again, what else can the Cubs do? The “only Boyd” Game Four option reflects the misfortune of injury (Cade Horton, Justin Steele) and the inability/unwillingness of the Cubs front office to acquire another high-end starter over the course of the season.

And now we’re here.

Chicago Cubs have some reason for optimism

May 17, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) delivers a pitch against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Boyd has been an outstanding addition to the Cubs rotation, ending the regular season with a 14-8 record and a 3.21 ERA in 179.2 innings. Late season struggles and his disastrous last postseason start suggest, though, that the previously injury-plagued lefty’s endurance has reached its limit in his first season of full activity since 2019.

The 34-year-old, however, is looking to prove that he still has enough in the tank to get the team another “W.”

“I know what I’m going to do when the ball is in my hand,” Boyd said on Wednesday night, before officially getting the nod for Thursday’s game. “And when that time comes tomorrow, I’ll be ready. I know what I’m going to do. I’m going to go compete and leave it all out there on the field.

“It takes all of us to go where we want to go. I’ll do my role. When that time comes, I’ll be ready to do exactly what I know I can do.”

Boyd’s 2025 excellence at home offers some reason for optimism, even as his overall year record against the Brewers suggests otherwise. At Wrigley Field this season, he is 12-1 with a 2.51 ERA. In Game One of the Wild Card Series against the San Diego Padres in Chicago, he pitched 4.1 solid innings, allowing only one earned run.

Boyd wants another crack at the Brewers

The veteran says that he had been itching to get another crack at the Brewers ever since Saturday’s poor outing.

“About five minutes after you come out of that outing,” Boyd said, referring to how long it took for him to want the ball again. “You take what you can do better, and then you go out and prepare for the next one.”

Boyd’s teammates are also eager for him to get his shot at redemption.

“After he had that Game 1 outing,” Jameson Taillon, the Cubs’ Game 3 starter, told media, “I was thinking to myself, ‘If we could find a way to get him the ball again…’ He’s too smart. He’s too disciplined and motivated and sharp to not find a way to have success and go out there and have a big game.”

People will know soon enough whether Boyd is able to keep the Cubs’ hopes alive or if the 2025 wild ride ends tonight.

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Chicago Cubs: Counsell’s brutal tactical error has team reeling ahead of NLDS Game Two

Paul Magno — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 18:48:44 +0000

The Chicago Cubs were done by the end of the second inning in Saturday’s opening game of the NLDS versus the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field.

By the top of the third, a deflated Cubs team was already down 9-1 and focus shifted to a comeback in Game Two on Monday.

Actually, the Brewers’ brutal 6-run first inning probably sealed Chicago’s Game One fate– and that deathblow can be traced to one major error in judgment by Cubs manager Craig Counsell.

Working off three days rest for only the third time in his career as a starter, Matthew Boyd, who started the opening game of the Wild Card Series versus the Padres on Tuesday, was tabbed to be the starter for Game One of the NLDS versus the division rival Brewers. The lefty, by the way, was also warmed up in the ninth inning in the Wild Card Game Three on Thursday.

Flat, strained Matthew Boyd gets rocked

The 34-year-old came out and looked flat from pitch one, giving up three straight doubles and a walk before a crucial Nico Hoerner error at second. After giving up a single following the error, Counsell removed Boyd after 30 pitches, four hits, and a walk in two-thirds of an inning. By then, the game was already out of reach.

Boyd looking flat was understandable, given his workload this season after several years of injury-related inactivity. He hadn’t pitched over 100 innings in a season since 2019 and, coming into 2025, the Cubs were viewing 120 innings as a reasonable goal for their oft-injured free agent acquisition. As of Saturday’s game, Boyd has thrown 184.2 innings between the regular season and the playoffs.

Counsell’s reasoning for pitching Boyd, however, centered on the fact that he only had a 58-pitching outing in Wild Card Game One.

Counsell owns up

“We picked Matt Boyd to pitch,” Counsell told reporters after the loss. “I don’t know what to say. He pitched, it didn’t go well. We’ve got to make decisions. We went with Matt.

“We’re very comfortable — I was very comfortable — putting Matt Boyd on the mound today. The whole organization was comfortable putting Matt Boyd on the mound today.”

“Probably since Matthew got to the dugout in Game 1 [of the Wild Card Series], he was thinking about pitching this game,” Counsell added. “If this was a normal start and he threw 90 pitches, we wouldn’t consider this. But because he threw so few pitches, he knew he was going to be able to recover, and we thought he’d be able to recover quickly.”

It should’ve also been noted that Boyd had turned in some pretty bad numbers versus the Brewers this season, albeit in a small sample size. In his two 2025 regular season starts against Milwaukee, he had a 7.84 ERA in just 10.1 innings– easily two of the worst starts in an otherwise outstanding season.

Chicago Cubs had viable alternatives

MLB: Spring Training Cleveland Guardians at Chicago Cubs Mar 1, 2025; Mesa, Arizona, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Colin Rea (53) throws against the Cleveland Guardians in the first inning at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

Meanwhile, starter Colin Rea was left on the bench, allowed just 1.2 innings pitched this postseason so far after a very good end-of-season run to cap off a very solid 2025. Starter Javier Assad was left off the postseason roster entirely.

Either Rea or Assad would’ve been preferable over a stretched-out Boyd, even though Rea has put up some weak numbers versus his former team.

Jumping the gun on Boyd not only cost the Cubs Saturday’s game, but it also may have removed him from the rest of the NLDS– another brutal blow for a team already hurting from the loss of their hottest starting pitcher, Cade Horton.

Even a failed gamble in starting Rea in Game One would’ve allowed Boyd two extra days of rest for a go at Game Two.

Now, the Cubs’ backs are against the wall just as the series starts.

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Chicago Cubs make bold pitching move following Wild Card Game One excellence

Paul Magno — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 18:29:00 +0000

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell is looking to follow up his masterful handling of the Wild Card Series game one pitching staff with an equally masterful planning of his game two pitching.

Shortly after the Cubs secured a 3-1 win over the San Diego Padres in Tuesday’s opener of the Wild Card best-of-three series at Wrigley Field, Counsell announced his outside-the-box decision on who will start the possible series-clinching next game.

Taking the ball first for the Cubs on Wednesday will be righty reliever Andrew Kittredge. As soon as the second inning, though, southpaw Shota Imanaga should move in and take over.

Imanaga’s 7.20 ERA in the first inning this season is at the heart of the decision.

Counsell and the Cubs have called this type of audible before, and usually with good results. They hope to replicate the success this time around.

The Chicago Cubs’s feel-good Game One

Sep 30, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs relief pitch Daniel Palencia (48) throws a pitch in the fourth inning against the San Diego Padres during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

On Tuesday, there was plenty of feel-good success all around– at least after the start of the fifth inning.

Through four, things looked grim as Padres starter Nick Pivetta blanked the Cubs and seemed to absolutely stymie their hitters. With Pivetta cooking and San Diego’s MLB-best bullpen waiting in the wings, things seemed to be heading into one of those frustrating no-offense afternoons.

Then, the mood shifted.

Daniel Palencia came in to relieve starter Matthew Boyd with one out in the fifth inning and down 1-0, with a runner on base. The 25-year-old righty, who was just activated from the IL the week before the playoffs, was absolutely electric in 1.2 innings pitched, mowing through the heart of the Padres’ order along the way.

The Palencia showing, especially in the fifth, gave off the vibe of a momentum-shifter.

“I think to me, that’s the out of the game that was critical,” Counsell told reporters after the game. “You need outs from your starters in these games. You can’t do that every day. But him throwing up five outs in five hitters and going through the top of their lineup, the game made sense after that to me. Know what I mean? There was a real path right there. Credit to Danny for putting the game back together.”

Back-to-back explosions

Sep 30, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs catcher Carson Kelly (15) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

In the Cubs’ half of the fifth, the Wrigley crowd went from atomic to mega-atomic after back-to-back home runs from Seiya Suzuki and Carson Kelly to give the Cubs the 2-1 lead.

“Simply put, it was fantastic,” Suzuki told media via his interpreter, Edwin Stanberry. “You just felt the passion of the fans, them cheering us on. Rounding the bases, I felt some nerves, obviously, but great feeling overall.”

With the solo shot, Suzuki has now become the first player in MLB history to hit four home runs in his last four regular season games and continue that streak with a homer in the first playoff game.

“I can’t really explain it,” Suzuki said, regarding his incredible streak. “I think with the past week coming into this game, I feel like there’s been a playoff switch that’s been turned on.”

Local Chicago product Carson Kelly, who had a career year in his first season as catcher with the Cubs, was equally as psyched about his solo shot.

“You dream about those moments as a little kid getting into the postseason and hitting the game-winning home run, right?” Kelly said. “You feel like you’re on cloud nine running around, just how much this fan base cares for Cubs baseball. And watching the Cubs’ day games as a little kid, and seeing the energy, seeing the crowd and getting to do it in real life is truly an honor.”

The Cubs would add an insurance run in the eighth, but wouldn’t need it, thanks to the Cubs’ bullpen.

Counsell’s role

Sep 24, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell (11) before the game against the New York Mets at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

Also among the game one heroes, though, has to be Craig Counsell, who made all the right moves with his pitching staff and helped facilitate the on-field heroics. His bullpen delivered 4.2 scoreless innings of no hit, no walk relief on Tuesday against a potent Padres lineup.

But now the slate is wiped clean and, for Counsell and the Cubs, it’s now all about Wednesday’s game and closing out the series.

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Chicago Cubs’ Game One Wild Card starter brings considerable risk

Paul Magno — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 13:32:25 +0000

The Chicago Cubs have announced their starting pitcher for Tuesday’s opening game of the Wild Card Series against the San Diego Padres.

Lefty Matthew Boyd will be taking the mound at Wrigley Field to kick off the best-of-three series against the Padres’ ace Nick Pivetta. And, while the announcement most certainly gave off a feel-good vibe all throughout the day on Monday, there’s also plenty of foreboding that comes with the Cubs’ choice.

Boyd’s season numbers (14-8, 3.21 ERA in 179.2 innings pitched) don’t really tell the complete story of the veteran’s 2025.

A tale of two Matthew Boyds

The Cubs’ offseason free agent acquisition was absolute killer over the first half of the season, posting a 2.34 ERA before making the All-Star Game for the first time in his career.

Things took a decided turn for the worst over the second-half, though.

Since the All-Star break, Boyd has been 4-5 with a 4.63 ERA. In his last 11 starts, he’s posted a 5.16 ERA. Aside from the solid 5.1 innings he gave against the Mets in his last start, he’s looked flat for quite awhile, perhaps worn down by the increased innings output in his first full, healthy season since 2019.

When looking at the situation right now, with Cade Horton on the IL and Shota Imanaga also looking a bit flat, the Cubs really had no choice but to make the game one choice that they did.

Whatever the case, Boyd is getting the ball and he’s embracing the emotion of not only pitching in the postseason after injuries had threatened his career, but also of pitching in the postseason for his beloved deceased grandfather’s favorite team.

Boyd’s emotional reaction to being the game one starter

MLB: Chicago Cubs at Washington Nationals Jun 4, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) walks to the dugout after being removed from the game against the Washington Nationals during the eighth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

“You think about a career,” Boyd told reporters, regaining his composure after fighting off tears. “It’s cool because you never know when the opportunity is going to present itself…I waited my first eight years to get the chance in the postseason. Didn’t really get to be a part of it on the field. I only threw one out. You never know when the opportunity is going to come again.”

“To do it with the Cubs, to do it with this group, it will never be like this again,” Boyd added “I mean, if we come back here, the personnel will not be the same. It’s a special group. It’s a good group of guys, and it’s unique to this moment. And that’s it…

“To get to think that I would have got this opportunity knowing everything about my grandfather growing up here, it’s cool, it’s cool stuff. He would be extremely happy.”

The 34-year-old will be coming into Tuesday’s game with one extra day of rest and a 1-1 record against the Padres this season with a 1.59 ERA in two games and 11.1 innings pitched (Padres starter Pivetta is 1-1 with a 4.00 ERA versus the Cubs this season).

The Chicago Cubs’ winning gamble

Sep 17, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd (left) and manager Craig Counsell (right) celebrate after defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates to secure a spot in the 2025 play-offs at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

“We’re lucky to have Matt,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell told media. “He’s a big reason why we’re here. He’s been our consistent take-the-ball-every-time starter and you’re happy to hand the ball to a guy like that.”

The Cubs took a major gamble on the veteran free agent this past offseason when they signed him to a 2-year, $29 million contract after a multi-year run of health issues, including Tommy John surgery in mid-2023. In 2024, he only threw 51.1 innings, combining regular season and postseason appearances for the Cleveland Guardians. In the four years before 2025, he had only managed a combined 202.2 innings and hadn’t pitched over 100 innings in a single season since 2019.

When Boyd’s right, he’s easily an ace-level presence. The shaky part, however, is that Boyd hasn’t been “right” for awhile. Expect a quick hook from Counsell for this all-important game one of the Cubs’ first playoff appearance since 2020.

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Chicago Cubs clinch and lose ace in sweet and sour day

Paul Magno — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 15:18:37 +0000

The Chicago Cubs finally clinched home field advantage for the upcoming three-game Wild Card Series on Saturday with a 7-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field.

It wasn’t the divisional title they would’ve liked earlier on in the season, but all things considered, it was the best case scenario for what they could reasonably hope for right now.

But the celebrations after Saturday’s win were nowhere near as joyous as those on September 17, when they clinched a guaranteed playoff berth. Part of the reason for that was the simple fact that there will be a quick turnaround to Tuesday’s Wild Card Series opener against the San Diego Padres. The other reason may be related to the horrible news they got earlier in the day.

Before the game, the team announced that pitcher Cade Horton had been placed on the 15-day IL with a right rib fracture.

A good news/bad news day for the Chicago Cubs

The 24-year-old, who had become the Cubs’ most effective starting pitcher over the last half of the season, was pulled from his last start on Tuesday after just three innings and 29 pitches due to back stiffness. At the time, the quick exit was talked up as a purely cautionary measure and that the Rookie of the Year candidate would be “a go” to pitch in the Wild Card series, according to Cubs manager Craig Counsell.

Counsell would reveal on Saturday, however, that the Cubs knew of the rib fracture and had wanted to see if Horton could pitch through the injury, as the young star had hoped to do.

By late Saturday morning, though, it became apparent that the righty could not pitch through the pain and discomfort. So, the call was made to put him on the IL, retroactive to Thursday.

Cade Horton goes on the IL after all

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell is interviewed by reporters prior to a game against the Colorado Rockies at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images

“It’s a blow. There’s no question about it,” Counsell told media after the Cubs’ win over the Cardinals. “Losing players to injury at this time of year — it’s not fun. Everybody knows that. And it hurts.”

“It means that other guys are going to get an opportunity,” Counsell continued. “To have a chance to impact the game, have success and control what happens.”

The impact of losing Horton, who had notched an 8-1 record with a 1.03 ERA since the All-Star break, will be felt. Technically, he’ll be eligible to return on October 10, a day before game 5 of The NL Division Series, if necessary. Realistically, though, a return this year is highly doubtful.

In Horton’s place

In his place, the Cubs will have to go with Jameson Taillon or Colin Rea in Horton’s place, alongside lefties Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga. The veterans Taillon and Rea have been outstanding in recent performances, with Taillon notching a 1.59 ERA in 5 starts since a return from the IL while Rea has posted a 2.63 ERA in his five September starts. Taillon got the win on Saturday, moved up a day on the pitching schedule, to accommodate a possible start in game two or three of the Wild Card Series.

On the bright side, the Cubs HAVE looked spectacular these last couple games, very similar to the powerhouse offensive days of earlier on the season. And, of course, at least the team is in the playoffs.

But that’s, apparently, where the good news may end. The anticipated struggle to achieve an extended postseason run just got infinitely more difficult with the loss of Cade Horton.

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Chicago Cubs: From gloom to glee in 24 hours (Tucker, Palencia, PCA, Boyd)

Paul Magno — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 16:26:57 +0000

The Chicago Cubs, with a win on Wednesday and a San Diego Padres loss, now walk into Thursday’s game with the New York Mets with their magic number for the top Wild Card seed at 2. This means that they are just two clicks away from having home field advantage throughout the opening three-game Wild Card series.

The team and the fans at Wrigley Field had a great time in getting to this point on Wednesday, when the early-season Cubs reappeared and stomped the Mets 10-3 in a game that featured just the right blend of offense, pitching, and Cubbie dramatics.

Just about 24 hours ago, though, things were looking quite different.

Chicago Cubs: From gloom to glee in a day

MLB: Chicago Cubs at Atlanta Braves Sep 8, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Chicago Cubs right fielder Kyle Tucker (30) in the dugout against the Atlanta Braves in the eighth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

There was still no real target date for a Kyle Tucker return. Closer Daniel Palencia had yet to be activated from the IL. Matthew Boyd was coming into his last start of the regular season with a long string of subpar performances behind him. Rookie of the Year favorite Cade Horton, meanwhile, had been pulled from the game prior with back stiffness.

But what a difference a day makes.

Kyle Tucker’s ETA, Daniel Palencia’s return

MLB: Washington Nationals at Chicago Cubs Sep 5, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Cubs right fielder Kyle Tucker (30) celebrates with manager Craig Counsell (11) after hitting a three-run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the third inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

“I think our goal right now, and I talked to Kyle today about it, is to be in the lineup on Friday,” manager Craig Counsell told reporters before Wednesday’s game, finally offering a firm target date for the four-time All-Star’s return. “I think we’re trending towards that. I don’t have a report on today, but in talking to him before the day started and while the day was going on inside, we were on the same page with that.”

The return comes with a caveat, though. Tucker will likely DH first and be urged to not go full-out.

“I don’t think the symptoms are gonna be gone, but I think he’s in a place where he agrees that we’ve gotta go,” Counsell said. “We’ve gotta see what it feels like to play. I think maybe the games can help him here and give him some confidence in a certain situation.

“We’ll probably put a governor on it. I will encourage him to not go all out when you don’t have to. And to keep it 80-90% but that’s kinda where we’re at.”

Nice.

Then, also prior to Wednesday’s game, closer Daniel Palencia was activated from the IL.

The 25-year-old would go on to pitch two-thirds of an inning in a low-leverage, low-stress situation in direct relief of starter Matthew Boyd. In the 10 pitches thrown, he was touching triple-digits again and seemed to have his normal stuff.

Matthew Boyd, PCA are back?

Sep 24, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) reacts after scoring on a wild pitch thrown by New York Mets pitcher Clay Holmes (not pictured) during the fifth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

And, speaking of Boyd, The lefty, who had been the Cubs’ rotation MVP over the first four months of the season, delivered a pretty solid outing, giving up 2 earned runs over 5.1 innings. To see at least one more solid outing from the veteran after a string of poor ones was a major positive, especially considering the importance of his presence in the postseason.

Even Pete Crow-Armstrong was back to doing Pete Crow-Armstrong things Wednesday night. The speedy 23-year-old would dash his way to score from second base on a wild pitch in the fifth inning, creating all kinds of emotion along the way.

PCA is geared up and ready for his first October postseason run.

“Wrigley’s already got it in ‘em,” Crow-Armstrong told media after the game. “Everybody that shows up — they’re ready to party. Everybody knows that we’re getting close to October baseball, and with that feeling in the air, being able to embrace that is the most fun thing ever.

“…I love playing here, and I love it more and more each day. That sounds cliche, but it’s so, so true.

“…Being able to give these fans October baseball, that’s going to be real special. It’s gonna be special for me, experiencing it for the first time, and then Ian [Happ], being able to be back and doing it again.”

Coming off a season-worst five-game losing streak, a day like Wednesday is definitely a godsend. Now, the task is to extend that forward momentum into the playoffs.

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Chicago Cubs’ co-ace offers real cause for playoff concern

Paul Magno — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 19:50:58 +0000

The Chicago Cubs, even with a tough 7-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Friday, took another step closer to clinching top seed status in the NL Wild Card race, and the opening series home field advantage that goes along with it.

With the White Sox beating the San Diego Padres 4-3, the Cubs’ magic number for clinching that top seed moves down to 4, with 8 games left in the season. Barring something disastrously awful, Chicago is all but guaranteed that top Wild Card slot.

What happened during Friday’s game, however, may give some real cause for concern when it comes to the team’s chances of making a deep postseason run this year.

Specifically, starter Shota Imanaga had yet another subpar outing, marked with multiple home run shots.

Shota Imanaga (again) killed with the long ball

Sep 14, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga (18) reacts after the Tampa Bay Rays score during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

The southpaw Japanese import would give up 4 runs (3 earned) in 5 innings, with all 3 earned runs coming via long ball.

Counting Friday’s game, Imanaga has given up 29 home runs in 139 innings pitched, topping his total of 27 home runs in 173.1 innings last season. His home run-per-9 innings rate is 1.88, the third worst in the majors this season, among pitchers with 100+ innings.

The 32-year-old is inherently a fly ball pitcher who, by nature, is going to give up a smattering of homers here and there. That’s understandable. And it’s also worth noting that he generally gets touched early before settling down and performing well the rest of his outing. 24 of his 29 home runs allowed have been solo shots, so he’s done well at limiting the damage of his slip-ups.

Big concerns over playoff performance

Friday’s game, still, however, has to add to the concerns over just how well he’ll perform come playoff time. Whether or not it’s via solo home runs very early in his outing, you simply can’t give a playoff opponent a head start.

Imanaga is aware of this as well.

“That’s a topic I need to work on: lower the amount of home runs,” Imanaga said via his interpreter, Edwin Stanberry. “That’s something I’ve been trying to work on, but it seems like the opposing hitters have the upper hand there. I think I need to continue to make adjustments…

“It’s something I need to take a deeper look at and then see what we need to do…

“I want to pitch well for the next start and hopefully build momentum going into a start in the playoffs.”

Chicago Cubs weigh in

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell is interviewed by reporters prior to a game against the Colorado Rockies at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images

For what it’s worth, Cubs manager Craig Counsell doesn’t see all that much wrong with Imanaga, despite the box score results.

“I thought two of the pitches were pretty good pitches,” Counsell told media after Friday’s game. “There wasn’t a lot of other hits, right? He pitched really well other than that. So, those two homers, they were a little confusing to me. I thought they were pretty good pitches that, normally, he gets fly balls on those pitches.”

“That’s what’s still encouraging is there’s not hard contact kind of the rest of the way,” Counsell added. “His split-finger was really good tonight. His slider was really good tonight…There was some really good stuff in there, too.”

The problem is that Imanaga’s numbers have been trending down for a little while now. Over his last 4 starts, his ERA has been 4.91 and he’s given up 8 home runs in 22 innings in that stretch. When added to Matthew Boyd’s recent downturn (5.34 ERA over his last 10 starts), Imanaga’s issues take on an exaggerated level of importance heading into postseason play.

There’s still some time to figure things out for the Cubs’ “throwing philosopher,” but there’s not a whole lot of it.

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Chicago Cubs close to making a playoff rotation decision?

Paul Magno — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 20:35:37 +0000

The Chicago Cubs have clinched their first playoff berth since the abbreviated 2020 season. They’re also close to clinching top Wild Card seed status, which will grant them home field advantage throughout the three-game Wild Card series.

Now, with just a handful of games left in the regular season, the attention has to shift to fielding the best possible team in the postseason.

There are concerns, though.

Right fielder Kyle Tucker’s lingering calf injury is a very big deal and puts into question the strength of the Cubs’ outfield. Similarly, center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong’s extended slump brings another huge question mark to the postseason.

There are a few other concerns, too. Like, for instance, the playoff viability of the bullpen and the overall strength of the bench.

The Chicago Cubs’ playoff starting rotation

The starting pitching, meanwhile, has its own questions marks, with the order of the three-man Wild Card rotation being the biggest topic for debate right now.

Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton, and Shota Imanaga seem to be the designated front three for the series (although Jameson Taillon and Colin Rea are making strong cases for themselves with recent performances).

A few weeks ago, Boyd as the no. 1 would’ve been a foregone conclusion. That’s definitely not the case anymore as he’s struggled of late, posting a 5.34 ERA over his last 10 starts. Even Imanaga has faltered a bit lately, delivering a 4.76 ERA in his last 3 starts.

That leaves the Rookie of the Year-favorite Horton as the statistically best option for game one of the Wild Card series, although conventional baseball wisdom might steer one away from using a 24-year-old rookie in such a high-pressure postseason game.

Cade Horton favored for game one?

However, judging by the announced probable Cubs starters over the weekend and the overall layout of the likely pitching schedule, manager Craig Counsell may actually be leaning towards Horton for the big playoff assignment.

This Friday, Shota Imanaga is scheduled to start. On Saturday and Sunday, Javier Assad and Jameson Taillon, respectively, will get the starts.

That will leave Horton to likely take the mound on Tuesday against the Mets in Wrigley Field for the next-to-last series of the regular season. That will also give him a full week to rest before game one of the Wild Card series.

Boyd and Imanaga will also likely have one more start apiece over the final week of the season, but they will be afforded less rest time leading into the postseason than Horton.

At this point, though, the playoff rotation order is pure conjecture, maybe even to Counsell, himself.

No seniority, no favoritism

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell is interviewed by reporters prior to a game against the Colorado Rockies at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images

“We’re at a point where we’ve created a game plan to be able to be flexible,” Counsell told media before Thursday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.

Counsell also doesn’t seem at all concerned over seniority or player pride when it comes to staffing a postseason run.

“Look, I think when you get to the playoffs, when you get to this time of year, guys understand,” Counsell said. “And you work really hard to get to these spots, and the game changes. Not tonight, necessarily. But when you get to October, the game changes.

“And the game changes, because [in Game 1 of a Wild Card Series], we’re two games from elimination. It changes your decisions. It just does.”

Time will tell who takes the mound first in which game. One thing is for certain, though, everyone will have a short leash.

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Chicago Cubs’ Cade Horton: Rookie of the Year and so much more

Paul Magno — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 17:58:37 +0000

The Chicago Cubs have an elite-level asset in Cade Horton and the young pitcher has not only worked his way to betting-favorite status in the Rookie of the Year race, but is also busting out historical feats along the way.

Over his last 11 starts, the 24-year-old is 8-1, with just 6 earned runs allowed– an achievement that has him rubbing elbows with the elite in MLB history.

Per OptaSTATS:

“In the modern era, the only other MLB pitcher to have 8+ wins & 6 or fewer runs allowed over an 11-start span in a single season was Bob Gibson [of the St. Louis Cardinals] in 1968.”

Rookie of the Year?

MLB: Game One Milwaukee Brewers at Chicago Cubs Aug 18, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Cade Horton (22) delivers against the Milwaukee Brewers during the third inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

When it comes to Rookie of the Year honors, he appears to be leading the pack this year, ahead of Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin and putting up the kind of numbers that would affirm his favorite status.

Back in 2014, for example, Jacob deGrom had a 9-6 record in 22 games with a 2.69 ERA and took the award with 95% of the vote.

Overall this season, Horton is 11-4 in 22 games so far with a 2.66 ERA. Since the All-Star break, though, he’s been insanely good, logging a 0.93 ERA.

“Look, Cade, he deserves that recognition,” manager Craig Counsell recently told MLB.com. “And he absolutely should be in that conversation. And he’s absolutely deserving. That’s what he’s earned. And there’s no question about it — he’s earned it.”

Steadying the Chicago Cubs’ ship

Chicago Cubs pitcher Cade Horton (70) walks off the field after the Chicago Cubs win a spring training against the Seattle Mariners at Sloan Park. The Cubs beat the Mariners 9-8. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-Imagn Images

ROY or not, his second-half success story, in many ways, has helped steady a Cubs team that had been brimming with inconsistencies and uncertainties leading into the final half of the season.

Chicago has now clinched a playoff berth for the first time since the abbreviated 2020 season and they seem to be on their way to taking the top seed among Wild Card teams. But this team easily could’ve folded early on after some legit bad luck.

Things actually looked quite bleak very early in the 2025 campaign. Ace starter Justin Steele went down for the season with an elbow injury after just his fourth start of the year and, just about a month later, co-ace Shota Imanaga was forced on to the IL with a hamstring injury. Starter Javier Assad had also been injured in spring training and didn’t seem anywhere close to a return.

Ironically enough, however, the Imanaga injury would end up opening the door for what has been a saving grace for the team in general and for the starting rotation, specifically.

The story so far

Horton came to the big leagues sporting the tag of a top prospect rushed along by necessity. There were caveats everywhere about the Cubs’ 2022 no. 1 draft pick, who had missed most of 2024 in Iowa due to injury. The belief was that he was still a work in progress and that 2025 may eventually see him return to Triple-A for further seasoning before a serious run at major league success next year.

At the All-Star break, the caveats seemed to on the money.

While Horton had shown himself to have mound maturity beyond his years and high-end stuff, there were still some inexperience-related inconsistencies. At the All-Star break, he was 3-3 with a 4.45 ERA in 11 games.

Things have certainly changed since then. Although the Cubs have been careful to take care of his young arm by watching his pitch count, Horton has become the team’s key starting rotation piece as Matthew Boyd runs through a series of subpar outings and Jameson Taillon looks to put his two IL stints behind him.

As the playoffs approach, the rookie will be asked to take on an even greater role of importance as one of the featured starters in the upcoming three-game Wild Card series.

Characteristically, Horton wants all the smoke.

“I love pitching in high-stakes moments,” Horton recently told MLB. “I feel like it’s something I’ve loved my whole career. It’s a lot of fun to go out there and compete when you’re in the thick of it.”

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Chicago Cubs linked to two high-end free agent starting pitchers by analyst

Paul Magno — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 21:23:57 +0000

The Chicago Cubs are, at this late stage of the season, being given a 100% likelihood of making the playoffs. They are also 3.5 games ahead of the San Diego Padres when it comes to taking the Wild Card top seed, which would give them home field advantage through the three-game Wild Card series.

That doesn’t mean, however, that the front office isn’t eyeing next season and beyond.

Given the quality of this Cubs team and the holes that it needs to address, free agency will loom large in their future.

Free agency looms large in Chicago Cubs’ future

Chicago Cubs right fielder Kyle Tucker (30) during the ninth inning against the Hanshin Tigers at Tokyo Dome. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

On the minus side, it’s looking more and more likely that four-time All-Star Kyle Tucker might be a one season-and-done asset after coming from the Houston Astros in a 3-for-1 trade this past offseason. With heavy-spending teams such as the Dodgers, Yankees, and Red Sox, among others, possibly in on the bidding, it seems that the frugal Cubs ownership may be outbid for the right fielder’s services.

On the plus side, though, there’s an opportunity for the under-budget Cubs to add some truly impactful free agent assets for the 2026 campaign.

Jackson Roberts of SI.com recently wrote a piece spotlighting the top 2026 free agents and where he believes they may be headed. He tied two quality starters to the Cubs (while also predicting that Tucker will sign with the Dodgers).

Two pitchers tied to the Cubs

The first name Roberts mentioned is former Cubs prospect and current San Diego Padre Dylan Cease.

Per Roberts:

“Don’t sleep on Cease’s potential to shift the power dynamics of the league next season. He may not have an impressive ERA this season (4.59 after Saturday’s start), but he’s the only pitcher in all of baseball to tally at least 200 strikeouts in each of the last five seasons.

It doesn’t seem likely that the Padres’ financial situation will allow them to retain the 29-year-old righty, but there’s a National League rival with money to spend who could really use a right-handed starter.”

Cease was curiously dangled over the trade market near this year’s trade deadline, but the trigger on a deal was never pulled. The 7-year veteran was also rumored to be on the trade market in the offseason.

Cease, who has a 3.88 ERA in 7 big league season, has spent a career going up and down when it comes to performance, alternating from elite-level to mid-tier performance in alternating years. This season has been one of the mid-tier years.

Also mentioned in connection with the Cubs was Jack Flaherty of the Detroit Tigers, who has a $20 million player option for the coming season and a 3.80 ERA over 9 seasons to certify his worth. The thought is that the 29-year-old may opt out of his contract and test the free agent market in search of a multi-year contract.

If he does that, Roberts feels that the Cubs could swoop in to sign him up:

“Flaherty hasn’t had his best season, posting a 4.69 ERA through 29 starts. The strikeouts are still there, though, and with only $20 million on the table if he accepts his player option, it feels more likely that he’ll bank on the market valuing him enough to squeeze out a multi-year deal.”

Logical or not?

MLB: Detroit Tigers at Kansas City Royals

The two right-handers, Cease and Flaherty, would be welcomed assets to any team, really.

The question with the Cubs is whether they’ll spend the money and commit to the contract years when they currently have Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, Cade Horton, Jameson Taillon, Colin Rea, and Javier Assad on staff as starters, with Justin Steele coming back from elbow surgery at some point next season.

On the other hand, though, Boyd, Taillon, and Rea are due to be free agents after the 2026 season and there’s no guarantee on Steele being the same after his injury. Adding at least one more quality starter to the rotation wouldn’t be unwise.

For now, 2026 is speculation as this 2025 team attempts to make a deep playoff run.

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The bad luck Chicago Cubs: A team of destiny or victims of circumstance?

Paul Magno — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 00:45:53 +0000

The Chicago Cubs got some more bad news on Saturday when star center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong fouled a ball off his knee and eventually removed himself from the game.

The “oh no” moment came just days after star right fielder Kyle Tucker was removed from Tuesday’s game with left calf discomfort.

To make matters worse, both suffered their injuries just as they seemed to be crawling their way out of extended slumps. Tucker hasn’t played since Tuesday. Crow-Armstrong isn’t in Sunday’s lineup and is also listed as day-to-day, likely to sit out several games.

Tucker and PCA sidelined

MLB: Boston Red Sox at Chicago Cubs Jul 19, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; L-R Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ (8) outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) and outfielder Kyle Tucker (30) celebrate their win against the Boston Red Sox at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

“It’s new pain,” Crow-Armstrong told reporters after the frustrating 2-1 loss to the Nationals at Wrigley Field. “There’s definitely [stuff] that’s hurt worse, but this hurts. And the legs are just funny. That’s kind of how I help the cause on a daily basis, is with my legs. It was a good stinger, for sure.”

When it comes to Tucker, manager Craig Counsell is reporting some progress on the calf injury and feels that a stint on the IL wouldn’t be necessary.

“That’s what we’re dealing with is we think we have time to let this heal without putting him on the injured list,” Counsell said. “We think he’ll be ready before what an injured list [stint] would cost him. And we also, with having the extra player in September, feel like we’re not playing short, really. Don’t feel like, from a roster perspective, it hurts us at all.”

In the meantime, though, the Cubs will have to make do without two of their starting outfielders and, arguably, their two primary offensive assets.

The bad luck Chicago Cubs

Chicago Cubs right fielder Kyle Tucker (30) during the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the Tokyo Series at Tokyo Dome. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

If you’ve been following Chicago’s season even semi-closely, this latest double dose of bad news falls right into the pattern of Cubs 2025 bad luck.

Here are just some of the lowlights:

They lost their ace Justin Steele in early April with an elbow injury, just four starts into his season. He’ll be out of commission until about mid-2026 at the absolute earliest.
About a month later, they lost co-ace Shota Imanaga to a hamstring injury for close to two months.
Workhorse starter Jameson Taillon has now had two separate stints on the IL, missing more than two months of the season.
Starter Javier Assad suffered two oblique injuries in spring training that kept him down until August 12.
Trade deadline pitching acquisition Michael Soroka only managed to last two innings in his first start as a Cub before going down with a shoulder strain.
Kyle Tucker suffered a hairline fracture in his hand in June, which spiraled into a mechanical hiccup and led to a career-worst extended slump that lasted nearly two months.
Tucker’s decline coincided with an almost team-wide slump that saw Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki, and Michael Busch all settle into a funk.
Catcher Miguel Amaya, after having a breakthrough first half of the season, went down with an oblique injury that cost him almost three months. One game into his return, he suffered a freak accident hustling to first base and may be out for the rest of the season with a severe ankle sprain.

A team of destiny or despair?

May 13, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs first baseman Justin Turner (3) celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off two-run double against the Miami Marlins during the ninth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

It’s just been one of those seasons. And the recent Tucker and PCA setbacks fall right into that pattern of tough luck.

But, even with all the bad mojo floating around, the Cubs have still have the fifth best record in all the majors and are a lock to make the playoffs, likely as the NL Wild Card top seed.

So, what does that say about this 2025 team? Are they a potentially great team hobbled by misfortune or are they a very good team rising above the bad luck?

If you ask the Cubs, themselves, they’ll proudly talk up their resilience as a unit and their confidence in the team as a whole.

“We all go through hard times,” pitcher Matthew Boyd said, back when Tucker was at the height of his offensive struggles. “But that’s why there’s 26 of us in there. We pick each other up.”

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Chicago Cubs get bottom-barrel ranking among playoff teams in one key category

Paul Magno — Sat, 06 Sep 2025 20:00:30 +0000

The Chicago Cubs are inching their way to the playoffs, every day getting a bit closer to making postseason play for the first time since the abbreviated 2020 season. Current projections give them right around a 99.8% chance of getting there.

Their placement as the no. 1 Wild Card seed also seems secure at the moment.

But what about once IN postseason play? How do the Cubs match up with their playoff rivals?

That’s the big question and one which gives plenty of cause for concern considering the team’s second-half inconsistencies.

The offense, which is greatly responsible for getting them to their current standing, needs to get fully back on track. That’s a given. But what about everything else?

Chicago Cubs get low ranking in starting pitching

MLB analyst Eno Sarris, in a recent piece for The Athletic, spotlighted one area of concern for the Cubs that may eventually be their downfall. In assessing the projected top 3 starters of all presumed playoff teams, Sarris ranks the Cubs a lowly no. 10 among the 12 teams.

Per Sarris:

“The projections say the Cubs should be last on this list. The Cubs’ top trio of Shota Imanaga, Cade Horton and Matthew Boyd have the second-best ERA to date of any playoff trio. A bit of a conundrum.

ERA is not predictive, so this ranking hews closer to those projected numbers than the ones the Cubs’ starters have put up so far this year. We care more about what they will do than what they have done, after all. So why aren’t they last? Only a handful of playoff teams have seen Horton, who throws a unique fastball that could defy projections. The rookie seems to be coming into his own. Their X-factor.”

The rotation question marks

MLB: Chicago Cubs at Toronto Blue Jays Aug 13, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cubs starting pitcher Cade Horton (22) delivers a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

That’s a pretty harsh assessment, but it’s hard to argue with it, especially considering the insecurity the team is facing when it comes to their playoff rotation.

Matthew Boyd, who performed his way to ace status after Chicago’s offseason gamble on signing him to a 2-year contract, has been stellar up until recently. As of this writing, Boyd has posted a dismal 5.09 ERA over his last 7 outings. His 2.94 ERA this season is deceiving given his recent form and it would be crazy to discard fatigue as a possible cause for his decline. Suffering through Tommy John surgery and assorted other injuries over the last several seasons, Boyd hadn’t pitched over 100 innings in a season since 2019. Could further fatigue or even injury be in his immediate future?

Shota Imanaga should have the freshest arm of the rotation, given that he missed about seven weeks earlier in the season with a hamstring issue. He also has ace-level acumen. But he’s never pitched in an MLB postseason game before.

Cade Horton has been an absolute revelation this season after the injury to Imanaga forced a call-up from the minors much earlier than expected. Except for a couple of hiccups along the way, the 23-year-old has shined, posting a 2.78 ERA for the season so far. His 1.23 ERA since July 3 may end up winning him a Rookie of the Year honor.

But with 132.2 innings logged, between the minors and the majors, so far this season, he’s far surpassed any previous innings tally. Combining the workload with his recent history of injury, Horton presents a lot of question marks from here until the postseason. Manager Craig Counsell is already monitoring his workload and has him working under a loose pitch count.

Close your eyes and cross your fingers

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jameson Taillon (50) throws a pitch against the Yomiuri Giants during the first inning at Tokyo Dome. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

The Cubs will also have Jameson Taillon, Colin Rea, and Javier Assad to throw into the playoff rotation mix if necessary. Trade deadline acquisition Michael Soroka will also be a wild card in this equation if/when he gets healthy enough to take the mound.

But, overall, Sarris’ ranking rings true-ish. There’s just a lot of “close your eyes and cross your fingers” when it comes to the Cubs starting pitching the rest of the way.

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Chicago Cubs: 3 points of concern for the playoff-bound Cubbies

Paul Magno — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 21:26:41 +0000

The Chicago Cubs, in the estimation of every entity that makes such projections, are above the 99 percentile when it comes making the playoffs. The question is where, exactly, they will get in.

As things sit right now, the team is three games ahead of the San Diego Padres for the top Wild Card seed, which would give them home field advantage in the first 3-game postseason series. They are five games ahead of the New York Mets, who currently have the no. 3 seed, and nine games ahead of the Cincinnati Reds, who are still technically in the Wild Card race.

As such, Chicago is already making moves with an eye on the playoffs, especially when it comes to fielding the best possible team come Game 1 of Series 1.

“We want to be peaking from a health perspective,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell recently told media. “Obviously, we’re coaching every day and trying to get our guys into a good playing mode. That’s a very elusive thing to chase. Of course, you’re chasing the best performance from all your players, and we’re going to continue to chase that.”

With that in mind, here are the three majors areas of concern and/or intrigue when it comes to the Cubs’ postseason run.

Playoff starting rotation

The top three contenders for postseason rotation spots are easy to identify– Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, and Cade Horton. The big question, though, is who will get the start in the first game of the Wild Card series.

Boyd, who is in his first full season since Tommy John surgery and posting his highest inning total since 2019, has been struggling of late. Over his last seven outings, he has a 5.09 ERA and there are legitimate concerns that the inning strain may be getting to him.

Imanaga, who has a 4.29 ERA over his last eight starts, has no major league postseason experience, but may have the freshest arm, since he lost nearly two months earlier in the season with a hamstring injury.

Horton, meanwhile, is a rookie with a history of injury, who has already logged more innings pitched this season than over the course of his entire professional career, combined. He has definitely excelled, especially since the All-Star break, but there’s been plenty of internal concern regarding his durability.

Beyond the top three, there are capable veterans Jameson Taillon and Colin Rea, who will get their time on the mound, but will have greater roles if/when the Cubs make it past the three-game first round.

Offensive rebound

Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) reacts after hitting a 3-run home run against the Milwaukee Brewers in the fourth inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

No matter what the pitching does in the postseason, if the Cubs don’t have their offense kicking in, the likelihood of a one-and-done playoff appearance is high. Kyle Tucker appears to have, at least partially, clawed his way out of the career-worst slump that cost him nearly two months of offensive productivity. Still in the doldrums are Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki, who need to be key offensive contributors for the team to fire on all cylinders. If Chicago can get back to being anywhere near as proficient at scoring runs as they were in the first part of the season, they could have a very deep run in the playoffs. But that’s a huge “if.”

Daniel Palencia

MLB: Cincinnati Reds at Chicago Cubs May 31, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Daniel Palencia (48) reacts after the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

Many criticized the Cubs front office when they didn’t pull the trigger on a trade for a potential co-closer at this year’s trade deadline. At the time, the team seemed fine with Daniel Palencia in that role. He definitely looked as close to unhittable as humanly possible since being called up from Triple-A in mid-April, sporting a 1.40 ERA with 14 saves at the July 31 deadline.

But the 25-year-old Palencia has never been a full-time closer and has never felt the kind of pressure that comes along with that role, especially at the postseason-level. A troubling 5.23 ERA in the month of August seems to tell the tale of a pitcher starting to wilt under the late-season strain. And, although the Cubs have an all-around capable bullpen, nobody is truly elite-level closer material.

So, yes, there’s reason for optimism as the Cubs make their first playoff run since 2020, but there’s also a lot to think about and/or worry about as the postseason approaches.

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Chicago Cubs urged to pursue castoff World Series pitching hero

Paul Magno — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 22:09:56 +0000

The Chicago Cubs, with a probability of making the playoffs estimated at over 99%, have all but guaranteed postseason entry.

The real struggle right now is in keeping their Wild Card top seed, which gives them home field advantage in their first playoff series, and in adding depth for their actual postseason run.

At this point, the only way to acquire impact talent is through a minor league call-up or by signing a player released by another team. The Cubs have already dipped into the latter with the reported acquisition of veteran first baseman Carlos Santana, formerly of the Cleveland Guardians.

However, there is another name out there that may be a good fit —Walker Buehler.

Walker Buehler to the Chicago Cubs?

MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers at Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox released the two-time All-Star pitcher on Friday after a poor season that saw him recently moved to the bullpen. With a 5.45 ERA in 112.1 innings, the veteran 31-year-old righty, who was acquired on a one-year/$21 million contract in the offseason, was deemed to be taking up a roster spot better used on a young, rising talent.

“It’s tough, but this is where we’re at,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “I know it didn’t go his way, or our way right? He expected more, and we expected more, but the player, the individual, the baseball knowledge, and I still think he has stuff in the tank…He’s close to get rolling, I guess, it just happens that we ran out of time here.”

The rise and fall

MLB: World Series Los Angeles Dodgers at New York Yankees

Buehler had been with the Los Angeles Dodgers for his entire career prior to 2025 and was regarded as one of the elite pitchers in baseball. However, season-killing Tommy John surgery in 2023 and a hip injury the following season stalled his career, and he has yet to get back on track.

The Cubs were reportedly interested in signing him this past offseason, but abandoned the pursuit when the asking price got too high.

Even with two consecutive terrible seasons and an injury-abbreviated 2022, Buehler’s career ERA is a respectable 3.56. In 2021, he posted a 16-4 record with a 2.47 ERA over 207.2 innings. He also turned heads in the 2024 World Series as a Dodger, when he pitched 6 shutout innings over two appearances and notched the series-ending strikeout of Alex Verdugo.

The pursuit of late-season arms

MLB: Boston Red Sox at Texas Rangers

The former ace has already been mentioned as a potential fit for the Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies, and Houston Astros, as well as for his old team, the Dodgers. But he also may fit in quite well for the Cubs, given their particular needs.

When it comes to starting pitching, Chicago currently has Jameson Taillon and trade deadline acquisition Michael Soroka on the IL. Matthew Boyd, who is coming off Tommy John surgery and other physical issues, is working on his first full season since 2019. Rookie Cade Horton has already logged more innings this season, between the majors and the minors, than over the course of his entire young professional career.

Adding another arm to spot start and/or work long relief could be a big help to a tired and strained staff. Buehler’s experience would also give him a huge edge over younger, less experienced swing men like Ben Brown and Jordan Wicks. And suppose the Cubs were able to sign him before midnight Monday morning. In that case, he’d also be eligible for the playoff roster, giving them a veteran presence with a lifetime 3.04 ERA in the postseason.

Adding Buehler would cost the Cubs next to nothing– just a tiny sliver of the league minimum salary. Still, the benefits could be big, especially considering the Cubs’ knack for rehabilitating struggling pitchers. At worst, he eats some innings before being cut loose. It’s something to consider, anyway.

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Could the Chicago Cubs’ eye on the playoffs lead to regular season disaster?

Paul Magno — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 17:00:33 +0000

The Chicago Cubs’ primary objective this past offseason was the playoffs. That’s really no different than every other team. Everyone WANTS to make the postseason.

But the Cubs had made a point of declaring themselves “all-in” when it came to making the playoffs, their first time since the abbreviated 2020 season, hoping to actually get some playoff wins for the first time since 2017.

Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer made the team’s intentions clear by pulling the trigger on a 3-for-1 trade with the Houston Astros for multi-tool right fielder Kyle Tucker, who was in his last contract year before becoming a free agent.

The Chicago Cubs were “all-in”

The Tucker trade, specifically, told the team that the higher-ups were serious about winning this year.

And the team responded to the vote of confidence by playing like a serious postseason team. They bludgeoned their way into having the best record in baseball at one point. A recent slump, however, has brought the Cubs down to earth a bit and it cost them their first place standing in the NL Central Division.

But their eyes are still on the postseason, even though the route there may have to lead through a Wild Card spot at this point.

That’s why starting pitcher Jameson Taillon now finds himself on the 15-day IL.

Keeping an eye on playoff needs

Apr 27, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon (50) throws the ball against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

Taillon, who had just come back from an extended stint on the IL with a right calf strain, experienced some tightness in his left hamstring during his last start on Sunday against the Angels, where he was pulled after just 5 innings and 62 pitches. Even after a subsequent bullpen session produced no extreme discomfort, manager Craig Counsell made the call to place the veteran righty on the IL.

Counsell was not shy about saying that the move was made with an eye on the playoffs.

“I think (Taillon) could go out there and pitch,” Counsell told reporters. “I just don’t think it’s the smart thing to do. We all agree on that. In a different situation, maybe we push this. I don’t think this is the right time to push that.”

Key rotation piece Matthew Boyd has been struggling of late and it has to be noted that he’s working to complete his first full, healthy season on the mound since 2019. Rookie Cade Horton, meanwhile, is at 122.2 innings this year, between Chicago and Iowa, far surpassing his previous season high 88.1 innings. Concern over his arm health already has him working under a loose pitch count.

Even with the previously injured Javier Assad coming up and injured trade deadline acquisition Michael Soroka aiming for a return before too long, the Cubs will need the experienced Taillon in the playoffs.

“In my mind, being a good teammate means taking the ball,” Taillon told media after the move to place him on the IL. “That’s really important to me. I hate going on the IL. But that being said, the way I had this presented to me was: ‘We’re playing for the long haul here. You’d be a bad teammate if you really pound the table and push through this and screw the team for what’s really important here.’

“If I made something worse, and I missed the last couple weeks of September or the playoffs, that’s not the right thing to do. Trying to have that longer-term view and that big-picture view is important.

“We have bigger goals in mind than the next two weeks. “Every game’s extremely important, which is why I have a hard time just accepting it. But hopefully we’re playing deep into October, and hopefully I’m a really big part of that. It’s important to get this right.”

The danger of looking too far ahead

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell is interviewed by reporters prior to a game against the Colorado Rockies at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images

However, while the Cubs seem to be playing it relatively safe in hopes of a deep playoff run, there’s still some concern about the regular season.

Chicago is only 1.5 games ahead of the San Diego Padres in the important first Wild Card spot, which would guarantee them home field advantage in the first round. They are only 4 games ahead of the New York Mets, who currently hold the third Wild Card spot in the National League. The Cincinnati Reds, meanwhile, are just 4.5 games behind the Cubs.

The Cubs are not yet guaranteed top seed in the Wild Card series and another prodigious slump could see them slip to third seed or, even worse, out of the playoffs altogether.

It’s hard to question Counsell’s decision to place Taillon on the IL. All things considered, it was the right move to make. But it was also a hefty gamble, considering all of the question marks following the team right now.

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Chicago Cubs manager responds to Matthew Boyd’s awful night against Giants

Jordan Sigler — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 13:31:12 +0000

The Chicago Cubs dropped their series opener against the San Francisco Giants as they saw the same habits return that have plagued the team for much of August. The Cubs offense put together eight hits and two runs while the starting pitching put the lineup in a hole.

Starting pitcher Matthew Boyd gave up six hits and five earned runs in 5.1 innings before manager Craig Counsell pulled him in the bottom of the sixth inning. It didn’t really matter as the Cubs offense wouldn’t score a run after the fifth innings as they lost 5-2 to the Giants in front of 35,060 fans at Oracle Park.

The Chicago Cubs were unlucky on Tuesday

Cubs manager Craig Counsell (11) makes a pitching change during the seventh inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

Following the game, Counsell defended Boyd, crediting the Giants for hitting the Cubs best in ERA (2.82) in their starting rotation.

“Nothing stood out (Tuesday night), necessarily,” manager Craig Counsell said of Boyd’s mistakes via Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun Times. “He made some pitches. The walk to (Wilmer) Flores is maybe the only, ‘Man.’ Other than that, it was kind of a baseball game that they hit a couple of his good pitches.”

Boyd has had two bad outings in a row, giving up four runs to the Milwaukee Brewers on Aug. 19.

The loss marks a frustrating start to the series for Chicago against a team that could soon fire its manager, Bob Melvin, amid a disappointing season.

Chicago is set to play Game 2 on Wednesday at 9:45 p.m. EST. The Cubs will have Colin Rea on the mound against left-handed pitcher Carson Whienhunt.

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Chicago Cubs: The starting rotation is the unsung hero of 2025

Paul Magno — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 21:50:49 +0000

The Chicago Cubs have just been a .500 team since the All-Star break. Actually, they’ve been around that 50-50 mark for the last couple months.

Blame that on the Cubs’ offense, which went from an elite-scoring powerhouse to a bottom tier player.

But considering just how awful the offense has been in recent weeks/months, it’s actually a bit surprising that the team is doing as well as .500.

Credit that to the Cubs’ starting pitching.

An under-the-radar story over this latter part of the season is the Cubs’ rotation and just how tremendous it has been.

On Thursday, Shota Imanaga delivered another solid performance, despite the team coming up short in a 4-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. In a start where things didn’t quite click at first, he righted his ship, allowing 2 earned runs on three hits over 7 innings while striking out 5.

“I thought Shota got better as the game went on,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell told reporters after the game. “Little bit of command issues early in the game, and as he settled in, he pitched really, really well. In a week like this, where you’re trying to get relievers rest, seven innings will help us moving forward.”

The excelling Chicago Cubs starting rotation

Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic spotlighted the Cubs starting pitching awesomeness in a Thursday evening piece.

Per Sharma:

“Since June 25, Cubs starters have a 3.02 ERA, best in baseball. The next closest staff, the Boston Red Sox, is at 3.31. These pitchers aren’t elite at getting groundballs or strikeouts. But they limit walks and hard contact and have an entire defense that helps them limit damage.”

Since the All-Star break: Matthew Boyd has a 3.47 ERA, Shota Imanaga has a 3.64 ERA, Cade Horton has a 0.58 ERA, and Colin Rea has a 4.08 ERA. Jameson Taillon, meanwhile, just came back from the IL, allowing 1 earned run in 6 innings in his first start since June 29.

That’s a tremendous overall post All-Star run for a staff pushing itself through the second half of the season and, frankly, burdened by a flat-lining offense that’s allowing them almost zero margin for error.

Cade Horton in the spotlight

MLB: Game One Milwaukee Brewers at Chicago Cubs Aug 18, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Cubs pitcher Cade Horton (22) delivers against the Milwaukee Brewers during the third inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

The rookie Horton, who just turned 24 this week, is obviously the biggest revelation of the bunch. His recent dominant run has brought up a lot of Rookie of the Year chatter, even considering the loaded rookie class this season.

The Cubs’ 2022 first-round draft pick was brought up from Triple-A much earlier than anticipated, following the Imanaga hamstring injury in early May. There were thoughts that maybe he wouldn’t be ready for a full-time stint in the majors, but despite the occasional hiccup, Horton held strong. And then he went from holding strong to excelling. A blister issue in his last start put some question marks in his future, but the latest news on that setback is positive. As things look, he may not even miss a start.

Things could’ve gone horribly

Mar 27, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Cubs pitcher Justin Steele (35) pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

Overall, the Cubs’ starting rotation has been a surprise success story the whole season. Things, though, could’ve definitely gone off the rails very early in the season.

In spring training, they lost projected fifth starter Javier Assad to an oblique injury. They just recently got him back. Early in April, they lost ace Justin Steele with an elbow injury that required surgery. About a month after losing Steele, Imanaga went down for several weeks with his hamstring issue. Then, in very early July, Jameson Taillon was lost for over a month with a right calf strain.

Through the stress and the strain, however, the starting corps has held together better than expected, showing grit and execution beyond what most expected.

If/when the Cubs push their way into the postseason, the rotation is showing that what may have been considered a weakness at one point is now a strength.

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Chicago Cubs: 3 Nightmare scenarios for the bad luck Cubbies

Paul Magno — Sun, 17 Aug 2025 22:34:37 +0000

The Chicago Cubs are seriously down on their luck.

The team has posted a feeble 3-7 record in their last 10 games and has fallen 9 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central Division. They’re also now in danger of losing their top NL Wild Card seat to either the Los Angeles Dodgers or San Diego Padres, who are currently battling for first place in the NL West.

Things could seemingly not get worse for the slumping Cubs. But, oh yeah, they absolutely could get much worse. Here are three nightmare scenarios that should have Cubs fans on pins and needles for the rest of the season.

A pitching collapse

The Cubs are walking the tightrope when it comes to their pitching staff, counting on good fortune and a touch of magical thinking to keep everyone healthy and effective.

In the rotation, Matthew Boyd has established himself as the ace in the absence of Justin Steele. His 2.46 ERA has been a godsend for a staff sent into a bit of a free fall when Steele went down with a season-ending elbow injury and Shota Imanaga hit the IL for several weeks about a month later.

However, the 34-year-old Boyd, who has a history of injury and underwent Tommy John surgery in mid-2023, is at 142.2 innings pitched, his highest total since 2019. Last season with the Cleveland Guardians, he managed only 50.1 innings between the regular season and the postseason. Prior to the season, after signing him to a 2-year deal as a free agent, the Cubs targeted 120 innings as Boyd’s realistic season goal. Necessity has forced Boyd to go well beyond that target and there exists a distinct possibility of a breakdown at some point.

Also facing durability issues is rookie Cade Horton, who has been a true revelation, especially over his last several starts. The 23-year-old is at 114 innings between the minors and the majors (85 in Chicago and 29 in Iowa), well beyond what he’s thrown at any point of his young career.

In last year’s injury-shortened season, he could only muster 34.1 innings. In his previous three minor league seasons, he’s never pitched more than 88.1 innings. Manager Craig Counsell already has the young star on somewhat of a pitch count, attempting to negate the possibility of injury or fatigue.

Keep in mind, as well, that Jameson Taillon and Javier Assad are also coming off lengthy stints on the IL.

Going into the bullpen, there are several question marks, but none as potentially devastating as the possible mess when it comes to the closer. Daniel Palencia has had a breakthrough year, coming up from the minors in mid-April to eventually earn his spot as the closer. The 25-year-old Palencia has been spectacular in the role, but it needs to be pointed out that this is his first serious major league run and, most definitely, his first time in such a high-stress position. His 5.40 ERA in August so far could be a sign of mental/physical fatigue.

PCA injury

MLB: Boston Red Sox at Chicago Cubs Jul 20, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) dives into second base past Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story (10) during the sixth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

After a first half of the season full of accolades, record-setting, and talk of being an emerging legend, the second half has been a humbling and likely frustrating run for Pete Crow-Armstrong. Add to that the Cubs’ general offensive drought since late June, along with their tumble from first place, and you get a recipe for disaster when it comes to the young star. The 23-year-old PCA has noticeably been pressing of late, diving for uncatchable balls in center field and taking some additional gambles at the plate and on the bases. When a player presses too hard, accidents often follow. The last thing the Cubs would want is to lose Crow-Armstrong for the rest of this season or beyond.

No playoffs

MLB: San Francisco Giants at Chicago Cubs May 6, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell (11) during the national anthem before the game against the San Francisco Giants at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

It didn’t take long for the Brewers to put a lot of distance between themselves and the Cubs atop the NL Central. Lost in the first place takeover, however, is the fact that the Padres have also been on a tear. With the Padres and Dodgers now tied for first place in the NL West, the Cubs are the NL Wild Card no. 1 seat due only to a statistical technicality.

Both the Padres and Dodgers are a half-game better in the standings than the Cubs, who will soon most likely have to settle for the no. 2 Wild Card seat. Below the Cubs, the New York Mets are just 4.5 games behind and the Cincinnati Reds are 5 games behind. If the Cubs keep on their downward trajectory, they may find themselves out of the playoff picture entirely.

So, yes, things could get even worse. Cross your fingers.

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Chicago Cubs pitching is critical postseason weakness, say experts

Paul Magno — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 20:30:21 +0000

The Chicago Cubs began the 2025 season on an offensive tear, clubbing opposition and pushing themselves to a fairly comfortable lead atop the NL Central Division.

Over the last couple of months, however, that has all changed. The Cubs now sit 4 games below the surging Milwaukee Brewers, who slowly caught up to and then surpassed their division rivals.

An extended slump by the offense has exposed the Cubs’ weaknesses, which fall almost entirely in the area of pitching.

Moving towards the July 31 trade deadline, the Cubs were rumored to be aggressive buyers in pursuit of a front-of-rotation starter, a high-leverage back-of-bullpen reliever, and, possibly, a back-of-rotation starter as well.

Instead, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer only picked up the oft-injured Michael Soroka, a back-of-rotation/swing man who would subsequently be sent to the IL after two innings pitched in his Cub debut, as well as relievers Taylor Rogers and Andrew Kittredge, and infielder/outfielder Willi Castro.

Chicago Cubs pitching, (un)remarkably average

Apr 25, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Colin Rea (53) delivers a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

As of this writing, and headed into a crucial run of games this month, the team’s pitching staff ranks disappointingly average. Their starting pitching is 14th in ERA and their bullpen ranks 12th in the same category.

Is this enough to get the Cubs to the postseason and to a hopefully deep playoff run, with a World Series possibility?

MLB insiders contributing their insight to a recent Jesse Rogers piece for ESPN have serious doubts.

Rogers spoke to three unnamed insiders– a scout, an executive, and a coach– to assess their takes on the Cubs’ post-deadline roster status. And, in doing so, they offered sobering observations about the postseason viability of Cubs pitching.

Insiders offer their opinion

“Hiccup is their pitching,” the scout said. “They have playoff starters in Imanaga and Boyd (I like Boyd, but he has history of injuries and fatigue). Others like Cade Horton and Colin Rea can turn in a good game but not sure you feel comfortable handing the ball in a Game 3.”

“I really thought the Cubs would add another starting pitcher,” the executive added. “I think they have enough pitching to get to October, but I worry about them being able to match up against some of the other really deep NL clubs.”

“Outside of Imanaga, they have good, five-inning pitchers for October,” the unnamed coach offered. “I’ll take my chances against Horton, Taillon or even Boyd a third time through the order, but I like Imanaga. It’s always hard to square him up.”

There was less pessimism about the Cubs’ bullpen, which at one point was performing at a top-tier level. There were still concerns, though.

“October baseball usually centers around pitching, and I do have concerns about their ability to win a long series,” the executive said. “I understand why they didn’t go after those closers that changed teams, but you’re asking a lot out of [Daniel] Palencia in October. I’m not sure they have enough.”

Concern all around

Rogers’ insiders aren’t saying anything that hasn’t already been obsessed over by Cubs fans.

The rotations IS thin when it comes to elite-level starters who can carry a team in the postseason. Shota Imanaga and Matthew Boyd may be the only ones who truly qualify in that regard. It’s also full of question marks and pitchers whose durability has to come into question. Even with Jameson Taillon and Javier Assad set to return after injuries, the rotation doesn’t profile as championship-level.

At the back of the bullpen, Daniel Palencia also has to be a question mark. While he’s performed incredibly well as the team’s shutdown closer since moving up from the minors earlier in the season, this IS his first time in the role and there will be tons of pressure on him as the season heats up considerably.

Between the starters and the closer, the relief corps looks to be overall solid, but there have been too many cracks and blowups over the last several weeks to really count them as playoff-reliable.

Time will tell how Cubs pitching holds up through the pennant race. If their offense doesn’t pick up, however, this all may be a moot point.

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Chicago Cubs’ post-deadline starting rotation: Hopes, prayers, and pitch counts

Paul Magno — Sat, 02 Aug 2025 20:03:46 +0000

The Chicago Cubs were reported to be aggressive buyers prior to the July 31 trade deadline this year, focused on the fact that the team desperately needed high-end starting pitching if they were to be serious candidates for a deep playoff run. Names such as Mitch Keller, Edward Cabrera, Sandy Alcantara, Mackenzie Gore, Merrill Kelly, and Zac Gallen were said to be targets.

Instead, they ended up with Michael Soroka…only.

Of the team’s four trade deadline acquisitions, two were relievers, one was an infielder/outfielder, and the other was the Washington Nationals starter.

It was a disappointing haul for a team with clearly defined needs and, seemingly, the prospect capital and budget to pick up who they needed for their playoff run.

Soroka adds concerns to an already-strained Chicago Cubs rotation

MLB: Washington Nationals at Houston Astros
Jul 29, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Michael Soroka (34) walks off the field after pitching during the second inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Soroka’s 4.87 ERA in 16 appearances this season doesn’t inspire confidence. Neither does a history of injury that had kept him under 80 innings pitched since 2019 until this year’s 81.1 innings so far.

The righty will be wedged into the strained Cubs rotation, beginning this Monday, on his 28th birthday. It’ll give the team one more starter with concerns, constraints, limitations, and/or question marks heading into the heat of the postseason push.

Rookie Cade Horton is another starter with doubt attached. The 23-year-old has been brilliant of late, delivering 5 shutout innings in the Cubs’ 1-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Friday. Over his last five starts, he’s sporting a stellar 1.25 ERA, with all four earned runs during that stretch coming in one outing.

But Horton is at 102.2 innings pitched on the season, between the minors and the majors. In last year’s injury-shortened season, he only registered 34.1 innings. In his previous three minor league seasons, he’s never pitched more than 88.1 innings. There is legitimate concern over his durability over this long 2025 haul, something which was evident with the quick hook he got on Friday after five innings and just 71 pitches.

“It’s just something that we’re going to keep an eye on with Cade for sure,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell told reporters after this last game. “And when there’s opportunities and moments to [pull him early], we’re going to do it.

“He got to start on normal rest here and we got five innings from him. So yeah, we’re gonna pick some spots here [to] just lessen the innings.”

Matthew Boyd is also a concern

MLB: Chicago Cubs at Philadelphia Phillies Jun 9, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) throws a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies in the third inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

The same durability concerns applying to Soroka and Horton also apply to Matthew Boyd, who’s been brilliant this year.

Boyd, coming off Tommy John surgery last year and other injuries prior to that, hadn’t logged more than 100 innings since 2019. He has 123.2 so far this year.

The difference between Boyd and Soroka and Horton, however, is that the Cubs can’t really afford to meter and restrict Boyd’s usage since he’s become the rotation ace and an absolutely crucial component to the team’s success.

For now, the Cubs’ only strategy with the 34-year-old is to cross their fingers and hope for continued good health.

The rest of the rotation

Cubs starting pitcher Shota Imanaga (18) delivers during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

Chicago’s other top pitcher, Shota Imanaga, has already been out of commission for several weeks with a hamstring strain, although he has emerged as, perhaps, the sturdiest of the rotation pieces.

Also in the starting rotation mix is Jameson Taillon, who is currently on the IL, coming back from a right calf strain. Javier Assad, who has missed the entire season with oblique issues, is beginning a rehab assignment in Triple-A and could be back, along with Taillon, in mid-August. Another starter, veteran swing man Colin Rea, has been up and down all season. Then, there’s sophomore Ben Brown, who, despite solid potential, has been mostly down.

So, in summary, the Cubs are rolling into the month of August and into the deep end of the pennant race with eight potential starters in a 5-man rotation– five of them with injury or durability issues and two with performance issues.

Not getting at least one more sure-thing starter at the trade deadline has put the Cubs in a tough spot. They’re going to need a whole lot of savvy managerial maneuvering and a great amount of good luck when it comes to a starting rotation already ranked in the bottom half of baseball.

However, at this point, one can only hope for the best.

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Chicago Cubs’ critical three-game series with the Brewers could decide the division

Zack Cariola — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 14:24:10 +0000

Today marks a critical juncture in the Chicago Cubs’ season, as they open a pivotal three-game series with their divisional rival, the Milwaukee Brewers, who are tied with them for first place in the National League Central. Up to this point, the Cubs have a one-game advantage in the season series with the Brew Crew, winning three out of the five games.

The Cubs were supposed to run away with the division, but the opposite has happened, with the Brewers always finding a way to put up a fight. With the Trade Deadline looming and the chances to play the Brewers dwindling, the Cubs can’t afford to let this series get away from them.

The Cubs have a fighting chance thanks to their starting staff and offense

MLB: All Star Game Workouts Jul 14, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; National League outfielder Kyle Tucker (30) of the Chicago Cubs on the field during workouts for the 2025 MLB All Star Game at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

In the first nine games of the second half, the Brewers are playing better baseball, going 6-3, while the Cubs are 5-4 in that same span. The Cubs have also been outscored more than the Brewers in that span, allowing 42 runs while scoring 41 of their own, while the Brewers have scored 45 runs, against their opponents 29.

The Cubs have a fighting chance against the Brew Crew, even though they’re playing decent baseball, as they’re sending their two best pitchers to the mound in Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga. Boyd was the Cubs’ lone All-Star pitcher this season and has gone 6-0 with a 1.02 ERA and 38 strikeouts in the last seven games (44.0 innings), while Imanaga is 4-3 with a 3.46 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 39.0 innings.

The Brewers won’t make things easy for the Cubs, as they’ll also be getting two of their best in their two All-Star starters, Freddy Peralta and rookie phenom Jacob Misiorowski. Both have also been dominant in their last seven games, with Peralta going 6-0 with a 3.26 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 38.2 innings, while the Miz (Misiorowski’s nickname) is 4-1 with a 2.45 ERA and 4” strikeouts in 29.1 innings.

The one advantage the Cubs have over the Brewers, which could aid them in taking two out of three games, is their offense. The Cubs, in the National League, hold the advantage of being a better slugging team (.769) than the Brewers (.708), having more home runs (155 to the Brewers’ 98), and striking out less (812) than the Brewers (839). The only area where things are close is their on-base percentages (Cubs: .325, Brewers: .324).

The Chicago Cubs’ critical three-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers

MLB: Milwaukee Brewers at Chicago Cubs
Jun 18, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; The tarp covers the field before the weather cancelled game between the Chicago Cubs and the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

The battle for the National League Central could come down to the wire, with it likely coming down to a two-team race between the Brewers and the Cubs. The St. Louis Cardinals have done better than expected and are 6.5 games back of the lead, but with them expected not to add at the deadline and trade some pieces away, one of these two will be the winner.

After this series, the Cubs will play the Brewers five more times. The five-game series is due to a postponement earlier in the season. With their chances of playing the Brewers dwindling, winning every game against them means everything.

MLB: Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee Brewers May 4, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers second base Brice Turang (2) bobbles the ball as Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker (30) slides safely into second base in the ninth inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images

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Chicago Cubs All-Star pitcher continues to prove to be a great FA signing

Zack Cariola — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 11:11:40 +0000

The Chicago Cubs didn’t do much in the way of signing free agents over the offseason, opting to do much of their tinkering through trades. The free agents the Cubs did sign have done their jobs well and will be crucial in the stretch run.

Justin Turner signed a one-year deal with the Cubs, and recently surpassed 15 years of service time in Major League Baseball. Turner is providing the Cubs a veteran presence they severely lacked and has years of experience in the postseason, which will help the Cubs once they make the playoffs. Matthew Boyd is another free agent who has proven to be a great signing and has given the Cubs more than they could ask for in the first year of his contract.

Matthew Boyd has given the Chicago Cubs everything they needed and then some

The Cubs took a risk when they signed Boyd over the offseason, as he was coming off Tommy John Surgery. The surgery forced Boyd to miss most of 2023 and most of the 2024 season. Boyd returned in the second half of 2024 to make eight starts for the Cleveland Guardians in the regular season and made three postseason appearances.

Boyd’s small sample size with the Guardians proved good enough for the Cubs to feel comfortable giving him a two-year contract worth $29 million, with a mutual option for a third year worth $15 million. Cubs fans were skeptical of Boyd’s signing, given he was coming off a major surgery, and proved to be a backend of the rotation starter for his career. That all changed for this season, as Boyd’s having the best season of his career at 34.

The Cubs have already gotten more than they had asked for with Boyd in the first year of his contract, with him making his first All-Star Team in his 11-year career. In his All-Star season, the former sixth-round pick of the Toronto Blue Jays is seeing career highs in wins (11), ERA (2.20), and WHIP 1.011.

Boyd has also thrown more innings this season (118.2) than in the past two seasons combined (2023: 71.0, 2024: 39.2). Even better, Boyd has lowered his walk percentage, going from the 50th percentile (8.3%) in 2023 to the 91st percentile (5.2%) this year.

Boyd continued to show why he was a great signing by pitching seven shutout innings in the Cubs’ 6-0 victory against the Kansas City Royals last night. Boyd’s seven shutout innings helped extend his scoreless streak to 23.0 innings per FOX Sports.

“Matthew Boyd has now thrown 23 consecutive scoreless innings”

Matthew Boyd has now thrown 23 consecutive scoreless innings pic.twitter.com/Ia6qiuQSP7

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 23, 2025

Boyd will be a crucial part of the Cubs’ stretch run

The Cubs will need Boyd to continue his run of dominance on the mound to have a shot at winning the National League Central over the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers are tied for the lead in the Central after they’ve gone on an impressive winning streak, and will make things interesting as the end of the season draws closer.

The starting rotation has been one of the weaker parts for the Cubs this season, and they will need to add to it at the Trade Deadline. If the Cubs can add a top-of-the-line starter to pair with Boyd and Shota Imanaga, they should be in a good position to win the Central and make the playoffs.

Apr 12, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga (18) and pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) before the game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

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The Chicago Cubs have two players land in the top 10 for the best All-Stars

Zack Cariola — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 10:38:36 +0000

Last night, the Major League Baseball All-Star Game took place, and three Chicago Cubs were selected to participate in this season’s Midsummer Classic. Cubs outfielders Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker were the only two players to play in last night’s game, as left-hander and Cubs breakout starter Matthew Boyd opted not to pitch and rest instead.

“Chicago, you should be so proud.”

Chicago, you should be so proud. pic.twitter.com/bIMkA2At4q

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 15, 2025

All three have been performing well for the Cubs this season and deserve to be named All-Stars. PCA and Boyd have had breakout seasons, and Tucker has put up his usual MVP numbers. Tucker, PCA, and Boyd were three of this year’s 81 All-Stars, and because of their dominance in the first half, Tucker and PCA landed in the top ten for the best All-Stars this season, while Boyd landed at 36, ahead of some notable names.

The Chicago Cubs have two players land in the top 10 for the best All-Stars

MLB: All Star American League at National League Jul 15, 2025; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; National League outfielder Kyle Tucker (30) of the Chicago Cubs catches a fly ball during the third inning during the 2025 MLB All Star Game at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

In last night’s game, both Tucker and PCA performed well, with PCA going 1-2 with a double, and Tucker going 0-2, but made a spectacular sliding catch in the outfield. The game ended in a tie, which led to a home run swing-off, with former Cub Kyle Schwarber winning it for the National League.

“Experience of a lifetime.”

Experience of a lifetime. pic.twitter.com/y3WtIfTQ9B

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 16, 2025

Tucker and PCA are two of the top players in the National League, and according to Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly, he ranks Tucker and PCA as the eighth and tenth best players of the 81 All-Stars, while ranking Boyd 36th. Boydat 36 ranks higher than the Los Angeles Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto, last year’s NL Cy Young winner Chris Sale of the Atlanta Braves, and the Washington Nationals’ Ace MacKenzie Gore. Kelly explained that Boyd’s health was the main reason for ranking him at 36, as he has shown to be durable after having Tommy John surgery in 2023.

Kelly on Boyd via Bleacher Report:

“Matthew Boyd pitched so well in eight starts for the Cleveland Guardians last season that the Cubs took a chance on him in free agency by giving him a two-year, $29 million deal with a mutual option for a third year.

Not only is he healthy—which often has been an issue in his career—but in his age-34 season, he’s also having a career year on the north side. He is 10-3 with a 2.34 ERA and 3.17 FIP across 111.2 innings pitched.”

The Cubs need these three to have great second halves

The Cubs enter the All-Star break in a tight race for the division, as they have a one-game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers for the lead in the National League Central, and a 6.5-game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals. With the All-Star Game and draft in the rearview, the Cubs can now focus on making trades to better their roster.

The Cubs will need to add a top-tier starter and possibly another bat to extend their lead over the Brewers and get past some other teams in the National League. Outside of adding, the Cubs will need both Tucker and PCA to continue their MVP paces at the plate, and Boyd to be that steady hand in the rotation to win the Central and have a deep playoff run.

MLB: All Star American League at National League Jul 15, 2025; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; National League outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) of the Chicago Cubs reacts at second against National League shortstop Jacob Wilson (5) of the Athletics in the second inning during the 2025 MLB All Star Game at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

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Chicago Cubs: Shota Imanaga’s contract quirks help Cubs build around him

Paul Magno — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 19:30:16 +0000

The Chicago Cubs walked into the All-Star break with their heads held high and a degree of positivity about them, despite holding just a one game lead over the red-hot Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central Division.

Coming off two stellar pitching performances against the heavy artillery New York Yankees, the battered and embattled starting rotation showed their very best faces in back-to-back games– and in three of their last four games.

Imanaga, also “masterful”

MLB: Chicago Cubs at New York Yankees

On Sunday, Shota Imanaga delivered 7 innings, allowing just 1 run on 2 hits, while striking out 6 in a 4-1 victory. The Japanese star’s sole blemish in an otherwise near-perfect outing was a Giancarlo Stanton solo home run in the second inning. The 31-year-old headed into the break with a 2.65 ERA in 12 starts, despite missing about 5 weeks with a hamstring strain.

“Matt Boyd was masterful yesterday, Shota was masterful today,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell told reporters after the game. “It was just wonderful pitching. High, high level of execution.”

“It was excellent today,” he added, referring to Imanaga’s splitter. “Excellent. They had to really respect the splitter today, and you could just feel that in the at-bats.”

Imanaga’s and Boyd’s masterful performances were preceded (we’ll disregard Friday’s bullpen game blowout loss to the Yankees) by a similarly dominant showing by Colin Rea on Thursday, where the veteran allowed just one earned run in 7 innings against the Minnesota Twins.

“The guy knows what he’s doing,” shortstop Dansby Swanson said of Imanaga, after Sunday’s game. “He’s just got such unique stuff, unbelievable feel for his pitches. He’s somebody who, when he goes out there, we feel like we have a good chance to win.”

The realities of the Chicago Cubs rotation

MLB: San Diego Padres at Chicago Cubs Apr 4, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Jed Hoyer President of the Chicago Cubs prepares to throw balls to fans before a game against the San Diego Padres at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

The Imanaga, Boyd, and Rea showings stand in the face of the narrative that Cubs’ starting pitching is in complete disarray and that the team, heading towards the July 31 trade deadline, has an almost impossible task of finding starters for a playoff run. With the injured Jameson Taillon slated to return sometime around mid-August and rookie Cade Horton doing well enough, the rotation may not be too far off from where they need to be– if everything continues to play out true to current form.

The best part is that, with the possible exception of the free agency-eligible Rea, everyone will be back next year, including the injured Justin Steele, who is projected to return from 2025-ending elbow surgery at some point in mid-2026.

Count this as some masterful planning from Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer, who has been able to walk the line between acquiring impact talent and appeasing the frugal ways of Cubs ownership.

The Cubs-friendly Imanaga deal

Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga (18) throws the ball against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

The deal constructed around the signing of Imanaga prior to the 2024 season was especially ingenious. It was one which paved the way for the Cubs to add a top-of-rotation presence at a team-friendly price, with safety net opt-outs, just in case. On the surface, it was just a 4-year, $53 million deal, but the details of the arrangement allow for it to eventually become a 5-year, $70 million deal, with club options after both this season and the next. At current market rate, a high-end, All-Star-level starting pitcher at an average salary of $14 million per year is an absolute steal.

Per the terms of the contract, the Cubs will have the ability to execute a team option at the end of this year, extending Imanaga’s contract until after the 2028 season. If the Cubs opt-out, it switches to an Imanaga option at $15 million. The same deal goes for after the 2026 season.

So, in a best case scenario, the Cubs will have Shota through 2028, at a discount price.

The Cubs starting pitching landscape becomes a bit hazy after 2026, as Boyd and Taillon become free agents following that season. However, Imanaga and a hopefully healthy Steele, under team control through 2027, make for a heck of a comparatively low-cost cornerstone for a future where there will be room to add more talent.

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Chicago Cubs All-Star gives the real reason behind sitting out the big game

Paul Magno — Sun, 13 Jul 2025 20:52:41 +0000

The Chicago Cubs got an All-Star outing from their only All-Star pitcher on Saturday when Matthew Boyd delivered an 8-inning, 4-hit shutout performance in a 5-2 win over the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.

It was a much-appreciated virtuoso showing after an 11-0 shellacking on Friday that reduced the Cubs’ first place lead in the NL Central Division to just one game over the red-hot Milwaukee Brewers.

To make things even more impressive, the brilliant appearance from the southpaw, who now sports a 2.34 ERA in 19 starts, came against a Yankees team that has absolutely battered left-handed pitching this year.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell would call the effort “masterful” and declare it an “All-Star-type performance.”

Matthew Boyd, sitting out his first All-Star Game

Last week, the 34-year-old Boyd received the news that he was selected to his first All-Star Game. And, although he’ll be there on Tuesday at Truist Park in Atlanta, alongside fellow All-Star teammates Kyle Tucker and Pete Crow-Armstrong, he recently made the decision not to pitch in the game.

The veteran, who has been plagued with arm injuries over the last several years and had Tommy John surgery in 2023, is opting to take the All-Star break as a breather to rest an arm that has thrown its most number of innings since 2019.

In Boyd’s own words

Per Boyd, to reporters:

“Before I had the selection, before I got that honor, we were talking about, with everything in mind, with the innings last year and going into this break and how, you know, there’s an opportunity to kind of prolong the break, depending on when I come back and pitch and using that to our advantage. There’s only so many natural breaks you have in the season, right? So, if there’s a chance to kind of a chance to give you a breather, give you a blow, if you will…

Everything’s going great, but knowing that we’re on pace to throw more innings since 2019, or already have thrown…So, it was just kind of built in that way. I hope there’s another chance to pitch in the All-Star Game, but, you know, the goal this year is to be fresh through all the way October, right? It’s something we just got to keep in mind as we go forward.”

Saving the arm for the pennant race

Mar 16, 2025; Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan; Chicago Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd (right) celebrates with catcher Carson Kelly (left) after defeating the Yomiuri Giants at Tokyo Dome. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Boyd has logged 111.2 innings so far this season, more than he logged in his last two seasons, combined.

The Cubs gambled on his arm health this past offseason, signing the talented lefty free agent to a 2-year, $29 million deal that has paid great dividends this season where injuries have otherwise decimated the team’s starting rotation.

Despite the optimism in signing Boyd, though, there was also caution and concern about the man who had pitched a total of 202.2 innings over his four prior injury-filled seasons.

“There’s definitely some risk/reward there,” Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy said in a pre-season radio interview. “If we’re sitting here today and we say, ‘Matt Boyd throws 120 innings of really good baseball,’ I think we’d all be really happy about that. Anything above that would be great.”

Counsell has co-signed Boyd’s conservative, team-first mindset in sitting out the All-Star Game.

“We’ve got to keep the big picture in mind here,” Counsell told reporters after Saturday’s game. “He’s had a heck of a first half. He’s pitched so well, he’s throwing a ton of innings. So we’ll get him fresh for the second half.”

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Chicago Cubs: 5 contingency plans for possible disasters

Paul Magno — Sat, 12 Jul 2025 14:30:17 +0000

The Chicago Cubs have led a charmed 2025 baseball life when it comes to their position players, with only catcher Miguel Amaya suffering significant down time due to injury.

Their starting pitching, on the other hand, has suffered bad break after break with a season-ending injury to ace Justin Steele, a season-stalling injury to Javier Assad, and IL stints for both Shota Imanaga and Jameson Taillon.

The one thing you can count on in baseball is that baseball is utterly unpredictable, especially over the course of a grueling 162-game season.

In a recent Q&A with The Athletic, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer talked abut his hope for the best, prepare for the worst philosophy when it comes to keeping ahead of baseball’s unpredictability– a mindset that could be of utmost importance for what’s shaping up to be a special 2025.

“[Manager Craig] Counsell and I talk about that all the time,” Hoyer said. “That is a big part of the job, trying to see around corners. It’s not a great way to go through life, thinking about what could go wrong. But at the same time, you have to think about: ‘With these two injuries, what would we do in this situation?’ Because that is the nature of baseball. The best-case scenario doesn’t often happen.”

With that in mind, here’s a look at possible contingency plans for five full-on Cubs disasters:

Pete Crow-Armstrong goes down

One shudders to even bring something like this up. The 23-year-old PCA has been THAT essential to a raging Cubs offense and to the overall excitement of the season. But injuries happen and anyone who plays as hard as he does will always be one bad step away from bad things.

So, how do you replace a guy with true 40-40 potential and an elite glove? You don’t. The best you could hope for is to plug the hole and for the rest of the team to boost their game a bit to compensate for the loss.

A trade deadline acquisition could be in the cards if the injury were to happen before July 31. Even without a PCA injury, though, the Cubs would be wise to pick up a fourth outfielder at the deadline. Former Cub and current crosstown White Sox outfielder Mike Tauchman has been mentioned before as a low-cost backup outfielder.

Prospect Kevin Alcantara could also be brought up, if he isn’t traded by the deadline. Alcantara has played center field before and has the athleticism to do well in the spot.

Granted, Alcantara/Tauchman is not much of a contingency plan for the loss of Crow-Armstrong, but barring some sort of blockbuster trade for a CF rental, that’s about the best the Cubs would be able to do for such a monumental loss.

Daniel Palencia falters

MLB: Chicago Cubs at Detroit Tigers Jun 7, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Daniel Palencia (48) pitches in the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

The 25-year-old Palencia has been a beyond-pleasant surprise this year, stepping in to win the closer role and answering one of the Cubs’ biggest questions leading into the 2025 campaign.

But the reality is that he’s never had this level of major league success before and is completely new to the closer role at this level. There’s always a chance that a young pitcher could falter and wilt under the pressure later in the season and, especially, in the heat of a pennant race.

The Cubs are reportedly exploring the acquisition of a co-closer via trade, but that may not be a realistic pickup given their much more pressing need for starting pitching.

In house, the Cubs would probably give the 36-year-old Ryan Pressly another go in the closer role. Somewhat stale performances and an 8-earned run early-May thrashing cost him the gig, but he’s posted a 1.26 ERA since that disastrous outing and has slowly moved his way back into the Craig Counsell circle of trust. He’s still not blowing anyone away in his appearances, but he has the experience to get a second crack at the closer gig, albeit with a short leash and a closer-by-committee plan C behind him.

A Kyle Tucker injury

Mar 29, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker (30) hits a two-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the fifth inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

The backup plan to losing Tucker is probably an obvious one. Seiya Suzuki would move back into right field. The designated hitter slot would then be filled by a rotating crew of position players given an off day from their field duties. Bat-heavy prospects like Moises Ballesteros or Jonathon Long could also be brought up.

You wouldn’t really be able to replace an offensive linchpin like Tucker at the trade deadline, but the Cubs could pick up a solid corner outfielder on the cheap to fill the roster spot. This is all working under the assumption, of course, that top prospect Owen Caissie will be traded at the deadline and not available for a call-up.

Another starting rotation loss

If the Cubs lost Matthew Boyd or Shota Imanaga (again), they’d be in a deep, deep mess, even if they do trade for a front-of-rotation starter by July 31.

The Cubs would cross their fingers that Javier Assad makes it back and can immediately contribute come mid-August. Other than that, the best they’d be able to muster would be a Triple-A call-up that far exceeds expectations or a starter-possible reliever stepping up, like Chris Flexen, Drew Pomeranz, or Brad Keller.

Losing Michael Busch

MLB: St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs Jul 4, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs first baseman Michael Busch (29) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the seventh inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Busch has been excellent this year, both offensively and defensively, even though his accomplishments have been overshadowed to a great degree by PCA and Tucker. But his absence would be deeply felt if he were to fall to injury.

Iowa Cub Jonathon Long would probably be called up and given a shot at first base. Bat-first Moises Ballesteros could also get the call.

Among those on the 26-man roster right now, only Justin Turner and Jon Berti can really play the position, but neither is a long-term solution.

Any of these Cubs disasters would mean bad things for the team’s shot at making a deep postseason run this year. None, however, would be instant death sentences as long as the team maintains its resilience and the coaching staff/front office keeps making smart moves.

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Chicago Cubs: The case for extending Jed Hoyer immediately

Paul Magno — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 23:00:40 +0000

The Chicago Cubs need to tie up a contractual loose end right now and not let uncertainty drag on for the remainder of the season.

This isn’t in reference to extending right fielder Kyle Tucker and/or center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong– although either (or, preferably, both) would be incredible good news.

No, the contract that needs to be extended is that of Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer.

One need only look at the Cubs team currently being fielded to reach that conclusion.

Jed Hoyer’s Chicago Cubs track record

Hoyer’s trades for Michael Busch and Crow-Armstrong are looking like pure genius right about now. The 3-for-1 offseason trade for Tucker is also looking pretty good, even with the possibility of Tucker leaving after one year still dangling over the team’s collective head.

Then, there were the other decisions made by Hoyer and his staff.

He took a gamble on signing the oft-injured pitcher Matthew Boyd, who has been the team’s ace and will make his first All-Star appearance this year. He picked up catcher Carson Kelly, who has exceeded all offensive expectations. There was the 2024 signing of Shota Imanaga on a Cubs-friendly deal. There were all the savvy free agent acquisitions, ranging from Dansby Swanson and Seiya Suzuki to Caleb Thielbar and Colin Rea. Also, nobody sniffs out time-worthy rehab projects like Hoyer and staff– the 2025 Cubs bullpen is an absolute testament to that fact.

He’s made the tough decisions

Hoyer has also been willing to make the tough decisions in what he feels is the best interest of the team. In 2021, for example, he traded away Yu Darvish as well as key World Series figures Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, and Javier Baez, along with Craig Kimbrel, Joc Pederson, and Andrew Chafin for a haul of prospects to help rebuild a depleted farm system.

He cut ties with popular manager David Ross prior to the 2024 season in order to hire Craig Counsell.

None of these moves were all that popular at the time, but, for the most part, they all turned out to be the right decisions over the long haul.

It also needs to be pointed out that he made his moves and built this team while working under the frugal Ricketts family spending constraints. This year, he helped build the Cubs into this powerhouse while actually cutting the budget significantly.

This coming July 31 trade deadline will be crucial to the team’s postseason chances. Starting pitching is the urgency and it’ll be tough to pick up the arms needed in what looks to be a seller’s market. Settling Hoyer’s contract status could go a long way in terms of clearing up the big picture for any upcoming acquisitions.

Keeping it all together

MLB: San Diego Padres at Chicago Cubs Apr 4, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Jed Hoyer President of the Chicago Cubs walks onto the field before a game against the San Diego Padres at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

Hoyer, himself, clearly wants to stay in Chicago.

“Listen, I’ve been here 14 years and I love this place,” Hoyer told Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune in early April, prior to the Cubs’ home owner. “My family loves this place. Even driving into the ballpark today, it doesn’t get better than a home opener at Wrigley. I don’t think you can say that everywhere and I don’t take that for granted.”

MLB insider Jesse Rogers, in an early June appearance on ESPN Chicago’s Waddle and Silvy Show, stated his informed belief that Hoyer would be re-signed sooner rather than later.

Per Rogers:

“I would not be surprised if he’s given a new contract by the all-star break. I think he’s more likely to get it sooner rather than later, possibly before the trade deadline. It’s like kind of one of those things, if you’re gonna impact our team for years to come, let’s sign you up. I really could see that. Now, the other option is three days after the season ends. But I think he’s in line for that extension– three years, five years, whatever [Tom] Ricketts wants to do. But I would not be surprised if it happens between now and July 31st.”

Although Hoyer’s teams have yet to make the playoffs, the writing is clearly on the wall for a postseason run this year and, likely, beyond. It would probably be best for the team and for the organization as a whole if Hoyer is allowed to continue on with his vision.

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Chicago Cubs starting pitcher makes first career All-Star Game

Zack Cariola — Sun, 06 Jul 2025 21:56:20 +0000

The Chicago Cubs will have a few All-Stars represent them at this year’s Midsummer Classic, with Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker leading the way. Others like first baseman Michael Busch, designated hitter Seiya Suzuki, and catcher Carson Kelly also deserve spots, but were snubbed in the selection for the reserve players.

Other than Tucker and PCA, the Cubs will have a member from their starting staff join them after he put together a fantastic season after missing most of last year due to Tommy John surgery.

The Chicago Cubs have one member of their rotation named as an All-Star

MLB: the Cubs at Washington Nationals Jun 4, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) walks to the dugout after being removed from the game against the Washington Nationals during the eighth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

The Cubs don’t have the best starting rotation in the National League, but they have put together a reliable staff that gets the job done and keeps them in games. Sadly, the rotation has had to deal with injuries, with Justin Steele missing this season after receiving Tommy John surgery, and Shota Imanaga missing some time due to a hamstring injury.

One member of the starting staff who has proven to be durable, especially after having Tommy John surgery himself, is left-hander Matthew Boyd. Boyd is having the best season of his career, pitching to an 8-3 record with a 2.65 ERA in 17 starts (98.2 innings), which led him to being selected to his first career All-Star Game.

“Matthew Boyd is a 2025 All-Star”

Matthew Boyd is a 2025 All-Star pic.twitter.com/qCLDl5pnJz

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) July 6, 2025

Boyd’s ERA is the 12th best in Major League Baseball, and his WHIP (1.08) is the 15th best.

MLB: the Cubs at Philadelphia Phillies Jun 9, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Cubs starting pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) throws a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

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Chicago Cubs pitching delivers good news amid bad news

Paul Magno — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 21:09:10 +0000

The Chicago Cubs have enjoyed an outstanding year so far, with lots of memorable moments already accounted for in a campaign just a little more than halfway through.

With Wednesday’s extra-innings win over the Cleveland Guardians, the Cubs have also extended their lead in the NL Central Division to 4 games over the Milwaukee Brewers (as of this writing) and 5.5 games over the St. Louis Cardinals (also, as of this writing), who now come to Chicago for a key weekend series.

Most of the outstanding Cubs memories in 2025 have centered around the team’s offensive prowess, which ranks among baseball’s very best. Pitching, meanwhile, has not been as much of a good news source.

The bad news Chicago Cubs pitching

May 14, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jameson Taillon (50) delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Ace Justin Steele went down with an elbow injury in early April and won’t be back until some time in mid-2026 at the earliest. Projected fifth starter Javier Assad has been out of commission since spring training with an oblique issue and may or may not be able to contribute this season. Shota Imanaga missed about five weeks with a hamstring strain.

Porter Hodge also missed some time with injury and has generally under-performed this season. Ben Brown didn’t pan out as a viable rotation piece and has been sent to the minors. And now, the news broke that starter Jameson Taillon will be placed on the IL, likely to miss a key month of the season, with a right calf strain.

But it hasn’t been all doom and gloom for Cubs pitching– and Wednesday’s game highlighted that fact.

But, some good news

MLB: Cleveland Guardians at Chicago Cubs

Starter Cade Horton had the best outing of his young career, pitching 7 scoreless innings and striking out 5 against 5 hits and 2 walks, generating a 50% ground ball rate. The gem for the rookie and top Cubs pitching prospect comes directly after, arguably, his worst outing on June 27 against the Houston Astros where he gave up 7 earned runs in 4 innings pitched.

Horton has a 4.15 ERA for the season, but Wednesday’s outing showcased his true potential and proved that he has the grit and resolve to come back from adversity. In a strained starting rotation, the 23-year-old coming into his own right now would be a godsend.

A fairy tale bullpen

MLB: Cincinnati Reds at Chicago Cubs
May 31, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Drew Pomeranz (45) delivers against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

On the bullpen side of things, surprise asset Drew Pomeranz pitched a scoreless two-thirds of an inning. The appearance is the righty’s 26th straight appearance without allowing an earned run and it was a bit of a history maker.

Per the Just Baseball social media account:

“Drew Pomeranz has now thrown 26 straight scoreless appearances to start the season.

That’s the longest such streak in MLB history by a player age 36 or older.”

Pomeranz was acquired in a trade with the Seattle Mariners, for “cash considerations,” in late April and hadn’t previously pitched in the majors since 2021.

The feel-good Pomeranz story syncs up with a Cubs bullpen tale that has so far been a surprising success story overall.

Comprised mostly of castoffs, reclamation projects, and previously unproven young pitchers, the Cubs relief corps has come together under the guidance of manager Craig Counsell and staff as, currently, one of the best bullpens in the league and, arguably, the absolute best in all of baseball since late April.

Some would argue that the bullpen, along with starter Matthew Boyd and random assorted high-end performances here and there, have kept the Cubs steady and postseason-viable.

With the July 31 trade deadline approaching and Chicago’s front office focused on pitching, reinforcements may be on the way for the strained Cubs staff. But this crew has already shown itself capable of resilience and sparks of magic.

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Chicago Cubs surprise breakthrough star had quit baseball at 16 after scout’s brutal rejection

Paul Magno — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 18:00:18 +0000

The Chicago Cubs seem to have found their closer in surprise breakthrough flame-throwing righty Daniel Palencia.

That reality wouldn’t have come into play, however, if things had played out just slightly differently.

Nearly a decade earlier, a 16-year-old Palencia had given up on his baseball dream after a string of failed tryouts with major league scouts in his native Venezuela.

One scout’s brutal assessment of his talents hit especially hard.

“I don’t remember them all, but I do remember one [tryout] that left a scar,” Palencia said in a Spanish language interview. “It was a scout [for the Detroit Tigers] who told me that I wouldn’t ever throw harder than 90-mph.”

Tough times make tough men

Apr 19, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Daniel Palencia (48) reacts after getting the final out against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

What followed was a bit of drifting and a most unglamorous job flipping burgers in a food truck.

Then, something clicked and the young man decided to dive back into baseball at an age (18-19) well beyond the age where most scouts working Latin America will take you seriously as a top shelf signing.

“I felt bad, obviously,” Palenica said, who now routinely throws around 100 mph. “I knew I had more there. All I needed was an opportunity. It’s all part of life. All those things taught me and made me who I am today.”

Training added muscle to his skinny frame and positioning tweaks helped augment his velocity fairly quickly, but then he fell ill with hepatitis and had to build himself all over again.

“It was a bit difficult,” he added. “At 20 years old the majority of scouts don’t want to see you. I think that was part of what I needed to be aware of to keep advancing. Nothing held me back. I never paid attention to the people who would tell me that I couldn’t.

“I simply just needed to believe in myself and have support from my parents. And I was always willing to do what the others weren’t willing to do.”

From the Oakland A’s to the Chicago Cubs

He would eventually be signed by the Oakland A’s in 2020, at the age of 20, although it should be noted that the Cubs, seeing something special in him, had also shown interest and ended up being just a half-step behind the A’s in snatching him up.

But Chicago would succeed at eventually grabbing Palencia in July of 2021 when they brought him to the organization in a trade involving reliever Andrew Chafin.

Following the pattern of his life, though, success did not come easy.

He struggled at various points throughout the minors, always regarded as talented, but inconsistent. Last season, he registered a 6.14 ERA in 14.2 innings for the major league Cubs and a 4.85 ERA for the Iowa Cubs.

Something special in Daniel Palencia

Apr 25, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Daniel Palencia (48) celebrates a win against the Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Still, there was something special in Palencia that the Cubs coaching staff liked a whole lot. While the 25-year-old didn’t make the opening day roster, he got a pretty quick mid-April call-up. And he’s made the most of the opportunity, working his way into manager Craig Counsell’s circle of trust as the team’s full-time closer.

“The league is difficult on young players in that regard– it makes you worry about a lot of stuff,” Counsell recently told the Chicago Sun-Times. “There’s always a chance when you get here, ‘Am I going to get sent down?’ And that’s a real concern for players. I understand why. And I think Danny went through a lot of that last year every time he took the mound.

“And it’s not that it wasn’t a possibility when he came here this year, it’s just that he decided not to worry about it. And I think that gave him a lot of confidence.”

As of this writing, Palencia’s ERA is an impressive 1.86 and he has 8 saves with just 1 blown save in 27 appearances.

Palencia credits his work on the mental aspect of the game for his success this season, but he also points to advice from two current Cubs pitchers as inspirational in helping the turnaround.

He mentions Matthew Boyd as the one who helped him find his identity on the big league mound. He also credits Ryan Pressly for some blunt, much-needed advice very early in the season.

“You’re too nasty, so just keep your s–t in the zone, and that’s it,” Palencia quoted Pressly.

So far, there’s nothing at all to complain about in Palencia’s 2025. He’s battled through the one or two difficult outings he’s had and has proven himself to have the kind of unflappable character a true shutdown closer needs to have.

Whether he gets a co-closer teammate by the trade deadline is an issue for another day. Right now, though, he’s THE man ending the games for a surprisingly good Cubs bullpen.

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Chicago Cubs: What’s needed to make a World Series run in 2025 (and beyond)

Paul Magno — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 23:37:18 +0000

The Chicago Cubs are at a pivotal point in not only this 2025 season, but in their chances of success in the following years.

For that reason, their movements before the July 31 trade deadline will be especially important.

Some are saying that Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer is a victim of his own success. Compelled by the need to make the playoffs for the first time in his reign as top exec and by his own expiring contract (two intertwined pressures), he built a team that has the grit, gumption, defense, and offensive prowess to be a World Series-viable team when the goal for this year was, maybe, just to make a postseason-viable team.

Chicago Cubs: Ahead of the curve, against the wall

What this means is that this 2025 product wasn’t meant to be the fully-actualized Cubs/Hoyer product just yet. It was meant to be the 2015 learning-curve campaign that seasoned the crew before the 2016 World Series victory.

But this year’s squad has been so good and has bubbled over with so much magical winner’s chemistry that there’s now a palpable pressure to skip the learning curve and jump right to the World Series.

Realistically, though, the Cubs are lacking some key pieces to make that jump.

And that’s why there’s so much pressure focused on Chicago’s moves prior to the trade deadline.

Starting pitching woes

Cubs starting pitcher Shota Imanaga (18) delivers during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

The starting rotation, specifically, is a major concern. As it stands now, Shota Imanaga is at the top, one start into his return from hamstring injury. Below him is Matthew Boyd, who has pitched extremely well, but who also has an extensive history of injury and hasn’t logged over 100 innings pitched since 2019. Then there’s Jameson Taillon, who has pitched solidly at times, but has recently been swatted around.

Beyond that, the starting corps is all crossed fingers and wishful thinking with rookie Cade Horton and veteran swing man Colin Rea currently manning back-of-rotation duties– and taking on water while trying. Wildly inconsistent sophomore Ben Brown has been sent to Triple-A alongside once-upon-a-time rotation hopeful Jordan Wicks, who is returning from injury. Then, there’s projected fifth starter Javier Assad, who’s been battling an oblique issue all season and has yet to throw one competitive big league pitch this year.

This spells big trouble if the 2025 Cubs want to have a serious shot at going deep into the postseason. It could even be argued that they’re one starting pitching injury away from possibly being out of the playoff picture entirely

More than just one rental pitcher away

Lindsey Willhite of Deadspin recently opined that the team will need to target two quality starters prior to the deadline to have a serious shot at doing something big this postseason.

Per Willhite:

“To solve this shortcoming, Cubs GM Jed Hoyer and his cabinet need to be even bolder than they were when they acquired [Kyle] Tucker in the offseason.

They have maneuvered themselves into a place where they’re closer to the Dodgers and Mets than they could have realistically projected. But if they’re going to wait to be equals before they strike, then they might as well sell the team.

The Dodgers, with their billions of dollars and their brilliant front office, are never going away. Mets owner Steve Cohen’s wallet will be wide open every offseason and every trade deadline.

That means now’s the time to peel a prospect or five off their thick stack of youngsters and acquire two legitimate starters — guys who can get the Cubs through five innings in an October setting.

And don’t just focus on the rentals.”

Willhite mentions checking in on Tanner Bibee of the Cleveland Guardians, Nathan Eovaldi of the Texas Rangers, and Mitch Keller of the Pittsburgh Pirates, among others. All of them under contract beyond 2025.

The strategy is clear, though. And it’s not incorrect.

Picking up two high-end starters would turn this Cubs team into a real big-prize contender and not just a feel-good fairy tale hopeful. But to add two high-end starters who are team controlled beyond this season would provide a huge boost to the franchise over the next several years. That’s why the idea of a trade with the Miami Marlins for Sandy Alcantara or Edward Cabrera has gotten so much attention.

But would it be worth emptying out their farm system to pull the trigger on two major pitching acquisitions? That’s the question Jed Hoyer must ponder.

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Chicago Cubs’ Matthew Boyd provides update on shoulder injury

Jordan Sigler — Sat, 21 Jun 2025 14:22:10 +0000

With Justin Steele and Shota Imanaga out of the rotation, the last thing the Chicago Cubs need right now is for another starting pitcher to go down. President Jed Hoyer is looking to make a trade to boost the starting rotation so he can give arms on the rotation and the bullpen rest after asking players to step up in the spring.

On Friday, Cubs manager Craig Counsell explained he had to pull starting pitcher Matthew Boyd after he suffered a shoulder injury making a catch off contact from shortstop J.P. Crawford to end the fifth inning in Chicago’s 9-4 loss to the Seattle Mariners in front of 40,787 fans at Wrigley Field.

“Obviously, it was very hard hit,” Counsell said. “And the shoulder, he caught the ball, obviously, but the shoulder, his left shoulder, took the brunt of it, so had a pretty big bruise on his left shoulder, kind of on the front of his shoulder, and it just stiffened up pretty quickly.

“So there was no way to go back out there.”

Chicago Cubs SP Matthew Boyd provides an update

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) delivers a pitch during the third inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Following Boyd’s exit, the Cubs’ bullpen surrendered seven runs, leading to the team’s second loss in a row.

Boyd told reporters after the game that he does not believe his shoulder injury is too serious.

“My glove was up against my shoulder, and it kind of got me in a spot a little bit,” Boyd said via the Chicago Tribune. “It swelled up a little bit, and as the half-inning went on it tightened up. It was more precautionary than anything. … I don’t foresee it being an issue.”

The Cubs need Boyd to remain healthy. Boyd, 34, has a 2.84 ERA in 85.2 innings pitched this season.

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Chicago Cubs manager announced another starting pitcher injury

Jordan Sigler — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 22:11:41 +0000

The Chicago Cubs have yet another injury to monitor for their pitching staff following Friday’s 9-4 loss to the Seattle Mariners in front of 40,787 fans (including legend Sammy Sosa) at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs’ bullpen surrendered seven runs, but the story of the day was starting pitcher Matthew Boyd, who had to leave the game after pitching for five innings.

The Chicago Cubs reveal another injury

Mar 16, 2025; Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan; Chicago Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) throws a pitch against the Yomiuri Giants during the ninth inning at Tokyo Dome. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Boyd made an incredible diving grab to end the fifth inning off contact made by shortstop J.P. Crawford that went right for the starting pitcher’s body. Boyd appeared to leave for the dugout unfazed, but did not return to the mound.

Boyd gave up two hits and two earned runs and recorded six strikeouts on Friday.

MATTHEW BOYD GLOVES THE COMEBACKER pic.twitter.com/yZ0cyElUnV

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 20, 2025

Following the loss, Cubs manager Craig Counsell announced Boyd suffered a shoulder injury when he made the catch.

“Obviously, it was very hard hit,” Counsell said via Marquee Sports Network. “And the shoulder, he caught the ball, obviously, but the shoulder, his left shoulder, took the brunt of it, so had a pretty big bruise on his left shoulder, kind of on the front of his shoulder, and it just stiffened up pretty quickly.

“So there was no way to go back out there.”

“(He) had a pretty big bruise on his left shoulder … there was just no way he could go back out there.”

Craig Counsell on Matthew Boyd’s early exit from today’s game. pic.twitter.com/JsBoZfVhK9

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) June 20, 2025

It’s unclear how serious Matthew Boyd’s injury is

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) delivers a pitch against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

It’s unclear of Boyd will have to miss extra time do to the injury.

The issue comes at a time when the Cubs are down Justin Steele for the remainder of the season after he underwent Tommy John surgery. Shota Imanaga has been out since he hurt his hamstring on May 4.

The Cubs are looking to make a trade for starting pitcher help. Not only do they need to add quality to the rotation, but they need to give pitcher’s like Boyd some rest for before the postseason.

Boyd has a 6-3 record this season and an ERA of 2.84.

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Chicago Cubs get great news from lefty ace’s first rehab outing

Paul Magno — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 19:15:14 +0000

The Chicago Cubs suffered a devastating blow in early May, when lefty co-ace Shota Imanaga was placed on the injured list due to a left hamstring strain.

The horrible news came just over a month after the team lost their other lefty co-ace Justin Steele for the season due to an elbow injury that required surgery.

The loss of Imanaga was especially frustrating since there seemed to be no firm time frame for his return. Recovery from hamstring injuries, in general, tends to be unpredictable. But the fact that the 31-year-old has never suffered from a lower-body injury has contributed to the uncertainty when it comes to a timeline for return.

So, the Cubs and the Japanese starter have been taking things day by day. A 25-pitch bullpen session on May 28 led to subsequent work. On June 3, it was reported that Imanaga had flown to Arizona to face live batters at the Cubs’ training complex.

Shota Imanaga’s First Rehab Outing

MLB: San Diego Padres at Chicago Cubs Apr 4, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga (18) throws the ball against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

On Monday, the much-needed rotation asset finally pitched in an actual game situation– and it reportedly went quite well.

Pitching for the Arizona Complex League (ACL) Cubs in a game against the ACL Rockies, SI.com reports that Imanaga worked two full innings, allowing only one hit and striking out four. By accounting of the stats, it was a commanding performance in 106-degree Arizona weather and with lots of underlying uncertainty mixed up with the stress of facing his first live hitters in over a month. No pitch count was released.

The next step, of course, is to do this all over again, likely upping the pitch count a bit, before possibly moving on to an actual minor league rehab stint. Obviously, though, this depends on how Imanaga feels and how the Cubs feel about his advancement. More and more, it’s looking like manager Craig Counsell’s mid-May assessment of a major league return “well into June” will be right on the money.

But we ARE ten days into June, as of this writing, so that’s not entirely awful news.

The Chicago Cubs Starting Rotation Balancing Act

Apr 18, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell (11) smiles before a game between the Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

To say that the Cubs need Imanaga is an understatement. Even with the team sitting somewhat comfortably atop the NL Central Division and the starting pitching holding together admirably well, the strains of a depleted front of rotation are starting to be felt. As the season goes on and the pressure of a playoff race amps up, the team won’t be able to skate by on a strong offense and a merely competent everything else.

Offseason free agent acquisition Matthew Boyd and Jameson Taillon have picked up the front-of-rotation slack in Imanaga’s absence. Free agent signee Colin Rea has, mostly, done well in his role as a fill-in starter. Top pitching prospect Cade Horton is clearly a work in progress, but he’s also performed well enough since his big league call-up in early May. Sophomore Ben Brown, meanwhile, has put together a pair of impressive outings after a wildly inconsistent beginning to the season.

Aggressive Trade-Minded Cubs?

Jed Hoyer, Tom Ricketts

Maintaining a league-competitive rotation in the face of losing their two aces (and fifth starter Javier Assad before the season began) has been an impressive balancing for Counsell and his staff. But it’s a balancing act nonetheless.

It’s widely believed that the Cubs will be very aggressive in looking for pitching before the trade deadline and potential high-end trade targets have already been mentioned.

Getting Imanaga back, though, would be a huge playoff drive boost alongside whoever they can pick up in a swap.

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Chicago Cubs starter comments on his costly mistake

Zack Cariola — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 13:46:34 +0000

The Chicago Cubs lost a heartbreaker to the Philadelphia Phillies, losing by a score of 4-3 in extra innings, where the bullpen couldn’t keep the game tied and give the offense one more chance to score some runs. The Cubs haven’t had a hard time scoring runs this season, as they rank second in all of Major League Baseball in runs scored (366), but were limited to just three runs last night, as the Phillies sent their Ace Zack Wheeler to the mound, who had just returned after he and his wife welcomed another child.

To counter Wheeler, the Cubs sent left-hander Matthew Boyd to the mound, and he didn’t disappoint, as he matched Wheeler pitch for pitch. Boyd and Wheeler both pitched six strong innings, in which they both allowed one earned run, but Boyd allowed two runs overall after he committed a costly error in the fifth inning, which led to the Phillies taking the lead in the ballgame.

Boyd comments on his costly error

MLB: Chicago Cubs at Philadelphia Phillies Jun 9, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Cubs starting pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) throws a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies in the third inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

After the ballgame, during his scrum with the media, Boyd commented on the error that allowed the Phillies to take the lead after Phillies’ rookie third baseman Otto Kemp went first to third after Boyd attempted to pick him off. Boyd, via Marquee Sports Network, said about the error:

“The part that sticks out to me is the error … when you’re going up against a guy like Zack Wheeler, there’s not a lot of margin for error.”

Matthew Boyd on his outing today.”

"The part that sticks out to me is the error … when you're going up against a guy like Zack Wheeler, there's not a lot of margin for error."

Matthew Boyd on his outing today. pic.twitter.com/Z4lKueg7np

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) June 10, 2025

Kemp would end up scoring on that costly error after Boyd allowed a bloop single, which fell in front of Kyle Tucker out in rightfield. Boyd is not wrong about matching Wheeler’s pace, as he is one of the best pitchers in the sport and has finished in the top ten for the Cy Young in three out of the last five seasons.

Boyd could be one of the Chicago Cubs’ lone pitchers on this year’s All-Star team

MLB: Chicago Cubs at Washington Nationals Jun 4, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) walks to the dugout after being removed from the game against the Washington Nationals during the eighth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

The Cubs may have a few players represent them at this year’s All-Star game, most of them being position players, but with the way Boyd has pitched this season, and the way he’s carried the staff after it has dealt with injuries, Boyd could be one of the only pitchers that represents the team at this season’s Midsummer Classic. Overall, through 13 starts, Boyd has pitched to a 5-3 record with a 2.89 ERA and an ERA+ of 132 in 74.2 innings.

The now 34-year-old Boyd is pitching in his first fully healthy season, after making eight starts last season for the Cleveland Guardians after having Tommy John Surgery in 2023. Boyd is showing no signs of slowing down, and if he can continue his run of dominating hitters while on the mound, he could find himself pitching in his first career All-Star game.

May 17, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Cubs starting pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) delivers a pitch against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

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Cubs veteran pitcher making strong case for 1st All-Star nod

Tyler Koerth — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 00:15:43 +0000

The Chicago Cubs are entering June 5 with a 38-23 record, which is second best in the National League. Currently, only the New York Mets have more wins and a higher winning percentage than Chicago. With the Cubs success has come some outstanding individual performances, and with All-Star voting underway one veteran pitcher is making a strong case for his first All-Star nomination.

Chicago Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd is making a strong case for his first All-Star nod

MLB: Chicago Cubs at Washington Nationals

34 year old veteran Matthew Boyd has been in the league for 11 years now, but has never been an All-Star. Throughout the years, health has played a big factor in this, but so far in 2025 he has been a stabilizing force in the Cubs rotation with players like Javier Assad, Justin Steele, and Shota Imanaga on the injured list.

Boyd’s ERA in 2025 currently sits at 3.01. Of his 12 starts, eight of them have been quality starts, meaning he’s covered at least six innings with three or fewer earned runs eight times. Most recently he took a perfect game into the sixth inning against the Washington Nationals, again highlighting how dominant he has been this season.

Where does Matthew Boyd rank among other National League All-Star candidates?

Among qualified players in the National League, Boyd currently ranks 13th in ERA (3.01), 16th in strikeouts (70), 18th in innings pitched (68.2) and 22nd in WHIP (1.19). His eight quality starts has him tied for the third most. With the level of consistency he’s shown this season, there’s a strong chance he’ll continue climbing these leaderboards as the month progresses.

With the way Boyd has performed this season, he is certainly deserving of All-Star consideration. As the Cubs position themselves to send multiple representatives to the Midsummer Classic, Boyd has built a compelling case to be among them. A first-time All-Star nod would be well-earned recognition for his steady and impactful presence on the mound.

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Chicago Cubs’ big second-half pitching hopes may center on recoveries, not trades

Paul Magno — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 23:16:47 +0000

The Chicago Cubs are riding high right now, carried to a somewhat comfortable first-place spot in the NL Central Division by their league-best offense.

Their formerly shaky bullpen has also solidified in recent weeks, making it one of the most reliable relief corps in baseball at the moment.

The live-or-die aspect of the team, though, may be its starting pitching.

The Cubs lost their ace Justin Steele to an elbow injury back in early April, and they won’t have him back until May-June of next year, at the earliest. Then, they lost co-ace lefty Shota Imanaga to a hamstring injury in early May. And, before all of that, Javier Assad was lost due to an oblique issue.

For those keeping tabs, that makes 60% of their starting rotation lost for all, or most, of the season thus far.

The Chicago Cubs’ Starting Rotation Has Held Together, Somewhat

Despite the losses and setbacks, the Cubs’ rotation has actually held together quite well. With Jameson Taillon and free agent acquisition Matthew Boyd leading the way, along with veteran Colin Rea, sophomore Ben Brown, and top pitching prospect Cade Horton, the staff has been outstanding in spots and iffy in others. Overall, though, they’ve been good enough not to be a liability.

But “good enough to not be a liability” won’t be good enough in the postseason or even in the late-season drive to make postseason play. The Cubs need starting pitching.

The big hope among fans is that the front office will pull off some big deal by trade deadline, bringing over a stud top-of-rotation starter for the playoff race.

The Realities Of The Deadline Trade Market

But the trade market looks like it will be pretty slim this year, especially when it comes to high-end starters. Of the few who may be available, some, like Miami’s Sandy Alcantara and Arizona’s Zac Gallen, are performing poorly and may not be desirable fits because of it. The remaining starters will require a hefty haul in return, as it will most definitely be a seller’s market.

And given that the Cubs have not been generally known for big, bold in-season trades, the team may find itself on the losing end of trade bidding wars.

So, what does that mean for Chicago’s push to bring in an ace-level starting pitcher?

They may NOT get one, at least not from the outside.

The Cubs May Have To Look Internally For Second-Half Pitching Help

The Cubs may have to settle for returning assets to be their rotation-fortifying additions. Notably, Imanaga.

According to Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network, Imanaga has flown to Arizona to face live hitters. This news comes after the news that the Japanese star had pitched back-to-back bullpen sessions without discomfort.

These are positive updates when it comes to Imanaga’s return and, with a short rehab stint in Iowa, it means that they could get him back at full strength somewhere around the all-star break.

The progress of Assad is a bit hazier, with the last word being that he had started playing catch about a week ago. Optimistically, the Cubs could hope to have him back in some capacity by late summer, just in time to help eat some innings in long relief and/or possibly spot start.

If the high-end trade market proves to be too unfriendly, the team may have to settle on a second-tier pitching addition or two for the sake of depth and to give manager Craig Counsell flexibility and maneuverability to make the most with what he has.

More and more, it appears that this might be the path the Cubs will have to take as the real playoff race takes shape. For now, everyone will just cross their fingers that Imanaga gets back, Assad can contribute something, and that no other pitchers go down to injury.

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Chicago Cubs’ left-hander is making his way up the ranks in consecutive wins in franchise history

Andy Jachim — Mon, 19 May 2025 19:00:37 +0000

In their last homestand, the Chicago Cubs got consistently strong outings from their starting rotation against the Marlins and White Sox. Their 5-1 record on the week speaks volumes to how well the staff did, as their one loss came in the series finale against Miami last Wednesday. The 3-1 defeat saw veteran right-hander Jameson Taillon give up three solo home runs, but still getting through six frames of work.

Last year’s rotation was by far the strongest part of the team, as the bullpen had their fair share of implosions and the offense fell flat pretty frequently. It was unreasonable to put this much pressure on the rotation again in 2025, so Jed Hoyer went out and made moves to try and make the rest of the roster stronger. The team’s offense is now one of the best in baseball, but the bullpen still needs some work done to it.

One of the front office’s free agent signings this offseason has been massive as a member of the rotation. He has needed to step up with injuries being prevalent in the staff so far.

Matthew Boyd is putting himself in Chicago Cubs history

May 11, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) delivers a pitch during the third inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Boyd went six innings and allowed three runs on four hits in the Cubs’ 7-3 win over the White Sox on Saturday. The veteran now has four consecutive appearances on the hill at Wrigley Field with a victory, which puts him in second all-time in franchise history in that category. Boyd sits behind Rick Sutcliffe, who had eight straight home outings with a victory.

The southpaw has been overpowering batters so far in his three starts in May. Boyd punched out eight against the White Sox on Saturday, and did the same thing on May 11 on the road when the team took on the Mets. His first start of the month came against San Francisco at home on May 5, where he struck out seven in the 9-2 win.

The Chicago Cubs investment in Matthew Boyd has paid off so far

Chicago Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) and catcher Miguel Amaya (9) share a few words after finishing up in the fifth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-Imagn Images

Boyd was given a two-year deal in December worth just under $30 million total following a strong 2024 campaign with the Guardians where he tossed under 40.0 innings in the regular season while working back from injury. The signing was a pure upside decision from the front office, and it has paid off big time so far. Boyd has been an anchor in the Cubs’ rotation, and has answered the bell while Shota Imanaga and Justin Steele have been on the shelf.

Fortunately, Imanaga should be back at some point in June, where Steele will miss the rest of the campaign. Boyd has a 4-2 record in nine starts in this season. The lefty has a 2.98 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP in 51.1 innings tossed in an important role with the club’s starting group. He is slated to throw again in the series opener against the Reds on Friday.

MLB: Chicago Cubs at Arizona Diamondbacks Mar 30, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) throws a pitch in the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-Imagn Images

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Chicago Cubs should be eyeing White Sox series for shopping ideas

Paul Magno — Sun, 18 May 2025 12:00:30 +0000

The Chicago Cubs are teetering on the brink of disaster.

That’s not exactly the expected opening line of an article about a first place team not far removed from a gloriously one-sided victory and riding high on a wave of excitement.

It’s the truth, though.

The disaster in question refers to the Cubs’ starting rotation, which is holding up remarkably well, despite currently missing it’s top two arms and a solid back-of-rotation piece.

With Justin Steele out for the season after elbow surgery, Shota Imanaga out with a tricky hamstring injury, and Javier Assad gone until mid-season with his ongoing oblique issues, the team is missing 60% of its projected rotation.

Tough Days Ahead, A Trade Must Be Made

May 11, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

While Matthew Boyd and Colin Rea have stepped up to assume the ace roles of Steele and Imanaga– for now– and the offense has helped to overcome uneven performances from the rest of the rotation, eventually the team will feel the strain of not having a full starting five.

The season is long and grueling and the Cubs will need to add at least one full-time, front-of-rotation arm for what they hope to be a playoff run. So, it’ll be necessary to make some sort of trade by the deadline to shore things up.

That’s why the Cubs should be looking at this current White Sox series, almost as if they were browsing a catalog for shopping ideas.

Shopping For Sox?

MLB: Minnesota Twins at Chicago White Sox Apr 1, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox pitcher Shane Smith (64) delivers against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

The last place White Sox bring with them a bevy of talented young arms and a significantly less impressive crew of position players. As a matter of fact, at the moment, their entire starting rotation is made up of 20-something talent.

And not only are the White Sox stacked with young arms at the major league level, they are also packed with pitching prospects in the minors, with four of their top ten prospects listed as pitchers.

It might be wise for the Cubs front office to give the Sox front office a jingle and have some conversations about a swap of young assets.

The Cubs organization is top-heavy with talented position players, but not so much with high-end pitching prospects, other than Cade Horton, who’s currently struggling to get acclimated in the majors.

Jed Hoyer and the Cubs crew could target Shane Smith, Sean Burke, Jonathan Cannon, Davis Martin, or, to a much lesser degree, the more well-weathered free agent Bryse Wilson. Free agent acquisition Martin Perez had been mentioned previously as a potential Cubs trade target, but he’s currently dealing with elbow issues on the 60-day injured list.

The Chicago Cubs And Chicago Whites Sox: Ideal Trade Partners?

In the past, deals between the crosstown rivals were considered difficult to make because of their rivalry. That’s just not the case anymore. The two Chicago teams are in very different situations right now and in possession of a good quantity of trade capital to help push them where they need to be.

The Cubs need majors-ready pitching. They need someone who can step into the starting rotation right now and deliver solid results every fifth game.

Given their frugal, budget-conscious mindset, they’d also really, really enjoy getting someone on the cheap with several controllable years ahead of them. Throwing trade capital around for names such as Sandy Alcantara and Tyler Anderson may be showier and generate a greater splash, but that’s not generally the “Cubs way” of doing things.

The White Sox, meanwhile, are in full rebuild mode and are stockpiling talent for a complete franchise turnaround in the not-too-distant future. They are also overloaded with pitching, not only sporting a good crew of young arms in the majors, but also in the minors, where they currently have, per MLB.com, the top two left-handed pitching prospects in all of baseball, Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith.

Could the Cubs entice the Sox with prospects such as Moises Ballesteros, Owen Caissie, Kevin Alcantara, and/or James Triantos?

Honestly, it’s possible that the Sox feel themselves so deep in prospects that they wouldn’t really want anyone from the Cubs.

But it certainly would make a lot of sense for the Cubs to try and grab at a South Side arm or two.

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Chicago Cubs’ starting pitcher has been snake bitten by the long ball in his last 2 starts

Andy Jachim — Thu, 15 May 2025 13:30:03 +0000

The Chicago Cubs did not complete the sweep against Miami at home on Wednesday night, but still claimed another series at Wrigley Field this season. They put together a comeback in game two of the set where Justin Turner walked it off with a two-run double in the ninth inning. Even though the Cubs claimed this series thanks to those late-inning heroics, their bats fell quiet against a relatively poor pitching staff.

Miami has a couple of solid arms in their bullpen like Anthony Bender, but Chicago has done better against much strong units so far this season. They scored just one run on four hits in their 3-1 to conclude the series on Wednesday, with Seiya Suzuki launching his 11th home run of the season in the fourth frame to give the Cubs their lone run.

Jameson Taillon got the ball for the Cubs on Wednesday and he has been solid so far in his third season with the organization. The veteran right-hander has stacked together quality starts to begin the campaign, but one thing has held him back in his last two outings.

Jameson Taillon has allowed seven homers in his last two starts

May 9, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jameson Taillon (50) pitches against the New York Mets during the first inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Despite giving the Cubs a chance to win in his last two times on the hill, Taillon has allowed seven home runs in that stretch. The veteran gave up four solo shots against the Mets last Friday at Citi Field, and followed it up by having three more solo homers hit against him on Wednesday. Taillon hasn’t had the strongest May, as he has allowed 10 earned runs in three starts. However, none of the two losses that he has picked up were out of hand when he was taken out of the game.

Taillon was extremely sharp in April across five starts. The right-hander finished the month with a 2.76 ERA in 29.1 innings tossed, but the Cubs only won two of his five starts that month. Dating back to Chicago’s 10-4 loss on the road against San Diego where Taillon got the nod, they have only won one of his last six starts.

The Chicago Cubs still have a reliable starter in Jameson Taillon

Even though things haven’t been in Taillon’s favor as of late, Chicago still has a quality starter in the 33-year-old. He has a 2-3 record so far this season in nine starts and he has a 4.53 ERA. His 1.11 WHIP is 30th among all starters in baseball, and he looks much more like he did in a solid 2024 campaign with the Cubs rather than his hard-to-watch 2023 season with the club.

With Chicago’s pitching staff losing it’s depth due to injuries to Shota Imanaga and Justin Steele, they will need to lean on veterans like Taillon and Matthew Boyd to carry them until the trade deadline. Taillon will get another shot at the Marlins when the Cubs travel to Miami to begin a three-game series next Monday.

Aug 14, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jameson Taillon (50) delivers a pitch in the second inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images

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Chicago Cubs veteran starting pitcher stresses the importance of going deep into games

Andy Jachim — Mon, 12 May 2025 16:00:12 +0000

Despite a rough past week for the Chicago Cubs, their starting pitching remained consistent like it has been all season long through early-May. Their rotation was the strongest part of their squad in 2024, but injuries have made that tough to follow this spring. Justin Steele went down for the season in mid-April and Shota Imanaga strained his hamstring in Milwaukee over a week ago, so depth has become an issue for the unit. The Cubs were able to take the opening game of the San Francisco series last Monday, which was the first of just two games that they won in that six-game stretch.

Chicago followed up their massive series opening victory by dropping three straight contests for the first time all season. It’s impressive that this was the first time that the team had done this in 2025, as they had a gauntlet that they needed to complete to begin the campaign. Out of there first 29 games of the year, 20 of the Cubs’ battles came against the Dodgers, Padres and Diamondbacks. They managed to stay above .500 in these games, as they went 11-9.

After Sunday’s loss at Citi Field, one the club’s more consistent starters this season spoke on how important it is for the rotation to take care of business this year.

Matthew Boyd stresses Chicago Cubs’ starters going deep into games

Following his start in the series finale against the Mets, Matthew Boyd spoke to the media about the importance of the current rotation going as deep into games as possible.

“That’s our job as a starter, it’s always important,” Boyd said. “The bullpen’s been amazing for us, and it doesn’t change what’s been happening. The bullpen’s been money for us and they’ve been doing a lot for us down there.”

The bullpen has received plenty of criticism so far this year after not being able to hold onto a handful of leads. While guys like Porter Hodge have been relatively consistent, there are still way more questions than answers in the stable as the summer nears. Boyd was sharp once again on Sunday, as he allowed just two runs in six innings for the second straight start. He now has a 3-2 record with a 2.78 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 45.1 innings tossed this year.

The Chicago Cubs’ could use some starting pitching depth

Apr 12, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga (18) and pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) before the game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Even though Imanaga could be back around the beginning of June, the Cubs front office could look to add some depth in the rotation down the stretch. Names like Brad Keller and Sandy Alcantara have been floated around on the rumor mill, and either would be great additions to the current unit.

Alcantara has had a rough start to the 2025 campaign, so his price could be much more reasonable for Chicago to make a solid offer on now compared to what it would have been at the beginning of the year. Keller has been the definition of consistent for the Pirates since the 2021 season and has kept a clean bill of health in the process, making him another suitable candidate for the front office to pursue.

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Matthew Boyd breaks drought; 1st Cubs pitcher since 2019 with this accomplishment

Tyler Koerth — Mon, 12 May 2025 02:15:11 +0000

Matthew Boyd has done everything, and more, than the Chicago Cubs expected when they signed him to a two year, $29 million deal this off-season. Through his first eight starts, he has an impressive 2.78 ERA over 45.1 innings pitched, but what he has done over his last two outings hasn’t been done by a Cubs pitcher since 2019.

It’s been nearly six years since a Chicago Cubs pitcher posted back-to-back quality starts with this stat line

MLB: Chicago Cubs at New York Mets

Boyd has been on a tear all season, consistently giving the Cubs length by going at least five innings in every start. Lately, though, he’s taken it up a notch. In his last two outings, against the Giants and Mets, Boyd tossed six innings each, racked up seven and eight strikeouts respectively, and didn’t issue a single walk.

According to Christopher Kamka, Boyd’s stat line of six innings pitched, zero walks, and at least seven strikeouts in consecutive starts is the first time a Cubs pitcher has done this since Yu Darvish in 2019. Darvish accomplished this during starts on August 9 and 15 when he went six innings, struck out nine, and walked zero against the Reds and followed that up by tossing seven innings, striking out 10, and walking zero against the Phillies.

Matthew Boyd believes Chicago Cubs starters need to go deep into games

Much like in recent seasons, the bullpen continues to be the Cubs’ achilles heel, posting a 4.75 ERA that ranks in the bottom third of the league. Boyd’s most recent outing against the Mets highlighted the issue once again, as the bullpen surrendered four earned runs after his exit.

After the game, Boyd talked about how the bullpen has been fighting for the team, but regardless of what they are going through his job is to continually work deep into games. Boyd said, “That’s our job as a starter, it’s always important. That’s what we are called to do.”

“That’s our job as a starter, it’s always important … the bullpen’s been amazing for us.”

Matthew Boyd on the need for Cubs starters to go deep into games. pic.twitter.com/WWbjNmGakm

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) May 11, 2025

Boyd’s comments on providing length for the team hits home even more when taking into account the Cubs are trying to manage a starting rotation without Javier Assad, Justin Steele, and Shota Imanaga. If Chicago wants to continue their early season success, they’ll need more performances from others like Boyd has provided all season long.

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Why Chicago Cubs fans don’t need to panic after series loss to the Giants

Andy Jachim — Fri, 09 May 2025 15:00:50 +0000

The Chicago Cubs dropping two of three games at home against the San Francisco Giants to begin this week was certainly not ideal after how Monday’s game went. The offense plated nine runs in the series opener with Matthew Boyd on the mound. The veteran left-hander went six strong innings and allowed two runs on five hits while not walking a batter and collecting seven strikeouts. Boyd has been a solid addition to this Chicago rotation that has needed him to step up with injuries to fellow southpaws Justin Steele and Shota Imanaga early in the season.

Ian Happ led the way offensively for the Cubs in the series opener with three runs driven in. His two-run homer in the third frame got the scoring started in the contest and was his third long ball of the campaign. Chicago fell flat in the final two games of the series, with the offense not having much to say. They still have won most of their sets so far in 2025 while dealing with one of the hardest schedules in baseball. Because of this, any fan that is worried about the team moving forward might be an overreaction on their part.

Chicago Cubs fans don’t need to panic

Apr 8, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Ryan Pressly (55) delivers during the ninth inning against the Texas Rangers Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

Despite the Cubs dropping the series to San Francisco at home this week, fans should not be freaking out on the state of the team whatsoever. The Giants are 10 games above .500 and Chicago’s offense was able to have a big showing against their pitching staff on Monday. San Francisco has a dominant big three in their bullpen for the final three innings of close games and the Cubs forced extra frames in game two of the set on their closer, Ryan Walker.

The expectation of Chicago’s offense coming out every game and scoring six or more runs is unrealistic. There will be stretches throughout the summer where the bats go cold and it will be up to a hopefully revamped pitching staff to make up for that. It’s also worth noting that the Cubs have not played a team under .500 through their first 38 games of the season with the exception of the three-game series that they had at PNC Park against the Pirates last week. Better times are ahead scheduling wise, and this team is in a good spot to make a run at claiming the division crown in 2025.

Nico Hoerner was fantastic for the Chicago Cubs in the series

May 5, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman (26) steals second as Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner (2) makes a late tag during the second inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

Nico Hoerner collected a hit in each game of the Giants series and appears to be getting into a nice groove after getting a later start to the season than normal due to surgery he had in the offseason. In the final game of the series on Wednesday, Hoerner had half of the Cubs’ hits by collecting two doubles in the 3-1 loss.

Hoerner is still searching for his first home run of the season, but he has been mostly known as a contact hitter throughout his career. After having a rougher 2024 season, his approach in the box has clearly changed and he looks much more like he did in 2023 when he finished the season hitting .283 in 150 games.

Apr 23, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) celebrates with Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner (2) after they score on his three-run home run during the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

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Chicago Cubs ‘quiet ace’ proving essential to team’s success

Tyler Koerth — Tue, 06 May 2025 16:00:48 +0000

The Chicago Cubs starting rotation has been hit by injury this year, especially their top two pitchers as Justin Steele is out for the year and Shota Imanaga recently landed on the injured list with a hamstring strain. Along with Steel and Imanaga, Javier Assad began the year injured, suffered a setback in his recovery, and at best won’t be back until June.

With all the injuries, Colin Rea has stepped into the rotation alongside Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, and Ben Brown. Of this group, Boyd has been the team’s quiet ace and has proven to be essential to the team’s success.

Chicago Cubs “quiet ace” Matthew Boyd has been essential to the team’s success

MLB: San Francisco Giants at Chicago Cubs

As of May 6, Boyd leads the starting rotation in ERA (2.75) and strikeouts (37). Throughout his seven outings he has not allowed more than three earned runs in a game while always covering at least five innings. His consistently good performances have kept the Cubs in every game that he has pitched and he’s proved to be one of the most reliable arms on the staff so far this season.

Matthew Boyd’s success will be key for the Cubs going forward

As the Cubs fight to stay atop the National League Central division, while managing injuries to Steele, Imanaga, and Assad, Boyd’s ability to continually deliver steady and quality starts will be crucial. When healthy, he has the track record to to be a dependable presence every fifth day, which positions him to be a major factor going forward in Chicago sustaining their early season momentum and success.

The emergence of Boyd as the team’s “quiet ace” and stabilizing force in their rotation shouldn’t be overlooked. However, Chicago is going to need him to continue to deliver at this level. With all the injuries in the rotation, his consistency could be the difference between staying in the division race or slipping in the standings.

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Chicago Cubs star outfielder a part of All-MLB first team poll through April

Andy Jachim — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 19:00:25 +0000

The Chicago Cubs currently sit with a 1.5 game lead in the NL Central through the first 30 games of the 2025 season after playing their first divisional game on Tuesday. They took care of business in the first of a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 9-0 victory where the team did not strike out once. This is the first time this has happened for a Cubs squad since the 2013 season, and it continues to add onto the team having serious buzz early on in the campaign.

The Cubs have an 18-12 record heading into Wednesday evening’s contest with the Pirates where Matthew Boyd will get the ball with a chance to take the series before getaway day. Despite Chicago having a much easier schedule in May compared to what they began the year with in April, plenty of NL Central action will keep them on their toes as they prepare for the summer.

There are still some areas of the roster that need to be properly addressed throughout the summer. This team won’t be able to get by long term with what they have at third base and the inconsistent arms in their bullpen. All of that aside, a major reason why the Cubs are sitting how they are right now is due to their big offseason acquisition in the outfield.

Chicago Cubs’ star Kyle Tucker already in All-MLB talks

Apr 4, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker (30) is greeted by manager Craig Counsell (11) after scoring against the San Diego Padres during the fifth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

Through the first month of the 2025 season, Tucker was recognized on the All-MLB first team poll. The slugger has seven home runs and 26 runs driven in over the course of his 30 games played in this season. Tucker is slashing .288/.397/.568 with an .965 OPS in 118 at-bats and has automatically made everyone in the lineup around him significantly better this year.

Tucker as come through in some big spots for the Cubs and has shown off his clutch gene early on in the Windy City. He has instantly been an upgrade over Cody Bellinger in right field, who the organization dealt to the Yankees shortly after Tucker was acquired from Houston in December. The 28-year-old will give Chicago a real chance at playing significant games down the stretch if he can continue to impact the game every night.

The Chicago Cubs front office can’t let Kyle Tucker leave the city

The pressure was immediately on Jed Hoyer and the Cubs front office after they pulled off a trade for Tucker. He is the best player that the organization has had since Kris Bryant was in his prime years and he has certainly fit the mold of a franchise corner stone in a big market like Chicago so far.

Tucker will not come cheap for obvious reasons, but the front office and ownership group needs to do everything they can to assure that he will not leave Chicago after the 2025 season. He can change the game with one swing and is simply an all around presence that cannot be replaced once you have him in the fold. If he can’t be extended this offseason, the trade could be a colossal failure for years to come.

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Chicago Cubs face grim self-inflicted reality following Justin Steele loss, says former GM

Paul Magno — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 10:52:00 +0000

The Chicago Cubs had declared a front-of-rotation starter as their top priority very early into the offseason. But, for whatever reason, they were never able to pull the trigger on a high-profile trade or big ticket free agent acquisition.

Instead, they made a pair of calculated budget-minded acquisitions, working around the peripheral of their rotation.

The Cubs would sign rehabbed, rebuilt lefty Matthew Boyd to a 2-year, $29 million deal and veteran swing man Colin Rea for one year at $5 million.

So far, both pickups have proven to be smart, savvy acquisitions. However, not picking up a true ace-level starter meant that the Cubs would be headed into the 2025 season with almost no margin for error in the area of starting pitching.

And now, with the season-ending injury suffered to ace Justin Steele, that inability and/or unwillingness to add an impact starter seems to have come back to bite them on the proverbial rear end.

Offseason Decisions Have Come Back To Bite The Chicago Cubs

MLB: Cincinnati Reds at Chicago Cubs

Former New York Mets GM Steve Phillips recently commented on the Cubs’ predicament in an interview on MLB Network Radio.

“He was 5th in Cy Young voting in 2023,” Phillips pointed out. “He’s an underrated ace of this staff. Now they’re going to have to find a way to navigate their way through it without him…This is a big blow for a team where there’s pressure to win.”

“You can have a much depth as you want, you can build depth to replace the numbers of pitchers but not the impact of pitcher,” Phillips continued. “You don’t have a number one starter to replace your number one starter. You’ll have to piece it together and everyone is going to have to give it a little bit more right now.”

There Was No Margin For Error

Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer talks to the media after introducing pitcher Shota Imanaga (not pictured) during a press conference at Loews Chicago Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

The Cubs’ “no margin for error” predicament wasn’t exactly a secret headed into the 2025 campaign. Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer, himself, touched on this reality in a late March Q & A with The Athletic.

Per Hoyer:

“The National League is really challenging and when I look at our team, we have to play to our projections or better. … That’s always the concern. We have to stay healthy. We have to have guys outperform expectations…I feel like for us, we don’t have a lot of margin for error. We need guys to improve, we need to stay healthy, we need to play clean baseball. I think that the way this team is built…postseason. We have to have a really good season to do that.”

Vulnerabilities Exposed, Realities Faced

That minuscule margin for error was especially present when looking at the starting rotation.

Coming into this season, the Cubs’ rotation was topped by Steele, who had shown some physical frailties at the end of 2024 and Shota Imanaga, who was heading into his sophomore season. Behind the front two, there was Jameson Taillon, who has been inconsistent in his first two years as a Cub, and the oft-injured free agent signee, Boyd, a starter who hadn’t pitched more than 78.2 innings in a single season since 2019. Competing for the fifth starter slot was sophomore Ben Brown, Javier Assad, the demoted Jordan Wicks, and swing man Rea.

There was certainly some degree of depth in the back-end of the rotation, but zero answers for what might happen if Steele or Imanaga went down.

Now, the Cubs have to face a worst case scenario and they’ll have to overpay in trade capital if they make the move to bring in a true replacement for Steele.

Rumors abound as to who they may target in a trade, but it’s most likely that such a deal would have to wait until around the trade deadline.

Until then, a minor free agent pickup, internal options, and a hefty dose of overachieving from the rest of the starters will have to suffice for the next three-and-a-half months or so.

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Chicago Cubs outfielder has a higher season WAR than 2 of Baseball’s best talents

Andy Jachim — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 21:30:41 +0000

The Chicago Cubs series victory on the road against the Los Angeles Dodgers over the weekend has been the highlight of their season so far. They couldn’t plate a run against the Dodger pitching staff in the series opener where left-hander Matthew Boyd pitched very well in the 3-0 loss.

The tabled were flipped in a big way for the Saturday night tilt, where the Cubs handled Los Angeles their worst home shutout loss in franchise history with 16-0 being the final score. Young right-hander Ben Brown was sharp in the win, as he tossed six innings and punched out five batters.

The rubber match on Sunday night was the tightest of the series and the only game in the set where both teams scored. Pete Crow-Armstrong stole the show for Chicago, as the young centerfield had two homers and a triple in the 4-2 win to give the Cubs a huge series victory.

Chicago received some tough news on Sunday prior to first pitch with the announcement of Justin Steele needing season-ending surgery on his left elbow. Due to this, the front office still needs to figure out how they want to replace Steele’s spot in the rotation to give them the best chance at competing in October. Crow-Armstrong’s breakout game on Sunday made up for the sour news of the day and has him above two elite players in a specific statistical category.

Chicago Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong has a higher WAR than 2 greats

Apr 13, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) hits a solo home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the third inning of the game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Entering play on Monday, Crow-Armstrong has a 0.7 WAR this season. Per Cubs broadcaster Alex Cohen, he ranks above Shohei Ohtani (0.6) and Mike Trout (0.5) in that metric so far this season.

Current 2025 WAR rankings per @espn and @baseball_ref.

Pete Crow-Armstrong: 0.7 WAR
Shohei Ohtani: 0.6 WAR
Mookie Betts: 0.5 WAR

— Alex Cohen (@voiceofcohen2) April 14, 2025

The big news around Crow-Armstrong over the weekend came in regards to him turning down an extension worth $75 million to stick around the Cubs organization for the long haul. While he is supposedly still more than interesting in negotiating his new deal, he proved his worth on Sunday.

Crow-Armstrong made his big league debut with the Cubs at the end of the 2023 season and played in 123 games last year after spending the beginning of the campaign in Triple-A. The 23-year-old has posted a .229/.289/.400 slash line so far this season in 18 games. Crow-Armstrong’s two homers on Sunday were his first round-trippers of the year and he has also driven in seven runs in 70 at-bats.

The Chicago Cubs need Pete Crow-Armstrong to be reliable

Apr 8, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) after he hits a two RBI single against the Texas Rangers during the eighth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

Crow-Armstrong’s glove, arm and speed have always been the more consistent parts of his game. He can cover an insane amount of ground in centerfield and is a weapon on the bases when he can find himself aboard the bags. His glove was the second tool in the minors to show itself, as he took home multiple honors for his defensive play in the Cubs’ farm system.

The only aspect of Crow-Armstrong’s game that isn’t there on a daily basis is his bat. Nobody is expecting him to hit 20 home runs a season, but if he can get to the point in his career where he hits 10-12 in a season and has an average around the .275 mark, the organization would be more than happy with that.

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Chicago Cubs star left-handed pitcher done for the 2025 season

Andy Jachim — Sun, 13 Apr 2025 20:49:21 +0000

The Chicago Cubs’ starting rotation has without a doubt been the most consistent part of their roster so far in the 2025 season. They are coming off a 16-0 victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday night where Ben Brown dazzled in his six innings of work as the team’s starter.

While every member of the rotation has put together a couple of solid starts this season, one of the organization’s frontline starters received some brutal news on Sunday.

Chicago Cubs announce that Justin Steele is out for the season

MLB: Oakland Athletics at Chicago Cubs Sep 18, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele (35) delivers a pitch against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Craig Counsell made the fears of Cub fans official on Sunday when he announced that Steele will undergo season-ending surgery on his left elbow. The 29-year-old was placed on the injured list after his best start of the season on Monday against the Rangers, and things quickly went from bad to worse on the severity of his injury.

With the team off to a strong start and having aspirations to win the division, this is a crushing blow. Steele’s spot is up in the rotation for the Sunday night battle against the Dodgers and veteran right-hander Colin Rea has taken his place in the rotation for the time being.

It will be up to Matthew Boyd and Jameson Taillon to step up and fill Steele’s shoes for the rest of the season. Shota Imanaga continues to look like an ace, but it will take more than just his efforts to keep the franchise’s divisional title hopes intact.

Mar 19, 2025; Bunkyo, Tokyo, JPN; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele (35) reacts after giving up a home run against Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Enrique Hernández (8) (not pictured) in the fourth inning during the Tokyo Series at Tokyo Dome. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

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Cubs’ Matthew Boyd finally the best version of himself

Tyler Koerth — Sat, 12 Apr 2025 10:57:47 +0000

This off-season the Chicago Cubs signed veteran southpaw Matthew Boyd to a two year, $29 million deal with an option for a third season. To some, that may have been viewed as a gamble, given Boyd’s struggles to stay healthy since the shortened 2020 season, but it’s become clear that his time away from the mound and stints with several organizations taught him some valuable information that has fueled his strong start to the 2025 season.

Matthew Boyd has put up a pair of zeros to begin the 2025 season

Through his first two starts as a member of the Cubs, Boyd tossed 11.0 innings, gave up nine hits, walked four, struck out 10, and did not give up an earned run. His next test will be against the Los Angeles Dodgers this weekend, but so far he has shown an uptick in velocity from year’s past and a deadly slider/changeup off-speed combo.

With the Chicago Cubs, Matthew Body has been the best version of himself

In 2025, Boyd is aiming for a fully healthy season for the first time since 2020. He underwent elbow surgeries in 2021 and 2023 and has been limited to 15 or less MLB games since. Throughout that journey, he has spent time with the Tigers, Mariners, Guardians, and Giants.

Although Boyd never played for San Francisco, he told Maddie Lee of the Chicago Suntimes that while there in 2022 he learned the best version of a changeup that worked with his fastball and slider. This year, that changeup has generated whiffs at a 40% clip and Boyd feels like he is in complete control of his off-speed pitches.

“I’ve had the changeup at points in my career, I’ve had the slider at certain points in my career, but having them both as effective offerings, it hasn’t really been there. It’s fun to have both those pitches and still have my fastball in positions that I can just kind of let it rip.”

“I’ve spent a lot of time trying to be like other people, trying to learn a pitch like another person and whatnot. It’s like, well, maybe that didn’t work best for me. Let’s be the best version of myself and go take that against the best version of somebody else.”

-Matthew Boyd per the Chicago Suntimes

Hopefully everything Boyd has learned over the years will continue to translate into success on the mound in 2025 and a full/healthy season.

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Chicago Cubs: 2 emergency trade targets for a starting rotation without Justin Steele

Paul Magno — Sat, 12 Apr 2025 03:41:16 +0000

The Chicago Cubs got a serving of bad news in the midst of a feel-good run of victories when it was announced on Wednesday that lefty ace Justin Steele would be headed to the 15-day injured list with left elbow tendonitis.

The rattling report was even more disappointing since it came following a masterful Steele performance on Monday, where he threw seven scoreless innings and allowed just three hits in a 7-0 victory over the Texas Rangers.

Things got worse for the Cubs and their faithful fans when buzz began circulating Friday morning that the injury to their top starter was possibly more severe than initially believed.

Cubs beat writer Jesse Rogers, in a Friday morning appearance on ESPN 1000, expressed his informed, but as of yet unconfirmed, belief that Steele’s stay on the injured list will be longer than the current minimum.

Justin Steele’s Injury Has Dire Implications

Apr 1, 2025; West Sacramento, California, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Justin Steele (35) looks on after throwing a pitch against the Athletics during the second inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images

In a worst case scenario, the Cubs face the reality that they could lose their most consistent starter for an extended period of time. Even in a best case scenario, though, the team will have to work around Steele’s limitations for fear of aggravating the sensitive injury to his throwing arm.

And all of that means that the Cubs absolutely, positively need to bring in a new starting pitcher who can deliver quality innings every fifth day.

A returning Javier Assad is not the answer to that need. Bringing someone like Jordan Wicks back from the minors is not the answer. Working swing men like Colin Rea and Brad Keller into the rotation also isn’t a long-term answer.

As Brian Kelder of North Side Baseball recently pointed out, when assessing the “what if” implications of losing either Steele of Shota Imanaga for an extended period of time:

“I guess the answer to that will come quickly! Colin Rea was signed precisely for these moments as a swing arm. Jordan Wicks is struggling with a 1.76 WHIP in his first two starts in Iowa, Cade Horton isn’t stretched out, and Chris Flexen also sports a WHIP over 1.70. There is not a pitcher in the system that can be expected to come near to Justin Steele’s projected line.

The Cubs gambled a lot of their season on Imanaga and Steele maintaining their elite level while, in Steele’s case, increasing his workload. Matthew Boyd has been outstanding, also, which lessens the blow of Steele missing time. Even so, the team cannot afford to lose Steele for an extended period of time. They just weren’t built to withstand his loss.”

There are also legitimate question marks when it comes to the oft-injured and surgically repaired Boyd’s durability and Jameson Taillon’s consistency.

The Chicago Cubs Must Make A Trade

So, at this point, there’s no other option than a trade.

The problem is that most teams won’t be up for such a big trade, involving a valuable starting pitching asset, this early in the season. Even the no-hope teams already considering themselves out of contention would prefer to make their deals closer to the trade deadline, when market demand allows them to ask more for their trade-fodder pitchers.

So, if the Cubs do make a trade for starting pitching now, it’ll probably have to be for a stopgap budget mid-to-back-of-rotation starter, with the idea of making a bigger acquisition at the trade deadline.

With that in mind, here are two realistic potential trade targets who fit the Cubs needs, at least for right now.

Two Realistic Cubs Trade Targets

MLB: Los Angeles Angels at Tampa Bay Rays

Veteran right-hander Zack Littell has struggled for the Tampa Bay Rays so far this year and is currently playing through the last year of his contract with the team, which is projected by most to be a .500 club.

It’s quite likely that the Rays would be willing to deal him right now for a smallish asking price and to remove his $5.7 million salary from their books.

Littell has mostly been a starter in recent years, but he’s had his best seasons as a quality swing man who can start as well as serve as long relief.

Another trade target could be the Miami Marlins’ Cal Quantrill.

The 30-year-old, 7-year veteran was a bargain bin $3.5 million free agent pickup for the Marlins late this offseason, but could easily be flipped via trade for the right minor league asset.

Sporting a lifetime 4.09 ERA, Quantrill could be tacked on to the end of the Cubs’ rotation.

Picking up someone like Littell or Quantrill would purely be to eat innings and bide time until Chicago can pull off a bigger starting pitching acquisition at the deadline. Moves like this will be essential if Steele is lost for any extended period of time.

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Chicago Cubs place key starting pitcher on the 15-Day IL

Andy Jachim — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 15:35:17 +0000

The Chicago Cubs starting rotation has gotten off to a strong start in the 2025 season as the team is currently holding a 1.5 game lead in the NL Central. Jameson Taillon was the latest arm to have success in another quality start on Tuesday against the Rangers. The right-hander went six innings and allowed three runs on five hits while striking out six in the Cubs’ 10-6 victory.

With only a couple of starts in the first 14 games of the season being hiccups for the staff, things have been clicking on all cylinders. Unfortunately for the Cubs, they have hit their first pitching roadblock of the campaign due to injury.

Chicago Cubs place Justin Steele on the 15-Day IL

Mar 19, 2025; Bunkyo, Tokyo, JPN; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele (35) delievers a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning during the Tokyo Series at Tokyo Dome. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Steele was officially placed on the 15-day IL on Wednesday with left elbow tendinitis. Right-handed reliever Ethan Roberts has been called up to take Steele’s spot on the roster prior to Wednesday’s series finale at Wrigley Field against the Rangers.

Steele’s last start was his strongest of the season so far. He went seven scoreless innings in the win over Texas on Monday night, as he struck out eight and only walked two batters. He has a 3-1 record on the season with a 4.76 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP in four starts. Colin Rea could be the next man up in Chicago’s rotation to take Steele’s spot until he is fully recovered.

Apr 1, 2025; West Sacramento, California, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Justin Steele (35) throws a pitch during the second inning against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images

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Cubs newcomer gets emotional talking about Wrigley debut

Tyler Koerth — Sun, 06 Apr 2025 14:20:32 +0000

The Chicago Cubs have a large number of new faces on their 2025 team. Pitchers Ryan Pressly, Matthew Boyd, Colin Rea, Brad Keller, Eli Morgan, and Caleb Thielbar are all newcomers as well as position players Kyle Tucker, Justin Turner, and Gage Workman.

Of this group, Tucker has generated a lot of attention because he is the biggest star and also is an impending free agent at seasons end. Tucker has been great for the Cubs to begin the year, but Boyd, a starting pitcher, has also been incredible and recently got emotional when talking about his Wrigley debut.

Matthew Boyd has tossed 11 scoreless innings to begin his Chicago Cubs tenure

MLB: San Diego Padres at Chicago Cubs

Boyd, a veteran southpaw who signed a two year, $29 million deal with Chicago this off-season, has had a great start to his tenure as a Cubs player. Through two starts and 11 innings, he has not been scored on, he has given up just nine hits, walked only four, and has struck out 10.

Recently, he made his debut at Wrigley field where he tossed six scoreless innings against the San Diego Padres. He looked very sharp, gave up just five hits, and walked one batter. Chicago’s offense also put up seven runs and ultimately gave Boyd his first career win as a member of the Cubs.

Matthew Boyd got emotional talking about his Wrigley debut

MLB: San Diego Padres at Chicago Cubs

At 34 years old, Boyd had only pitched in Wrigley Field one time prior to his home debut on Saturday, April 5. His lone appearance beforehand came in 2015, where he recorded two outs in relief. For Boyd, this game meant a lot for his family and he got emotional talking about it post game.

In a press conference after the game, Boyd talked about how his grandfather grew up in the area and was a die hard Cubs fan. He lived to see them win the World Series in 2016, but passed away in 2019. With this on his mind, Boyd got chocked up and it was clear that pitching in a Cubs uniform at Wrigley Field was a special moment for him.

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Chicago Cubs top-of-the-rotation arm off to a rough start in 2025

Andy Jachim — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 17:00:20 +0000

The 2023 season marked a breakout year for Chicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele, which gave the organization hope for the future. He made 30 starts and posted a 16-5 record two years ago in 173.1 innings pitched. Steele closed out 2023 with a 3.06 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP for a Cubs team that just missed out on a Wild Card spot in the final weeks of the season. Steele’s 3.8 WAR in 2023 was by far the best mark in his career.

Steele was in the running for the CY Young Award two years ago but took a step back in 2024 despite posting similar numbers to the year prior. The southpaw made 24 starts last season and had a 5-5 record to go with his 3.07 ERA. Steele tossed in 134.2 frames as an injury on Opening Day against the Rangers kept him off the mound for about a month. He finished the season with a 1.10 WHIP and a 1.9 WAR.

Plenty is riding on Steele returning to form in 2025 to lead the Cubs rotation alongside Shota Imanaga. The organization desperately needs them to be horses for a pitching staff that is looking to lead the team to the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Unfortunately for Steele, things have not started out the way he would have liked to this year.

Justin Steele doesn’t look like himself

Steele has allowed at least three earned runs in each of his three starts so far this year. His most recent outing against the Athletics on Tuesday was his longest of the year at 6.2 innings, where he gave up four runs on seven hits in the Cubs 7-4 victory. While Steele was a pure gamer in his third start and gave Chicago a chance to win the game despite not having his best stuff, something is clearly off with him.

The left-hander is leaving plenty of his sliders up in the zone, which has led to balls in the gap and over the wall. Athletics’ catcher Shea Langeliers got the best of Steele for a two-run homer on Tuesday, but those were the last runs that he allowed in the game. The Athletics game was the second that the Cubs had won with Steele on the bump this season.

Steele can’t rely on the Chicago offense to score seven or more runs in every game that he starts this season, so something needs to change if the Cubs are hoping to get ace-stuff out of the former 2014 fifth-round draft pick. There is no denying that Steele can be great for the organization when he is on, but the inconsistencies over the past year or so leave room to worry about how much longer he can be relied on as a top-two starter in the rotation.

The Chicago Cubs might need to lean more on the other rotation arms

It will be up to the entire rotation to shoulder the load out of the gate this season. Ben Brown looked sharp in his first start of the campaign against the Athletics on Monday in an 18-3 rout, and he could be called upon in bigger spots down the road if he puts together a solid first full season in the big leagues.

Jameson Taillon had a rough go at it against the Diamondbacks on Friday, and he’ll look to get right against the Athletics on Wednesday. The right-hander is coming off his best season as a Cub, where he had a 3.27 ERA in 28 starts.

Matthew Boyd looked good in his official Cub debut over the weekend against Arizona, but the team couldn’t hold the lead for him as the bullpen imploded in the eighth inning. He and Taillon are in a similar boat as members of the middle of the rotation, and as veterans, they will need to step up.

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Chicago Cubs SP Matthew Boyd responds to bullpen blowing his great performance

Jordan Sigler — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 01:20:32 +0000

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matthew Boyd left Sunday’s game with a 1-0 lead and a chance to earn his first victory of the season. Following an eight-run collapse in the bottom of the eighth, Eli Morgan was credited with a loss as the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated Chicago 10-6 in front of 39,145 fans at Chase Field.

Boyd gave up four hits, three walks, and zero runs. He had five strikeouts in five innings pitched.

The Cubs would add two runs to their lead in the sixth before the Diamondbacks got on the board in the bottom of the sixth. Still, Chicago was in great shape in the eighth after Kyle Tucker hit a three-run home run to put the Cubs up 6-2.

The bullpen as a whole struggled.

The Chicago Cubs bullpen blew it

Feb 9, 2025; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Eli Morgan (33) warms up during spring training camp. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

Right-handed reliever Nate Pearson gave up three hits, two walks, and two earned runs in 1.1 innings pitched. Left-handed reliever Caleb Thielbar gave up two earned runs and three walks in .2 innings pitched. Arizona had their way with right-hander Eli Morgan, who gave up six hits, one walk, and six earned runs in .2 innings pitched.

Following the game, Cubs manager Craig Counsell admitted Chicago didn’t pitch well in the eighth. Counsell didn’t explain why he kept Morgan in the game until he gave up six runs.

Matthew Boyd reacts to the bullpen blowing a lead

Chicago Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) throws a pitch in the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-Imagn Images

Boyd talked to reporters after the game. He said he’s not worried about the bullpen blowing leads after the last two games.

“We got a great group of guys down there,” Boyd said of the bullpen, per a video from Marquee Sports Network. “We have so much talent. And there’s a lot of experience, and there’s not, not one ounce of worry when it comes to those guys. All in all, we got a great pitching staff.”

“We got a great group of guys down there, we have so much talent … there’s not one ounce of worry when it comes to those guys.”

Matt Boyd is confident in the Cubs bullpen. pic.twitter.com/nj7zQrT9lh

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) March 30, 2025

The Cubs have good names in the bullpen, but they’re not playing well. Ryan Pressly nearly blew a three-run lead in the ninth inning on Saturday night before shortstop Dansby Swanson made an incredible tag at third base to give Chicago a 4-3 win.

Right now, the bullpen looks a lot like last year.

Cubs pitcher Eli Morgan (33) throws a pitch against the Hanshin Tigers during the fifth inning at Tokyo Dome. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

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Chicago Cubs’ new starter dishes on depth of starting rotation

Paul Magno — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 21:20:40 +0000

The Chicago Cubs are coming into the 2025 season with what appears to be an upgraded starting rotation.

That’s a pretty significant achievement since the team’s 2024 starting pitching was just about the only thing that stayed consistently good from opening to closing day. With a combined ERA of 3.79, the Cubs’ staff ranked tenth in the majors at the end of the 2024 campaign.

Chicago’s stated goal headed into the offseason was to target a front-of-rotation starting pitcher to further bolster the team’s strength. That objective was seriously questioned, however, when they refused to even make a play at any of the high-end starting pitching free agents and also failed to pull the trigger on a trade to pick up such an arm.

The Chicago Cubs Upgraded Their Starting Rotation

MLB: Spring Training Seattle Mariners at Chicago Cubs

The Cubs did sign free agent Matthew Boyd to a 2-year, $29 million contract. It was the team’s first major move of the offseason and, ultimately, their only significant starting rotation move.

The 34-year-old Boyd is an upgrade from the outgoing veteran Kyle Hendricks, possessing the stuff and the mindset of a front-of-rotation starter unfortunately limited by a historically fragile arm.

In his 2024 with the Cleveland Guardians, the southpaw pitched extremely well after coming back from Tommy John surgery in 2023. He posted a 2.72 ERA in eight regular season starts. He also impressed in the playoffs, giving up just one earned run in 11.2 innings over three starts.

This year, he joins a returning Cubs rotation consisting of Justin Steele, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, and a fifth starter slot in play for Ben Brown, Colin Rea, Brad Keller, Jordan Wicks, or the currently injured Javier Assad.

Matthew Boyd Has High Praise For Cubs Rotation

MLB: Spring Training Chicago Cubs at Hanshin Tigers

Boyd, who is slated to start Game 4 of the Cubs’ domestic opening series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, recently had high praise for the Cubs starters, calling the staff one of the deepest crews he’s been on in his decade-long career.

“It’s a lot of talent, and talent beyond the five (starters),” he told The Chicago Tribune. “It’s one through nine, if you will. There are a lot of guys that can start that are super-talented. It’s one of the deepest rotations I’ve been on and the most talented. We all have our unique looks and unique ways to attack hitters.”

There is definitely depth when it comes to Cubs starting pitching. There are legitimately nine or ten pitchers who can man those five rotation slots, even with Wicks starting the season in the minors and Assad on the IL. If the front four of the rotation holds strong, that depth will be especially felt as there will then be several arms competing for just one rotation slot.

There Are Plenty Of Questions, Though

MLB: Spring Training Chicago Cubs at Yomiuri Giants

It should also be noted, though, that there are plenty of questions concerning the Cubs rotation and several possible ways things could go sideways.

Will the Wrigley Field winds that made the park so pitcher-friendly in 2024, start to blow out in 2025, suddenly making fly ball pitcher Imanaga significantly less successful? Will Taillon regress to poor 2023 form after a bounce back 2024 season? Will Boyd, who’s totaled just 275 innings pitched over the last five seasons and hasn’t pitched more than 100 innings in a single season since 2019, stay healthy over the long haul?

The names are certainly there for Chicago, but there is also some insecurity.

There’s a reason why the Cubs front office had been trying to bring another starting pitcher into the fold and, reportedly, are still trying to do so.

But, for now, everyone will cross their fingers and hope that what’s currently on paper– and what Boyd sees– translates to what plays out on the field.

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New Chicago Cubs pitcher could be “x-factor” if healthy

Andy Jachim — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 16:15:51 +0000

The Chicago Cubs have wrapped up their two exhibition contests in Tokyo and there were plenty of positive takeaways from both games. Despite the team being shutout in the first matchup 3-0 by the Hanshin Tigers, everyone got the work out of the bullpen as a way to knock off the rust before Tuesday’s season opener against the Dodgers.

Projected closer Ryan Pressly tossed a scoreless second frame and right-handed flamethrower Nate Pearson impressed as well. The former Toronto Blue Jay punched out a pair in a scoreless inning of his own after having a rough transition to the Cubs when he was acquired during the 2024 campaign.

The Cubs being held without a run in the first game was not ideal, but the bats came alive in game two. In a 4-2 victory over the Yomiuri Giants, all runs from both squads were plated in the fifth inning. Pete Crow-Armstrong doubled and rookie Matt Shaw collected a two-run single with the bases loaded.

Two members of the starting rotation combined for 8.1 frames of excellent work against the Giants, and one arm had high praise for the other entering the season.

Chicago Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd deemed an “x-factor”

Mar 8, 2025; Mesa, Arizona, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) on the mound in the first inning for a spring training game against the Seattle Mariners at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-Imagn Images

Jameson Taillon got the nod for Chicago against the Giants and went 4.1 frames. He allowed four hits and an earned run while walking a pair. Taillon punched out four batters and looked sharp in his lone outing overseas this year. When talking to the media after the game, Taillon had great things to say about new left hander Matthew Boyd who tossed the final four innings in the victory.

“He’s pretty nasty. I think if he’s healthy, he’s an x-factor for us this year.”

Jameson Taillon on Matt Boyd. pic.twitter.com/pC4xDRRhTf

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) March 16, 2025

Boyd allowed three hits in his scoreless outing and did not walk anyone. The southpaw punched out six in what could be his lone appearance out of the bullpen this season. Chicago inked Boyd to a two-year contract back in December which will pay him nearly $15 million per season.

Boyd spent most of the 2024 season rehabbing from injury, but he looked extremely sharp when he returned to the mound. He tossed 39.2 regular season innings and made eight starts with the Cleveland Guardians. Boyd finished the year with a 2-2 record and a 2.72 ERA to pair with his 1.13 WHIP.

The veteran has proved that he can be a solid asset to any rotation as long as he can stay on the field. Chicago’s starting pitching was by far the strongest and most consistent aspect of their team a year ago. The addition of Boyd shows that the Cubs front office knows the team needs a similar level of success out of their rotation if they want to make a run at the NL Central crown this year.

It will take more than Matthew Boyd in the Chicago Cubs rotation

Shota Imanaga was incredible for the Cubs in 2024 in his first big league season. While him and Justin Steele will serve as the one-two punch yet again this year, it will be hard for Imanaga to replicate his dominance from a year ago. On the flipside, Steele had a down year in 2024 compared to his stellar 2023 campaign, so him getting back to form could even things out.

Boyd and Taillon will hold down the third and fourth spots in the rotation which will be much more significant than ever before. Taillon’s second year as a Cub a season ago was a breath of fresh air compared to 2023 and the coaching staff is hoping that he can be similar to that version of himself this season.

The competition for the fifth spot in the rotation is still in full swing and it should be figured out after the Cubs return back to the states. It appears that the final two candidates are Ben Brown and Colin Rea, with Jordan Wicks on the outside looking in.

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Chicago Cubs bashed for possibly adding veteran starter as team reportedly pursues San Diego Padres ace

Paul Magno — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 13:28:54 +0000

The Chicago Cubs look to be still on the hunt for starting rotation pieces.

On Thursday, it was reported by USA Today’s Bob Nightengale that the Cubs were in negotiations with veteran right-hander Lance Lynn for a possible one-year deal. The news came as both a surprise and not a surprise.

It was a surprise because the Cubs were thought to be done with their pitching acquisitions, settled into the front four comprised of Shota Imanaga, Justin Steele, James Taillon, and Matthew Boyd, with fifth starter options Javier Assad, Ben Brown, Colin Rea, Brad Keller, and Jordan Wicks in the mix.

The not-surprising part came in the actual choice of the 37-year-old Lynn as a pickup, an acquisition in line with the Cubs’ MO of trying to pick up potentially viable major league assets on an affordable budget-friendly short-term contract.

Acquiring Lance Lynn, The Criticism

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Lance Lynn (31) pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Since the buzz about Lynn started, though, there’s been some significant criticism and doubt regarding the signing of the 13-year veteran, who also happens to be a fly ball pitcher.

“No thank you,” MLB Insider Bernstein said in a recent appearance on 670 The Score. “They don’t need another guy throwing 90. He’ll get his something lit in Wrigley Field.

“No thank you. A fly ball pitcher? The fact that Shota (Imanaga) got through last year as well as he did was great. That is a bad fit.”

Lynn is coming off a bounce back year in 2024, finishing with a 3.84 ERA in 23 starts with the St. Louis Cardinals after a career-worst 2023 campaign split between the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers where he posted a combined 5.73 ERA. In his career, the veteran has had a multi-year run as a high-end starter with a lifetime ERA of 3.74 in 2006.1 total innings.

Brandon Glick of Call to the Pen is declaring the possible signing of Lynn a typical workaround from a Cubs organization focused on the bargain bin at the expense of acquiring true star assets.

Per Glick:

“The Chicago Cubs — and, perhaps more specifically, Jed Hoyer — just cannot help themselves when it comes to the bargain bin…

…a doomsday scenario in reality would put Lynn in an uncomfortably important position. If Steele or Imanaga misses time along with someone like Boyd or Rea this season, Lynn could be asked to do far more than he’s been capable of in recent years.

Ultimately, the news of this potential signing is really just a microcosm of the entire Cubs offseason.

In a vacuum, the move makes sense, and perhaps should even be applauded for being forward-thinking. In reality, though, it just highlights what the team failed to do all winter outside of Tucker: bring in a star.”

A star, you say?

Chicago Cubs Still Pursuing Dylan Cease?

Oct 9, 2024; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Dylan Cease (84) throws in the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game four of the NLDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images

Jon Heyman of The New York Post is reporting that the Cubs are among as many as nine teams showing interest in San Diego Padres ace (and former Cubs farm system product) Dylan Cease, who is eligible to become a free agent after this 2025 season.

All of this last-minute hunting for starting pitching makes one wonder whether Chicago sees some issues in its rotation or, at the very least, some possibility of issues.

Starting Rotation Questions Emerging?

Sep 16, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga (18) throws the ball against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

Imanaga has struggled a bit in the Cactus League and has shown some troubling analytics data so far this spring. Many also feel that the Japanese star benefited greatly from an unusually pitcher-friendly Wrigley Field last year in his stellar rookie season.

The Cubs’ free agent acquisition, Boyd, has a history of injury and is coming off mid-2023 Tommy John surgery. He hasn’t thrown more than 100 innings in a season since 2019.

Assad, meanwhile, will be starting the season on the injured list with oblique issues. None of his fifth starter competition can be considered sure thing rotation assets at this point.

So, the Cubs may see the need to add arms, either in the front of the rotation or at the back, in anticipation of bad things happening for a rotation on a team where lots of good things should be taking place.

Who could argue that insurance is a bad thing? The question is whether the team is acquiring the right insurance.

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Chicago Cubs: Will the lack of one key ingredient be the Cubs’ 2025 downfall?

Paul Magno — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 23:30:18 +0000

The Chicago Cubs made a lot of moves this offseason to back up their assertion of being “all in” when it comes to making the playoffs for the first time since the abbreviated 2020 season.

Their biggest move, of course, was trading for multi-tool all-star right fielder Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros. They picked up closer Ryan Pressly in a separate trade with the Astros. They also acquired rehabbed lefty starter Matthew Boyd, a co-starting catcher in Carson Kelly, and several bullpen and infield pieces.

Chicago Cubs Missing One Key Ingredient?

Sep 13, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga (18) looks on in the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

As things stand right now, they are favored to win the NL Central division and expected to make their first deep-ish playoff run since 2017.

But they may be missing one key ingredient needed to go from postseason-likely to postseason-successful.

Alexander Patt of Cubbies Crib believes that missing piece of the puzzle is postseason experience, especially when it comes to the starting rotation.

Patt points out that neither of the team’s aces, Justin Steele and Shota Imanaga, have MLB playoff experience. James Taillon has just 4.1 career innings of after-regular season play. Newcomer Boyd will head into 2025 as the most experienced of the lot with 12 career playoff innings (11.1 coming last season with the Cleveland Guardians).

The Importance Of High-Stakes Experience

jon lester

The lack of such high-stakes experience leaves some uncertainty when it comes to how well the all-important starting pitching corps handles the stress of postseason play when/if the Cubs make it there.

In Chicago’s 2016 World Series-winning team and the successful 2015 squad the year prior, playoff-seasoned veterans played key roles.

Per Patt:

“To put this in perspective, compare this to 2015-2016. When they rose to legitimacy in 2015, their key move was bringing in an all-time postseason great in Jon Lester who won two rings in Boston and boasted 84 career postseason innings pitched. Jason Hammel also had 15 innings under his belt entering 2015. Come 2016, they brought in John Lackey, who had 127.1 postseason innings, and like Lester, also won two World Series championships; he notably pitched in the World Series clinchers for both of them (2002 with the Angels and 2013 with the Red Sox). There was value in having “postseason masters” in the rotation during those runs.”

Cubs Front Office Sees It Too

MLB: Kansas City Royals at Houston Astros Aug 31, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros relief pitcher Ryan Pressly (55) reacts after the final out during the ninth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

The Cubs front office has, apparently, seen the need for veteran leadership with postseason experience and has added some in other spots this offseason. Justin Turner, Ryan Brasier, Kyle Tucker, and Ryan Pressly all have World Series rings. Utility man Jon Berti has postseason experience, as do incoming pitchers Matthew Boyd, Eli Morgan, and Caleb Thielbar.

However, except for Boyd, the starting rotation will be relative babes in the woods when it comes to postseason play.

But will that matter all that much?

Well, the Cubs won’t know until they know. Steele, Imanaga, and the rest of the rotation could very well prove themselves to be clutch playoff assets, leading the team to next-level success….or not.

It’s very possible that Chicago, if they are in the thick of a pennant race in the middle of the summer, could trade for a veteran starter who would bring added leadership and experience to that run for postseason glory.

As is always the case in baseball, time will reveal all.

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Chicago Cubs: Brace yourself, top starter could very well have an “off” 2025 season

Paul Magno — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 13:34:33 +0000

The Chicago Cubs brought lefty Japanese pitching ace Shota Imanaga to the team last season, making the calculated gamble that his mound prowess would translate to the American game.

Their gamble was a wild success.

The Chicago Cubs Gambled– And Won– On Shota Imanaga

MLB: Chicago Cubs Workouts Feb 10, 2025; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga (18) runs through drills during spring training camp. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

The former top asset of the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in the Japanese league, who signed with the Cubs on a 4-year, $53 million deal, turned heads and made an impact in hist first season, earning some attention as a Rookie of the Year candidate.

He also won the hearts of Cubs fans with a hefty dose of charm and humor that continues through this spring. He’s quickly become one of the most fan-favorite members of the squad.

Imanaga finished 2024 with a 15-3 record and a stellar 2.91 ERA in 173.1 innings pitched over 29 starts. All told, he was the Cubs’ most effective starter and will get the starting day nod in the team’s historic season opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Japan.

Wrigley Field Benefited Imanaga Greatly In 2024

But, by some estimations, he shouldn’t have been able to be such a shutdown starter with those kinds of numbers. As a fly ball pitcher– with a longstanding reputation for giving up home runs– working in Wrigley Field, he should’ve been touched up a lot more than he was.

Swirling 2024 winds at Wrigley were mostly blowing in, however, turning the park into one of the most pitcher-friendly homes in all of baseball. Statistical analysis reveals that it registered the second-lowest batting average and slugging percentage among MLB parks. These numbers were bolstered by the fact that it had the lowest home run rate in all of major league baseball. The Cubs pitching staff reaped the benefits of the weather turn, posting a 3.08 ERA at home (compared to a 4.53 ERA on the road).

Imanaga surely benefited greatly from the swirling Wrigley winds blowing in last season, with some guaranteed home runs knocked down into deep fly balls. He would finish the 2024 campaign with a 2.72 ERA at home, compared to a 3.14 ERA on the road.

There’s no guarantee that those same pitcher-friendly winds will be blowing in 2025.

There’s also no guarantee that the league won’t adapt to the 31-year-old Imanaga’s off-putting pitching style and pitch arsenal.

Experts Predict Regression in 2025

As a matter of fact, experts and analysts are pretty much unanimous in their belief that Imanaga’s numbers will be down considerably from his rookie year.

Steamer projects Imanaga to post a 3.66 ERA. ZiPS sees him delivering a 3.49 ERA. RotoChamp estimates a 3.74 ERA.

Those are all, still, respectable ERAs and, even in a near-worst case scenario, Imanaga is a really good pitcher and an asset to a starting rotation that also boasts Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon, Matthew Boyd, and Javier Assad.

Aside from being a fly ball pitcher, he’s also a pitcher who makes bats miss balls. That attribute should provide some insurance against massive slippage.

But the Cubs’ reported pursuit of a front-of-rotation starter this offseason seems to speak to the fact that the front office is also acknowledging the possibility of some regression from Imanaga. If the left-hander is too generous in giving up the long ball, there will be considerable strain on those around him, who are counting on his ability to replicate, at least to a degree, his successes of last season.

Imanaga has been touched up a bit this spring training, but that really doesn’t tell one much. The real test will be when the season begins and the Wrigley flags start blowing.

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Chicago Cubs hope to cash in on big offseason pitching gamble

Paul Magno — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 19:30:14 +0000

The Chicago Cubs entered the offseason with the stated goal of targeting a front-of-rotation starter.

They’re finishing the offseason with only one significant starting pitching acquisition– Matthew Boyd.

The 34-year-old lefty, who was signed to a 2-year, $29 million deal by the Cubs, has top-of-rotation stuff and the mental makeup of an ace starter, but his body has failed him throughout his career.

Tommy John surgery in 2023 is hoped to have rebuilt Boyd to the point where his arm now matches his mentality. If his late-season comeback with the Cleveland Guardians last season is any indication of where he’s at, the future indeed looks bright.

In 8 regular season starts, he posted a 2.72 ERA. He also showcased his return to form in the playoffs, giving up just one earned run in 11.2 innings over three starts for the Guardians.

Matthew Boyd And The Chicago Cubs, Set Up To Succeed?

MLB: ALDS Detroit Tigers at Cleveland Guardians, Matthew Boyd

Boyd’s workload was relatively light in his post-surgery comeback season and that should help his chances of performing at peak capacity in 2025.

“Then you have a complete offseason,” Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy told media, referring to the fortunate timing of Boyd’s return. “You actually can let your body kind of calm down and heal. So I think right now he’s in a really good place. Now the key is that he feels good and not falling back into the rehab mode where, ‘I need to do X, Y, Z to feel good.’ He feels good, and now it’s, ‘What do I need to do to be ready for Opening Day?’”

Still A Calculated Gamble, Though

MLB: ALDS Detroit Tigers at Cleveland Guardians

Despite the optimism, though, bringing Boyd aboard– at the expense of bringing in a top-tier free agent or swinging a big trade for an ace-level starter– remains a huge calculated gamble by the Cubs front office.

The 10-year veteran has thrown a total of 202.2 innings over the last four seasons and hasn’t passed 100+ innings pitched in a single season since 2019. Even by the coaching staff’s own estimation, 120 innings this season from Boyd would be their high-end target.

A fail on this Boyd acquisition would reflect poorly on Chicago’s front office and on ownership already under fire for not spending to bring in top-tier talent. If things go sideways and the calculated gamble doesn’t pay off, loyal and patient Cubs fans may become considerably less loyal and patient.

Back To Baseball

MLB: ALDS Detroit Tigers at Cleveland Guardians

For Boyd, however, the goal is just a return to baseball normalcy, where he can worry about the actual game and not about working around or through his physical limitations. He feels he’s at the place right now.

“It’s a lot different,” Boyd said following a spring training debut on Monday where he pitched two scoreless innings in a 10-5 win over the San Diego Padres. “Really, I’m grateful to be here right now and to be working in games, working through situations and whatnot. I’m excited to have a healthy year ahead of me, and come into Spring Training to prepare [myself] for the season.”

In his first spring appearance, Boyd looked mostly on-point, even showing a bit more average velocity on his fastball (92.3 mph) compared to his average last year with the Guardians (92 mph).

There is considerable hope and some expectation that Boyd will be peak Boyd this coming season, especially from those who brought him in. Manager Craig Counsell will walk that line between pushing for the best, but watching for the worst.

“Look, we have to monitor his health,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell told media, following Boyd’s initial spring training appearance. “I think just with the number of innings he’s pitched, that kind of goes to the top of the list. I don’t want to get too sensitive about it, because I think we want him to pitch.

“And one of the reasons we were interested is we thought he was kind of set up to really have this great full season.”

Everyone will find out soon enough if the Cubs’ gamble on Boyd was a jackpot or a bust.

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Chicago Cubs should explore addition of still-unsigned lefty former ace, says analyst

Paul Magno — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 00:22:41 +0000

The Chicago Cubs have made a lot of moves this offseason, but the only real pickups for the starting rotation have been rehabbed lefty Matthew Boyd and swing man/potential fifth starter Colin Rea.

Arguably, more needs to be done– especially in this modern baseball world where pitching depth is an increasingly precious commodity for playoff-possible teams. Chicago had actually recognized that reality earlier in the offseason, as they reportedly explored trading for a high-end starter.

The Cubs do have a solid front five in Justin Steele, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, Boyd, and Javier Assad. Last season, the starting staff managed a 3.78 ERA, which was tenth best in the league. There’s also some security in having Rea, Ben Brown, and Jordan Wicks just a half-step behind and top pitching prospect Cade Horton not far from being big league-ready. On the surface, the temptation would be to stand pat with what they have right now, at this stage of spring training.

Insurance For The Chicago Cubs Starting Rotation?

MLB: Miami Marlins at Washington Nationals

But an experienced back-of-rotation presence with World Series experience might be an asset down the stretch of a long season where injury and inconsistent performance could mean the difference between a deep playoff run or no playoff run at all.

Scott Conrad of Da Windy City believes that the still-available free agent lefty Patrick Corbin might be the right man to serve in that capacity for the Cubs.

Per Conrad:

“Since the Cubs already have Shota Imanaga, Justin Steele, and Jameson Taillon, they are not in dire need of an ace. However, a former ace who can be a reliable option at the back of the starting rotation would increase Chicago’s chances of returning to the postseason…

Patrick Corbin is still unsigned. Just like Turner, he has won a World Series, too. Corbin was a strong contributor to the champions that season in 2019. The Clay, New York native has started in at least 30 games and racked up at least 120 strikeouts in each of his last four seasons.

Bringing him on board adds depth and could be a low cost, minimal pressure for both parties. A one-year ‘prove it’ type deal provides a benefit to both the team and the player. Adding an option for a second season may entice 6’3” pitcher to sign with the Cubs.”

Patrick Corbin Has Dazzled, But Mostly Frustrated

MLB: Kansas City Royals at Washington Nationals

Granted, the 35-year-old Corbin’s stats don’t scream “elite” at this point in his 12-year major league career. He hasn’t posted an ERA below 5.20 since the abbreviated 2020 season when he managed a 4.66 ERA. As a 6-year, $140 million signee of the Washington Nationals, he drove their fans and, presumably, their front office, mad with years of inconsistent performance.

He has, however, managed to be somewhat of a workhorse as a starter and has legit strikeout stuff– something lacking within the current Cubs rotation.

Possibilities And Realities

MLB: Kansas City Royals at Washington Nationals

There’s also the distant possibility of tweaking and adjusting his game to get him back somewhere near his 2018 and 2019 form, where he was putting up ace numbers, compiling a combined 484 strikeouts and delivering 3.15 and 3.25 ERAs, respectively.

Even in a worst case scenario, though, bringing Corbin aboard gives the Cubs a durable arm with postseason experience and it would add a left-handed long reliever to a bullpen in need of left-handed depth.

And, most likely, he would come on a really affordable one-year deal.

There are just as many arguments against signing Corbin, though. There’s definitely a reason he’s still looking for a new team as spring training kicks off.

But with Assad likely to start the season on the injured list and uncertainty surrounding Wicks, Brown, and the oft-injured Boyd, insurance might not be the worst thing for the Cubs to acquire.

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Chicago Cubs tied to former Cy Young ace in blockbuster spring training acquisition

Paul Magno — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 23:21:11 +0000

The Chicago Cubs began the season with the stated purpose of finding a front-of-rotation starting pitcher.

And, although they’ve been linked to some names via trade and free agency, nothing has come of that pursuit, other than the free agent acquisition of rehabbed lefty starter Matthew Boyd and swing man Colin Rea.

However, the season hasn’t begun and it’s still early enough in spring training to make a big move. The hope of adding an ace-level starter to add to a rotation that already boasts Justin Steele, Shota Imanaga, James Taillon, Javier Assad, and Boyd is still there.

Could The Chicago Cubs Target Sandy Alcantara?

MLB: Miami Marlins at San Diego Padres

Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report sees a possibility of the Cubs making that big impact move with Sandy Alcantara of the Miami Marlins, who is coming back from Tommy John surgery after missing all of the 2024 season.

Per Rymer:

“The Marlins aren’t going anywhere in 2025, and Alcantara has plenty of trade value to reclaim.

Alcantara peaked as the NL Cy Young Award winner in 2022, pitching 228.2 innings with a 2.28 ERA. It’s an outlier of sorts, yet this is a pitcher who’s been 30 percent better than average for his whole career.

It’s quite the pedigree to live up to, yet Alcantara should be up to it. He’s more than a year removed from his surgery in October 2023…

Even if Alcantara is merely the pitcher he was in 2023, when he had a 4.14 ERA, he’ll stand to be a valuable trade chip. If he returns to ace form, that much more so.”

Rymer mentions the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves also as prime targets for the Marlins front office, although in-division trades can be fairly rare.

Coming Back From Tommy John

MLB: Miami Marlins at Washington Nationals

Tommy John surgery is no longer the career death sentence it once was for pitchers. There are many cases of surgery recipients going on to have long, viable careers afterwards, as well as cases where pitchers have multiple reconstructive surgeries. The 29-year-old Alcantara, who unanimously won his NL Cy Young award as a Marlin in 2022, most likely will have plenty of productive career ahead of him.

Entering into the fourth year of a five-year contract, the Cubs would take in just under $56 million in acquiring Alcantara. They’d also have a $21 million club option for 2027.

All in all, that’s a pretty reasonable salary deal for a pitcher with the potential to be a front-of-rotation presence and is no worse than a middle-rotation starter.

Over the course of his career, the right-hander has a 3.32 ERA in 146 big league games (138 starts) and 900.2 innings. In 2023, he posted a 4.14 ERA in 184.2 innings. During his career, he’s earned the reputation of being a workhorse, with an average of just over 204 innings in his four full seasons as a starter prior to his injury.

In his first appearance since his surgery, Alcantara threw a scoreless inning in Sunday’s spring training game against the Mets, maxing out at a very healthy 99.3 mph.

What Will It Take To Get Alcantara?

Iowa Cubs right fielder Kevin Alcantara returns to the dugout on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, at Principal Park.

With the Marlins out of contention before the season even begins and no burning need for a big-ticket front-of-rotation ace right now, the haul expected for Alcantara would probably center around prospects and/or young field-ready major leaguers.

Would outfield prospect Kevin Alcantara (no relation) and someone like Javier Assad or Jordan Wicks be enough to entice the Marlins? Maybe big-hitting top prospect Moises Ballesteros could be dangled rather than Alcantara?

According to reports, the Marlins are in no real hurry to deal Alcantara, who will take the field as one of the team’s few elite-level established talents. But if the right deal comes along, it’s hard to imagine them not listening to it.

The question is whether the Cubs would be willing to offer up that “right” deal.

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Chicago Cubs land former White Sox pitcher on a minor league contract

Andy Jachim — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 03:53:04 +0000

The Chicago Cubs front office is still looking to add any arms they find suitable to join the pitching staff with the team already in camp. After having a strong overall season in 2024, the starting rotation will be leaned on heavily once again as the organization looks to chase down the NL Central crown for the first time in five years.

The bullpen has been a major point of emphasis for the organization this offseason, and they’ve addressed it in the ways that they have needed to. Matthew Boyd and Colin Rea have joined the starting rotation already this offseason on short-term deals.

Jed Hoyer is known for inking as many minor league deals as possible once camp gets underway and that will be something to pay attention to over the next couple of weeks. Another arm was brought aboard on a minor league deal Monday night, and he won’t have to move too far if he makes the Cubs Opening Day roster.

Chicago Cubs sign Chris Flexen to a minor league deal

Sep 14, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Flexen (77) delivers against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

The Cubs and Chris Flexen officially agreed to terms on a minor league contract ahead of the 2025 season. He spent the 2024 campaign with the White Sox where he made 30 starts in 33 total appearances. Flexen finished the year with a 3-15 record and a 4.95 ERA on the worst team in the modern era. His 160.0 innings tossed proved that he can be a reliable option and durable when needed.

Flexen’s best season at the big league level came in 2021 with the Mariners. He posted a 14-6 record with a 3.61 ERA in 31 starts. Flexen threw 179.2 frames that season and finished with a solid 1.25 WHIP. The veteran will serve as depth for the Cubs as Spring Training gets into full swing and he will definitely receive opportunities to prove himself to Craig Counsell’s staff.

Aug 17, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Flexen (77) reacts after a play during the third inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

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Chicago Cubs get poor grade for starting rotation gamble

Paul Magno — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 19:05:53 +0000

The Chicago Cubs entered this offseason targeting a front-of-rotation starting pitcher. They are ending the offseason with only rehabbed left-handed veteran Matthew Boyd– signed to a two-year, $29 million deal– added to the rotation.

With an unwillingness to enter into bidding wars for elite-level free agent starting pitching and an inability to pull off rumored big trades for starters, the Cubs will have to do a lot of hoping for the best. They’ll have to cross their fingers that their established starters perform true to previous form and that Boyd, as the lone addition to the crew, will stay healthy and productive.

Will Matthew Boyd Be The Comeback King The Cubs Need Him To Be?

MLB: ALDS Detroit Tigers at Cleveland Guardians

The big question, though, is whether Boyd has it in him to be the headline-making comeback player the team needs him to be in 2025. Coming in as, essentially, a replacement for a flat-lining Kyle Hendricks, his success or failure will take on an exaggerated degree of importance in a rotation expected to carry the team into postseason play.

The injury-prone Boyd, however, has thrown a total of 202.2 innings over the last four seasons and hasn’t surpassed 100+ innings pitched since 2019. The Cubs are hoping that his 2023 Tommy John surgery served to repair the damage that has been limiting the 10-year veteran.

The 34-year-old pitched well after coming back at the end of last season. He posted a 2.72 ERA in eight regular season starts. He also dazzled in the playoffs, giving up just one earned run in 11.2 innings for the Cleveland Guardians over three starts.

A Calculated Gamble From The Chicago Cubs

MLB: Jed Hoyer, Chicago Cubs Press Conference

The reality, though, is that signing Boyd was a calculated gamble by the Cubs front office, a hope that that they’d make the right grab at the right time for someone who could turn in elite numbers for the price of a fifth starter.

Some feel that the gamble will probably not pay off in the way the Cubs clearly hoped it would.

Rich Eberwein of Cubbies Crib doesn’t think highly of the Boyd signing, giving it a letter grade of “D” as a gamble likely to fail.

Per Eberwein:

“At the time of this writing, we’re about two and a half months out from the news of this deal dropping, and I’m still trying to wrap my head around it.

[Jed] Hoyer is banking on a 34-year-old pitcher, who has not been able to stay healthy for more than half a season’s worth of games since 2019. These were serious elbow issues that resulted in two surgeries. I don’t understand how this warrants a two-year contract worth $29 million, especially when Boyd’s only meaningful success came in just 11 starts with the Cleveland Guardians last year.

Boyd was great in that span, with a 2.28 ERA over 11 starts. But this is a very small sample size (51.1 Innings) to put as much stock into as the Cubs are. Boyd is in line to take the team’s fourth starting rotation spot and it’s hard to imagine him giving the team more than 100 innings in 2025. I might feel differently if another reliable starter was added to the rotation this offseason, but that didn’t happen. Prior to the regular season, this contract looks pretty bad.”

The Realities Regarding Boyd

MLB: ALCS New York Yankess at Cleveland Guardians

Even by the assessment of the Cubs’ own pitching coach, Tommy Hottovy, 100 innings pitched for Boyd is not too far off the mark.

“There’s definitely some risk/reward there,” Hottovy said in a January radio interview. “If we’re sitting here today and we say, ‘Matt Boyd throws 120 innings of really good baseball,’ I think we’d all be really happy about that. Anything above that would be great.”

But what if 120 innings (or less) is not enough for a starting rotation that under-performs a bit? Will Ben Brown, Jordan Wicks, Colin Rea, or Triple-A ‘s Cade Horton be able to fill the void?

All will be revealed soon enough.

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