The Chicago White Sox have a lot of talent developed through their farm system.

With players like Colson Montgomery and Sean Burke making their way through the White Sox system, they are in a position where they need to replenish the minors. Chicago holds the first pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, so it’s safe to assume they will do that.

But where do they rank for the 2026 season? Let’s take a look at what one outlet believes.

The Chicago White Sox drop to 18th in Bleacher Report’s 2026 farm system rankings

Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report ranked all 30 MLB teams’ farm systems for the 2026 season. The White Sox saw a significant drop from last year’s rankings, going from third to 18th. Below is what Reuter wrote while highlighting prospect Braden Montgomery:

“The White Sox received four prospects in the deal that sent Garrett Crochet to the Red Sox, and Montgomery is the only one that has yet to reach the majors. The No. 12 overall pick in the 2024 draft racked up 50 extra-base hits in 121 games last year while reaching Double-A, and the everyday right field job and a spot in the middle of the lineup awaits before 2026 is over.”

In addition, he would write the top 10 prospects in the system. Below is the list he curated:

1. SS Caleb Bonemer
2. LHP Noah Schultz
3. OF Braden Montgomery
4. SS Billy Carlson
5. LHP Hagen Smith
6. RHP Tanner McDougal
7. 2B Sam Antonacci
8. OF Jaden Fauske
9. LHP Christian Oppor
10. SS Kyle Lodise

With the White Sox promoting a lot of their young prospects to the majors, it makes sense to see a dropoff.

Do not be surprised to see them climb up rankings by next season if they are sellers at the trade deadline once again.

It will be intriguing to follow the prospects and see how many get their shot in Chicago this season.

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Chicago White Sox slugger, first baseman/designated hitter Munetaka Murakami, has been on a tear to begin the year.

More News: Chicago White Sox return prospect to the Red Sox

Early into his big league career, Murakamai has mashed four home runs. According to MLB’s Sarah Langs, the 26-year-old’s four home runs are the most by a Japanese-born player through their first eight games.

Murakami’s fourth home run came against Toronto Blue Jays left-hander Brandon Little. In the top of the sixth inning of Saturday’s game. Little threw Murakami a 1-0 sinker that ran back across the plate. Muraki didn’t miss and sent the pitch 431 feet to dead center field for a two-run homer.

Munetaka Murakami’s four home runs are the most by a Japanese-born player in his first 8 career MLB games https://t.co/XYcYOjI9LT

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) April 4, 2026

Munetaka Murakami and Colson Montgomery have proven to be the Chicago White Sox’s source of power

Murakami is settling into hitting at the top of the order. So far, he is the White Sox leader in home runs and RBI (seven). Shortstop Colson Montgomery is second after hitting his second home run in the same inning as Murakami.

Montgomery’s first home run was a grand slam against the Milwaukee Brewers. Little again threw a hanging sinker on a 3-1 count that Montgomery didn’t miss and deposited over the right field fence.

round trip for Colson Montgomery pic.twitter.com/tXXTsdaEwJ

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) April 4, 2026

The White Sox ranked 23rd in home runs last season (165). This means the White Sox will rely on Murakami (24 last season) and Montgomery (21) to continue to generate the team’s power.

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Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Cade Horton looked distraught Friday afternoon in Cleveland when he walked off the field in the second inning of his start against the Guardians, suffering from what was described as “forearm discomfort.” Moments earlier, he had indicated to the dugout that things didn’t feel right, physically.

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

“I just wanted to be smart about it,” Horton said. “I’ve been in this spot before and I’ve taken the other route where I keep going, and it ends up being worse. So, I just tried to make a mature decision and end it there.”

The 24-year-old was expected to do big things this year after a breakthrough rookie season in 2025 that saw him perform as, arguably, the best pitcher in all of baseball after the All-Star break.

Manager Craig Counsell told media after the game that Horton to will get imaging to see the extent of the injury and will also be placed on the 15-day IL as he’s being assessed.

Who could take Horton’s spot?

More News: Chicago Cubs: Base thievery may be low-key secret to 2026 success

Now, however, the talk must turn to the future. Specifically, how to fill the young arm’s spot in a Cubs rotation that needs the kind of impact starter Horton was expected to be.

Veteran Colin Rea was brought in to replace Horton on Friday and it’s thought that he’ll likely be the full-time replacement until the team knows what’s in their injured pitcher’s immediate future. Last season, Rea was solid as the team’s full-time rotation fill-in, posting a 10-7 record with a 4.33 ERA in 27 starts.

Chicago also has Ben Brown and Javier Assad as possible rotation fill-ins.

Then, of course, ace Justin Steele is slated to return some time before mid-season.

But if Horton is lost for any extended period of time, the Cubs may have no choice but to reach out and try to pick up somebody outside of the organization.

Some people already have an idea of who that outside pickup should be—Lucas Giolito.

Lucas Giolito to the rescue?

In the Friday night edition of MLB Tonight, the host brought up that exact possibility:

“I keep reminding myself that Lucas Giolito is still sitting out there without a team,” he said, following the segment talking about Horton’s injury.

“He might be a Cub,” replied analyst Harold Reynolds.

Jacob Zanolla of Bleacher Nation also brought up the Giolito possibility:

“The Cubs could look to someone outside of the organization, and there does happen to be one (relatively) legitimate arm still available: Lucas Giolito.

Giolito, 31, made 25 starts for the Red Sox last season, pitching to a 3.41 ERA over 145.0 IP. But while that seems encouraging, a quick peek under the hood reveals the more troubling peripherals that are probably conspiring to keep him a free agent this long: 5.01 xERA, 4.17 FIP. But in terms of emergency fill-in options, you could do a whole lot worse than Giolito.”

Last season with the Red Sox, the 31-year-old Giolito had a good year, stats-wise. But, as Zanolla mentions, maybe the raw numbers don’t tell the full story of what’s under the 9-year veteran’s hood. There has to be a reason, after all, why he’s still unsigned when starting pitching is such an MLB-wide priority.

It remains to be seen whether he’d even be much of an upgrade over the pitchers the Cubs already have lined up as fill-ins.

But he’s somebody definitely worth looking into for a Cubs rotation already showcasing some weakness just days into the season.

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To no surprise, the Chicago Cubs made a roster move with Cade Horton heading to the IL. It’s not the Jaxon Wiggins promotion some hoped for, but rather calling up lefthanded pitcher Riley Martin. Martin, 28, has been on the Cubs 40-man roster and got some playing time in Spring Training. The native of Salem, Illinois, and 2021 sixth-round pick out of Quincy University, has an interesting story and will now be getting ready to pitch in the Majors for the first time in his career.

The Cubs are calling up LHP Riley Martin, as @SchuckSports first reported.

He was set to go to pharmacy school six years ago, then the pandemic happened and he went from D2 to the Cubs.

Chronicled his story last spring:https://t.co/3g6W5UmBhi

— Andy Martínez (@amartinez_11) April 4, 2026

Martin joining the Cubs

Martin once had his eye on a career in pharmacy before the COVID-19 pandemic, but now he will join the Chicago Cubs to add pitching depth to the team. Since being drafted out of D2 ball, Martin has accumulated 282.2 innings in the Cubs system, pitching to a 3.76 ERA, 1.4 WHIP, 13.1 K/9, and 5.7 BB/9. He’s spent the last two seasons in Iowa and is coming off a very good 2025 season with a 2.69 ERA and 1.2 WHIP in 47 appearances.

It’s worth noting he has only made three starts in his Minor League career. Though he made a start last Tuesday, pitching 3.0 innings and giving up one run. He has been getting more stretched out, so he can be used in a “swing” role alongside Colin Rea. Given his being on the 40-man roster and Wiggins’ professional experience still being fairly light, it’s clear why they went with Martin for now.

Martin is a fastball, curve, slider, and occasional change-up pitcher. The fastball and curve are his primary pitches, with his heater sitting in the low-mid 90s (93-94 MPH). His strikeout numbers throughout his MiLB career are very good (410 strikeouts in 282.2 IP), and he’s limited the homers (0.8 HR/9). A weakness that stands out is the walks (178 in 282.2 IP).

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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.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Base thievery may be low-key secret to 2026 success

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

More News: Is Chicago Cubs manager tipping new Dodgers-style late-season pitching strategy?

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?

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.

The post Chicago Cubs: Is it already time to sound the starting pitching alarm? appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago White Sox’s experiment with right-hander Jedixson Paez has come to an end. According to MLB.com’s Scott Merkin, Paez has cleared waivers and was returned to the Boston Red Sox organization.

More News: Chicago White Sox LHP will go for a personal feat vs. Blue Jays

The White Sox selected Paez in the Rule 5 Draft after finding success with right-hander Shane Smith. Smith was the White Sox’s lone All-Star in 2025, with a 7-8 record and a 3.81 ERA in 29 starts.

Jedixson Paez struggled in his three appearances with the Chicago White Sox

Paez, 22, didn’t have a good spring with the White Sox, having a 6.35 ERA in seven games (two starts). He also hadn’t pitched above High-A in his professional career before getting added to the White Sox Opening Day roster.

Paez posted a 5-4 record with a 3.17 ERA and striking out 113 in 96.2 innings last season. A right calf strain sidelined Páez for four months last season.

Making the jump from the lower levels of the minor leagues to the big leagues proved to be too much for Paez. In three innings of work against the Milwaukee Brewers, Paez allowed six earned runs, two home runs, and walked three.

Two of Paez’s walks and three of his earned runs came in his failed mop-up role in the White Sox’s 14-2 loss on March 26. Back with the Red Sox, Paez will have time to develop, but since he’s appeared in the big leagues, his service time has started.

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Coming off a win in their home opener, the Chicago White Sox look to win two in a row against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Anthony Kay will try to get his first win in five years while pitching for the Chicago White Sox

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The Windy City Bulls have gotten some hardware this season with Mac McClung. He is one of the more famous players in the league, winning three consecutive NBA Slam Dunk Contests. On Friday, he continued to made history for his play. Let’s take a deeper dive into what McClung did and what it means going forward.

Mac McClung becomes the first player to win multiple G League MVP Awards

McClung has been able to showcase his abilities while playing basketball, as he won the 2025-26 G League Most Valuable Player Award on Friday. He put up incredible stats for the Windy City Bulls this season to lock up the award. McClung averaged a league-leading 31.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 7.9 assists over 40 games. However, his shooting stroke was the most impressive thing as he shot 51.5% from the floor and 38.1% from beyond the arc.

This is the second time in his career he won the G League MVP, also winning in 2023-24 with the Osceola Magic. McClung had a memorable season as he also became the G League’s all-time leading scorer, passing Renaldo Major in March. Below is what he said back in March about the record:

“I think it’s a product of good coaches and good teammates putting you in situations like this, and also a product of making the most out of whatever your opportunity is, killing your ego and getting better each year.”

McClung played a handful of games in the NBA this season as well. McClung was still part of All-Star Weekend, playing in the Rising Stars Game. He played a pair of games for the Chicago Bulls and three for the Indiana Pacers. The Windy City Bulls still managed to miss the playoffs, finishing 12th in the Eastern Conference with a 15-21 record. It will be intriguing to see if he is able to compete for a third G League MVP or if an NBA team will call him up for next season.

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The Chicago White Sox have been one of the weakest teams in the first week of the season. Their abilities on the mound have failed to live up to the hype. The team needs to figure out ways to pitch better in order to win games. One outlet is not too thrilled with the pitching performances so far this season. Let’s take a closer look at the outlet and what the White Sox’s issues are right now.

Bleacher Report labels the Chicago White Sox pitching staff as a loser

Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller wrote an article discussing the winners and losers in the first week of the MLB season. One of the losers was the White Sox pitching staff. Below is a snippet of what Miller wrote:

“Only two White Sox pitchers have a sub-4.50 ERA—Lucas Sims, who pitched two scoreless innings in Wednesday’s 10-0 loss to Miami; and Anthony Kay, who had a 3.86 ERA in his season debut in the rotation, albeit with a 6.41 FIP that suggests even that was fool’s gold.

“The fun news here (unless you’re a White Sox fan) is we might be on the fast track to a scenario where Murakami—who signed a two-year, $34M deal this winter—enters the All-Star break with 30 home runs for a team that is 30 games below .500, thus becoming one of the biggest, gettable names on the trade block.”

After the first six games of the season, Chicago has an 8.63 team ERA. This is more than three runs above the second-worst team currently. Chicago needs to figure out how to correct their pitching woes, as it cannot survive with a league-worst .319 opposing batting average through two series. It will be interesting to see how the team is able to do better on the mound going forward.

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To say that Sophie Cunningham made a significant impact in her first season with the Indiana Fever would be an understatement.

The Fever traded for the 6-foot-1 guard ahead of the 2025 WNBA season, which saw Cunningham make the move from the Phoenix Mercury to Indiana. The former Missouri Tigers star had spent her first six seasons with the Mercury, and her trade to the Fever marked a crucial juncture in her career.

Before a season-ending knee injury cut her season with the Fever short, Cunningham was a solid contributor for her new squad. She averaged 8.6 points on 46.9% shooting, 3.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.7 triples in 25.2 minutes per contest. Unfortunately, Cunningham tore the MCL in her right knee in August, putting an end to her campaign after 30 games.

Indiana Fever fans want Sophie Cunningham to stay

At this point, however, there is no guarantee that Cunningham will remain with the Fever in 2026. She is an unrestricted free agent, which means that she can sign with any other team she chooses. Given her incredible rise to fame in 2025, it would not be a surprise if multiple teams around the league show interest in signing Cunningham in free agency.

Cunningham’s “Show Me Something” podcast recently shared an update heading into the new season. The show posted a video of Cunningham dancing inside the Fever locker room, reminding fans that the WNBA season starts in five weeks.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Show Me Something (@showme_pod)

The post generated a lot of excitement ahead of the new campaign. However, more than a few Fever supporters could not help but focus on Cunningham’s future in Indiana. They started pleading with both Cunningham and the Fever to extend her deal with the team.

“Yes We need Sophie to stay with the Fever ” a comment on Instagram read.

“yes Sophie yessssssssss please Indiana fever we need Sophie!!!!!!! ” another said.

“We need Sophie to stay with fever ” a user wrote.

“Signed back with Fever??” asked a supporter.

“@indianafever Please keep Sophie !!” said another.

“Fever you need to keep Sophie. She’s an asset not a waist in any sort of way please keep her in this roster,” a reaction read.

Teams across the WNBA can officially start negotiating new deals with players starting Thursday.

The post Fans plead with Sophie Cunningham after WNBA offseason update appeared first on ChiCitySports.

To say the Chicago Bulls are not doing well on the court would be a massive understatement. While the league has a third of the teams not trying to win games and better their draft position, there are some teams taking it to a whole other level. Chicago has had a lot of tough headlines, and one Hall of Famer took a shot at them ahead of their game. Let’s take a closer look at who it is and what they said.

New York Knicks announcer Clyde Fraizer takes a shot at the Chicago Bulls

As the telecast for the Bulls vs. Knicks game was beginning, Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Clyde Frazier took a shot at Chicago.

“I was talking to some friends, man, and I was saying eradicated, obliterated, devastated. They thought [that] I was talking about Iran. But I was talking about the Bulls.”

While that felt like an attack, the Bulls followed it up by being outscored 38-16 in the first quarter. This game includes the Knicks not having Karl-Anthony Towns playing. Entering Friday’s game, the Bulls are 5-19 since the trade deadline. With the Jaden Ivey situation and the inability to win games, the franchise has been a bit of a punching bag in recent months.

Chicago is one of the teams hoping for the 2026 NBA Draft to get them in a good spot. However, they won too much early on so they will not have good odds to win the lottery. Many of the mock drafts have them selecting around the 10th pick, so the front office is hoping the ping-pong balls fall in their favor and make these last few months worth it.

The post Hall of Famer takes shot at 2026 Chicago Bulls team before game vs. Knicks appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears have some question marks regarding their roster as we are mere weeks from the NFL Draft. The team has a strong draft capital to use to improve the team, but there are still some questions with how the 53-man roster looks in Week 1. One outlet highlighted the biggest question for Chicago, so let’s take a look at what they believe it is.

The Chicago Bears’ lack of edge rushers is the biggest question for the team

Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report wrote an article discussing the biggest question for each team ahead of the NFL Draft. For Chicago, the biggest question involves finding edge rushers to pair with Montez Sweat. Below is what Gagnon wrote regarding Chicago’s biggest question right now:

“Dayo Odeyingbo was a disappointment even before tearing his Achilles midway through the 2025 season, and the Bears are now left with a big question mark opposite Montez Sweat at one of the most critical positions in the sport. They were apparently in on [Maxx] Crosby last month but are still left searching here in April. They could use the No. 25 pick on a pass-rusher, but a veteran like Joey Bosa or A.J. Epenesa makes sense too.”

According to Pro Football Focus, quarterback pressures show that Chicago needs help in that spot. The Bears finished 31st in the NFL with 214 quarterback pressures. It is important to note that multiple players can be credited with pressures on a single play, so they need to find ways to get closer to at least average. Only the Carolina Panthers (203) had fewer in the 2025 season.

Chicago is a loaded team in terms of talent and has playoff experience now. They need to find someone who can help come off the edge and get to the quarterback. Whether it’s through the draft, free agency, or trade, it is important this need gets addressed.

The post This is the biggest Chicago Bears question ahead of 2026 NFL Draft appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Despite the game having to go into extra innings, the Chicago White Sox won their home opener 5-4. Facing the reigning American League champions, the Toronto Blue Jays, a critical bunt by outfielder Derek Hill and a single by outfielder Tristan Peters sealed the victory.

More News: Chicago White Sox prospect’s performance may force a tough decision

The White Sox’s resilient win came on the heels of manager Will Venable saying his team “needed to be better.” The White Sox currently have a Major League-worst 2-5 record and had a terrible road trip (1-5) to begin the season.

TRISTAN. PETERS. pic.twitter.com/GaBlnobkNe

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) April 3, 2026

Sean Burke’s bounce-back performance was key for the Chicago White Sox to win

Sean Burke’s first outing against the Milwaukee Brewers didn’t go well. He allowed seven hits, four runs (three earned), walked one, and struck out five in 4.0 innings. However, Burke showed some growth pitching against the Blue Jays. Burke told reporters postgame that he’s “trying to stay on my plan.”

“I think it’s been big,” Burke said to the media postgame. “I think that this year, just trying to stay on my plan and continuing to attack hitters and not let a couple hits or whatever it might be rattle me, and just trying to continue to flood the zone and make good pitches every single time out, I think the focus component, just being super, super focused on what I want to do with each pitch, and just being intentful behind it has been helpful.”

The 26-year-old threw six strong innings, allowing one run (earned), walking none, and striking out seven. Burke pitched behind right-hander Grant Taylor, who was the opener.

Right-handers Jordan Leasure and Seranthony Dominguez and left-hander Sean Newcomb also pitched well following Burke. Combined, all three went 3.0 innings, allowing three hits, two earned runs (three total), walked one, and struck out three. 

According to ESPN, Taylor is the probable pitcher for Game 2 on Saturday. Left-hander Anthony Kay will likely be the “bulk” guy. Kay is also coming off a tough outing against the Brewers — Kay went 4.2 innings, allowing three hits, two earned runs, four walks, and struck out five on 92 pitches.

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The 2026 NFL Draft is quickly approaching, and the Chicago Bears are getting prepared for their selections. They hold the 25th pick in the draft and have some glaring needs as the team seems finished with signing free agents. With the board needing to fall their way, there is a dream situation for Chicago. Let’s take a closer look at how one outlet believes this would look like.

Landing Peter Woods would be the dream scenario for the Chicago Bears

Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report wrote an article describing every NFL team’s dream scenario for Round 1 of the NFL Draft. For Chicago, it is making sure a specific player is still not picked when they are up at 25. Below is the full snippet regarding the team:

“Enough teams to buy into the concerns that Peter Woods isn’t going to be a difference-maker that he’s still around when the Bears get on the clock at 25. Getting their pick between safeties Emmanuel McNeil-Warren and Dillon Thieneman would be dream-adjacent.”

The defensive tackle from the Clemson Tigers would be a welcome addition for the Bears. He has been taken by them in mock drafts throughout the offseason, but he fills a need in the interior of the defensive line. Over 35 games, he recorded 84 total tackles (41 solo, 43 assisted) with 14.5 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks, one pass deflection, and a pair of forced fumbles. He has the ability to pair with Gervon Dexter Sr. or Grady Jarrett on the defensive line.

Improving the defensive line would be a massive boost for the Bears. They need to be able to win the battle of the trenches to add pressure. Adding Woods would significantly help overwhelm interior offensive linemen. The team added secondary help in free agency, so while it would help adding safeties, winning on the defensive line is more important with the current roster construction. It will be intriguing to see what the draft board looks like when Chicago is on the clock.

The post This is the Chicago Bears’ dream scenario in Round 1 of NFL Draft appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago Cubs right-hander Cade Horton exited his start on Friday with apparent forearm discomfort and will head to the injured list.

More News: Chicago Cubs: PCA data suggests a monstrous 2026 may be on the way

Manager Craig Counsell said Horton will stay with the team one more day and travel back to Chicago for imaging. According to Counsell, Horton said he felt discomfort start in his right wrist, which moved up into his forearm. It was ultimately Horton’s decision to stop pitching, as to not do any further harm. 

Craig Counsell said Cade Horton felt discomfort in his wrist that moved to his forearm, and he will travel to Chicago to get it checked out.

An upcoming roster move is likely. https://t.co/oVdej2xNVf pic.twitter.com/oZ9lGdSsWe

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) April 3, 2026

The Cubs will make a roster move in the coming days with Horton going on the injured list. The Cubs have until April 8 before Horton’s spot comes up again. Horton was 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA and had four strikeouts in 7.1 innings.

Despite Cade Horton’s injury, the Chicago Cubs have options

Since the Cubs need another quality starter to fill in for Horton, they need to look no further than Javier Assad. Despite having a great spring, a 1.35 ERA in three games, Assad was optioned to Triple-A due to not having a spot.

Since joining the Iowa Cubs, Assad has struggled, allowing seven earned runs in seven innings (two starts). Even though Assad hasn’t done well, he’d be a quality inning-eater if and until Horton returns.

Right-hander Ben Brown is another option to fill in for the short term. Brown has done well out of the bullpen, having a 2.70 ERA and eight strikeouts in 6.2 innings.

However, in 114.2 innings as a starter, Brown has struggled, posting a 5.26 ERA. Since Brown’s stuff is more suited for the bullpen, the Cubs bringing up Assad and keeping Brown where he is seems like the best plan.

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The Chicago Bears faced some significant setbacks this offseason, including the unexpected retirement of center Drew Dalman. Though he spent just one season in Chicago, Dalman left a lasting impression on teammates and head coach Ben Johnson.

The 27-year-old decided to walk away from professional football despite having two years remaining on his contract. The Bears signed him to a three-year deal worth $42 million to lead the offensive line. Dalman arrived in Chicago in March 2025 after four years with the Atlanta Falcons.

The Pro Bowl center helped turn the Bears’ offensive line into one of the NFL’s most improved units in 2025. He provided protection that allowed quarterback Caleb Williams to have a breakout season. Williams was sacked only 24 times, down from 68 in 2024. The second-year QB also set a franchise record with 3,942 passing yards.

Chicago Bears’ Ben Johnson reflects on Drew Dalman’s impact

 Johnson recently shared his thoughts on Dalman’s retirement. He praised the former center for his major role in the team’s stellar season.

“He’s a big reason why we were able to get the plane off the ground last year,” the second-year coach said via Mark Carman of the CHGO Bears podcast. “We will forever be grateful for him.”

In 2025, the Bears finished 11‑6 after a 5‑12 record the previous year. They scored 441 points, the third-highest in franchise history. The Bears captured the NFC North title and won their first playoff game in 15 years.

Chicago’s offensive line was the key to its success last season, with Dalman playing all 1,154 of the team’s offensive plays. For offensive linemen—particularly the center—who are responsible for protection calls, availability and consistency are crucial.

To fill the void in the offensive line, veteran center Garrett Bradbury was acquired via a trade with the New England Patriots. The Bears traded a 2027 fifth-round draft pick to the Patriots for the 30-year-old offensive lineman.

Bradbury is joining the Bears after a standout 2025 season with the Patriots. He started all 17 games last season. Across 642 pass-blocking snaps, he allowed zero sacks or penalties. The experienced center played a key role in helping the team reach the Super Bowl.

Johnson believes Bradbury will quickly adapt to the team and make an immediate impact on the offense.

The post Ben Johnson speaks out on unexpected Chicago Bears news appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago White Sox have been struggling, and one player who may help is catcher Kyle Teel. He is yet to play this season due to an injury. He gave a bit of an update regarding his status and how he is feeling. Let’s take a closer look at what he said and what it means for the White Sox going forward.

Kyle Teel is feeling better as he recovers from his hamstring injury

MLB’s Scott Merkin talked with Teel ahead of the White Sox’s home opener. Teel provided a bit of an update regarding his status and how he is feeling better as time goes on.

“I feel much better this week, honestly. It’s going well. I would say that like I still don’t know exactly when on the timeline I’ll be back. From the way I’ve been feeling, it’s been a steady incline. From what everyone who has hamstring injuries tell me, there’s going to be a day where it just feels really really good. That’s when you make that big jump. I feel like I’m coming up on that day really soon. I love playing so it’s tough. But everything happens for a reason so going day by day.”

Teel suffered a hamstring injury in pool play for Team Italy during the World Baseball Classic on March 11. He was projected to have a 4-to-6 week recovery timeline, and we are approaching the four-week mark.  Chicago is hoping to have him back soon to continue his progression in the majors. Teel only played in 78 games last season and had a .273/.375/.411 slash line with eight homers, 35 RBI, and 38 runs scored while being an excellent catcher.

With the White Sox looking to get their core players together in the lineup, it will be interesting to see when Teel officially heads for a rehab assignment.

The post Kyle Teel provides update ahead of 2026 Chicago White Sox home opener appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears are making moves to strengthen a key part of their roster. Head coach Ben Johnson recently revealed his stance on the team’s latest move involving veteran center Garrett Bradbury.

In March, the Bears finalized a deal with the New England Patriots to acquire the experienced offensive lineman. The team traded a 2027 fifth-round draft pick to the Patriots for Bradbury. 

The move came after veteran center Drew Dalman unexpectedly retired at age 27. The Pro Bowl center walked away from a three-year contract after just one season with the Bears. His departure left the team without a proven leader on the offensive line for the upcoming season.

Chicago Bears’ Ben Johnson excited about new center Garrett Bradbury

Johnson recently shared his thoughts on Bradbury’s trade. The second-year coach seems very excited and confident about the Bears’ new center. Although Johnson has not had the chance to get to know the 30-year-old extensively, the Chicago shot-caller believes Bradbury’s intelligence will benefit the team.

“I only got to talk to him briefly when he came in after the trade, and yet I could tell how bright he is,” Johnson said, via Mark Carman of the CHGO Bears podcast. “I don’t think the chemistry in the room will miss a beat now.”

Bradbury arrived in Chicago following a standout 2025 season with New England. He started all 17 games, not allowing a sack or committing a penalty over 642 pass-blocking snaps. He helped the team reach the Super Bowl by protecting the quarterback and opening running lanes.

Over seven NFL seasons, six with the Minnesota Vikings and one with New England, Bradbury has started 105 games in total. 

Losing Dalman is a tough blow for the Bears. However, Johnson believes Bradbury can step in and keep the offense running smoothly.

“We came to a consensus that Garrett was going to fit us like a glove,” he said. “Obviously, he had a lot of success last year, made it to the Super Bowl. Very cerebral player.”

Bradbury is in the final year of the two-year deal he signed with the Patriots last offseason. He is set to earn $4.7 million for the 2026 season. The trade was an affordable move that let the Bears fill a key position without sacrificing multiple top draft picks. 

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The Chicago Cubs have one of the better starting rotations in baseball, but the depth may be tested rather quickly.

Cade Horton, a promising young starter, was starting Friday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians, but was pulled early with an injury. Let’s take a closer look at what we know at this point and what it could mean going forward.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Cade Horton leaves the game with right forearm discomfort

Horton was today’s starter for the Cubs as they begin their road series with the Guardians. He looked sharp in the first inning, but the second inning saw some issues. Horton would throw a 93.8 mph fastball to Bo Naylor and immediately look into the dugout. The trainer and manager Craig Counsell would come out, and Horton would exit the game.

Marquee Sports’ Taylor McGregor would say on the broadcast that he had “tears in his eyes” as he was heading to the clubhouse. The team would officially call the injury right forearm discomfort. Unfortunately, the mind immediately jumps to Tommy John with forearm injuries, but it’s important to note that nothing has been announced at this point.

Horton is coming off a promising 2025 season as a rookie, finishing second in the 2025 National League Rookie of the Year voting. If he is going to miss extended time due to the injury, expect Javier Assad to get called up. He has been pitching in Triple-A and is on the same schedule as Horton has been in terms of starts.

It will be interesting to see what the latest updates for Horton will be. We will likely not find out until after the game concludes when we hear from Counsell.

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The Chicago White Sox are struggling in the early stages of the season, but they made some news on Friday. With all the emotions that the home opener brings, one of the faces of the franchise will be immortalized. Let’s take a closer look at what happened and why this decision has been made.

Ozzie Guillen will have his number retired with the Chicago White Sox

During the home opener on Friday, the White Sox announced they will be retiring Guillen’s #13 jersey on August 8. They announced it on the scoreboard with a video showing some of his highlights as a player and manager. Guillen spent the first 13 years of his playing career with the White Sox. In that time, he would win the 1985 AL Rookie of the Year Award, win a Gold Glove, and make three All-Star teams. He would post a .265/.286/.339 slash line with 24 homers, 565 RBI, and 163 steals in 1,743 games.

Guillen would return to the organization as a manager for the team in 2004. It took just two years and he led the team to win the World Series. He would manage the team through the 2011 season and post a 678-617 (.524) record. He would go 12-4 in the playoffs as well before leaving to take the Miami Marlins job in 2012. Guillen will now have his number immortalized with the following other numbers:

• Nellie Fox (#2)
• Harold Baines (#3)
• Luke Appling (#4)
• Minnie Minoso (#9)
• Luis Aparicio (#11)
• Paul Konerko (#14)
• Ted Lyons (#16)
• Billy Pierce (#19)
• Frank Thomas (#35)
• Jackie Robinson (#42)
• Mark Buehrle (#56)
• Carlton Fisk (#72)

Chicago is retiring one of its top all-time personalities and lifers for the rest of the franchise’s history. Guillen was brought to tears when this was announced, catching him completely by surprise. It will be interesting to see how August 8 will look when the ceremony takes place.

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Chicago White Sox play-by-play John Schriffen didn’t get off to the best start with fans when he took over for Jason Benetti. The first “South Side Stand Up” call was criticized by fans, analysts and local media members. But now, there might be another concern for Schriffen.

One of the lone bright spots through the first week for the White Sox has been rookie Munetaka Murakami. He began the year with three-straight home runs despite the team being swept in Milwaukee. He even earned a nickname on behalf of Schriffen as “South Side Samurai” following a RBI single the other day against the Miami Marlins.

But a new report from the Chicago Sun-Times suggests that White Sox brass wasn’t happy with the call.

John Schriffen’s nickname for Munetaka Murakami causing concern for White Sox?

With Schriffen in a contract year, this isn’t a great start. The Chicago Sun-Times’ Jeff Agrest reported on Thursday that Schriffen’s call didn’t excite the White Sox brass due to the possibility of offending viewers:

“That one is crushed into center field,” Schriffen said. “Here comes [Edgar] Quero, he will score easily. An RBI single for the ‘South Side Samurai.’ ”

Schriffen emphasized those last three words, of which analyst Gordon Beckham seemed to approve, following excitedly with, “Whoa! Oh, baby!”

Sox officials weren’t as excited about the possibility of offending viewers. Fans shouldn’t expect to hear the nickname again.

The White Sox are set to host the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday for their home opener. We will see if Schriffen uses the nickname or if it was a one-time thing on the South Side.

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The Chicago Cubs made a lot of moves this past offseason and are now about a week into a 2026 campaign where big things are expected.

More News: Is Chicago Cubs manager tipping new Dodgers-style late-season pitching strategy?

The biggest move, of course, was the signing of three-time All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman to a 5-year, $175 million contract.

They finally pulled the trigger on a trade with the Miami Marlins for emerging powerhouse pitcher Edward Cabrera, who they had been eyeing already for the better part of two seasons.

They also restocked a depleted bullpen with the signing of four free agent relievers (Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, Jacob Webb, and Hunter Harvey).

They even secured the future of the franchise with big-money six-year extensions for centerfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and second baseman Nico Hoerner.

Despite a tepid start to the 2026 campaign, most would agree that this Cubs team looks deep and all-around good. The starting rotation is deep, the bullpen is versatile, the defense is elite, the offensive firepower is also there.

Speed kills—opposition

More News: Chicago Cubs trade deemed both smartest and dumbest move of offseason

One overlooked strength, though, could be the key to next-level success this season—speed. Specifically, speed as it pertains to having an aggressive mindset on the bases and the ability to pile up stolen bases.

Third base coach Quintin Berry is one of the key leaders in that area, tasked, along with first base coach Jose Javier, with getting the Cubs moving on base.

Last season, Chicago was tied for third in all of baseball with 161 stolen bases in 196 attempts, marking a near elite-level success rate just above the 82% mark. This season, the team is 7-for-7 in stolen base tries.

Berry came over from manager Craig Counsell’s old team, the Milwaukee Brewers, for the 2025 season in a thus far successful attempt at replicating the Brewers’ aggressive mindset on the bases. A former Cub, himself, Berry spent his MLB playing days as a baserunning specialist.

The Cubs’ baserunning specialist

The Chicago Sun-Times recently talked with him about his role in getting the Cubs moving.

“I’m more of a peace of mind [guy] — peace for [Crow-Armstrong],’’ Berry said. “Just like, what is he thinking, what’s he doing with his body. How to keep him relaxed and be confident.

“A lot of times, guys want to be quick. They’re trying so hard. I think the harder you try, the more tense you get, the more locked up, and then you see things that aren’t there, and then you get real passive, or you get real jumpy.

“So I’m just trying to make guys feel confident, confident and comfortable.’’

While home runs and strikeouts get most of the fan and media love, stealing bases and being able to get an extra bag here and there is such an overlooked asset in baseball. It adds a level of extra pressure to an opponent and forces them to operate outside their original plan. And the Cubs have been built with an eye on speed. Up and down the lineup, with the exception of maybe two spots, there’s some serious running ability present.

Could this ability to steal bases prove to be the deciding factor in how this season finishes? As always, time will tell.

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Head coach Billy Donovan appears to be at a crossroads with the Chicago Bulls as the NBA regular season winds down.

More News: Bulls owner appears to receive ultimatum from Billy Donovan

Unlike the previous few years, the Bulls have no Play-In Tournament to prepare for after trading its core trio this season. Donovan appears frustrated with the front office, and the ramifications of the failed Jaden Ivey trade might have been the final straw for the Basketball Hall of Fame coach.

Donovan has been connected to the North Carolina head coaching search ever since the Tar Heels parted ways with Hubert Davis. Donovan, a two-time national champion at Florida, would be a huge get for UNC.

However, Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd had appeared to be the number one target for the Tar Heels.

Per Matt Norlander of CBS Sports, Lloyd rejected a “top-two contract” at UNC to sign a contract to stay at Arizona.

“Sources: UNC offered Tommy Lloyd a top-two contract in CBB. Lloyd took less to stay, but will still bump up to $7.2 million starting next season,” Norlander posted on X. “Staff pool also will get a huge bump + incentives brought back to their contract structures. He’ll also no longer report to the AD.”

Chicago Bulls HC Billy Donovan could leave for UNC

With Lloyd’s rejection, the door stays open for Donovan.

So does the pay. North Carolina was willing to offer Lloyd over $8 million. Kansas head coach Bill Self makes $8.8 million per year. Arkansas head coach John Calipari makes $8 million.

Donovan has the leverage to ask for a better contract from UNC than what Lloyd would have received, as Donovan has the rings and a HOF resume at the college level.

The Bulls will end their regular season against the Dallas Mavericks on April 12, five days after the transfer portal is set to open for college basketball on April 7.

Donovan could be behind in the portal, but his pedigree should help UNC in the future if he decides to leave the Bulls for college.

For More Chicago Sports:

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

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.Before Toni Kukoc joined the Chicago Bulls in the 1993-94 NBA season, he was making a name for himself overseas. Both Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen were able to see that first hand at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

Now, the Croatian national team along with Kukoc will be featured in a special documentary about the 1992 Olympics.

Emmy Award–winning filmmaker Jack Baric is set to begin production on his latest feature. More Than a Dream is an inspirational sports documentary that tells the extraordinary story of the Croatian national basketball team at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

Baric will direct and produce the film, which will explore the team’s remarkable silver medal win in their Olympic debut as an independent nation, challenging the legendary “Dream Team” in the gold medal game. Led by four players who were among the first group of international players to enter the NBA – Drazen Petrovic, Toni Kukoc, Dino Radja, and Stojko Vrankovic – the Croatians emerged as a premier European force, defying expectations and securing a place in basketball history.

The inspiration for the film

While the Dream Team commanded the global spotlight during the 1992 Olympics, the Croatian squad arrived in Barcelona with little fanfare. Back home, the newly independent nation was fighting the deadliest conflict on European soil since World War II — a war that claimed more than 10,000 Croatian lives and displaced over 300,000 people.

With a third of their country under siege and fierce fighting all around them, the Croatians risked everything just to make it to practice and games. Leading the charge were four players who were among the first wave of international stars to enter the NBA: Drazen Petrovic of the New Jersey Nets, Toni Kukoc of the Chicago Bulls, and Boston Celtics big men Dino Radja and Stojko Vrankovic.

The entire world knew the Dream Team was destined for gold in 1992, so the real race was to see who would face them in the final. Croatia, Russia, Lithuania, Brazil, and Australia all vied for that spot—with Croatia ultimately earning the right to meet the Americans in the championship game.

“More Than a Dream is more than a sports story,” Baric said. “It’s about a nation fighting to define itself under impossible circumstances. And the courage of athletes who carried the hopes of an entire country onto the world stage. Their journey to Barcelona, facing the greatest team ever assembled, is a testament to resilience, love, unity, and the unbreakable human spirit. I can’t wait to bring their story to life on screen.”

“Representing Croatia in 1992 was one of the greatest honors of my life,” Kukoc said. “Our people were going through a very hard time. And the Olympics were much more than a basketball tournament for me and my teammates. We wanted to do something for our people. I’m thankful to Jack for telling the story of what that team meant—not just for basketball, but for Croatia.”

Full production on More than a Dream is slated to begin in May. It will feature interviews with various sports, cultural, and political figures from Croatia and the United States over archival footage of the team, Olympic games, and wartime Croatia.

Baric plans to premiere the film at the LA28 Olympics.

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The Chicago Bears had an intriguing offseason, but lost a significant part of the front office. The Atlanta Falcons hired assistant general manager Ian Cunningham and promoted him to their general manager position. However, things are not going as expected for the Bears as they were expecting to be awarded by the NFL a compensatory pick. The NFL responded to the team on Friday, so let’s take a closer look at what they decided and what it means.

The Chicago Bears are denied any compensatory picks due to Ian Cunningham’s hire by Atlanta

Chicago will not be receiving any compensatory picks after their appeal. On Friday, the league officially rejected the appeal, meaning the third-round compensatory pick will not be given to the Bears.

“The matter is now closed following the club’s appeal. The NFL informed the Bears today they will not receive compensatory picks. The policy is desinged to provide picks for the Primary Football Executive position. The League determined Mr. Cunningham did not fill that role with the Falcons as it is defined in League rules.”

While this is the NFL’s stance, their operations seem to have it worded a bit differently. Below is from the NFL Operations regarding the Rooney Rule:

“In November 2020, team owners approved a proposal rewarding teams who developed minority talent that went on to become GMs or head coaches across the league. If a team lost a minority executive or coach to another team, that team would receive a third-round compensatory pick for two years.”

The Bears argued that Cunningham’s hire by the Falcons would fit this criteria, but it appears not. As a result, Cunningham is going to a new organization as the team’s general manager. Cunningham handled the duties of a general manager during the spring meeting, including being in the annual GM photo. However, the league determined this was not enough.

Chicago will now have their allotted picks known and zero compensatory selections as a result.

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The Chicago Cubs, early this season, appear to be very cognizant of what their postseason should look like and how best to optimize a run at a championship. Last year, the focus seemed to be on just making the postseason.

More News: Chicago Cubs trade deemed both smartest and dumbest move of offseason

In 2025, pitching injuries hobbled their playoff run. By the time they reached the NLDS, they were down to, maybe, two reliable starters and two or three trusted relievers. It was a sobering reality that played out at the tail end of an otherwise tremendous season.

In 2026, however, the pitching focus has seemingly shifted to depth and to pacing themselves for a more pitching-powerful postseason.

That, maybe especially, means keeping an eye on the workload of the team’s younger starters and using their long relief to greater benefit early in the season.

That mindset seemed evident in the first starts of Cade Horton and Edward Cabrera.

An early focus on workload

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Both young arms were cooking into the sixth inning with a minimal pitch count. Manager Craig Counsell opted to take both out of their respective games.

Horton and Cabrera do have a history of injury and durability issues, so it’s no surprise that Counsell would want to be cautious with both. Horton, for example, was shut down late in the season and missed the playoffs entirely with a rib injury, after a sizzling post-All-Star break run. But Counsell’s own words to the media after the Horton game reveal, perhaps, more of a long-term team goal than a simple focus on the health of one young arm.

“If you look at history,” Counsell said, “the first three weeks of the season for pitchers are pretty delicate.”

Counsell has also talked about the benefit of having starter-capable pitchers such as Ben Brown and Colin Rea on the team.

“Having a pair of experienced starters filling in the long-reliever role is a luxury for a team,” Counsell said.

“Early in the season, we thought it could be valuable. With unforeseen weather and being cautious with the starters, I think it’s worked out and will continue to be an asset the next couple of weeks.”

It’s been speculated that the Cubs may be trying to adopt a 2025 Dodgers strategy to managing their starting corps, one where the team is ultra conservative with their starters in order to bring a strong and rested rotation into the playoffs.

Adopting the 2025 Dodgers strategy?

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

They were then careful and judicious with the return of injured/recovering starters Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, and even Shohei Ohtani. Ultimately, they were able to reintroduce all three to the rotation just in time for a strong pennant push and then the postseason.

The strategy paid off as Yamamoto and the fresh, strong threesome of Glasnow, Blake, and Ohtani accounted for more than 68% of the innings pitched in the postseason en route to another World Series win for the Dodgers.

The Cubs don’t have the studs the Dodgers did, but they do have big-time depth. The team currently has seven possible starters on the big league roster and Javier Assad in Iowa, with recovering ace Justin Steele set to make his return before mid-season.

If the workload is handled just right, it’s almost a guarantee that Chicago will be able to put together a very nice four-man rotation for what they hope to be a deep postseason run.

Last season, they really didn’t have that luxury of depth—and they ultimately paid the price. This season, they’re angling for a much different end to the season.

The post Is Chicago Cubs manager tipping new Dodgers-style late-season pitching strategy? appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago White Sox got off to a poor start to begin the season.

More News: Chicago White Sox prospect’s performance may force a tough decision

Starting 1-5 on the road against the Milwaukee Brewers and the Miami Marlins, manager Will Venable said his team “needs to be better.”

“However you want to characterize it, we fell short, right? And I think, you know, our message to the guys is that we need to be better,” Venable said before the home opener on Friday to 104.3 The Score.

White Sox manager Will Venable on his message after a disappointing start: “We’re moving forward.” pic.twitter.com/3n9OHfhu5k

— 104.3 The Score (@thescorechicago) April 3, 2026

The White Sox’s pitching staff pitched poorly and ranks as the worst staff in baseball (8.63 ERA). The White Sox also gave up the most earned runs in the early goings (47).

The road ahead won’t get easier for the Chicago White Sox

Despite being back home, the White Sox welcome in some tough American League East opponents. The White Sox open a three-game series on Friday versus the reigning American League Champions, the Toronto Blue Jays (4-2). The Baltimore Orioles come to town on Monday (3-3, April 6-8).

The Blue Jays’ starting rotation has been hit hard with injuries. Right-hander Cody Ponce sprained his right ACL on Monday and will miss time.
The Blue Jays were already without right-handers Trey Yasavage (right shoulder impingement), Jose Berrios (right elbow stress fracture), and Shane Bieber (right elbow inflammation) to begin the year.

Maybe now that they’re back at home and the Blue Jays are down some of their better arms, the White Sox could finish the home stand at .500.

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It’s April, but members of the Green Bay Packers are still crying about Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson.

More News: Bears owner ‘livid’ with CEO Kevin Warren over stadium

Immediately after taking the head coaching job with Chicago, Johnson took a shot at Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, saying he enjoyed beating him twice a year when he was the offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions.

The Bears beat the Packers twice last year via incredible comebacks, including in the wild-card round. Following Chicago’s playoff win over Green Bay, Johnson offered LaFleur a very quick handshake with a little attitude before going to celebrate with his team.

Johnson further upset the Bears’ hated rival by saying “(expletive) the Packers” after the game.

All sorts of Packers fans who enjoyed former Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers taunting the Bears for years came out of the woodwork in Wisconsin to cry about Johnson’s rhetoric.

During an interview with Kay Adams, new Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley made reference to the handshake when saying there was no animosity between him and LaFleur.

“I’ll shake his hand after the game, it’s not going to be one of those (things),” Hafley said.

NFL coaches are scared of Chicago Bears HC Ben Johnson

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Hafley had a reason to be upset after the loss to Chicago. Johnson exploded his defense in the fourth-quarter comeback.

But Hafley wasn’t exactly a saint when he left the Packers. He strong-armed LaFleur into taking linebackers coach Sean Duggan to Miami to become Hafley’s defense coordinator.

Hafley told LaFleur he couldn’t keep Duggan, and LaFleur had to give in.

With LaFleur being unable to fight his own battles, it’s nice he has other NFL coaches to stand up for him, even if they take advantage of him at the same time.

For More Chicago Sports:

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

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The Chicago Bears entered the offseason facing a significant setback after losing wide receiver DJ Moore. The 28-year-old’s departure leaves a major gap in the offense and raises questions about the team’s direction. Head coach Ben Johnson addressed the situation and revealed how the team will adjust moving forward.

The Bears traded the star receiver to the Buffalo Bills in March in exchange for a 2026 second-round draft pick. The move cleared significant salary cap space but removed the primary target for quarterback Caleb Williams.

Moore was a key part of Chicago’s passing offense and among its most dependable players. He excelled in creating separation and gaining extra yards after catching the ball. With him gone, the Bears lose both his on-field performance and his experience as a veteran leader.

Chicago Bears’ coach Ben Johnson on next steps following DJ Moore’s departure

Johnson, in his second season as Bears’ head coach, recently addressed the unfortunate development of losing a cornerstone player. He indicated that the team will not designate a direct successor to Moore’s WR1 role immediately. Instead, the coaching staff plans to replace the wideout’s production using players beyond just the receiving group.

“It’s a competition between the receiver room, the tight end room and the running back room,” Johnson said, via Mark Carman of the “CHGO Bears” podcast.

The wide receiver group is now shifting its focus to developing younger talent like Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III. These high-draft picks from the past two seasons must now handle increased defensive scrutiny. To assist in the transition, the Bears signed former Detroit Lions veteran receiver Kalif Raymond to a one-year deal in mid-March.

There will also be pressure on the team’s tight ends to be dependable targets for the quarterback. Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland have long arms and can make important catches to keep drives going. The Bears could potentially utilize two-tight-end formations more often in the upcoming season.

As the 2026 campaign approaches, Johnson is focusing on improving the offense that helped Chicago win last year’s NFC North title.

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The Chicago Bears are getting prepared to improve their roster in the 2026 NFL Draft. They were able to do so earlier in the offseason, but now they are looking for fits. One outlet found the best fit for the franchise, but who is it? Let’s take a closer look at who it is.

The Chicago Bears would be a great fit for Kayden McDonald

Nick Baumgardner and Scott Dochterman wrote an article for The Athletic discussing draft fits for players and teams. Baumgardner listed the Bears as a fit for Ohio State defensive lineman Kayden McDonald. Below is what he wrote about the possible pairing:

“McDonald reminds me quite a bit of his former Buckeyes teammate (and current Detroit Lion) Tyleik Williams. He’s a versatile 6-foot-3, 330-pound run stuffer, with an ability to chase and find the ball outside his square. McDonald has better long-term pass-rush potential than Williams and could be a legitimate three-down three-tech, because of his ability to slide over to nose when the moment requires.

The biggest drawback with McDonald right now is his youth. He only had one season as a starter in college and hasn’t quite put it all together just yet, pass-rush-wise. Bottom line, though, is that McDonald is a disruptive presence capable of pushing the pocket. He would offer immediate help to a so-so defensive interior. A long-term duo of McDonald and Gervon Dexter Sr. in the Windy City sounds like a successful one.”

McDonald has been a pick in some mock drafts for Chicago to land. He’s an All-American and national champion in his three-year collegiate career. Throughout 34 games, he recorded 85 total tackles (38 solo, 47 assisted) with 11.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, three pass deflections, one fumble recovery, and a pair of fumble recoveries.

McDonald has certainly received interest, as he has a private visit with Chicago already scheduled. Their defensive linemen need to be able to create pressure in the trenches. It will be intriguing to see if McDonald will be part of defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s defense in 2026 and beyond.

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Chicago White Sox prospect, infielder Sam Antonacci, has been outstanding since joining the Charlotte Knights.

More News: Former Cubs and White Sox SP impresses in Diamondbacks debut

In his first six games, Antonacci is batting .333 with a 1.083 OPS, two home runs, and four RBI. The 23-year-old’s strong start comes on the heels of a great spring. In nine games, he hit .368 with a 1.328 OPS, two home runs, and five RBI.

Antonacci has made a strong case to get a call-up to the White Sox. However, he is currently blocked and may force the White Sox to make a tough decision.

Sam Antonacci has expanded his versatility while in the minor leagues

An infielder by trade (third baseman, second baseman, and shortstop), Antonacci has played five of his six games in left field. So far, he’s posted a perfect fielding percentage (1.000) and made eight putouts with one assist.

The idea of Antonacci playing the outfield is to expand his versatility. Shortstop Colson Montgomery and second baseman Chase Meidroth block Antonacci in the middle-infield.

Third base could be in play with Miguel Vargas proving to be a poor defender so far (-17 defensive runs saved). However, his bat has been solid to start the season, .263 with a double, a home run (grand slam), and six RBI.

Sam Antonacci’s performance and versatility may force the Chicago White Sox to make a tough decision

Antonacci may force the White Sox to make a tough decision with his expanded versatility and batting. Only a couple of players on the 26-man roster are “expendable.”

Infielder/outfielder Luisangel Acuña has struggled at the plate through five games, batting .200 with a .494 OPS. Acuña has also been terrible in center field, posting a -71 defensive runs saved in 19.0 innings.

Outfielder Everson Pereira (day-to-day with a sore ankle) has done better at the plate but struggled in the field. In five games, Pereira is batting .250 with a .794 OPS and a home run, but has a -37 defensive runs saved in 37.0 innings in right field.

Acuña and Pereira have no more minor league options left. Since they’re out of options, the White Sox would need to place them on outright waivers, exposing them to be claimed by another team.

Both are still young in their careers — Acuña is 24 and Pereira is 25. The White Sox may have to take a gamble on losing one of them if they feel Antonacci can come up and produce as he has.

The post Chicago White Sox prospect’s performance may force a tough decision appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The partnership between Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson and quarterback Caleb Williams transformed the franchise during the 2025 season. Johnson joined the team in January 2025 and immediately focused on a tailored offensive system for the young quarterback.

In Johnson’s first season at the helm, Williams thrived under his direction. The 24-year-old quarterback set a franchise record with 3,942 passing yards. He also finished the 2025 season with 27 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. This performance earned Williams the title of Bears’ Offensive Player of the Year.

Johnson also helped Williams improve his efficiency, as his sack rate dropped from 68 in 2024 to just 24 last season. Thanks to their collaboration, the Bears finished 11–6 and won the NFC North last season. They also earned their first playoff win since 2011.

Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams shows the lighter side of his bond with Ben Johnson

Each game and practice brought Johnson and Williams closer together. Their bond went beyond the field, with fans catching glimpses of their playful camaraderie on social media.

On Monday, Williams shared a candid photo of Johnson on his Instagram story. It showed the coach sitting on a white chair. He jokingly captioned the image “Say cheese” alongside two laughing emojis.

Caleb Williams latest Instagram story pic.twitter.com/fBqcIaG4ON

— Dave (@davebftv) March 30, 2026

After arriving from the Detroit Lions, Johnson set the tone immediately. He pushed the Bears’ players through a grueling training camp and transformed the team’s culture. Williams and his teammates responded by embracing his intensity and trusting his system.

Williams has praised Johnson’s coaching, saying it has had an unparalleled impact on his development. He added that he looks forward to many more successful games and moments with Johnson.

“He’s been a catalyst for us,” Williams said in an interview. “I’m happy to have him as my coach. What he’s been able to do for me has been unparalleled … I’m excited about our future. I’m excited to get back here with him, grow more than I did this year, and have games and moments like this many times in our career.”

The Bears’ offense saw a dramatic turnaround under Johnson following one of the franchise’s worst seasons in 2024. The offense soared from 32nd in total yards in 2024 (283.5 yards) to sixth in 2025 (369.5 yards). This marked the first time an NFL team made such a leap in a single season since the New York Jets in 1971.

Chicago also scored 441 points during the 2025 season, the third-highest total in franchise history. The team also had 127 explosive plays, the second-most in the NFL.

With the 2026 season on the horizon, the Bears remain focused on elevating the offense to even greater heights. With Johnson and Williams returning, Chicago has a chance to build on one of their most promising campaigns in recent franchise history.

The post Caleb Williams sends two-word message to Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have gotten off to a slower start than they had hoped, but there have been some impressive showings. One pitcher made his team debut earlier this week and impressed. Let’s take a closer look at who it was and what it means for the Cubs going forward.

Edward Cabrera’s Chicago Cubs debut was impressive

The Cubs had some solid performances, but starter Edward Cabrera was highlighted for his debut. MLB’s Brent Maguire wrote about some of the top pitching performances. He would mention Cabrera’s excellent debut against the Los Angeles Angels, where he pitched five shutout innings and allowed one hit, one walk, and five strikeouts. Below is what Maguire wrote about Cabrera’s debut:

“The Cubs sent three prospects, including Owen Caissie, to the Marlins over the offseason to acquire Cabrera, fully believing there was another level for the talented right-hander. So far, that inclination looks wise, after Cabrera one-hit the Angels in six innings in his Cubs debut, striking out five batters and only issuing one walk. Cabrera’s usual electric stuff was on display, leading to 15 whiffs on 40 swings, but just as notable (if not more) was the one walk and 61.3 percent strike rate. After running a career-low 8.3 percent walk rate last season (he had never been below 10 percent in a season), another drop in walks could propel Cabrera to another level.”

Cabrera is expected to slot into the middle of Chicago’s pitching rotation and showcase his talents. He was also labeled as the biggest takeaway from the team in the early stages of the season. His pitches had a tick down from where they averaged last season, but that could simply be going from pitching in Miami to outside in Chicago. Cabrera’s changeup forced hitters to go 0 for 8 with three strikeouts in his Cubs debut. It will be intriguing to see if he can continue pitching well as the season goes along.

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The Chicago White Sox have a young team that is going to grow together as the years go on. As they are attempting to figure out ways to win games, the roster may change a bit. This offseason saw the White Sox trade center fielder Luis Robert Jr to the New York Mets, but the trade could’ve looked a lot different. Let’s take a closer look at what the potential trade could have been.

The Chicago White Sox tried to trade for Brett Baty

New York Post’s Jon Heyman wrote an article discussing the eventual trade between the White Sox and Mets this offseason. The deal saw Chicago send Luis Robert Jr to New York for Luisangel Acuna and prospect Truman Pauley. However, things could’ve turned out differently as Heyman details.

“The White Sox understandably tried in talks for the emerging Brett Baty, who looked back then like he might be the odd man out in Queens. But the Mets quickly rebuffed that. Figuring a diminishing role for Mark Vientos, the Mets offered Vientos before renewing their deadline proposal. The South Siders preferred [Luisangel] Acuna to Vientos since they weren’t looking for a hit-first righty batter.”

The team’s current roster has seven right-handed hitters with one switch hitter. It also appears that general manager Chris Getz would rather have Acuna and Miguel Vargas on the team rather than Vientos and a different center fielder. Baty would have been an intriguing addition to Chicago’s lineup as he is a career .665 OPS hitter. However, he has shown signs of improvement and the former first-round pick is under contract until 2030.

It seems the White Sox are happy with the return they got as Acuna is currently the everyday center fielder for the team, replacing Robert. It will be intriguing to see if this showcases what Getz will want to do with the roster going further into the season.

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The Chicago Sky are in a position where things could be looking a lot different when they are on the clock in the 2026 WNBA Draft. They hold the fifth pick in this year’s draft, so they can add an immediate impactful player for the roster. They have some spots filled despite the upcoming massive free agent class. Let’s take a look at who one outlet has the Sky selecting and why it makes sense.

The Chicago Sky select Flau’jae Johnson in the Sporting News’ latest mock draft

David Suggs of Sporting News wrote a mock draft that had the Sky selecting LSU guard Flau’jae Johnson with the fifth overall pick. Below is what Suggs said about this pick:

“Angel Reese’s progreesion as a passer was a godsend for the Sky, who boasted perhaps women’s basketball’s worst backcourt in 2025. The Sky will get reinforcements in the form of Hohnson, Reese’s old college teammate. Johnson is a dogged defender who will inject much-needed athleticism into a Chicago side bereft of it. Her stock dipped slightly in her senior season. But Johnson remains an alluring prospect. She should be able to feed Reese and Kamilla Cardoso with a healthy portion of entry passes in 2026 and beyond.”

Johnson played 141 games (139 starts) with the LSU Tigers over the course of four years. She averaged 14.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.9 blocks in 29.2 minutes per game. Pairing Johnson with one of her former teammate in Angel Reese would be a massive positive. Johnson’s ability to improve her 3-point shooting each season while being a tough defender makes her an easy selection.

Chicago does not need frontcourt members with Reese and Cordoso still under contract. This isn’t the only time Johnson has been mocked to Chicago either. With a bevy of free agents being available, this would be a good trio to build around and be a core of the Sky roster.

The post Chicago Sky selects former Angel Reese teammate in Sporting News’ latest WNBA mock draft appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs entered the 2026 MLB season as the betting favorite to win the NL Central, and it wasn’t particularly close. Near even odds on most sportsbooks, the Cubs stood out as clear favorites in a weak division that saw two teams trade away key players in the offseason and two more who did little to improve.

It can be nerve-wracking to depend on your offseason eye test, projections or Spring Training stats to place a bet on a team’s projected win total before Opening Day. But now that the first week of the regular season has come and gone, let’s dig into the oddsboard and consider: Are the Chicago Cubs a lock to win the NL Central in 2026?

The biggest reason to like the Cubs has less to do with their own roster and more to do with the landscape around them. The NL Central projects as one of the thinnest divisions in baseball, leaving the Cubs with +120 odds to take the division on most sportsbooks. Browse this list of sportsbooks available in Illinois and you’ll find an array of betting apps that offer MLB futures markets, including NL Central betting odds — and they all come with a generous welcome offer if you haven’t yet signed up with the platform.

Can the Chicago Cubs win the NL Central?

In evaluating the Cubs’ chances to win the division, it’s important to first size up their competition. Let’s start with the Pittsburgh Pirates. On paper, they arguably boast the most exciting rotation in the division, headlined not just by Paul Skenes, but other talented young arms like Bubba Chandler and Mitch Keller. However, that strength is offset by a glaring weakness: defense. Pittsburgh failed to adequately address its fielding issues, eschewing gloves for better bats, which will prove to be a major concern over a 162-game season. Poor defense doesn’t just cost runs — it undermines pitching strengths, inflates pitch counts, and turns winnable games into losses. Even with elite arms, that imbalance makes it difficult to trust the Pirates as a consistent division winner.

The St. Louis Cardinals, historically a steady presence atop the Central, appear to be taking a step back. After trading away several of their best players, including Brendan Donovan, Willson Contreras and Sonny Gray, this roster looks more like one in transition than one built to contend. While St. Louis rarely stays down for long, it’s difficult to make a case for them as a serious threat in 2026 given the talent they’ve shipped out and the uncertainty surrounding young players like Jordan Walker and Nolan Gorman.

Milwaukee, another recent division staple, also took a noticeable step backward. The departures of Freddy Peralta and Caleb Durbin weaken both their pitching depth and overall roster balance. The Brewers have long relied on maximizing value through development and bullpen usage, but losing a frontline arm like Peralta is not easily overcome. Without a clear upgrade elsewhere, Milwaukee looks more vulnerable than in recent seasons. Yes, we say this every year about the Brewers — but manager Pat Murphy can only work so much magic.

Then there’s Cincinnati, a team that showed flashes in their 2025 playoff run but ultimately made minimal changes in the offseason. The Reds are essentially running it back with the same core that fell short last year, with the exception of Eugenio Suarez, a Reds mainstay from 2015-2021. While continuity can be valuable, it’s less encouraging when the baseline wasn’t good enough to begin with. Unless young players like Sal Stewart and Matt McLain take unexpected leaps, Cincinnati looks more like a .500 team than a true division contender.

Against that backdrop, the Cubs don’t need to be elite — they just need to be better than average. And there’s plenty of reason to believe they can clear that bar.

Chicago made one of the splashier moves of the offseason by adding Alex Bregman. Even if he’s no longer at his absolute peak, Bregman brings a combination of plate discipline, power, and postseason experience that elevates the lineup. He lengthens the order and gives the Cubs a reliable bat in high-leverage situations, something they’ve lacked at times in recent years.

The addition of starting pitcher Edward Cabrera is another intriguing move. Cabrera has shown flashes of top-of-the-rotation stuff, with a high-velocity fastball and swing-and-miss secondary pitches. While consistency has been an issue, a change of scenery could unlock another level. If the Cubs can stabilize his command even slightly, he has the upside to become one of the more impactful arms in the division.

Of course, it wasn’t all positive for Chicago this offseason. Losing Kyle Tucker creates a noticeable hole in the lineup, particularly in terms of left-handed power and overall offensive production. Tucker’s departure raises legitimate questions about run generation, especially against high-end pitching. However, in a division in which few teams project to have dominant rotations, the impact of that loss may be somewhat mitigated.

Ultimately, betting on the Cubs at +120 comes down to a simple calculation: stability versus uncertainty. Chicago has improved in key areas and maintained a competitive core, while their divisional rivals have either regressed, failed to improve, or introduced significant risk factors.

In a stronger division, the Cubs might look like a fringe contender. In the 2026 NL Central, they look like the safest bet. And at +120, the pick may not be dripping with value — but we’ll take a favorite at plus odds any day.

The post Chicago Cubs 2026 Betting Odds as season gets underway appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Round of 32 Schedule – 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup

Home teams listed first; visit the ***schedule section*** of ***ussoccer.com/us-open-cup*** for the most up to date listings and links to streaming broadcasts on Paramount+

Tuesday, April 14 (all times CT)

New England Revolution vs. Rhode Island FC – 6 p.m. (Paramount+)

Louisville City FC vs. Austin FC – 6 p.m. (CBS Sports Network/Paramount+)

Detroit City FC vs. Chicago Fire FC – 6:30 p.m. (CBS Sports Golazo Network/Paramount+)

Westchester SC vs. New York City FC – 6:30 p.m. (Paramount+)

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. Sporting Kansas City – 7 p.m. (Paramount+)

Colorado Rapids vs. Union Omaha – 8:30 p.m. (CBS Sports Network/Paramount+)

Sacramento Republic FC vs. Minnesota United FC – 9 p.m. (CBS Sports Golazo Network Paramount+)

Wednesday, April 15 (all times CT)

FC Naples vs. Orlando City SC – 6 p.m. (CBS Sports Network/Paramount+)

Chattanooga FC vs. Atlanta United FC – 6:30 p.m. (Paramount+)

Richmond Kickers vs. Columbus Crew – 6:30 p.m. (Paramount+)

Red Bull New York vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – 6:30 p.m. (Paramount+)

Charlotte FC vs. Charlotte Independence – 6:30 p.m. (Paramount+)

D.C. United vs. One Knoxville SC – 6:30 p.m. (Paramount+)

St. Louis CITY SC vs. FC Tulsa – 7 p.m. (Paramount+)

Houston Dynamo FC vs. El Paso Locomotive FC – 7 p.m. (Paramount+)

San Jose Earthquakes vs. Phoenix Rising FC – 9 p.m. (CBS Sports Golazo Network Paramount+)

The post Chicago Fire FC to Face Detroit City FC in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bulls are looking to improve during the offseason, and shaking up the roster may be the way to go. They are going to be in the lottery for the draft, so they can make some improvements there. However, being able to free up some cap space will be critical to making some free agent moves. There is one player who could be moved, so let’s tkae a closer look at who one outlet believes it will be.

Bleacher Report believes the Chicago Bulls will move on from Patrick Williams

Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report wrote an article listing one player from each NBA team that will most likely hit the trade block next. For the Bulls, he selected Patrick Williams. Below is what he wrote:

“The Chicago Bulls will almost certainly make Patrick Williams available this offseason.Whether or not another team actually makes an offer for the former No. 4 overall pick is a different story. Still somehow only 24 years old despite playing in his sixth season, Williams has been used almost exclusively as a reserve. His shooting numbers have plummeted (37.4 percent overall from the field) and there’s been no real growth in any are of Williams’ game.

“The three years and $54 million remaining on his contract is going to be tough to get rid of for Chicago, although it’s time both parties go their separate ways.”

Williams has not been living up to the hype throughout his career. He is averaging 9.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.6 blocks, and 0.8 steals across 341 games. However, it appears that a change of scenery would be best for both the Bulls and Williams. With the big contract, Chicago will likely need to take back a big contract or give away a pick in a move. It will be intriguing to see if Williams is moved during the offseason.

The post Bleacher Report predicts this Chicago Bulls player will be traded next appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago White Sox have had a bit of a bumpy road to begin the regular season. After being swept by the Milwaukee Brewers to begin the season, they secured a 9-4 win on Monday in the series-opening game against the Miami Marlins. One outlet released their Week 1 power rankings, so let’s take a look at where the White Sox wound up.

The Athletic’s power rankings have the Chicago White Sox ranked 29th after Week 1

The Athletic’s power rankings include a vote from their selection committee to decide how the order would be. For Chicago, they dropped one spot from the preseason record to 29th. Levi Weaver wrote the section for the team and explained poetically that the team will do better on the mound.

“Could the White Sox finish the season with a half-dozen pithcers wearing double-digit ERAs? I dunno, sure. Why not. The reason it’s meaningless is because – as the White Sox have so frequently reminded their fans in recent years – we are on an infinitesimally small rock, floating through some distant corner of a universe that we have barely begun to understnad. We grow wiser as we grow more fragile, but, compared to the age of rocks and oceans, we no sooner begin our time on this planet than we are whisked away into the arms of a mystery.

“What does any of it even mean? How can we do anything at all but hold each other, look around in bewilderment at the whole construct, and thank our fellow man for being here to see it with us? So no, you can’t make me care about the ERAs of White Sox pitchers.”

Below are the bottom five teams on The Athletic’s power rankings, with the average rankings included:

• Minnesota Twins (25.0)
• Los Angeles Angels (27.3)
• Washington Nationals (27.3)
• Chicago White Sox (27.8)
• Colorado Rockies (30.0)

The White Sox have two more games in Miami against the Marlins before heading up north for a three-game set against the Toronto Blue Jays. It will be interesting to see how they do and if they can climb up next week’s rankings.

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The 2025-26 NBA regular season is wrapping up in a few weeks and as expected, the Oklahoma City Thunder are again the favorites to win it all this year. If they do make a run, it will be on the back of MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

The star guard is averaging 31.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game this season. He’s the front runner for the MVP award once again this year and has emerged as one of the best players in the league. But one NBA writer is taking it to a high level in terms of praise for the reining MVP and he is comparing him to the all-time GOAT.

Zach Lowe has Michael Jordan comparison for SGA

During a recent segment on “The Zach Lowe Show”, NBA writer Zach Lowe praised SGA and his ability to dominate games. He noted just how consistent he is in terms of the level of efficiency. Lowe made the case as to why SGA is his MVP.

From there, he brought up Jordan.

“I think Shai is the MVP. I don’t even care if the Spurs pass the Thunder,” Lowe said. ” … I think Shai, first of all—again, boring—he’s played 400 more minutes than Wembanyama. That’s a lot of minutes, and he’s doing that without playing fourth quarters in like 20 games because they’re ahead by so many. They both elevate their teams—Wembanyama’s on-off is from neutral to incredible, Shai’s on-off is from pretty good to incredible. The incredible part matters more to me than where the off-court number is. It’s like, are you elevating your team to, ‘Holy sh**, this is a machine’? That’s Shai.

“Clutch numbers are outrageous, and this is Jordan, but in the modern era. That’s how good he is offensively, and I just think you put all that together, he’s the MVP for me.”

There’s no doubt SGA is playing at a high level again this year. He’s aiming to be the first player to win MVP in consecutive seasons since Nikola Jokic in 2021 and 2022.

But Lowe’s words didn’t sit well with everyone.

Lowe is crazy overrated

— Floydian Slip (@OliveOil6000) April 1, 2026

this era is weak compared to 80's and 90's. You can not compare player's. People are dumb

— Nmad (@NolanMader7571) April 1, 2026

It’s tough to compare eras because they are so different. But it’s certainly a big compliment for SGA to be compared to the GOAT.

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The Chicago Bears entered the 2025 season with questions about how new head coach Ben Johnson would get the ball to all of his playmakers.

More News: Bears owner ‘livid’ with CEO Kevin Warren over stadium

With DJ Moore, Luther Burden III, Rome Odunze at wide receiver and tight ends Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland available for quarterback Caleb Williams, there was only so many targets Johnson could get to his receivers every game.

Before the trade deadline, the Bears were receiving interest for Moore.

During an appearance on ESPN at the league’s annual meeting in Phoenix, Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane said he called about Moore to help quarterback Josh Allen in the second half of the season.

The Bears weren’t ready to part with Moore. However, Chicago changed its mind before the NFL combine in Indianapolis, Indiana, in February.

“(Moore) was one of the guys that we called and checked,” Beane said. “And Chicago shut it down. They were trying to make a run.

“But I think they at least knew there was interest, and they reached back out when we got to Indy (for the NFL combine) and said, ‘Hey, you know, maybe we’d be open if something made sense.’ And we (were) fortunate to be able to figure that out.”

Moore made an impact for the Bears after the trade deadline, catching key touchdown passes in their two wins over the Green Bay Packers, including in the wild-card game. He also left Chicago on a sour note, appearing to give up on a route that turned into an interception in a loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round.

Chicago Bears choice to trade DJ Moore wasn’t easy

More News: Bears just gave Ben Johnson a gift before 2026 NFL Draft

Earlier this week, Johnson told reporters that he was emotional when the Bears chose to trade Moore this offseason.

“I got a little emotional when the trade happened,” Johnson said, via Dan Wiederer of The Athletic. “He came in and he made his rounds saying goodbye to the coaches and Ryan (Poles) and his crew. It hurts because I viewed him as one of the leaders. Yet the business is the business.

“We had to make some decisions in terms of salary cap and things of that nature.”

Johnson noted that Moore is going to a good situation, reuniting with Joe Brady, the new head coach of the Bills.

The post Chicago Bears changed their mind on star wide receiver appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Prior to the start of the 2026 MLB regular season, the Chicago Cubs made one thing clear to their fans and the rest of Major League Baseball: they expect to win the division. The Milwaukee Brewers, who knocked the Cubs out of the postseason last year, have won the National League Central Division in each of the past three years. This year, the Cubs expect to end up on top.

What is more, Chicago wants to compete for, and win, the World Series, which they have not won since 2016. As such, they went about the winter piecing together a roster that many feel is one of the best in the Majors. At least on paper.

However, that high-powered and carefully constructed roster started the year 3-3.

MLB analyst wonders if the Chicago Cubs can remain consistent

Obviously, six games are far from a clear picture of what will be a 162-game season. That being said, while divisions cannot be won in March or April, they can certainly be lost. If the Cubs find themselves a game or two behind the Brewers (or another NL Central team) heading into the final week of the year, many will point to this lackluster start.

Derek Antoine of Yahoo Sports fears that Chicago’s inconsistency to start the year may end up biting them:

“The Cubs have already shown the early warning signs that kill seasons—they can be productive, but not reliably punishing. They can survive cold nights at Wrigley. They can survive one shutout. What they can’t survive is a lineup that only scores when everything lines up perfectly.

“And what happens when they start facing real pitching depth every series? Because the competition hasn’t necessarily been stellar.

“So the question is simple, and I won’t be polite about it. Do the Cubs have enough lineup length to win games when they aren’t hitting nukes? Or are they about to spend April proving that the offense is all paper?”

These are all questions that many had about the Cubs roster going into the season. Undoubtedly, when they are clicking on all cylinders, they are nearly impossible to beat.

But, as Antoine asks, what is going to happen when things are not clicking? Chicago needs to figure out how to overcome these challenges if they are going to compete for the division, much less a World Series title.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Matthew Boyd responds in strong outing in Cubs win
• Moving on from Seiya Suzuki may be Cubs’ plan A
• Craig Counsell announces exciting timeline for Seiya Suzuki return

For More Chicago Sports

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

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The Chicago Cubs are 3-3 through the first six games of the 2026 MLB regular season. While there have been frustrating moments early, it is easy to see the potential this team has to be among the best in baseball. With a talented roster with multiple high-quality players, it will not be long before the Cubs start climbing back up the standings.

Despite the fact that the season is only a week old, some are starting to wonder what players from around baseball will end up representing their teams in the 2026 MLB All-Star Game. Undoubtedly, the Cubs have multiple players that could play in the Mid-Summer Classic, but Bleacher Report predicts only three of them will.

Bleacher Report predicts Alex Bregman and Daniel Palencia will join Pete Crow-Armstrong on the NL All-Star roster

In Bleacher Report‘s first All-Star roster projection since the start of the season, they predicted that Chicago will be sending three players to the game. They predict that Alex Bregman will be voted in as the NL starting third baseman. They also named Pete Crow-Armstrong an All-Star reserve, and Daniel Palenica as one of the pitchers.

Bregman was an All-Star for the third time in his career last year while playing for the Boston Red Sox. This year, through six games, he is hitting .208/.321/.458 with two home runs and three RBI. However, he was walked (four times) more than he has struck out (twice).

Crow-Armstrong made his first career All-Star team last year. So far this season, he is hitting .261/.320/.261 with three RBI.

Palecia has never been named to an All-Star team in his career. In two appearances this season, he has to record a run. He may have made a name for himself among those choosing All-Star pitchers, though, with all well he pitched in the World Baseball Classic.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Matthew Boyd responds in strong outing in Cubs win
• Moving on from Seiya Suzuki may be Cubs’ plan A
• Craig Counsell announces exciting timeline for Seiya Suzuki return

For More Chicago Sports

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

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The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have some outstanding players entering the 2026 NFL Draft. While some names are getting a lot of attention, there are others who are going under the radar. One player fits like a glove with the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. Let’s take a look at who one outlet believes it to be and why they feel that way.

Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price is listed as a perfect fit for the Seattle Seahawks

The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner and Scott Dochterman wrote an article discussing fits for NFL draftees and teams. One of the players who was highlighted was Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price, fitting him with the Seattle Seahawks. Below is what Baumgardner wrote about the fit:

“Notre Dame’s other outstanding running back, Price, had no problem shining through Jeremiyah Love’s enormous shadow. Despite being a clear No. 2 RB in college (to arguably the best player in this draft), Price has the goods to grow into a lead NFL back — possibly sooner than later.

“Price’s first step and ability to sink before exploding into a cut make him a terror in the box and off the edge. He’s an explosive kick returner who isn’t afraid to run people over. With the loss of Kenneth Walker III, and with Zach Charbonnet rehabbing from winter ACL surgery, Seattle is in the market for a difference-making back. (Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson, Wake Forest’s Demond Claiborne, Washington’s Jonah Coleman or Arkansas’ Mike Washington Jr. are other names to watch.)

“Price is the best of the bunch behind Love, and he should be ready to compete for starting carries quickly. Price absolutely could be available for Seattle at No. 62 and could even be worth a slight trade-up, if need be.”

Price was the RB2 for the Fighting Irish. In 41 games across three seasons, he had 280 rushing attempts for 1,692 yards (6.0 yards per carry) with 21 rushing touchdowns and 15 receptions for 162 yards (10.8 yards per catch) with three receiving touchdowns. For Seattle, they need to replace Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III’s production. With the offense having top wide receiver options with Jaxson Smith-Njigba and Rashid Shaheed, they can use a running back like Price to be a weapon out of the backfield.

The post This Notre Dame player is labeled as a fit for the Seattle Seahawks appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs had been eyeballing right-handed power pitcher Edward Cabrera of the Miami Marlins for the better part of two years, starting from the end of the 2024 season. They finally pulled the trigger on the trade to bring him over this past offseason.

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Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer paid a hefty price for the emerging 27-year-old starter. To bring Cabrera aboard, they had to send over their top prospect OF Owen Caissie, their no. 11 prospect INF Cristian Hernandez, and 19-year-old talent INF Edgardo De Leon.

Both the Cubs and the Marlins walked away from the deal happy. So far, each side has every reason to feel like they came out ahead.

Cabrera and Caissie shining so far

More News: Chicago Cubs: Moving on from Seiya Suzuki may be the team’s Plan A

In Cabrera’s first start with his new team, he blew the Los Angeles Angels away with a masterful showing. On the day, he tossed 6 shutout innings, striking out 5 while giving up only one hit and one walk in a 7-2 win.

The Marlins also have to be pleased with their new outfielder’s season so far, as he’s helped carry them to a very early first place spot atop the NL East. The 23-year-old outfielder has driven in 8 runs so far, with a walk-off home run and an impressive .350 batting average.

The success of both principal players in the Cubs-Marlins swap has created an odd point of debate when it comes to which team actually “won” the trade.

A trade that was both smart and dumb?

Michael Brauner of SI.com encapsulates this perfectly in a recent piece regarding the Cubs dumbest and smartest moves of the offseason—including the trading FOR Cabrera as a smart one and the trading OF Caissie as a dumb one.

Per Brauner:

“Cabrera came in on Monday night and did exactly what he was brought in to do: generate a ton of swing and miss. The right-hander carved up the Los Angeles Angels lineup with six scoreless innings, striking out five and walking one while allowing just one hit.

Cabrera may just wind up as the ace of this staff, and if he keeps looking how he did on Monday night, he very well could be an All-Star as well.

He still has a ton to prove, but it was as strong a beginning to his time with the team as one could possibly hope for.”

Also, per Brauner:

“The way Chicago’s former top prospect has started with the Miami Marlins, it makes fans wish Hoyer had found a way to get Cabrera without sacrificing Caissie.

The 23-year-old has slashed .385/.429/.769 so far this year (.350/.391/.600 currently, as of April 2) coming off a huge showing in the World Baseball Classic and even hit a walk-off home run for Miami the other night. The Cubs needed pitching, but seeing Caissie have a huge rookie season would be a tough pill to swallow.”

There’s no doubt that Cabrera and Caissie will always be connected from this point forward with both team’s fan bases and the value of the trade judged by each player’s performance. But this very well could go down as one of those deals where both sides come out a winner.

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The Chicago White Sox are off to a horrendous start to the 2026 MLB season. They are currently 1-5, tied for the worst record in all baseball. What is more, their -31 run differential is, by far, the worst is both the American League and National League.

Indeed, this year projects to be another long-suffering season for White Sox fans, who have watched their team lose over 100 games in each of the past two seasons.

Even though the season is just one week old, many are starting to wonder what the All-Star rosters will look like. And as projections are made, there is only one White Sox player that some think will make the American League roster.

Grant Taylor predicted to represent the Chicago White Sox in the 2026 MLB All-Star Game

Last year, starting pitcher Shane Smith was named as Chicago’s lone American League All-Star. However, after his first two starts of the season this year, it does not seem like he will be repeating that honor. Smith is currently 0-2 with a 19.29 ERA.

Therefore, in Bleacher Report‘s first All-Star roster projection since the start of the 2026 MLB season, he is not the White Sox player they believe will represent Chicago. Instead, they predict it will be right-handed relief pitcher Grant Taylor:

“He is an under-the-radar candidate worth keeping an eye on this year. With an upper-90s fastball and wicked breaking stuff, he struck out 54 of the 157 batters he faced in 2025 while logging a 1.42 FIP in 36.2 innings.”

Currently, Taylor has a 4.50 ERA in two appearances. Last year, he was 2-4 with a 4.91 ERA in 36 appearances. He also recorded six saves.

This is a very interesting choice from BR because of the presence of Munetaka Murakami on the White Sox roster. While it is yet to be seen just how consistent he will be over the course of the season, one would assume his popularity in Japan will garner him millions of fan votes.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• White Sox call up Lucas Sims before series finale vs Marlins
• White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami included on hottest rookies list
• Former Cubs and White Sox starting pitcher impresses in Diamondbacks debut

For More Chicago Sports

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

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Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has turned heads very early this season with some very intriguing data points.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Moving on from Seiya Suzuki may be the team’s Plan A

By the account of some well-respected baseball analysts, PCA’s bat speed has ticked up considerably and he’s currently swinging the bat faster than anyone in MLB. As a matter of fact, his top-end bat speed right now is greater than that of any qualified player over the last two seasons.

Last season, the emerging young star, who just signed a 6-year, $115 million contract extension, blew people away with a stellar first half of the year before experiencing a significant fall over the second half. Overall, though, he finished 2025 with high-end stats that included 31 home runs, 95 RBIs, and 35 stolen bases, as well as a Gold Glove.

PCA on the verge of even bigger things?

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Over the offseason, the 24-year-old Crow-Armstrong worked on the mechanics of his batting stance and is sporting a more balanced approach at the plate, which is likely leading to the faster swing speed. So far, though, his 6 hits this season have all been singles.

But increased bat speed is considered a harbinger of good things to come, across the board, for a hitter.

Evan Altman of Cubs Insider lays out the case for why increased bat speed is not only important for power numbers, but also for overall success at the plate:

“The thing about increased bat speed isn’t just that it will directly correlate to more home runs, but that it broadens a hitter’s margin for error. Every additional tick of EV correlates to around 7 feet of ball flight, which means carrying over a shortstop’s glove or past a leaping outfielder. And in a game decided by fractions of inches or seconds, hitting a ball even slightly harder puts that much pressure on the defense.”

A 50-home run season?

Driveline Baseball ops analyst Sam Ehrlich is estimating that PCA’s added 3.5 mph of bat speed—the greatest jump in all of MLB—could make for a 50 home run season if the trend continues.

PCA w +3.5mph of bat speed could be looking at a 50HR season. Small sample, but that is a massive gain https://t.co/KGhKX9jI2A pic.twitter.com/1SHZz2Es9l

— sam ehrlich (@SamEhrlich) March 30, 2026

Eno Sarris of The Athletic, using his own metrics, has arrived at the same conclusion that the young star is currently sporting a mighty swing:

“Pete Crow-Armstrong is swinging a powerful stick right now. Using our method, we find that he’s swinging more than 2 mph harder this March than he did in September. At Driveline Baseball, they are big proponents of bat speed training, and they were enthusiastic about PCA’s gains, even modeling what the increased bat speed would mean.

The real gains for the Cubs’ center fielder are probably smaller than this, but it also seems likely that last year’s 31 homers were not a mirage, and more might be coming this season.”

It’s wild to imagine that a 30+ home run season from the Cubs centerfielder in 2025 could actually be the just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what he’s capable of doing.

Of course, all of this actually has to play out on the field, But, still, it’s pretty exciting to think that the best of PCA may be yet to come.

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The Chicago White Sox are coming off three-straight seasons of 100-plus losses and are hoping 2026 goes differently. While they went from 121 losses to 102 from 2024 to 2025, there is some hope for the future in terms of prospects. They also have the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft.

But through the first week of the season, the White Sox are 1-5 and were swept in the first series in Milwaukee. They followed it up by losing the series down in Miami. A big reason why? Pitching. The pitching for the White Sox has been really bad this season, allowing 52 total runs compared to the 21 that they have scored on offense.

And it’s the worst pitching staff in baseball at the moment.

White Sox pitching has been MLB worst

Looking at the stats, the White Sox are dead last in earned run average through the first week of the season at 8.63. The next closest at No. 29? The Philadelphia Phillies with a 5.46 ERA.

Ouch.

It’s all been bad for the White Sox on the pitching side of things, including starter Shane Smith. In his latest start on Wednesday against the Marlins, Smith gave up eight hits, eight runs with seven earned, two walks and just one strikeout in three innings. That came after a bad start in the season opener against the Milwaukee Brewers as well.

What is going on with Shane Smith????

Through 3 innings:
8 hits
8 runs (7 earned)
2 walks
1 strikeout

Season ERA & WHIP: 19.29 & 3.21

Is it time to hit the panic button!? pic.twitter.com/o9xrxK9mZR

— SleeperWhiteSox (@SleeperWhiteSox) April 1, 2026

Overall, it’s been a nightmare start for the White Sox as they have also given up 65 hits which leads the majors. It doesn’t get much easier, either. The Toronto Blue Jays come to town this weekend for the team’s home opener and first series at Guaranteed Rate this season.

If the White Sox really want to improve, they need to figure out how to get this pitching staff back on track and do it quickly.

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The Chicago Bears recently traded wide receiver DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills. The move sparked reactions not only from his teammates but also from head coach Ben Johnson.

Moore had become an integral part of the Bears’ offense, so the move caught many by surprise. Chicago agreed to trade him, along with a late-round draft pick, to Buffalo in exchange for a 2026 second-round selection.

The decision was largely driven by the need to address Chicago’s salary cap issues. Trading Moore will free up approximately $16.5 million in salary cap space, giving the Bears increased financial flexibility.

Chicago Bears’ Ben Johnson admits difficulty in letting go of DJ Moore

Johnson recently expressed how Moore’s departure was a particularly difficult moment for him. The Bears’ coach, who holds deep respect for the star receiver, admitted the transition was emotional.

“I love DJ,” Johnson said, via Mark Carman of the CHGO Bears podcast. “I got a little emotional when the trade happened and he came in and he made his rounds saying goodbye to the coaches and [general manager Ryan Poles] and his crew.

“It hurts because I viewed him as one of the leaders. Yet the business is the business.”

Though he felt the sting of losing a veteran player, Johnson expressed happiness for Moore. The 28-year-old reunites with former Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who is now the Bills’ head coach.

“I think the best thing for him is, he’s going to a great situation,” Johnson said. “He’s got a history with Joe Brady. I think he’s very excited to play with another talented quarterback in Josh Allen. I think we’re putting him in a great spot.”

However, Johnson maintained that the trade was a necessary move for the team’s future. 

“I’ve been a part of some of those trades in my past where you move on from a guy and he’s not necessarily going to a great situation. I’m happy for him. Yet I feel like it was probably the move we needed to make,” he added.

 Moore joined the Bears in 2023 after being traded from the Carolina Panthers. He quickly emerged as the team’s top offensive weapon. The veteran wideout set a career high with 96 receptions for 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns in his debut season.

In 2024, Moore increased his reception total to 98 but finished with 966 yards and six touchdowns. His production further declined in 2025 as the Bears focused on younger offensive talent. Moore finished the season with 50 catches for 682 yards.

Despite the drop in numbers, Moore became a key leader, mentoring rookies like wide receiver Rome Odunze. His leadership on and off the field was vital for the Bears’ success in 2025. His guidance helped the team finish 11-6 and win the NFC North title for the first time since 2018. 

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The Chicago Cubs knew that they needed to make a significant addition to their starting rotation. With Justin Steele recovering from injury and not available to start the season, they wanted to get a pitcher who would do more than just fill the gap. They wanted one who would give them years of added stability.

And that is what they got when they traded for Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins, sending a package of prospects in return, most notably Owen Caissie.

While Cabrera has made just one start for the Cubs so far this season, his performance has inspired a great deal of excitement among fans.

The Chicago Cubs could have something special in Edward Cabrera

In his Cubs debut, Cabrera threw six innings of shutout ball while allowing just two base runners. He also notched five strikeouts and earned the win.

It was an impressive enough performance for MLB.com to name Cabrera Chicago’s biggest takeaway of the first week’s worth of games:

“When Cabrera took the mound at Wrigley Field for his Cubs debut on Monday, the announced attendance of 36,702 was the largest home crowd he had experienced in his MLB career. Not only was he in the North Side’s rowdy environment, but the wind was blowing out and it was his shot at a good first impression as Chicago’s big trade acquisition over the winter.

“Cabrera was unfazed by all of it. The big righty showed off his powerful arsenal and held the Angels to one hit over six shutout innings. He flashed a combination of swing-and-miss (15 whiffs) and trust in the Cubs’ elite defense. It was an impressive debut in every way and showed why Chicago had been trying to reel in Cabrera for a couple years.”

If Cabrera can keep pitching this way, the Cubs’ starting rotation is going to be in excellent shape. What is more, he is under team control for the next several seasons.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Matthew Boyd responds in strong outing in Cubs win
• Moving on from Seiya Suzuki may be Cubs’ plan A
• Craig Counsell announces exciting timeline for Seiya Suzuki return

For More Chicago Sports

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

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The Chicago White Sox are not off to a good start in the 2026 MLB season. After going 41-120 in 2024 and 60-102 in 2025, fans did not have high expectations for them this year. The hope was that they would at least play decent baseball and show some improvement.

But they haven’t.

Through the first six games of the season, the White Sox are just 1-5. They are tied with the Boston Red Sox and Athletics for the worst record baseball.

But what is worse is the fact that Chicago has a -31 run differential right now, by far the worst in all the Majors. The next closest team to them is the Red Sox, who have a -15 run differential.

Munetaka Murakami gives the Chicago White Sox a much-needed silver lining

Indeed, the White Sox have not played very inspiring baseball early on in the season. And while there is still plenty of time, there is microscopic hope that they will right the ship.

That being said, rookie first baseman Munetaka Murakami has at least given fans a new star to cheer for. MLB.com recently named him Chicago’s biggest takeaway from the first week’s worth of games:

“By his own admission, the left-handed-hitting first baseman from Japan has plenty of work to do as he begins his Major League career. In fact, Murakami has focused more on early shortcomings and the process for improvement even when opening weekend accolades were heaped upon him.

“But Murakami became the first player in White Sox franchise history to have a home run in each of his first three big league games, not to mention producing a hit in each of his first five, an RBI in four of those five and showing great patience at the plate with a walk in three of those five. He appears to be a needed bonafide power source.”

Through six games, Murakami is hitting .238/.360/.667 with three home runs and five RBI. As noted above, he hit a home run in each of his first three Major League games. Unfortunately, they were all solo shots and the White Sox lost each of those games.

An additional frustration is that he has struck out nine times in six games. It appears that the high strikeout totals that gave some Major League teams pause when he was on the market did indeed follow him over from Japan.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• White Sox call up Lucas Sims before series finale vs Marlins
• White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami included on hottest rookies list
• Former Cubs and White Sox starting pitcher impresses in Diamondbacks debut

For More Chicago Sports

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

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The Chicago Bulls are in a weird spot as a team, as they are losing a bunch of games and not finding ways to walk off the court victorious. Chicago pulled the plug on the season at the trade deadline and acquired picks/young players to build for the future. One outlet was able to describe the Bulls’ season with a singular word, so let’s take a look at what word was used and why.

Bleacher Report calls the Chicago Bulls ‘tardy’

Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley wrote an article where he described each NBA team with one word. For the Bulls, Buckley used the word ‘tardy’, explaining it is due to pivoting to rebuilding towards the middle of the season. Below is what he wrote regarding Chicago:

“After logging an inordinate, unforgivable amount of mileage on the dreaded treadmill of mediocrity, the Bulls finally bolted off of it at the deadline and made “a meaningful shift” toward long-term rebuilding, as executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnišovas told reporters.

“It’s been a tank-tastic journey ever since—5-14 since the All-Star break—but in the eyes of the lottery odds, it could very well be remembered as too little, too late. This unpunctual plug-pulling left Chicago racing toward the bottom after giving all either future-focused franchises a monthslong headstart. This draft class might be rich with star-level prospects, but the Bulls will need an awful lot of lottery luck to be in position to grab a blue-chipper.”

With Chicago getting more ping-pong balls in the lottery, the team is struggling to find wins late in the season. With the team eliminated from postseason contention, it will be intriguing to see which players are able to play to be part of the roster next season.

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The Chicago White Sox have not gotten off to a good start to the season. The team’s pitching not living up to expectations through the first handful of games. As a result, there are going to be some roster moves made to help that side of things. Let’s take a closer look at what the move was and what it means for the White Sox going forward.

The Chicago White Sox called up Lucas Sims from Triple-A Charlotte

Ahead of Wednesday’s series finale against the Miami Marlins, the team made some news regarding its roster. Chicago is calling up veteran pitcher Lucas Sims and designating pitcher Jedixson Paez for assignment. The White Sox will have to give Jedixson Paez back to the Boston Red Sox if unclaimed on waivers.

Paez has struggled out of the bullpen to begin the season as he has appeared in three games (3.0 innings) and has an 18.00 ERA with a 2,33 WHIP and .333 opposing batting average. He also has struggled with command, giving up three walks without recording a strikeout. Paez was the organization’s 19th-ranked prospect, so giving up on him so soon is intriguing.

The failed experiment of Chicago’s Rule 5 selection is going to be interesting. There is an off chance that Paez remains in the minor leagues, but this is certainly a swing and a miss for general manager Chris Getz. Sims has been a veteran reliever who has yet to make his White Sox debut. Last season with the Washington Nationals, he was 1-0 with a 13.86 ERA and a 2.27 WHIP in 12.1 innings (18 games).

Sims was one of the final players cut at Spring Training. Chicago’s 8.34 team ERA through five games is the worst in the majors by more than two full runs. It will be interesting to see how Sims looks in the majors for Chicago’s bullpen.

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After an impressive rookie season, Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland is training hard for the 2026 NFL season. The league recently shared footage showcasing the 21-year-old’s rigorous drills.

In a clip posted on the NFL X account, Loveland caught passes without gloves to improve his grip. The Idaho native also displayed his quick footwork by changing directions on his routes. He combined the agility of a wide receiver with the strong blocking of a tight end.

This dedicated training follows a season in which Loveland led the Bears in receiving yards. He struggled early in the 2025 campaign, totaling only 116 yards in his first six games. However, he broke out in Week 9 with 118 yards and two touchdowns against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Loveland finished the year with 58 receptions for 713 yards and six touchdowns. His standout performance cemented his role as a key contributor for head coach Ben Johnson’s squad.

Chicago Bears’ Ben Johnson confirms offseason training for Colston Loveland

Johnson recently confirmed that Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden III have been spending a lot of time in the weight room throughout the NFL offseason.

Johnson’s statement regarding the duo’s constant presence at the facility caused a stir among the Chicago fanbase. Although fans praised the two young players, some criticized the absence of a key teammate.

“The rookie class that saved the Bears ,” commented one fan rallying behind the pair.

Other supporters kept their reactions brief, posting comments like “Good” and “Dedication.”

However, other supporters questioned the whereabouts of the team’s other star playmaker.

“And where is the supposed WR1, Rome Odunze?” one user asked.

Another fan took a sharper tone toward the wide receiver, posting, “Rome still asleep? Hit the jugs, buddy.”

One supporter even suggested that Burden may soon overtake Odunze as the team’s leading wideout: “Lulu bout to snatch that WR1 chain.”

Odunze suffered a stress fracture in his foot in October and missed five games last season. However, he still finished with 661 receiving yards, 44 receptions and six touchdowns in 12 appearances. He returned on January 10 for the Bears’ playoff game against the Green Bay Packers.

With Odunze, Loveland and Burden at his disposal, Johnson can build a balanced, dynamic and dangerous offense for the 2026 season. These three young players have already helped the Bears finish 11–6 and win the NFC North last season.

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The Chicago Sky are getting ready for their offseason to begin following the lockout’s end. With two new teams entering the WNBA in the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire, there is an expansion draft taking place. Chicago has a lot of free agents heading into the offseason, but they made sure to keep their players away from the expansion draft. Let’s take a closer look at how they were able to make sure their players will not be selected.

The Chicago Sky made two trades to protect their players from the expansion draft

Chicago made it clear that they want to have the ability to keep their team together. The front office made a pair of trades making sure this is a possibility. They traded away the 2026 second-round pick (pick 26) via the New York Liberty to the Tempo and their own 2026 second-round pick (pick 17) in exchange for the rights that those teams will not select a player from the Sky in the expansion draft. In addition, Portland also sent its own 2026 second-round pick (pick 21).

As part of the WNBA expansion draft, Portland and Toronto can select players from other teams to add to their roster. Teams can protect up to five players, giving the two teams a list of unprotected players. The two teams select which players they want to fill a roster. If a player is an unrestricted free agent, they can still be selected, and the expansion team will have the ability to work a contract and offer a supermax deal with them.

For Chicago, they valued keeping their roster together rather than having to protect five players. Now, they do not need to worry about this as neither team can select a Sky player. Chicago now holds the following picks in the 2026 WNBA Draft after these moves:

• No. 5 overall (first round)
• No. 21 overall (second round)
• No. 32 overall (third round)

Chicago has four players under contract, meaning it will have a lot of decisions to make regarding their roster. However, the front office seems keen to keep as many of them with the team as possible while adding talent with the three remaining draft picks. It will be intriguing to see which players Chicago keeps this offseason to see if it was worth those trades.

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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

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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It’s been over 20 years since Michael Jordan retired from the game of basketball in 1993. But since then, he’s found other ways to stay busy including his successful NASCAR team in 23XI Racing.

He’s also raking in the money still.

Jordan made an estimated $250 million in 2025 just off of the Nike brand alone, which his Jordan Brand is under. That’s merchandise including shoes, clothes and more. With the $250 million, it helped Jordan keep his spot as the highest-paid athlete of all time per Sportico.

Michael Jordan beats out other athletes for highest-paid

When Sportico released its list of the highest-paid athletes of all-time, it wasn’t shocking to see Jordan at the top. But it was a little surprising to see how much he’s actually made. The site estimates that Jordan has made $4.5 billion when adjusted for inflation. Without the adjustment, he’s made $3.28 billion.

He’s atop the list beating out Tiger Woods, Cristiano Ronaldo, LeBron James and Lionel Messi who round out the top five. 

Michael Jordan earned more than any active or retired athlete in 2025, pushing his career-earnings to $4.5 BILLION.

MJ remains the highest-paid athlete of all-time. (via @Sportico) pic.twitter.com/yFTsKtg1ru

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) April 1, 2026

Jordan has been the leader on this list for quite some time now. But this year, he extended that lead over Woods from $850 million to $1.31 billion over the last year. This also comes as Jordan Brand revenue dropped by 16 percent in fiscal 2025. But even so, the brand generated $7.3 billion over that same time period. 

Jordan has a 3.4 percent cut in that and the brand generated 70 times more sales volume compared to other signature basketball lines.

NBA players dominated the list with a total of 13 athletes in the top 50. The rankings  do account for far more than just salaries as endorsements, media ventures, appearance fees and licensing deals are among the things factored in.

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When the Chicago Bears drafted Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the hope was that he would become their franchise quarterback. He certainly showed that he could be as a rookie, posting a 62.5% completion percentage to go with 3,541 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, six interceptions, and an 87.8 passer rating.

Following the 2024 NFL season, Chicago hired Ben Johnson to be their next head coach, and the hope was that he would help Williams take steps forward to becoming a more complete quarterback.

And he did; but there is still work to do.

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson needs Caleb Williams to work on his decision-making

In his first season with Johnson as his head coach, Williams had a 58.1% completion percentage, 3,942 passing yards, 27 touchdown passes, seven interceptions, and a passer rating of 90.1.

Clearly, almost all of these numbers were improvements over the 2024 season that Williams had. Noticeably different, though, was the completion percentage, which dropped considerably.

It is something that Johnson wants Williams to work on improving this upcoming season:

“I’m going to mistime some calls, or they’re going to throw something at us that we weren’t prepared for. And that’s on him and his athletic ability to bail us out.

“And so that’s what I’m looking forward to, is we’re going to be able to have those conversations in the quarterback room of when can we hang in there and get this ball out to the primary or the No. 2 receiver, and when do we need to extend, and naturally, I think we got to get better when we extend plays, capitalizing on those as well.”

As one can see from Johnson’s comments, he wants Williams to be better when extending plays with his legs. Instead of being so quick to throw the ball away, at times, the Bears head coach wants his quarterback to be more patient and hit secondary targets.

Williams is a young quarterback, and this is a skill that takes time to develop. If he can do so in 2026, though, Chicago’s offense is going to be even more dynamic.

More Chicago Bears news from ChiCity Sports

• Bears make desperate pitch to Roger Goddell for NFL Draft
• Sean McVay leaves no doubt on his opinion of Bears QB Caleb Williams
• Bears keeping tabs on speedy wide receiver

For More Chicago Sports

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

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The Chicago Bears finished the 2025 NFL season 11-6 and won the NFC North division title. They also knocked their hated rivals, the Green Bay Packers out of the postseason before falling to the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round. Overall, it was a very successful season.

Of course, new head coach Ben Johnson deserves a great deal of credit for the quick turnaround in Chicago. He revamped the offense and brought in a bright new coaching staff that helped players reach new heights.

Among these was defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, whose 2025 Bears defense led the NFL in takeaways. However, they also finished near the bottom of the league in passing yards and points allowed.

The Chicago Bears are urged to trade linebacker TJ Edwards ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft

Chicago has already made some changes on defense by signing safety Coby Bryant to replace Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker, both of whom signed elsewhere in free agency.

Over the course of the off-season, Chicago has taken measures to cut salary and set themselves up to be able to extend players, sign other free agents, and sign their 2026 NFL Draft class.

Jerry Markarian of Sports Illustrated believes that the Bears should continue to do so by trading, not cutting, linebacker TJ Edwards:

“With that said, they could trade him and save $6.2 million against the cap. Trading him with a post-June 1st designation would save closer to $8 million. They wouldn’t get much (at all, actually), but a deal in the vein of a late-round pick swap would make a lot of sense to get his contract off the books and allow them to get under the cap to sign their rookie class.

“This year’s draft class would provide Chicago with a unique opportunity to replace him with someone who would be a much better fit for the style of defense they want to have. There are a lot of fast and physical ‘backers who will hear their name called on day two.”

Chicago cannot release Edwards to save money. He has a $12 million dead cap hit, but just a $10.6 million cap hit if he remains on the team. The only way they can move on from him and save money is by trading him.

Markarian argues that Edwards, who is coming off a major leg injury, may not be the speedy linebacker that the Bears need to improve as a defensive unit. He suggests that a late pick swap with another team in a trade for Edwards would make sense.

And it might. Chicago would save money and open up more opportunities for younger players. On the other hand, though, they would lose an important locker room voice.

More Chicago Bears news from ChiCity Sports

• Bears make desperate pitch to Roger Goddell for NFL Draft
• Sean McVay leaves no doubt on his opinion of Bears QB Caleb Williams
• Bears keeping tabs on speedy wide receiver

For More Chicago Sports

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

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The Chicago Cubs have a spent a bundle this year extending two prized assets on six-year deals—center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and second baseman Nico Hoerner. In total, that amounts to $256 million invested into the team’s future.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Brilliant Ben Brown angling to take James Taillon’s rotation spot?

But even with the bundle of money spent this past offseason, including the extensions and free agent signings of Alex Bregman and four relievers, the team will still have a lot of money coming off the books after 2026.

Several core members of the roster could become eligible for free agency at the end of this season, including names such as Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Carson Kelly, Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, and Jameson Taillon.

Happ or Suzuki?

More News: Chicago Cubs: Alex Bregman points out major change in Cubs business mindset

The outfield situation for Chicago is especially interesting since they could lose both corner outfielders. The 2027 free agent class is not deep with outfielders and both Happ and Suzuki would rank highly on the list of most desired acquisitions if they hit the open market. That’s why the thought is that the front office will make a move to extend at least one of them.

And although Suzuki has a better offensive upside and is a beloved member of the team, re-signing the more consistent and defensively sound Happ may be a more Cubs thing to do.

As a matter of fact, there may already be a Plan B in place for when Suzuki moves on—Ethan Conrad, the team’s first round draft pick in 2025.

By all accounts, Conrad is a true five-tool player who may already be much closer to major league-ready than many anticipate—and this is without having played in one minor league game last season due to a shoulder injury and after starting this season on the IL with a back issue.

The 21-year-old is, apparently, THAT good.

Ethan Conrad lined up to take Suzuki’s spot?

He’s at least good enough and promising enough for the Cubs to not want someone blocking his path to the majors for the next four or five years.

“He’s somebody that can turn a double into a triple with his speed, and I think he’s somebody that is gonna be able to put pressure on the defense in a number of different ways,” Cubs vice president of scouting Dan Kantrovitz said at the time of the draft. “His decision-making, his ability to make contact, his ability to hit for damage — all three of those pillars are there, and we think that he’s just getting better across the board.”

“Ethan is a five-tool player, who is a gamer,” Conrad’s head coach at Wake Forest Tom Walter said. “This is a great pick by the Chicago Cubs. Ethan will be a guy who will play in the big leagues for a long time and is a potential All-Star. His bat-to-ball skills are elite and he is just scratching the surface of his power potential.”

And the Cubs may already have a backup to Conrad.

Kevin Alcantara as a Plan B?

Kevin Alcantara, who’s flirted with a major league role over the last three seasons is tearing things up in Triple-A Iowa so far this year. The 23-year-old has already hit two home runs and a double in 13 at bats.

The Cubs could let Suzuki walk and then roll the dice on Conrad or Alcantara winning the right field spot. They may also pick up a lower-level free agent next season as temporary one-season insurance for that spot. Because of their prospects’ promise, they may not want a corner outfield spot filled for an extended period of time anyway.

Of course, Conrad has to actually play a game of pro ball before he can be anointed the next big outfield thing and Alcantara has to prove that he can be consistently good over an entire season. But the Cubs do have options and they seem more and more likely to trust in them as soon as next season.

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The Chicago White Sox are off to one of the worst starts in Major League Baseball this season. They are currently 1-4 through their first five games and in last place in the American League Central Division. What is more, their -21 run differential is the worst in baseball. In fact, they are the only team with a run differential worse than -14.

This being said, no one expected the White Sox to be good this year. After going 60-102 a year ago, fans are hoping to see a bit more improvement in 2026 as they continue to rebuild.

Fortunately, Munetaka Murakami has given Chicago fans a fun player to rally behind and cheer for amid the team’s lack of winning.

Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami named one of MLB’s hottest rookies

When Murakami first announced that he was going to transition to Major League Baseball after eight seasons in Japan, many thought he would get a lot of interest from multiple teams. However, due to his high strikeout totals, that interest never really materialized.

As a result, Murakami signed a two-year $34 million contract with Chicago. So far, he has impressed fans by homering in his first three Major League games. Overall, he is hitting .278/.409/.778 with three home runs and 4 RBI through five games.

Buster Onley of ESPN recently named him one of the six hottest rookies in MLB:

“He is super determined,” White Sox head of baseball operation Chris Getz said of Murakami. “It’s very clear he wants to prove to someone that he’s real. He’s very serious.”

And very dangerous for pitchers: Murakami homered in each of Chicago’s three games against the Milwaukee Brewers. “Put the home runs aside — the quality of his at-bats really stood out,” Getz said, mentioning how his rookie faced some of the Brewers’ hard throwers, such as Jacob Misiorowski.

It’s clear to Getz that Murakami is not just an all-or-nothing slugger, with how he adapts throughout the ball-strike count, and Getz expects that as the 26-year-old faces more major league pitching he’ll continue to make adjustments.

Through the first five games of the season, Murakami has struck out seven times and has drawn four walks. As the year goes on, his individual success will rely on his ability to adjust further to Major League pitching.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• Former Cubs and White SP impresses in Diamondbacks debut
• White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami left off top-25 rookie list
• Pair of White Sox grand slams make history

For More Chicago Sports

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

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The Chicago Bears have had a busy off-season. Amid rumors of possibly relocating to Indiana, the front office has had to block out that noise and focus on re-tooling the roster. In 2025, the Bears won the NFC North with an 11-6 record and knocked the Green Bay Packers out of the NFL Playoffs.

Obviously, the goal for 2026 is to improve upon the 2025 NFL season and take the next steps towards Super Bowl contention. Just as obvious is that Caleb Williams played a big role in Chicago’s success and that he will be foundational to any future achievements the team accomplishes.

The Chicago Bears are working on a contract extension for Caleb Williams

Williams is coming off a 2025 season that saw him have a 58.1% completion percentage, 3,942 yards, 27 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a 90.1 passer rating. It was a record-setting year as he became oh-so-close to being the first quarterback in franchise history to pass for 4,000 yards.

If the Bears have it their way, he will get plenty more opportunities. According to reports, Chicago is making progress on a contract extension for their franchise quarterback:

Bears GM Ryan Poles says the team is planning for a potential contract extension for QB Caleb Williams and Matt Feinstein, the team’s salary-cap guru, will present Poles with extension ideas:

“We’re making progress. That is exciting to even be thinking about planning for that.… pic.twitter.com/6pYUaazj5T

— Bearsszn (@bearszn) April 1, 2026

“We’re making progress,” general manager Ryan Poles said. “That is exciting to even be thinking about planning for that. It’s exciting. But then there’s a challenge after that, too…..It’s really a summer project. Matt Feinstein is digging into it now. We’ve had some preliminary conversations because we want to take some of these things into consideration as we build the team.’’

Williams is entering the third year of his NFL career. He has his standard four-year rookie contract and the fifth-year option left to go before he hits free agency. While Chicago may be engaged in a contract extension already, it may not take effect for a few more years.

This being understood, it is wise for the Bears to start these talks now so that they can hopefully lock him in to a team-friendly deal before future free agent or extended quarterbacks drive up the market.

More Chicago Bears news from ChiCity Sports

• Bears make desperate pitch to Roger Goddell for NFL Draft
• Sean McVay leaves no doubt on his opinion of Bears QB Caleb Williams
• Bears keeping tabs on speedy wide receiver

For More Chicago Sports

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

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The Chicago Cubs were forced to start the 2026 MLB regular season without the player they believed would be their everyday right fielder. During the World Baseball Classic, Seiya Suzuki suffered a knee injury while he was sliding into second base. As a result, he was unable to start the year on the Cubs Opening Day roster.

While it is still early, Chicago is 2-3 and in last place of the National League Central Division. They are coming off a game in which they were shutout by the Los Angeles Angles 2-0. Indeed, offense has been a bit of a concern for the Cubs in the early going.

Fortunately, help is on the way.

Chicago Cubs manager reveals likely timeline for Seiya Suzuki return

It was recently revealed that Suzuki was nearing return. Now, it is being reported that he will soon be heading out on a rehab assignment, one that is going to last just 3-7 days:

#Cubs Seiya Suzuki will begin his rehab assignment on Friday with Double-A Knoxville. Craig Counsell expects his assignment to be between 3-7 days.

— Taylor McGregor (@Taylor_McGregor) April 1, 2026

Last season, Suzuki had the best season of his MLB career, hitting .245/.326/.478 with 32 home runs and 103 RBI. It was the first time in his Cubs tenure that he hit more than 30 home runs and had 100 or more RBI.

That being said, his batting average and on-base percentage was well-below his career norms. This season marks the final year of his contract with Chicago, and he will have to perform well if he wants them to bring him back in 2027.

Bringing in a power bat to an offense that has been inconsistent thus far this year will certainly help.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Cubs drop in The Athletic‘s week 1 power rankings
• Former Cubs slugger predicts 1 achievement is in Edward Cabrera’s future
• Former Cubs and White Sox pitcher impresses in Diamondbacks debut

For More Chicago Sports

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

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On March 9, the NFL released the full slate for the 2026 NFL Draft, and the Chicago Bears did not receive two compensatory picks via the Rooney Rule after assistant general manager Ian Cunningham left to take the general manager job of the Atlanta Falcons.

More News: Bears owner ‘livid’ with CEO Kevin Warren over stadium

The league’s reasoning for denying the Bears was simple: Cunningham will be the second football executive in Atlanta behind president of football Matt Ryan. The compensatory picks only go to teams who lose an assistant GM to a team that grants a new employee the top executive title.

During the NFL combine in February, general manager Ryan Poles said the team was appealing the league’s decision.

The Bears got a no, but didn’t give up.

Chicago Bears met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell

More News: Bears just gave Ben Johnson a gift before 2026 NFL Draft

Per Adam Hoge of CHGO Bears, CEO/president Kevin Warren stated at the league’s annual meeting in Phoenix this week that the team is still trying to get the league to fold on the issue. Warren, owner George McCaskey, and Poles flew to New York to meet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on the matter.

“Kevin Warren says the Bears are still in communication with the NFL about the comp picks and waiting to hear back. Obviously, we’re only a few weeks away from the draft,” Hoge posted on X.

“Kevin Warren, George McCaskey and Ryan Poles recently flew to New York to meet with Roger Goodell about the comp picks and made their appeal in person. It’s still possible they receive a third round pick in this month’s draft, but a decision will be needed soon.”

Kevin Warren, George McCaskey and Ryan Poles recently flew to New York to meet with Roger Goodell about the comp picks and made their appeal in person. It's still possible they receive a third round pick in this month's draft, but a decision will be needed soon. https://t.co/yNXYdCxevV

— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) April 1, 2026

The NFL Draft is set to begin on April 23, with Day 2 of the draft occurring on April 24. With three weeks remaining until Day 2, the league doesn’t have much time to reorient the draft to fit the Bears.

It doesn’t look like the Bears will receive those two draft picks for Cunningham at this point, but the team isn’t giving up easily.

For More Chicago Sports:

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

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The Chicago Cubs came up short against the Los Angeles Angels Tuesday night at Wrigley Field, but there was some good news mixed into the bad of a 2-0 loss.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Matt Shaw’s options running out after Hoerner extension

The biggest piece of positivity was the performance of Ben Brown, who came into the game in the top of the sixth inning with two outs and a pair of runners on base. The 26-year-old proceeded to cook through his appearance.

Overall, the lanky right-hander pitched 3.1 scoreless innings, striking out 5 against 1 hit and 1 walk. The impressive box score numbers, alone, don’t even tell the full story of Brown’s performance, though.

Brown dazzles, Taillon hangs tough:

More News: Chicago Cubs: Alex Bregman points out major change in Cubs business mindset

The young arm dazzled with a mix of overpowering stuff and outstanding placement. He was also sporting supreme control with 39 strikes in 50 pitches thrown.

This was his second appearance of the season and he delivered much better results this time out, although he did notch 3 strikeouts against the Nationals in relief on Opening Day. Overall this early season, he’s sporting a 2.70 ERA with 8 strikeouts in 6.2 innings pitched.

Brown fought his way this spring to the last bullpen spot on the roster and he’s quickly making a case for staying in the majors. If he keeps up the long-relief brilliance, he could also force himself back into the running for a rotation spot.

Starter Jameson Taillon didn’t quite dazzle Tuesday night, but he showed that he could perform well, even when he doesn’t have his A+ stuff. On the evening, the veteran struck out 3 over 4.2 innings while giving up 2 hits and 4 walks.

The reality is that he looked to be on the verge of allowing a big inning on a couple of occasions this outing, but he managed to maneuver out of trouble. Regardless, the scoreless appearance was a relief after a horrendous spring where he posted a 17.55 ERA over 5 games and experienced a significant dip in velocity. That velocity dip (the four-seamer was down to 90-91 mph on Tuesday) is still there, however, and that is definitely something to watch.

“I thought Jameson pitched well,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell told reporters after the game. “I thought he navigated it and there was really very little hard contact…They drove the pitch count up on him a little bit, but he did a really nice job.”

After the game, the 34-year-old said he felt good and expressed his relief with being able to get to Chicago and restart his pitching a bit.

A swap of roles?

But the tremendous Brown outing and Taillon’s lower-velocity outing happening on the same day kind of introduces the possibility that, maybe, there could be a swap of roles between the two before the end of the season.

The Cubs believe that Brown’s ultimate place will be as a starter and Taillon is working on the last year of his contract before becoming a free agent. If the younger, cheaper Brown can establish himself as a consistent presence over multiple innings, there could be a push to get him into the rotation and move Taillon into a swing man role, especially if there are no significant injuries in the rotation necessitating the use of both as starters.

That’s a big “if,” of course. Brown has shown flashes of brilliance in the past, before much longer stretches of struggle. Taillon, meanwhile, has shown the veteran ability to stabilize and solidify his game after a rough stretch of outings.

For now, the Cubs will let the season play on and make decisions further down the road.

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As the NFL league meetings wrap up in Arizona this week, a hot topic was the Chicago Bears’ stadium situation. With no resolution yet, the team is eyeing two sites for the new stadium.

After buying the Arlington property, the Bears have yet to reach an agreement to build. Since then, they have also explored Northwest Indiana as a potential option for a stadium. While President Kevin Warren stated that the team would like to have a decision made sometime this spring or summer. That will likely come after the Illinois assembly closes May 31.

But is there a preference? We know most fans want the Bears to go to Arlington Heights if they don’t stay in Chicago (which is not happening). However, owner George McCaskey’s comments on Wednesday echo something interesting.

George McCaskey is comfortable with either site for Chicago Bears stadium

While speaking at the league meetings on Wednesday, McCaskey fielded several questions about the future stadium sites.  He told media members that the team is ‘comfortable’ with either site.

#Bears owner George McCaskey said the team is comfortable with either location for a new stadium.

— Michal Dwojak (@mdwojak94) April 1, 2026

That could just be normal speak with the media as McCaskey didn’t want to commit to either and potentially tip off plans. He also believes that he doesn’t think at the end of the day that it will matter to fans if the team moves its stadium to Hammond. He cited the New York Giants moving to New Jersey.

Now, there are examples of teams that don’t play in the city they are named after. But not many in terms of the state. It would feel weird for the Bears to go to Indiana despite that area being considered Chicagoland. I do think it would matter to the fans to start but maybe after time passes, things will calm down more.

It certainly feels like we will know the answer in the coming weeks.

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Interactive gambling is the latest trend among sports fans. It has become popular because it brings more fun to sports fans, especially in countries where sports are a big part of the culture. Therefore, it makes sense that this form of entertainment feels different in sports nations. It is safe to assume that the trend is becoming a part of the local culture, as fans prove their sports knowledge and team loyalty by making bets that win.

Let’s take a look at why interactive gambling feels different in sports nations, why it’s popular, and why this trend is likely to stay for quite some time.

It’s Quick, Practical, and Easily Accessible

The first and most important reasons why interactive gambling is so popular today are speed, practicality, and accessibility of online sportsbooks and casinos. Once you take out your phone from your pocket, you’re literally two taps away from placing your bet or spinning the reels of your favorite slot. Additionally, making payments is also quick. The fastest payout online casino sites make it possible to not only make quick deposits, but also withdrawals. This makes the whole betting experience much more seamless as fans can immediately enjoy any funds they’ve won during the game.

Practicality goes with accessibility because all these interactive gambling features are available on all devices. No matter if it’s a PC, laptop, tablet, or a smartphone, you can access the online gambling site and have fun the way you enjoy it the most. This was unimaginable only a couple of decades ago, when you had to place your bets in a retail sportsbook, and that was it. You no longer have to do that; the sportsbook is now always with players, and they can enjoy placing bets even as the game is live.

Competitive Spirit is More Present

In countries where culture has a lot to do with sports, there’s a high degree of competitiveness among fans of sports as well. With more competitiveness, it’s also more likely that fans take on the challenge of winning at sports betting compared to their peers. This is also present with those who actually play the sports. Athletes are more likely to bet, some of the top names in sports, like Michael Jordan, have participated in bets counting thousands and thousands of dollars. This kind of competitive mindset motivates fans to compete with their friends and colleagues, too, resulting in betting on their favorite sports more often.

People who grew up in a country that has no serious ties to sports also enjoy betting on sports, but competitiveness with their friends is not on the list of reasons why they do it.

Sports Fans Support Their Clubs in Various Ways

Sports fans are deeply in love with their favorite sports teams and are ready to support them in all sorts of ways. The biggest fans are always there at every game, waiting for those unique historical moments that bring immense excitement to the audience and the sport as a whole. It also translates to sports fans placing bets on their favorite teams even when they’re playing away and have lower odds of winning. They have faith in their team, and they’re certain that they are always going to win. This doesn’t make much sense from a data-driven sports betting angle, but it’s often a part of the betting experience in sports nations, which often make emotion-driven bets.

This does not apply to all sports fans, but you’ll notice it more in cultures where the emphasis on sports is higher.

Interactive Gambling Adds Another Layer of Entertainment

Watching a sports game brings great joy to sports fans. However, the second screen trend is there because it adds an additional layer of fun, making it a more immersive experience. Here’s how:

• Live Betting – The biggest transformative factor that has made interactive gambling so interesting is live betting. Today, sports fans can place bets in the middle of a game. That revolutionized the whole industry and made sports even more popular in sports nations.
• Variety of Micro Markets – Live betting markets offer an immense variety. You can place a bet on various events that might occur during a game. This is an amazing option that many competitive bettors use. They place unique micro market bets on specific events in a game.
• Continuously Shifting Odds – Odds on particular bets are constantly shifting depending on the direction of the game. This creates opportunities to make riskier bets that might result in higher profits.
• Social Interaction – You can share your betting adventures right there with your friends who are with you. This is another important element that keeps the fun going. It goes well with the competitiveness we already mentioned, as you can brag about your wins.

All these elements make the whole experience of watching a game much more immersive, entertaining, and rewarding at the same time.

The Second Screen Trend is Going to Evolve

The trend of using a second screen during a game is here to stay. It will change in the coming years, as more devices with VR and AR capabilities hit the market. Then, it’ll be possible to enjoy interactive gaming through the glasses fans are wearing while watching the game. This will help fans keep their focus on the game, without having to look away at the second screen. That will be the ultimate way to enjoy sports in the future, allowing fans to do multiple things at once seamlessly.

All this will bring the sports world even closer to nations where sport is a vital part of the culture.

The post Why Interactive Gambling Feels Different in Sports Nations appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Basketball, one of the most popular sports in the world, also has another trick up its sleeve. It happens to be a sport that translates really well into gaming, meaning fans will be able to enjoy an authentic basketball experience across a range of devices, often taking control of a team or individual player. With so many excellent basketball games out there, we’ve picked out some of the best of them below.

NBA 2K26

The obvious go-to title for any basketball fan right now is NBA 2K26, the latest release in what is a hit series. NBA 2K26, seen as the flagship release by developers 2K, includes hit modes like MyCAREER, MyTEAM, MyNBA and Play Now, which are all central to the experience. There’s also ProPLAY-powered gameplay to get stuck into, while the game’s live seasons and patch updates keep everything fresh and up to date.

Basketball Legends

While nothing can compare to the real thing at online casinos than perhaps live casino versions of basketball games, slots have a good go at it, with Basketball Legends one of the standout titles. The game’s authentic court atmosphere and animated presentation create an experience that players naturally buy into. Everything in the game, including the features, revolves around basketball, rather than this being just another generic sports release.

NBA 2K26 Arcade Edition

NBA 2K26, as mentioned above, is the go-to title for basketball fans on the market right now. But what if you love your basketball and want a portable version of the game? Well, this is where NBA 2K26 Arcade Edition comes in. It’s all the essentials of the full game, packaged for mobile play, so players can get stuck into the action whenever and from wherever.

NBA Bounce

NBA Bounce is another newer release into the basketball category, and like NBA 2K26 Arcade Edition, it’s a bit of a lighter game. Launched last September, this family-friendly release features all 30 NBA teams, with co-op play and modes such as Training, Full Season and Party Mode available to enjoy. NBA Bounce is highly accessible as a result, because not every player is looking for a hardcore sim after all. Some will want a pick-up and play title, of which this is one.

Basketball Star

Basketball Star does something that most other basketball-themed slot games don’t, and that’s provide players with 243 ways to win. While the basketball theme is going to be a huge attraction, the 243 ways to win make this slot worth spinning the reels of, regardless of whether you like basketball or not. The game also comes loaded with perks such as Rolling Reels, a multiplier trail, and a free spins feature, so there’s a lot to like.

NBA Infinite

NBA Infinite is another basketball-themed title built for mobile. The game’s focus is on real-time PvP play, which is incredibly popular across gaming right now. NBA Infinite is a free-to-play title where players can build teams, customize line-ups and compete live. With gaming moving in the direction it is, towards quick matches, this is the choice for players who want short sessions with no long-term commitment.

Conclusion

Basketball games in 2026 provide not only great experiences, but variety on tap. There are hardcore sims, mobile-first games and even slots, meaning if you love your basketball, you will get to play it exactly the way you want to, which has to be admired.

The post The Best Basketball Games To Play In 2026 appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams turned heads across the NFL during the 2025 season. 

Williams led Chicago to its first division title since 2018 and its first playoff win since 2010. The 24-year-old signal-caller engineered one of the most dramatic single-season turnarounds in recent Bears history. 

He finished the season completing 330-of-568 passes for 3,942 yards and 27 touchdowns. Williams’ ability to produce comeback wins placed him among the fastest-rising quarterbacks in the league. 

He performed at his best when the stakes were highest. Few witnessed that firsthand better than Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay. 

The Super Bowl-winning coach saw Williams do something unforgettable in their postseason clash.

Chicago Bears: Sean McVay heaps praise on Caleb Williams

Williams has earned the respect of one of the brightest offensive minds in the league. At the NFL Annual Meeting on Monday, reporters asked McVay about the promising Bears signal-caller. 

The 40-year-old bench boss made his admiration for the Bears QB1 abundantly clear.

“He’s a stud,” McVay said in a clip posted by the NFL on X. “I think even just preparing for him, watching the crunch-time throws, I think he did a great job.

“Ben [Johnson] does an excellent job putting a lot of pressure on defenses, but he’s doing a lot of different things pre-snap. That takes a lot of coordination and challenging parts for the quarterback. The things that are so impressive are when things go off schedule.”

McVay also touched on Williams’ fourth-down touchdown throw in the January NFC Divisional Round game. The Rams eliminated the Bears 20-17 in overtime. Despite the win, McVay could not shake what Williams did in the closing seconds of regulation.

“I couldn’t believe what I witnessed on that fourth down and 4,” McVay added. “It’s one of the most incredible plays I’ve ever seen. It seems like he lights up, and he’s at his best at the most important moments.

“You can tell there’s a belief that his teammates have in him. He’s a great guy, so I wish him the best — except for when he’s playing the Rams.”

Sean McVay’s got nothing but respect for Caleb Williams pic.twitter.com/madMh1OflC

— NFL (@NFL) March 31, 2026

Coming from a Super Bowl-winning coach, that endorsement carries weight. Williams and the Bears are just getting started.

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Instant game platforms operate in an environment where user expectations are defined by speed, clarity, and immediate results, which means that every delay or unnecessary step directly reduces engagement and retention. Unlike traditional gaming models that rely on extended sessions and complex onboarding, instant game ecosystems focus on delivering value within seconds, ensuring that users understand the experience immediately and can interact without friction.

This shift reflects a broader change in digital behavior, where users prioritize efficiency and responsiveness across all platforms, including entertainment. Decision-makers must therefore design systems that minimize time to value, maintain continuous interaction, and create feedback loops that keep users engaged.

The success of instant game platforms depends on their ability to align technical performance with behavioral psychology, ensuring that each interaction reinforces the user’s decision to stay.

Core Mechanics of Instant Game Platforms and Their Impact on User Behavior

Instant game platforms are built around a set of core mechanics that prioritize accessibility, speed, and continuous feedback, which together create a seamless user experience that encourages repeated interaction. These mechanics define how users enter the platform, how they interact with it, and how they perceive value.

A practical example can be observed in systems offering instant win games online, where the structure is designed to eliminate barriers between intent and outcome. The platform organizes experiences into clear categories, allowing users to select and start a game within seconds, while the interface ensures that each action produces a visible and immediate result. This design reduces cognitive load and keeps users focused on the experience, which increases both session duration and interaction frequency. For decision-makers, this approach demonstrates how simplifying user pathways and prioritizing rapid feedback can significantly improve engagement metrics.

Immediate Access and Reduced Onboarding Friction

Users expect to start interacting with a platform without delay, which requires eliminating unnecessary onboarding steps and simplifying entry points. Instant access ensures that users can engage immediately, reducing the risk of drop-off during the initial interaction.

Clear entry points improve conversion rates.

Continuous Feedback Loops and User Retention

Feedback loops reinforce user behavior by providing immediate responses to actions, which creates a sense of progression and control. These loops encourage users to continue interacting with the platform, increasing retention and engagement.

Consistent feedback strengthens user satisfaction.

Structured Simplicity and Cognitive Efficiency

Simplifying the user experience reduces cognitive load, allowing users to focus on interaction rather than understanding the system. Structured simplicity ensures that users can navigate the platform intuitively and engage without confusion.

Efficiency supports sustained engagement.

Speed as a Competitive Advantage

Speed is a critical factor in instant game platforms, as delays disrupt the user experience and reduce engagement. Optimizing performance ensures that users receive immediate responses, which aligns with their expectations.

Fast systems outperform slower alternatives.

Building Scalable Instant Game Systems for Retention and Revenue

While core mechanics drive initial engagement, long-term success depends on building systems that support scalability, retention, and monetization. These systems must integrate technology, design, and data to create a cohesive and adaptive platform.

Designing for High-Frequency Interaction

Instant game platforms rely on frequent user interactions, which means that systems must be optimized to handle high volumes of activity without compromising performance. This requires efficient architecture and robust infrastructure.

Scalability ensures consistent performance.

Leveraging Data for Continuous Optimization

Data analysis enables decision-makers to understand user behavior and refine platform performance, ensuring that each element contributes to engagement and retention.

1. track user interaction patterns across sessions
2. identify features that drive repeated engagement
3. measure the impact of latency on user behavior
4. optimize content and mechanics based on data insights

This process supports ongoing improvement.

Creating Multi-Layer Engagement Systems

Different users engage with platforms in different ways, which requires offering multiple layers of interaction that cater to varying preferences and levels of involvement.

• quick interactions for immediate engagement
• deeper features for extended sessions
• personalized experiences based on user behavior
• adaptive systems that respond to user input

This approach ensures flexibility and relevance.

Aligning Monetization With User Experience

Monetization strategies must align with the user experience, ensuring that revenue generation does not disrupt engagement. Integrating monetization seamlessly into the platform supports sustainable growth.

Balanced design improves long-term performance.

Ensuring Reliability and Consistency

Reliability is essential for maintaining user trust and ensuring that the platform performs consistently under varying conditions. Stable systems support user confidence and encourage repeated interaction.

Consistency strengthens retention.

The Strategic Value of Instant Game Ecosystems

Instant game ecosystems provide a framework for understanding how speed, simplicity, and feedback can be combined to create high-performance platforms that drive engagement and revenue. These systems demonstrate how aligning technical design with user behavior can produce measurable results.

Enhancing Engagement Through Immediate Interaction

Immediate interaction keeps users active and involved, which increases both session duration and frequency of use.

Driving Revenue Through Sustained Engagement

Higher engagement creates more opportunities for monetization, supporting long-term growth and profitability.

Strategic Implications for Decision-Makers

Decision-makers must adopt a holistic approach that integrates design, technology, and data, ensuring that each component contributes to a seamless and engaging user experience.

Prioritizing High-Impact Improvements

Not all improvements deliver equal value, which means that decision-makers should focus on changes that directly influence user interaction and retention, including navigation, feedback systems, and performance optimization.

Building Adaptive and Scalable Systems

Adaptive systems allow platforms to respond to changes in user behavior, while scalable systems ensure that growth does not compromise performance or user experience.

Conclusion

Instant game ecosystems highlight the importance of speed, simplicity, and continuous feedback in creating engaging digital experiences. Platforms that successfully implement these principles can achieve higher retention, stronger user satisfaction, and more sustainable growth.

For professionals and decision-makers, the key insight is that engagement is driven by design choices that reduce friction and deliver immediate value. Systems that align with these principles will outperform those that rely on complexity or delayed interaction, positioning themselves for long-term success in competitive markets.

The post From Click to Outcome: Engineering Instant Game Ecosystems for Maximum Engagement appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Twenty years ago, a baseball team with one of the smallest payrolls in Major League Baseball used statistical models to build a roster that won 20 consecutive games. The Oakland Athletics’ 2002 season, later immortalized in Michael Lewis’s bestseller Moneyball, marked the moment professional sports stopped treating data as a curiosity and started treating it as a competitive weapon. What followed has been nothing short of a complete transformation in how teams across every major league evaluate talent, prepare for opponents, and make decisions under pressure.

From Gut Instinct to Gigabytes

The numbers tell a striking story. In 2000, roughly 23% of professional sports teams employed a dedicated analytics professional. Today that figure stands at 97%. The average analytics department has grown from just over one person in 2010 to nearly eight full-time specialists, with top-tier organizations fielding teams of 20 or more quantitative analysts. Investment in sports analytics technology has surged by 800% since 2015, reaching $4.6 billion, and the market is projected to hit $12.8 billion by 2028.

The NFL was among the first leagues to embrace the shift at scale. Player tracking systems installed in every stadium now generate real-time data on speed, acceleration, route patterns, and separation distances for every player on every snap. Teams use this information to optimize play-calling, evaluate free agents, and design game plans tailored to an opponent’s specific tendencies. The Chicago Bears’ front office, like every modern NFL organization, now makes personnel decisions backed by predictive models that weigh hundreds of variables beyond the traditional scouting eye test.

The NBA has taken analytics even further. Player efficiency ratings, true shooting percentages, and spatial tracking data have fundamentally reshaped how basketball is played. The league’s dramatic shift toward three-point shooting over the past decade was driven almost entirely by analytics departments demonstrating that the expected value of a three-point attempt exceeds that of a mid-range two, even at lower shooting percentages. Teams that embraced this math early gained a measurable edge. Those that resisted fell behind.

Baseball’s Ongoing Arms Race

MLB remains the sport where analytics runs deepest. Statcast, the league’s tracking technology, captures exit velocity, launch angle, spin rate, and sprint speed on every pitch and every batted ball. Front offices now employ astrophysicists, machine learning engineers, and biomechanics researchers alongside traditional scouts. Defensive positioning shifts, once considered radical, became so analytically optimized that MLB introduced rule changes in 2023 to limit them, a rare case of a league altering its rules specifically because data-driven strategy had become too effective.

The impact on player development has been equally dramatic. Minor league prospects now receive individualized training programs built from motion-capture data and pitch-design software. A pitcher who might have spent years trying to develop a breaking ball through trial and error can now see precisely how adjusting his grip by millimeters changes spin axis and movement profile. The gap between organizations that invest in this infrastructure and those that lag behind shows up directly in win totals.

The Athlete’s Side of the Equation

It’s not just front offices that have adopted a numbers-first approach. Players themselves are increasingly fluent in the language of probability, expected value, and variance. Wearable technology allows athletes to monitor workload, recovery metrics, and injury risk indicators in real time. The modern professional athlete is as likely to review a data dashboard after practice as they are to watch game film.

This comfort with probabilistic thinking has spilled into how athletes spend their time away from the field. A growing number of NFL and NBA players have become serious poker competitors, appearing regularly at events like the Celebrity Poker Tour. Josh Norman, Calais Campbell, Patrick Peterson, and Dwight Howard are among the pros who have competed in nationally televised poker tournaments. The crossover makes sense: poker is built on the same core math, including pot odds, equity calculation, and expected value, that analytics departments use to evaluate fourth-down decisions or late-game shot selection. Many of these athlete-players sharpen their skills using free online tools like poker calculators that compute equity and odds instantly, bringing the same data-driven edge from the field to the felt.

What Comes Next

The next frontier is artificial intelligence and real-time decision support. AI systems are already capable of processing in-game data fast enough to suggest strategic adjustments between plays. Computer vision tools can analyze an opponent’s formation or stance and predict their next action with increasing accuracy. Wearable sensors continue to shrink while capturing more granular biometric data, giving teams earlier warning signs of fatigue and injury risk.

The debate over whether analytics has gone too far resurfaces every season. Critics argue that over-reliance on data strips sports of their creative spontaneity. Defenders point to the results: teams that invest most heavily in analytics consistently outperform their payroll expectations. The Milwaukee Brewers, Tampa Bay Rays, and Oklahoma City Thunder have all demonstrated that smart data can compensate for financial disadvantages.

What started with a small-market baseball team challenging conventional wisdom has become the defining competitive force across all of professional sports. The organizations and athletes who treat data as a core skill rather than a supplement are the ones consistently winning. In an era where the margins between victory and defeat are measured in fractions of a second and fractions of a percentage point, the numbers have never mattered more.

The post How the Data Revolution Changed Professional Sports Forever appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears are in a position where they can make an immediate impact on the franchise with the 2026 NFL Draft. They do not have much available cap space to make some noise in the remaining free agents, but they have a bevy of draft capital they can work with. Let’s take a look at what ESPN believes is one of their favorite fits for the Bears in the draft.

Zion Young to the Chicago Bears is one of ESPN’s favorite fits in the NFL Draft

ESPN’s Matt Bowen wrote an article where he discussed some of his favorite fits for draft prospects and NFL teams. The Bears wound up on this list with the team taking edge rusher Zion Young. Below is what Bowen said about this connection:

“After singing three defensive tackles in free agency, the Bears can look to the edges of their front by taking Young to play opposite Montez Sweat. With his long frame, Young fits the profile of the defensive ends in defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s system. Young has the play strength and tackling range to set the edges versus the run game, which would upgrade a defense that allowed 5.0 yards per carry last season (fourth most in the NFL). Young also has the physical traits to develop as a speed-to-power pass rusher; he had 6.5 sacks and 43 pressures in 2025.”

After the defense was limited to 35 total sacks, making sure Chicago has the ability to put pressure on the quarterback and rush the opposing offense. The Bears would need to take him in the first round if they were to land him. He has been mocked in multiple drafts to head to the Windy City. It will be intriguing to see what Chicago does in the NFL Draft when they are on the clock.

The post ESPN writer names this draft prospect to the Chicago Bears as a favorite fit appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs got off to a slower start than the team was hoping for, going 2-2 in their first four games. While a slow start does not necessarily indicate anything for the entire season, it will affect them in the power rankings. Let’s take a closer look at how far they fell in one outlet’s power rankings.

The Chicago Cubs drop four spots in The Athletic’s power rankings

The Cubs dropped from being tied for fourth place in the preseason rankings to now being eighth. Their average ranking was 8.0 by the selection panel. The Athletic’s Chad Jennings wrote the following snippet regarding the Cubs’ opening four games of the season:

“After a winter where the Cubs finally acted like a big-market team, it had to be at least a little disappointing to come out and lose two of three, especially to a Nationals team that spent the winter offloading big-league talent. But it’s just three of 162. Right now, that’s completely shrug-offable, a blip on the schedule. If the Cubs go into a tailspin, it won’t be because of this, and if they’re a playoff team, it wont’t even really be in spite of this. It’s just a thing that happened.

“The only way it really matters would be if the Cubs miss a division win or the postseason by one game. If that happens, I promise to rewrite this section.”

Below is the full top 10 list that The Athletic had for their power rankings:

1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. New York Yankees
3. Seattle Mariners
4. Toronto Blue Jays
5. New York Mets
6. Milwaukee Brewers
7. Boston Red Sox
8. Chicago Cubs
9. Philadelphia Phillies
10. Atlanta Braves

This is a bit of a more harsh drop than the Bleacher Report power rankings, which saw Chicago only drop one spot. The team has two home games remaining against the Los Angeles Angels before a three-game road series against the Cleveland Guardians. It will be intriguing to see if they can turn things around and get back to the top five in the power rankings.

The post Chicago Cubs drop in The Athletic’s Week 1 MLB power rankings appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bulls are going to be one of the teams in the lottery for this year’s draft. With the draft class being loaded towards the top, it is likely they will not receive one of the more talked about prospects. However, there are still some talented players later in the lottery. Let’s take a closer look at who one outlet is predicting Chicago will take when they are on the clock in their latest mock draft.

Bleacher Report mocks Labaron Philon Jr to the Chicago Bulls

Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman wrote a mock draft following the Elite Eight. He had the Bulls winding up with the 10th pick and selecting Alabama point guard Labaron Philon Jr. Below is what he wrote regarding the selection:

“Labaron Philon gave Michigan 35 points in his final game, capping off a breakout season fueled by improved shooting and finishing. His identity still revolves around dribble creativity and getting to spots. Philon has dangerous change of speed, deceleration ability and handles, and now he’s more advanced isolation and ball-screen scorer with his pull-up game and craft around the rim.”

Philon is a 6-foot-4, 185-pound guard and has comparisons to Mike Conley. The sophomore finished 12th in the NCAA in scoring and had an outstanding season. However, his year is finished after the Crimson Tide lost to the Michigan Wolverines in the Sweet 16. Philon finished the season with 22.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.2 steals in 30.9 minutes per game. His shooting stroke was pure as he also recorded a 50.1/39.9/79.8 shooting split in the year.

It is not known at this moment if Philon will declare for the 2026 NBA Draft, but it’s difficult to imagine he won’t. The Bulls are need of some size, but with the Jaden Ivey release, they could decide to bolster the backcourt and give Josh Giddey one of his best backcourt mates since being traded to Chicago. It will be intriguing to see if Philon would be a player the front office is interested in drafting.

The post Chicago Bulls select Alabama guard in Bleacher Report’s latest mock draft appeared first on ChiCitySports.

By now we know what the positions of need are for the Chicago Bears entering the 2026 NFL Draft. Most of those needs are on the defensive side of the football in terms of defensive tackle, an edge rusher and safety. But on the offensive side of the ball, the biggest one that stands out is left tackle.

It remains to be seen if the Bears address that issue or not. They have been doing their homework however.

Leading into the draft, the Bears are keeping an eye on several prospects. They are even looking at a position that may not be the biggest need but could have value on day two or day three.

The latest player to reveal he has a top 30 visit with Chicago is speedy Ole Miss receiver De’Zhaun Stribling.

Chicago Bears meeting with speedy receiver De’Zhaun Stribling

The 6-foot-2 wide receiver enters the draft after recording back-to-back 800-plus yard receiving seasons. He was a good receiver for the Rebels, helping them make a push in the College Football Player. The best part? He has speed which is something the Bears can add to this offense.

In a recent interview with Justin Melo of Sports Illustrated, he breaks down the interviews he’s had so far:

I had formal interviews at the NFL Combine with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks, and Los Angeles Rams. I’ve had a ton of virtual meetings, I’ve met with a lot of teams virtually, like the Seahawks, Washington Commanders, Carolina Panthers, and Tennessee Titans, earlier this week.

In person, I am going to visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, and New England Patriots.

Stribling is one of the known 30 visits for the Bears so far and the only wide receiver on the list currently. Chicago could look to add a speedy receiver like Stribling to the offense for more firepower, especially after they lost DJ Moore.

He also talked about his game and what makes him special.

My versatility is going to bring a lot to an NFL offense. I can play any receiver spot. That’s going to make me a huge asset. My speed, especially when I have the ball in my hands, makes me a threat in the open field.

I think my overall physicality goes a long way. I can block at a high level. My football IQ is off the charts. I’ve played in multiple offenses at different programs. I learned every playbook very quickly and was able to contribute.

Blocking? That is right up Ben Johnson’s alley.

The post Chicago Bears keeping tabs on speedy wide receiver appeared first on ChiCitySports.

At midnight Tuesday, the clock will run out on the “soft deadline” the Chicago Bears gave the state of Illinois to pass tax-friendly legislation, essentially giving the go-ahead for the team to build in Arlington Heights.

More News: Bears HC Ben Johnson: Starter’s future is in doubt

In January, NFL commissioner Rodger Goodell visited Arlington Heights and the northwestern region of Indiana with members of the Bears to scope potential building sites for the new stadium.

It appears Goodell is running out of patience for the Bears to start building a new stadium.

At the league’s annual meeting in Phoenix this week, Goodell told Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times that he wants the Bears to “come to a resolution fairly quickly” regardless of which state hosts the team.

“I asked Roger Goodell if he believed the Bears should play their home games in Indiana,” Finley posted on X. “He said the Bears need to come to a resolution fairly quickly, whether it’s in Indiana or Arlington Heights.”

I asked Roger Goodell if he believed the #Bears should play their home games in Indiana.
He said the Bears need to come to a resolution fairly quickly, whether it's in Indiana or Arlington Heights.

— Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) March 31, 2026

The Chicago Bears are waiting on Illinois

More News: Bears’ Ben Johnson has ‘relationship’ issues with 2 starters

On Monday, Bears CEO/president Kevin Warren told Pro Football Talk that Indiana is being a “great partner” at the moment. Warren hopes to have something from Illinois by the end of the summer.

“We have the legislation passed in Indiana, and they’ve been a great partner to work with,” Warren said. “We are going through legitimate due diligence because we have been working through traffic, and construction items, and transportation and all those kinds of different things. It’s progressing right on pace.

“Illinois, they’re still working on legislation and we have a wonderful piece of land in Arlington Heights — 326 acres. So we don’t have a set deadline, but I am confident that sometime this spring/summer, we’ll know.”

Frankly, it’s a little embarrassing that the NFL’s commissioner had to call out the Bears for being unable to reach a deal to this point. Chicago needs to start digging soon, whether in Arlington Heights or in Northwest Indiana.

For More Chicago Sports:

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

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The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are expecting to come into the 2026 college football season with some vengeance on their mind. After not being selected for the 12-team College Football Playoff, they enter this upcoming season without some star players. What is the biggest question for the Fighting Irish as we are still months away from the opening kickoff? Let’s take a closer look at what one outlet believes it to be.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have to figure out who their playmakers are

Manny Navarro of The Athletic wrote an article highlighting the key question for each of the AP Top 25 teams as spring football is closing. For Notre Dame, he highlighted the question as who will be the team’s go-to playmaker. Below is the snippet he wrote for the team:

“Quarterback CJ Carr is the Heisman Trophy favorite – at this early stage – but does he have dangerous weapons to get the ball to? Former walk-on Jordan Faison is back after leading the team with 49 catches for 640 yards and four touchdowns, but star tailback Jeremiyah Love is off to the NFL along with Carr’s three other top receiving targets. Notre Dame added two former five-star receivers from Ohio State in Mylan Graham and Quincy Porter via the portal, and somebody needs to emerge as Carr’s primary option.”

Notre Dame is going to be in a tough position with some changes at key positions on the roster. However, coach Marcus Freeman is hoping the team can reflect last year’s program, which won the final 10 games of the season. They have talent at skill positions, but it will be interesting to see which player or players can step up to become elite playmakers.

The post This is the key question for the 2026 Notre Dame Fighting Irish appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bulls made the decision to release Jaden Ivey on Monday, following social media rants. Over the course of the past few weeks, Ivey has gone on rants which have gained the attention of fans and those around the NBA.

But Monday’s rant where he called the LGBTQ+ community unrighteous was enough to get the attention of Bulls’ brass. They made the decision to release him and move on after they acquired him via a trade at the deadline.

Ivey played just four games with the Bulls before suffering a knee injury that would keep him out the rest of the season. However, there were reportedly signs of things in the locker room that is coming to light. And his behavior drew some concerns from his teammates per a report.

Jaden Ivey’s behavior caught attention of Bulls’ teammates

On Tuesday, Chicago Bulls beat reporter Joe Cowley wrote a piece on Ivey that explained more about the situation. And there was some damning stuff in the article in the Chicago Sun-Times.

Cowley noted that Ivey’s behavior caught the attention of his teammates and that this was an issue dating back to his days with the Detroit Pistons.

Before Ivey even stepped foot on Chicago soil there were rumblings from Detroit that the shooting guard was a “preacher.” They undersold it. His interviews became sermons in which he was asking reporters if they’ve been “saved” and if they “fornicated before marriage.”

My bad, brah, I was just checking in on how your knee felt.

It’s great that he has religion, but the relationship between reporter and player isn’t built like that after just few interactions. While reporters were left feeling like they didn’t need to be preached to from a 20-something kid a few years removed from walking around with a silver spoon in his mouth on the AAU circuit, his Bulls teammates were left shaking their heads at just the latest distraction provided by their front office.

Not one Bulls player was shedding a tear for Ivey’s removal from the roster.

That’s some pretty important details. Now that this is out, it does make more sense as to why the Bulls released him. But it’s also an indictment on the Bulls’ front office on a miss at the trade deadline, again.

The post Jaden Ivey’s behavior had Chicago Bulls teammates ‘shaking their heads’ appeared first on ChiCitySports.

There’s a lot to be excited about for Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears in 2026.

The Bears are coming off a remarkable campaign. They finished the regular season at 11-6, marking their best record since 2018. Chicago also clinched the NFC North title for the first time in eight years.

In the NFL playoffs, the Bears took down the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card Round. However, they came up short against the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round, ending their impressive run.

Along with the excitement is a lot of pressure heading into the new season. For Johnson, there is one player in particular he believes will play a key role on offense in 2026. That man is incoming second-year wide receiver, Luther Burden.

Chicago Bears HC Ben Johnson has high hopes for Luther Burden

Burden was Chicago’s second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Bears selected him 39th overall after an impressive collegiate career with the Missouri Tigers.

Burden played 15 games for the Bears as a rookie, making five starts. He registered 652 yards and two touchdowns on 47 catches. The 22-year-old also added 37 yards on the ground on six rushing attempts.

Burden showed flashes of brilliance in Year 1, and Johnson is adamant that the young wideout can take his game to the next level in 2026.

The post Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson hypes young WR heading into new NFL season appeared first on ChiCitySports.

As part of the Chicago Bulls’ trade deadline moves, they were able to acquire guard Jaden Ivey from the Detroit Pistons. It was a three-team deal involving the Minnesota Timberwolves as well. Chicago sent Kevin Huerter to Detroit in the deal and the hope was that they could take a chance on a guard like Ivey coming off his rookie contract.

The former Purdue standout only played four games with the Bulls, dealing with knee issues. While a return was expected to be on the table, the Bulls eventually shut Ivey down for the rest of the season. Then on Monday, following a few days of rants on social media about religion, the Bulls decided to release Ivey after he called the LGBTQ+ community unrighteous.

Ivey posted a message saying ‘‘The world proclaims LGBTQ, right? They proclaim Pride Month and the NBA does too, they show it to the world. They say, ‘Come join us for Pride Month to celebrate unrighteousness.’ ’’

With the Bulls in San Antonio, they made the decision to move on from him releasing a statement as well as having Billy Donovan talk on the matter. The Chicago Sun-Times’ Joe Cowley wrote that it was more than just the recent messages but more so the past month of posts and comments.

Josh Giddey speaks on former teammate Jaden Ivey

Following Monday’s loss to the Spurs, Josh Giddey was asked about what had happened earlier in the day with Ivey. He kept it professional.

‘‘Obviously, the whole thing is kind of unfortunate in a way,” Giddey said. “I hope he gets the help he needs, whatever he’s going through or not going through. I do really hope he gets help. It’s not going to be with the Bulls anymore, but wherever it is, I hope he gets it.’’

Social media has gone back and forth on the matter with people sharing their opinion. But it’s clear that his teammates and others want him to get the help that he needs.

The post Josh Giddey comments on Jaden Ivey situation with Chicago Bulls appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Sophie Cunningham has been appreciated by the Indiana Fever fans since she arrived via trade last season. In her first season in Indiana, Cunningham averaged 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds. She also shot career highs of 43.2% from three and 46.9% from the field.

Cunningham has been the enforcer for Fever teammates and was the steady shooter they relied on last year. Unfortunately, she suffered a season-ending injury during their game against the Connecticut Sun.

After a collision during the game, Cunningham tore her right MCL, effectively ending her season with the Fever. The seven-year veteran is currently a free agent, but Indiana fans are pushing to have her back next season.

Indiana Fever: Sophie Cunningham stuns in new video

Recently, the WNBA players’ union and the league reached an agreement for the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. This means the new WNBA season will proceed as scheduled, and teams can now begin preparing for the upcoming campaign.

As for Cunningham, she has been busy this offseason. The Former Missouri Tigers star has been using the break to recover from her MCL tear. She even lost 16.5 lbs at one point in her rehab. 

Of course, Cunningham is also using the offseason to relax and recharge. She recently shared a video of herself swimming on the beach.

@sophiechamnot lies told♬ original sound – adventurefamdam

Cunningham shared the post on her official TikTok account, and it was received positively by many fans.

“looks fun my friend ,” a user commented.

“So relaxing ” a fan said.

“You are in paradise. I hope you had a great time,” a viewer wrote.

“A beautiful mermaid, God bless you ” another added.

“When are you coming back to game play I can’t wait,” a user exclaimed.

“It’ll be better once you re-sign with Fever!” a fan reacted.

Fever supporters are hoping that Cunningham signs with Indiana this upcoming season, as she has been an integral part of their squad. The new WNBA season is a couple of months away, and time will tell if Cunningham will be back.

The post Sophie Cunningham’s new swimsuit video turned heads online appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs went out and bolstered the starting pitching rotation by acquiring Edward Cabrera this offseason from the Miami Marlins. It cost the Cubs top prospect, Owen Caissie who is off to a hot start this season. But if Cabrera pitches like he did in his debut on Monday, the trade will pay off.

The starter went six innings, struck out five batters and allowed just one hit and one walk in his debut. He quickly won over the Wrigley Field faithful as he mowed down the Los Angeles Angels lineup, helping the Cubs get their second win of the season. After a tough weekend in which the Cubs lost the series to Washington, they needed an outing like this.

That was especially true after both Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga struggled in their starts to open the season. Following the start, Cabrera earned some praise not only from his teammates but from a former Cubs slugger as well.

Cliff Floyd believes Edward Cabrera has no-hit stuff

Following the Cubs win over the Angels, Cliff Floyd had nothing but praise for Cabrera on the team’s postgame show on Marquee Network. He went through Cabrera’s outing, pointing out some positive stuff.

“He didn’t shake off Carson [Kelly] once, he was in rhythm, he was in a flow. It allowed him to get deep into the ball game. I’m serious, he’s going to throw a no-hitter,” Floyd said. “If he can keep this stuff up and stay healthy, a no-hitter is gonna go under his belt at some point.”

It was certainly an impressive outing for Cabrera in his first start at Wrigley Field. Floyd has some good points too about how he was able to get into a flow of the game and pitch the six innings.

With teams monitoring pitch counts now, no-hitters are becoming even more rare. That would be an obstacle for Cabrera in Floyd’s prediction. However, you have to be encouraged by his first start as a member of the Cubs and what it could mean for this rotation moving forward.

The post Former Cubs slugger predicts big achievement is in Edward Cabrera’s future appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams earned every bit of his offseason. 

The 24-year-old threw for a Bears single-season record 3,942 yards with 27 touchdowns and just seven interceptions in 2025. Williams held the keys to an offense that powered Chicago to an 11-6 record. The squad also clinched its first NFC North title since 2018. 

The Bears went from 5-12 the year prior to legitimate title contenders in one season. Williams is not resting on his laurels, though. 

The signal-caller continues to put in work behind the scenes heading into his third year. Before that campaign begins, Williams gave fans a glimpse of his time away from the gridiron.

Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams shares lifestyle photos, fans react

Williams is living the life. The former USC Trojans star took to Instagram to share photos of himself hanging out with friends and showing off his style. Williams soaked up the final stretch of the offseason before the grind of another NFL season begins.

The candid post gave followers a look at the Bears star simply enjoying his 20s away from the football field.

Williams captioned the post: “Don’t you get not a nare nutta outta this ”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by CALEB WILLIAMS (@ayeeecaleb)

Fans swarmed the comment section, showing love for the Bears QB1’s candid lifestyle post.

“Pimpin Since been pimpin,” one user wrote.

“In ur bloodline ,” another added.

“winter soldier ,” a third chimed in.

Other fans kept it short and sweet.

“Snazzy” one said. 

“Goat ” another wrote.

“Unc Vibes,” declared a supporter.

The break comes at the right time. Heading into a pivotal third year, staying rejuvenated and healthy is just as important as any film session or workout. Williams and head coach Ben Johnson caught many teams off guard in 2025. That element of surprise is gone. 

The margin for error shrinks in Year 3. Williams’ continued growth will determine how far Chicago can go. The promised land is within reach, but getting there requires Williams to take the next step.

The post Chicago Bears QB Caleb William’s offseason update catches attention appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Former Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox right-hander Michael Soroka had quite the debut for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

More News: Chicago White Sox’s pair of grand slams makes MLB history

Signing a one-year ($7.5 million) contract in the offseason, Soroka scattered four hits, struck out 10, and walked one in five innings against the Detroit Tigers. According to MLB Stats, Soroka’s 10 strikeouts surpassed Hall of Fame left-hander Randy Johnson for most strikeouts in a Diamondbacks debut.

Dominance in the desert

Michael Soroka passed Hall of Famer Randy Johnson for the most strikeouts in a @Dbacks debut!

(MLB x @SageUSAmerica) pic.twitter.com/QAHCCE2kOq

— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) March 31, 2026

Michael Soroka pitches an immaculate inning in his debut

Even more impressive the former All-Star (2021), Soroka pitched an immaculate inning (nine strikes, three strikeouts). Soroka struck out Tigers shortstop and former Cub Javier Baez, designated hitter Kerry Carpenter, and second baseman Gleyber Torres.

IMMACULATE INNING FOR MICHAEL SOROKA!

10 strikeouts through 5 innings in his @Dbacks debut! pic.twitter.com/M9hopu3jxN

— MLB (@MLB) March 31, 2026

The seven-year veteran knew he was in the middle of an immaculate inning with one strike remaining on Torres. Soroka called Torres a “good hitter” and tried to throw a pitch in the zone to complete the feat.

“It was pretty special,” Soroka said to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com. “I think I’ve talked to you guys about not putting too much stock in results but I think that’s one that’s worth celebrating. Gleyber is a good hitter, he’s quite passive, too. So I wanted to make sure it was something in the zone and just give myself a chance to get it done right there. So pretty cool. I tried to play it off, but started smiling on the field.”

Soroka’s performance helped the Diamondbacks secure their first victory of the season. The 28-year-old filled up the strike zone, with 60 of his 89 pitches being strikes.
The Diamondbacks right-hander also threw first-pitch strikes to nine out of the 20 batters faced. He also recorded five outs via flyout (three) and groundout (two).

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Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan is at a crossroads in April.

The Bulls are set to miss the playoffs, and their prospects of being competitive anytime soon are slim after trading away Coby White, Nikola Vucevic, and Ayo Dosunmu.

In six seasons in Chicago, Donovan, a Basketball Hall of Fame coach, has made the playoffs just one time before losing in the first round to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Amid the end of the season coming up for the Bulls, Donovan has been mentioned as a plausible candidate for North Carolina, an option that would make sense for a two-time national champion with the Florida Gators.

Per Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, it appears Donovan has an ultimatum of sorts for owner Jerry Reinsdorf. He can either fire executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas or Donovan will leave after the season.

Chicago Bulls have a decision to make on Billy Donovan

After the fallout of the Jaden Ivey drama with the Bulls (which Karnisovas was warned about from the Detroit Pistons), Donovan appears to be losing his patience with the front office.

“If Karnisovas stays, there’s a growing chance that Donovan walks at the end of the season,” Cowley wrote. “Then the Reinsdorfs will leave Karnisovas with a coaching search, a lottery draft choice, and free agent decisions with money to spend.

“This front office can’t even get trade dumps at the deadline right, let alone being trusted to map out the immediate future of an organization that has gone from bad to national embarrassment.”

The wise move for the Bulls would be to fire Karnisovas regardless of what Donovan does this offseason. Chicago needs a new leader to rebuild the roster.

Frankly, it would be hard for Donovan and fans to stomach a few more losing seasons together.

The Bulls blew it up with the roster at the trade deadline. This spring, it’s time to clean house with the front office and maybe at the head coach.

For More Chicago Sports:

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

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Fireball pitcher Edward Cabrera raised many eyebrows on Monday night in his Chicago Cubs debut. The 27-year old righty pitched six shutout innings, giving up just one hit, walking one, and striking out five in the Cubs’ 7-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels. He threw 80 pitches (49 strikes) before Craig Counsell put in Colin Rea to get the final nine outs. The lone Angels hit was a Nolan Schanuel single in the fourth inning, and he did not face anyone with multiple men on base.

Per the Chicago Tribune’s Meghan Montemurro, it was the largest home crowd Cabrera has ever pitched in front of. He was definitely pumped up in this one, and having that crowd behind him had to provide a rush.

https:///Twitter.com/MegMontemurro/status/2038818875685409158

Cabrera showed off his filthy stuff.

Cubs fans who had not watched a ton of Marlins games in the past got a taste of what kind of stuff Cabrera features. While the high 90s fastball is a nice weapon, the 90+ MPH changeups and hard breaking balls can really catch one’s attention. His high-octane changeup running down and in to righties resulted in several strikeouts on Monday night, as did the curve down and away.

Edward Cabrera, Filthy 92mph Changeup. pic.twitter.com/PbIEgmgyXl

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 31, 2026

It certainly helped Cabrera that the Cubs jumped out to a 3-0 lead early and kept adding on, putting less pressure on him. The Angels might not be projected to be a contender, but they came into Wrigley Field having scored 25 runs over their first four games, with Mike Trout looking like his old self. Worth noting that Cabrera recorded his first strikeout as a Cub with the curve against Trout.

Edward Cabrera’s first strikeout as a Cub is Mike Trout pic.twitter.com/vtdpeU2ldo

— Cubs Zone (@CubsZone) March 30, 2026

All in all, it was a great debut for Cabrera. Could not ask for much more. The stuff has always been there, despite the inconsistencies with command and injuries over the years. Hopefully there are plenty more of those types of outings to come, and he’s healthy this season.

Ian Happ on Edward Cabrera: "The stuff is just nasty." pic.twitter.com/0rZ9GQHPHU

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) March 31, 2026

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The Chicago White Sox made one of the most surprising free agent splashes of the MLB off-season. When Munetaka Murakami first announced his intention to transition from Japan to Major League Baseball, few thought that the White Sox would be in play for the slugging first baseman.

However, because of concerns over Murakami’s high strikeout totals in Japan, Major League teams were hesitant to give him a long and lucrative contract. As a result, Chicago was able to swoop in and snag the slugger for two years and $34 million.

The 2026 MLB season is still in its infancy, but Murakami has already made a stellar impression on baseball fans in the United States. However, it somehow was not good enough to even crack a top-25 MLB rookies list.

Chicago White Sox star Munetaka Murakami somehow left off top-25 rookie ranking

Recently, Bleacher Report released their list of the top 25 rookies around Major League Baseball. Their criteria was simply that the rookies begin the season on their team’s Opening Day rosters. Munetaka, of course, began the season on Chicago’s Opening Day roster.

However, for whatever reason, he was not included on the list of the top 25 rookies around baseball.

In his first four games in the Majors, Murakami is hitting .286/.444/.929 with three home runs and three RBI. He also has walked four times and struck out five times.

There are, of course, many talented young rookies across Major League Baseball. However, the fact that Murakami is not included on the list of the top-25 is highly questionable. Perhaps it is because he spent eight seasons playing professionally at the highest level in Japan, but he is still a Major League rookie in 2026.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• Pair of White Sox grand slams make baseball history
• Korey Lee to stay with White Sox
• White Sox slugger makes history with his MUNEshot

For More Chicago Sports

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

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Colston Loveland has been making waves long before he joined the Chicago Bears in 2025.

Before being selected as the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Loveland had a tremendous collegiate career with the Michigan Wolverines. He played three years for Michigan, helping lead the squad to a national championship in 2023.

Loveland played 39 games across three seasons, registering 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns on 117 catches. By the time he finished his junior year, the Gooding, Idaho native had firmly established himself as one of the top prospects heading into the draft.

Loveland carried over his momentum in the NFL. In his first season with the Bears, the 21-year-old finished with 713 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 58 catches.

Michigan Wolverines fans show love for Chicago Bears TE Colston Loveland

Loveland’s alma mater was in action in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament on Sunday. The Wolverines took on the Tennessee Volunteers in the Elite Eight. The game was held at United Center in Chicago, and Loveland was not going to let the opportunity to cheer on the Wolverines pass.

Loveland’s decision to attend the Michigan-Tennessee game drew a lot of attention online.

 

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“Can’t believe he plays for THEE Chicago Bears ” a fan wrote.

“That’s my tight end right there,” said another.

“Get this man to Texas so he can cheer on the Michigan Women’s team too!” declared a user.

“Amazing seeing Loveland in Chicago! Wish he was supporting a better team tho ” another said.

“” wrote a supporter.

“The best,” reacted a fan.

With Loveland in attendance, the Wolverines dominated the Volunteers, en route to a convincing 95-62 victory. Forward Yaxel Landeborg led the charge for Michigan, going off for 27 points, seven rebounds, four assists, a steal, two blocks and three triples in 25 minutes of action.

Michigan will now face the Arizona Wildcats on Saturday in the Final Four.

The post Chicago Bears TE Colston Loveland’s offseason decision turns heads appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Caitlin Clark and Reggie Miller are household names in Indiana. The Indiana Fever star has been tearing it up for her squad ever since they drafted her in 2025. Clark is already a two-time WNBA All-Star and the recipient of the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year Award. On top of that, she also led the assists in her first season in the league.

As for Miller, he spent his whole 18-year career with the Indiana Pacers. He averaged 18.2 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.1 steals per game his whole career. Miller was a five-time NBA All-Star and three-time All-NBA Third Team. The sharpshooter is part of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary team and is inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

Reggie Miller speaks out about the infamous Caitlin Clark incident

The two Indiana legends appeared on NBC’s NBA pregame show for the New York Knicks vs the Los Angeles Lakers game on Feb. 1. The 24-year-old Fever star made her broadcasting debut as a guest commentator alongside the Pacers legend.

During the broadcast, Miller praised Clark as Indiana’s top shooter. He ranked Clark first, Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton second, and himself third. However, the incident came right after Miller said who Clark reminds him of in the NBA.

The Pacers legend compared Clark to Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard. He said that the 28-year-old guard handles the ball well and makes big shots late in games. Miller said that Clark shared those traits and that she isn’t afraid of the big moments.

The statement drew the ire of WNBA and NBA fans alike. 

Most recently, Clark made her second guest commentator appearance, joining another NBC Sports broadcast. The Fever guard was once again joined by the Pacers legend during the pregame show.

Miller jokingly addressed the incident during the pregame broadcast.

“You’re not gonna break our bond, people,” Miller said, referencing her much-talked-about Clark-Pritchard comparison. “Fever-Pacers, we’re bonded together.”

Reggie said yall will NOT get between his bond with Caitlin pic.twitter.com/JoKmrfktTO

— (@kelelajolie) March 30, 2026

Clark and Miller will forever be tied together as Indiana greats. As for the 24-year-old Fever star, she still has many years ahead of her. There’s no denying that the future is looking bright for the Indiana superstar.

The post NBA legend Reggie Miller addresses Caitlin Clark incident appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs, early in Spring Training, made it known that they did not intend to let their top prospect, Moises Ballesteros, start another year in the minor leagues. Instead, he was an early addition to the Opening Day roster. This followed his successful Spring Training and brief first stint in the Majors last season.

Indeed, Ballesteros is one of the most highly regarded rookies in all Major League Baseball this season, and there are many who think he could make a run for the National League Rookie of the Year Award.

Chicago Cubs youngster Moises Ballesteros gets top-10 rookie ranking

In a recent ranking of the top 25 rookies across Major League Baseball, Bleacher Report slotted Ballesteros in at number 10, writing:

“The departure of Kyle Tucker in free agency cleared a path for Moisés Ballesteros to break camp with a starting spot in the Chicago Cubs lineup, serving as the team’s primary designated hitter.

“The 22-year-old has a 60-grade hit tool and has produced every step of the way in the minors. After struggling in his first MLB action early last season, he returned to post a .333/.435/.564 line in 46 plate appearances as a September call-up.

“His value is exclusively tied to what he does in the batter’s box, but he has raked throughout his pro career.”

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Cubs’ Nico Hoerner makes bid statement amid 1-2 start
• Alex Bregman points out big change in Cubs business mindset
• Cubs post-2026 payday window driving major contracts

For More Chicago Sports

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

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When the Chicago Bears hired Ben Johnson to be their head coach prior to the 2025 NFL season, he made no secret of his disdain for the Green Bay Packers and his counterpart Matt LaFleur. After spending multiple seasons with the Detroit Lions, Johnson developed a deep dislike for all things Packers, including and especially their head coach.

What is more, Johnson backed up his pre-season trash talk in the regular season and NFL Playoffs. Chicago split the season series with Green Bay 1-1 and then knocked them out of the playoffs in the Wild Card round.

Throughout the year, it certainly seemed like the Bears took the rivalry more personally than the Packers, and that manifested itself on the field.

Green Bay Packers safety Javon Bullard expresses hatred for Chicago Bears

In a recent interview with Tyler Dunne of Go Long, Packers safety Javon Bullard, who lost to the Bears for the first time in his NFL career last year, could not help but express his hatred for nothing only the team, but also the city of Chicago and Coach Johnson:

“Damn, I hate Chicago!” It’s like real hate. I can’t stand Chicago. I don’t know what the hell it is. I don’t like the team. I don’t like their coach. I don’t like sh– about Chicago. Except for their food. I do love their food. But other than that, man? Damn Chicago.”

And on the prospect of facing the Bears again this upcoming season, Bullard said, “We’re going to see them boys — multiple times. They’re going to have to come with it.”

Of course, the Bears did come with it last season, beating Green Bay twice in the span of a month. Perhaps Bullard needs to worry about inspiring this same kind of fire in his own teammates. Maybe then Green Bay would actually show some fight.

More Chicago Bears news from ChiCity Sports

• Bears RB Kyle Monangai stirs excitement with NFL off-season move
• Kevin Warren provides update to Bears stadium timeline
• Bears’ HC Ben Johnson says starter’s future is in doubt

For More Chicago Sports

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

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The Chicago White Sox blasted their way to victory over the Miami Marlins (9-4) on Monday to secure their first win of the season.

More News: Chicago White Sox slugger makes history with his MUNEshot

Infielder Miguel Vargas and outfielder Austin Hays were the White Sox’s sole run producers. Vargas tallied six RBI, with four coming on a grand slam in the fourth inning, while Hays hit a three-run home run in the third inning. 

Vargas’s grand slam Monday came on the heels of one hit in Sunday’s series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers.

A pair of Chicago White Sox grand slams makes history

According to OptaSTATS, the White Sox became the first team to hit grand slams consecutive games played in March. Montgomery’s grand slam on Sunday was a part of a five-RBI, two-hit game.

The @whitesox are the first MLB team ever to hit grand slams in consecutive games played in March. pic.twitter.com/K8IPKHbCKq

— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) March 31, 2026

The White Sox offense may have woken up

Despite getting swept by the Brewers, the White Sox offense may have turned a corner. The White Sox’s nine-run outburst against the Marlins fell one run shy of the total runs scored (10) in the Brewers series.

Rookie first baseman/designated hitter Munetaka Murakami also kept his hot bat going, picking up his fourth straight hit on Monday. The 26-year-old also leads the team in home runs (three) and total bases (13).

The White Sox also had multi-hit games from three players in the lineup on Monday. Vargas 2-4 (.308 batting average) and two runs scored, outfielder Tristin Peters 2-3 (.444) scored a run, and Everson Pereira 2-4 (.286) with two runs scored. The White Sox are expected to face inexperienced right-hander Janson Junk (4.17 ERA in 2025) on Tuesday. 

The post Chicago White Sox’s pair of grand slams makes MLB history appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Caitlin Clark is one of the most well-known basketball figures in the world today. Most recently, the Indiana Fever star was named the tournament MVP of the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers.

The 24-year-old sharpshooter averaged 11.6 points and 6.4 assists and shot 40.0% from three and 52.9% from the field. Clark was in the top five in scoring, and she led the tournament in assists. Team USA finished the qualifiers with a dominant 5-0 record.

The FIBA Qualifiers were Clark’s first time playing organized basketball since July 2025. She was sidelined by recurring injuries, playing only 13 games in the last WNBA season.

WNBA: Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark catches Travis Scott’s attention

Many Fever fans are waiting for the return of the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Most recently, she visited their home arena when the Indiana Pacers hosted the Los Angeles Lakers.

Aside from supporting the Pacers, Clark was also an official courtside photographer, snapping photos of the game.

On top of that, the Fever star posted the fit that she wore during the game via her official Instagram account. Clark shared a photo of herself walking along the Pacers’ sideline with a brown Prada bag in hand.

 

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A post shared by Caitlin Clark (@caitlinclark22)

This turned a lot of heads on social media. It also caught the attention of rapper Travis Scott. “Cactus Jack” was left speechless on Clark’s fit and Prada bag. He had no words; instead, he used a couple of emojis to share his reaction.

“” commented Scott.

Scott is not a newbie in the world of fashion, as he has done many collaborations and partnerships with brands. He worked with the likes of Prada, Nike, BAPE, Audemars Piguet, Dior and many more.

Clark has a long-standing relationship with Prada, having been an ambassador since 2024. She was the first-ever WNBA or NBA player to be dressed by Prada for their draft night. On top of that, she was in attendance at Prada’s Fall 2026 Show at Milan’s Fashion Week.

The Fever star is drawing a lot of attention on and off the basketball court.

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The Chicago Cubs have had a tough beginning to the regular season, losing two of three games to the Washington Nationals. However, this team is still very talented and should be able to get back on track in the early portion of the season. One outlet had them move in the early power rankings, so let’s see where they stand now.

The Chicago Cubs drop one spot on Bleacher Report’s MLB power rankings

Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter released the latest MLB power rankings following the first weekend of the 2026 regular season. The Cubs fell one spot as they are now in the sixth spot after losing two of three games at home against the Washington Nationals to begin the season. Below is what he wrote about the team’s rankings:

“A series loss to a Nationals team most expect to take up residence in the NL East cellar is a less-than-ideal way for the Cubs to start the season, but they did look sharp in a 10-2 victory on Saturday. It was a much more successful week for the front office, as they hammered out extensions for Pete Crow-Armstrong and Nico Hoerner.”

The team was also placed in the second tier of teams. Below are the six teams that were placed in the second tier of the power rankings in order of their power rankings:

• New York Yankees
• New York Mets
• Seattle Mariners
• Chicago Cubs
• Boston Red Sox
• Philadelphia Phillies

The Cubs have some tough lineups to navigate as they have three home games against the Los Angeles Angels before going on the road for three games against the Cleveland Guardians. It will be intriguing to see if they can crack the top five once again this time next week.

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Kyle Monangai was a revelation for the Chicago Bears last season.

The Bears selected the former Rutgers Scarlet Knights star in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft. There were some high expectations for the promising running back, and Monangai lived up to the hype in Year 1.

The 23-year-old played all 17 games in the regular season for Chicago. He finished the campaign with 783 yards and five touchdowns on 169 carries. Monangai also added 164 receiving yards on 18 catches.

He was no superstar, but there’s no denying that Monangai played a key role in the Bears’ 11-6 season. He also played both games in the NFL playoffs, registering 63 rushing yards and six first downs in the Wild Card and the Divisional rounds.

Kyle Monangai preparing for big year with Chicago Bears

The goal for Monangai this coming season is to take his game to the next level. With an impressive rookie campaign in the books, it’s now time for him to establish himself as one of the top young running backs in the NFL in 2026.

Monangai is well aware of the expectations the Bears have of him in Year 2. He’s embracing the pressure by putting in the work during the offseason. A recent workout video of the Chicago RB is making the rounds on social media and has drawn a lot of attention from fans.

 

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Monangai’s offseason move has left Bears fans excited to see what he can bring to the table in 2026.

“1K rusher next year ” a reaction on Instagram read.

“Love the grit and tenacity of this young man! Let’s go!!!” said another.

“@justkyle._ is coming to play next this season ” a user wrote.

“Mr. Angry Runs himself!! ” a comment read.

“Power back that can catch >>>” another declared.

“He looks bigger lowkey,” suggested a supporter.

The season is still months away, but Monangai is already back on the grind. It is now only a matter of time before fans see if all his hard work pays off on the field.

The post Chicago Bears RB Kyle Monangai stirs excitement with NFL offseason move appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bulls have not been doing too well on the court, but they are in a position where things are not looking too well. On Monday evening, guard Jaden Ivey had a livestream on social media where he had some anti-LGBTQ things to say. Chicago’s front office would have issues with it, and this would result in him being released from his contract soon after.

Ivey has been vocal about his beliefs over the last few months, but this seemingly was going too far. Let’s take a look at what his coach said about the situation.

Billy Donovan addresses the Chicago Bulls’ release of Jaden Ivey

The Bulls are on the road for their Monday game against the San Antonio Spurs, but the team needed to address the Ivey situation. Before the game, Bulls coach Billy Donovan met with the media and discussed the situation.

“I think there’s a certain level of standards and expectations that are here. I mean, we have people from all different walks of life working in the building and players from all different walks of life, right? So, the first thing is, everybody comes with their own personal experiences. But one is, we’ve got to all be professional. I think there’s got to be a high level of respect for one another, and we got to help each other and then be accountable to those standards.”

Ivey has played four games for the Bulls since being traded to the team last month. However, he was shut down earlier this month with a knee injury. In 37 total games between the Detroit Pistons and Bulls, Ivey averaged 8.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 0.6 steals in 18.1 minutes per game. Now that he is a free agent, it will be interesting to see how his career plays out. Teams could still be interested in him for next season, but do not be surprised to see some teams afraid of the baggage associated with Ivey.

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The Chicago White Sox had some players perform well, but ultimately were swept in the first series of the season. They have a young roster, but there are not many expectations for the team in terms of the win column. Through the first three games of the season, we can see a bit of an idea of what Chicago will be. Let’s take a closer look at one outlet’s power rankings and where they have placed the White Sox after a rough weekend.

The Chicago White Sox drop to 30th in Bleacher Report’s recent power rankings

After being swept by the Milwaukee Brewers, the White Sox are looking like it could be a long season. Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report wrote the first power rankings of the 2026 regular season. Look away White Sox fans as he has dropped them from 27th to dead last. Below is what he wrote about the team’s first three games of the season:

“The White Sox were outscored by 19 runs in three games against the Brewers, but hyped slugger Munetaka Murakami at least made a memorable first impression, homering in each of his first three games in a White Sox uniform.”

Through the opening weekend of games, the team is 13th in the bigs with a .729 OPS. However, the pitching has been brutal as they have a 10.13 team ERA, more than three runs higher than any other pitching staff. There was a lack of command, with a 22:24 walk-to-strikeout ratio over the first three games of the 2026 season.

Chicago has some quality offensive pieces, but the pitching is going to be a massive issue for the team. The White Sox are on the road to take on the Miami Marlins for three games before opening their home schedule with three games agianst the Toronto Blue Jays. It will be intriguing to see how the team does over the next week.

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The Chicago Bears’ stadium saga continues on as the franchise is focusing on two spots. One of those sites is the old Arlington Racetrack which the Bears purchased a few years ago. But as of recently, the Bears have begun to explore a site in Northwest Indiana.

While Chicago has put out statements for both sites, they have yet to commit to one. Now, there are some factors involved in terms of why the Bears haven’t picked a site just yet. But for President Kevin Warren, he envisions the franchise making a decision very soon.

Kevin Warren updates Chicago Bears’ stadium timeline

With the NFL in Phoenix this week for the annual league meetings, Warren is there and is making the media rounds early. He appeared on ProFootballTalk with Chris Simms and Mike Florio. Among the things they discussed was the ongoing stadium saga for the Bears.

During the interview, he revealed a potential timeline set for this Spring.

“We have the legislation passed in Indiana, and they’ve been a great partner to work with,” Warren said. “We are going through legitimate due diligence because we have working through traffic, and construction items, and transportation and all those kinds of different things. It’s progressing right on pace.

“Illinois, they’re still working on legislation and we have a wonderful piece of land in Arlington Heights — 326 acres. So we don’t have a set deadline, but I am confident that sometime this spring/summer, we’ll know.”

The Bears are committed to building a world-class environment with a fixed roof Warren said. That will allow them to host multiple other events throughout the year, earning more revenue. The only hiccup seems to be where the stadium site will actually be.

Warren also ruled out any potential chance the team would stay in the city of Chicago.

“We strongly believe the only site in the state of Illinois and Cook County is Arlington Heights,” Warren said. “Because when you see that property, having 326 acres with the train station there, the things that we would be able to do — there are some great sites, we talked a couple of years ago about doing something at the Museum campus. There was not an appetite at that point in time there. And there are some other sites that just don’t fit.”

Time will tell which location they choose.

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The Chicago Bulls may have gotten a bit more than they were expecting with guard Jaden Ivey. While he is a talented player on the court, he has been more vocal about his beliefs on social media. There has been a rift between him and the organization and today seemingly was the last straw. Let’s take a closer look at what happened.

Jaden Ivey is no longer with the Chicago Bulls following his recent comments

ESPN’s Shams Charania is reporting that the Bulls are waiving guard Jaden Ivey following his recent anti-LGBTQ comments on social media. The comments in question were while he was live as Ivey called out the NBA for celebrating Pride Month. Below are the comments that got him in some hot water:

“The world proclaims LGBTQ, right? They proclaim Pride Month-and the NBA does too. They show it to the world. They say, ‘Come join us for Pride Month, to celebrate unrighteousness.'”

What sparked Ivey’s comments is not known, but this is not the first rant about religion he has done since being traded from Detroit. He has taken taken to social media over the previous few weeks and preaching his beliefs. However, this may have caused some issues for Chicago’s front office.

Bulls insider Joe Cowley is reportedthat the Bulls are working on an exit strategy and to not be surprised if Ivey is no longer with the team soon. The former fifth pick in the 2022 NBA draft was traded to Chicago as part of the Kevin Heurter deal. He would play four games before being shut down for the year due to knee issues. It will be intriguing to see what this does for Ivey and the Bulls in the future.

Ivey only played in four games with the Bulls as he averaged 11.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 0.5 blocks, and 2.0 steals in 28.8 minutes per game. It will be intriguing to see if he gets another chance after this with another team this offseason.

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Indiana Fever All-Star Caitlin Clark emphatically announced her return to basketball. She did so by winning the Most Valuable Player award in the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament earlier this month. The 24-year-old showed no rust following an eight-month injury layoff. She led Team USA to an unblemished 5-0 record in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

On Sunday, Clark put on a different hat. She resumed her role with NBC by making a guest appearance as an analyst in Sunday’s broadcast of the NBA game between the New York Knicks and the Oklahoma City Thunder. This was Clark’s second time as a guest analyst for NBC. She made her sportscasting debut in January in a matchup between the Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers at Madison Square Garden.

WNBA reacts to Cailtin Clark’s broadcasting decision

Clark immediately made waves after her decision to accept the role of a guest analyst for NBC. So much so that even the WNBA had to take notice.

The league took to social media to share its reaction to Clark’s offseason move.

“Look who’s back on the mic ” the WNBA posted on X, sharing a collection of photos featuring the Fever star.

Look who’s back on the mic pic.twitter.com/tFw2cYWaHC

— WNBA (@WNBA) March 29, 2026

Clark was a natural behind the booth. She provided excellent insight, showcasing her wit and intelligence. At this point, it would not be a surprise if she makes more appearances as a broadcaster. In fact, this could be a potential career path for her once she’s done playing.

Clark still has a lot of basketball ahead of her, though. She is now entering her third season in the WNBA. After an injury-plagued second year, Clark is determined to make a bigger splash in 2026.

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