NFL
By Jason Gulden
I’m sitting here waiting for the homestand finale on Thursday against the Philadelphia Phillies. I’m enjoying my daily chocolate milk. Yet, I can think of only one thing. This Cubs team right now is on fire.
After starting the first 2 ½ weeks with alternating wins and losses, the Cubs now have an 8-game winning streak. They stand ½ game out of first. They could be tied for first place after today’s game.
Injuries
What is it with my favorite teams and dealing with injuries? My favorite NBA team, the Denver Nuggets, had a month in which 4 of their 5 starters were injured. That includes 3-time MVP Nikola Jokic.
This Cubs team is also dealing with injuries, including the loss of two pitchers in their 2026 season. 2025 National League Rookie of the Year runner-up, Cade Horton, had elbow surgery. Consequently, he is out for the season after throwing only 7 1/3 innings this season.
Porter Hodge, who was a big arm out of the bullpen last season, had 40 strikeouts in 33 innings and was expected to be a big part of the bullpen this season. He is also now out for the season with elbow surgery.
Matthew Boyd returned to the mound on Wednesday, after missing 2 weeks with a biceps injury, after making two starts this season. Looked like Boyd was back to his old self from last year, going 4 2/3 innings, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits, while striking out 5.
Next road trip
Following the game on Thursday, the Chicago Cubs head to the airport to take a trip out west to California for a 6-game road trip. This road trip to California will not be easy. They will take on the top 2 teams in the National League West: the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres.
I know we are only a month into the season, but these next two series for the Cubs could very well be playoff matches in October.
This offseason, the Cubs front office built the team to compete against the big boys in the National League. These next 6 games will give them a look at where they stand.
Thankfully for the Cubs, when they face the Dodgers, they will not be facing the big Dodgers pitchers, Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamanmoto, and Tyler Glasnow. They will face Ohtani as a hitter, not as a pitcher.
Additions
There is one addition to this roster this offseason that has really proved his worth to the Cubs. Coming into Thursday’s game as the starting pitcher, Edward Cabrera is really impressive and is exactly what the Cubs need with the pitching staff’s injuries.
So far this season, Edward has a 2-0 record, a 2.38 ERA, and 17 strikeouts in 4 starts.
ABS
This season, Major League Baseball introduced the Automatic Ball Strike system. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s a challenge system in which only the batter, catcher, or pitcher can challenge a call made by the home plate umpire.
The Chicago Cubs have gotten 61.7% of their challenges correct this season, which is 5th-best in MLB. Hitters are at a 45.5% success rate, which is the 16th-best in MLB. Our pitchers have a 100% success rate, the best in the industry. Our catchers have gotten 75% of their challenges correct, which is good for 2nd-best.
The Major League Baseball average so far this season is 54%.
ESPN has a tracker going on its website to track this information through the season. The link is 2026 MLB ABS challenge system tracker: Team, player rankings – ESPN
Closing
We are about a month into the season, and there is a lot of baseball remaining. Do the Cubs continue their winning ways on Thursday and then on their 6-game road trip to California next week? As a Cubs fan, I hope it continues.
Until next time, Cubs fans, keep flying the W after victories and singing GO Cubs GO while doing it, ’cause I certainly am doing it myself.
