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The Cubs return to Arizona from their season-opening road trip to Tokyo and never really leave. Four games in Phoenix and three in Sacramento (that's not a typo) open the 2025 season for "reals." How will the Cubs fare as they kick off the season in earnest? The Cubs don't get to return to Wrigley Field until April 4th. In the meantime, they must finish spring training, take on an upstart Diamondbacks squad in a grueling four-game opening series, and be one of the first to face off against whatever the Athletics are now in their new-to-them minor league Sacramento surroundings. Seven games are stateside to either get 2025 on a roll or to make a hole that takes months to dig out of. Each series offers unique opportunities to the intrepid Cubs traveler. Arizona Diamondbacks - March 27-30 Chase Field - Capacity 48,405 2024 Attendance: 2,341,876 (Averaged 28,912, ranked 11th out of 15 NL parks, 18th overall MLB) In mid-April 2024, the Cubs swarmed the desert and took a three-game series from the Diamondbacks. The series featured two extra-inning games and returned the Cubs to their recent winning ways in Phoenix after getting swept there in 2023. The Cubs have gone 40-52 at Chase Field since it opened in 1998. This re-start to the 2025 season will take place on the road and in temperature-controlled confines, but in a month that started across an ocean, will this west coast swing find the Cubs energized or road weary before the season's even started in earnest? Chase Field is in and of itself worth the trip. The stadium opened in 1998, boasting a retractable roof and plenty of room to roam. From the outfield swimming pool and restaurants to the kid-friendly experiences, Chase Field has plenty to offer a visiting fan. As the fourth oldest stadium in the National League, renovations are in order, and the funding fight has been circling the media again. Will another playoff run seal the deal, or will the fickle fans in Arizona see their team chase a new home? A 20th Anniversary Museum display opened in 2022, pointing out that this young franchise had won a World Series against the Yankees during my lifetime. While it seemed a bit overambitious at the time, in 2023, they almost repeated the feat but ultimately fell to the Rangers. This balanced and youthful team remains loaded and ready to keep aiming for championships, while the MLB remains the media rights owner of the team. How will the finances support keeping the young nucleus intact? The Phoenix area offers many hiking and outdoor activities, delicious local eateries, and indoor entertainment venues. The abundance of spring training parks also allows you to catch a rookie league game or two while you are there. However, since the trip happens this early in the season, it is not as optimal. From Chase Field, the Cubs will head west, but not as far west as they usually would, because the Athletics are no longer waiting for them in Oakland. It's to the bustling metropolis of Sacramento that we must now turn our attention to! The Athletics - March 31 - April 2 Sutter Health Park - Capacity 14,014 2024 Attendance (@ Oakland): 922,286 (Averaged 11,528, ranked 15th out of 15 NL parks, 30th overall MLB) The Athletics were the only club to draw less than 1 million fans in 2024. This isn't surprising because Oakland had already decided to leave the community, but it's still a harsh reality for the players. The offseason has seen the Athletics finalize their Las Vegas Stadium plan, spend to retain Brent Rooker, and add Luis Severino and Gio Urshela. They appear to be a team on the rise and will enter Vegas strong in 2028. In the meantime, Sutter Health Park will provide an intimate setting for any visiting team's fans to get extremely close to their favorite team. California's state capital has a surprising amount to offer tourists and baseball fans alike. The Sacramento River offers recreation, wineries, and restaurants, and it shows some of California's best but off the beaten trail of the coast. The Crocker Art Museum and the State Railroad Museum trend as popular destinations, and Cubs fans should be able to track around town with their team with a Spring Training vibe but with games that count! After these two series, the Cubs will travel back to Chicago for the home opener against the Padres and another series against the Rangers. They will journey roughly 2800 miles from the desert to Sacramento and back to Chicago. Will this road trip put the Cubs on top of the division to start the season? Or will this extended life on the road put the Cubs in a tough spot to begin 2025? How do you think this western journey will go, Cubs fans? Is anyone going to make the trip?!? View full article

The 2025 Cubs season begins before the rest of the baseball world, and it involves a 6298 mile road trip across the ocean! Two games at the Tokyo Dome in Japan versus the World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers to open the year. What will this opening road trip offer the Cubs and their fans? Image courtesy of © Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images The Cubs kicked off the "opener in Tokyo" concept in 2000 in a one-game event against the New York Mets. Sammy Sosa and the Cubs took that game 5-3, but the experience really won't translate to the 2025 iteration. Most of the current rosters were in kindergarten, diapers, or not even born yet in 2000. Since that 2000 Cubs squad ended up finishing last in the NL Central, this history lesson also reminds Cubs fans to enjoy the journey and the uniqueness of the event, but to not overstate the results a week before the regular season "really" kicks off. Los Angeles Dodgers - March 18-19 Tokyo Dome - Capacity 45,600 MLB Opener Special Event! The 2025 iteration welcomes Cubs players Shota Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki back to the country that saw their careers blossom, and the event itself also involves two exhibition games each against the Hanshin Tigers and Yomiuri Giants on March 15th and 16th respectively. The Dodgers will also participate in the exhibition games, before the main events on March 18th and 19th. Cubs fans should keep in touch with their season ticket representatives (if applicable) in order to inquire about ticket purchase options if you have the ability to make this once-in-a-lifetime (or every five years depending on your cash flow) baseball road trip. The Dodgers have been a part of an international series to open the MLB season every year since Shohei Ohtani has worn the jersey. Granted that was just 2024 and now 2025, but it should be noted that most of the Dodgers roster has first-hand experience of what this epic trip requires after splitting a two-game series with the Padres in Seoul, South Korea last March. If you want to take a deep dive down the International Opening Day history, here's the MLB's official report. I'll summarize it thusly: There really isn't a rhyme or reason to how the games will go, and whether or not it kick-starts a season upwards or downwards. In that sense, playing these games in Tokyo will be just like if they were the road games at Dodger Stadium that they will be replacing on the schedule. The difference, however, is the timeline of roster decisions and early glimpses at player utilization and pitching plans that a mid-March opener affords a fanbase. What's there to see and to experience for the intrepid Cubs traveler in Tokyo, Japan? Everything! You like nature? How about Mount Fuji and deep sea fishing and unique hikes and excursions in the gardens and surrounding areas? You like food? Sushi is to Tokyo what the deep dish is to Chicago. From the sights and sounds of one of the world's largest cities, to the beauty and majesty of centuries of heritage and history, Tokyo should be on ever traveler's bucket list. The Tokyo Dome has been in use since 1988, and seats around 45,600 for baseball. The aforementioned Giants call it home, and its used to hosting larger international events such as the World Baseball Classic. The stadium itself includes its own mixed-use entertainment "city" or district surrounding the stadium, complete with amusement park and shops/spa complex. Much like the newer US ballparks in Atlanta and Arlington, this district allows for revenue to flow in from multiple days and directions besides just ticket sales to the games. For fans attending the game, it can be seen as awesome additions or frustrating distractions, depending upon your preferences. After these two games, the Cubs will travel back to their Spring Training Sloan Park complex to complete the final week of preseason games. roughly 6,000 miles from the middle of the USA to Tokyo and back again, all for two games of center-stage spotlight. Will the epic road trip be worth it? Or will the Cubs have wasted valuable energy just to come back empty-handed thanks to the defending champs? How do you think the Tokyo Series is going to go Cubs fans? Anyone going to make the trip?!? View full article

It’s winter on the North Side, and that means the Hot Stove is simmering and its time to dream of warmer times. Nothing beats a summer road trip, and following your favorite baseball team on the road doubles the fun! Here is where the Cubs can take you in 2025. The 2025 season brings new elements to Major League Baseball fan travel. The Athletics now play their “home” games at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, CA, and its 14,000 seats. The Rays will still play in Tampa but at George M. Steinbrenner Field, which has 11,000 seats. Granted, both journeys are to cities that leave a little to be desired from a tourist perspective, but the chance to catch baseball’s best in minor-league confines more than makes up for it. The Cubs won’t see Steinbrenner Field until 2026 but will journey to West Sacramento at the end of March. This allows fans to have some of the most intimate baseball experiences in the history of MLB. The balanced schedule that debuted in 2023 is still in effect, which means the Cubs will play all 29 other teams during the regular season. Outside of the NL Central series (two home, two away) that occur every season, Cubs fans can travel to any MLB ballpark to catch their favorite team every two years. This year, intrepid roadies can kick off the season with the most epic baseball road trips as the Cubs travel to Tokyo, Japan, to battle the Dodgers in the MLB opener series on March 18 and 19! If this once-in-a-lifetime trip is a bit out of your league, you can still escape to the desert in late March and stay warm in California in mid-April. You can pack a passport to spend mid-August in Toronto or drink in the Rockies in late August. Besides the excitement and adventure that comes with traveling, joining the team on the road brings some unique perks. When the gates open at game time, it's your team taking batting practice, and you can get as close as possible when the team is looking for a friendly face. After each inning in the field, you are part of the few and proud in the stands that your team wants to throw the ball to as they head to the dugout. From restaurant and hotel encounters to pre- and post-game conversations, your odds of getting close to the team you love grow exponentially on the road. In the next several weeks, we will go into detail trip by trip for the Cubs road journeys, complete with must-do activities and travel tips. Today, we take a more 10,000-foot view so that you can begin to daydream about where the 2025 Cubs season might take you. I’ve included the “Total Miles from Wrigley Field and Back Again” that the road trip encompasses for a frame of reference. There are 14 different Cubs road trips to choose from; let’s go! Trip 1 - March 18-19 - Tokyo, Japan! vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (12,596 miles!) Trip 2 - March 27-April 2 - Arizona Diamondbacks and the Athletics (4574 miles) Trip 3 - April 11-16 - Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres (4233 miles) Trip 4 - April 29-May 4 - Pittsburgh Pirates and Milwaukee Brewers (1118 miles) Trip 5 - May 9-11 - New York Mets (1620 miles) Trip 6 - May 19-25 - Miami Marlins and Cincinnati Reds (2813 miles) Trip 7 - June 3-11 - Washington Nationals, Detroit Tigers, and Philadelphia Phillies (2572 miles) Trip 8 - June 23-29 - St. Louis Cardinals and Houston Astros (2172 miles) Trip 9 - July 8-13 - Minnesota Twins and New York Yankees (2413 miles) All-Star Break - July 14-17 - Atlanta (1446 miles for some lucky Cubs!) Trip 10 - July 25-30 - Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee Brewers (193 miles) Trip 11 - August 8-14 - St. Louis Cardinals and Toronto Blue Jays (1594 miles) Trip 12 - August 22-31 - Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco Giants, and Colorado Rockies (4733 miles) Trip 13 - September 8-10 - Atlanta Braves (1446 miles) Trip 14 - September 15-21 - Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds (1078 miles) What road trips are you most excited about for the 2025 season? Planning to make any of the journeys? Let’s start daydreaming North Side faithful! ----------------------------------------- Let's Road Trip is a series of stories exploring the Cubs' 14 road trips during the 2025 season. I will focus on stadium highlights, attributes, Cubs history, and community amenities. I will also consider potential pitfalls and roadblocks and mention travel considerations. My handy-dandy Baseball Road Trips by Timothy Malcolm and Moon travel guides will be a go-to for this conversation. View full article

Today, we continue to hand out our proverbial North Side Baseball hardware. Who were the top relief pitchers for the Cubs minor-league ballclubs in 2024? Yesterday, we named Brandon Birdsell as the Cubs Full-Season Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year. Today, we will discuss the most exciting relief pitchers in the Cubs minor league affiliates. The Cubs saw their major-league bullpen collapse early in the season, helping to create a hole that couldn't be escaped even with an improved finish. Their top three salaried relief arms of Mark Leiter Jr., Drew Smyly, and Hector Neris combined for $19 million in salary, and a -0.2 WAR in 2024. That being said, the list of relief prospects on the rise through the minor league system is worth focusing on as Cubs fans evaluate the whole organization in hopes of turning the ship around in 2025. The North Side Baseball minor league writers and video providers were asked to vote on these awards. Before getting into the top three vote getters, here are the honorable mentions. Honorable Mention RHP Eduarniel Nunez, 25, Tennessee/Iowa: 46 G, 0 GS, 5 SV, 3.28 ERA, 1.293 WHIP, 60.1 IP, 40 H, 38 BB, 64 K LHP Blake Weiman, 28, Tennessee/Iowa: 43 G, 0 GS, 7 SV, .268 ERA, 0.974 WHIP, 50.1 IP, 41 H, 8 BB, 55 K RHP Joe Nahas, 24, South Bend/Tennessee: 31 G, 2 GS, 2 SV, 4.02 ERA, 1.226 WHIP, 69.1 IP, 59 H, 26 BB, 74 K Minor League Full-Season Relief Pitcher of the Year Here are the top three vote-getters for Cubs Full-Season Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Year 3. RHP Carlo Reyes, 26, South Bend/Tennessee 28 G, 1 GS, 2 SV, 1.36 ERA, 1.059 WHIP, 39.2 IP, 32 H, 10 BB, 56 K Reyes joined the Cubs organization in 2024 via a minor league contract after spending time in the Phillies and Dodgers minor league systems since 2019. The 6'0", 212 pound, righty unlocked his potential by dropping his walk rate and tripling his strike out numbers from 2023 to 2024. After posting a 0.00 ERA over nine games in South Bend, Reyes jumped up a level and continued to dominate in a one-to-two inning setup role. Cubs fans were lobbying for an Iowa callup for the developing relief arm, as his improved pitch mix began to baffle batters. Odds are that Iowa will be where Reyes soon finds himself, with an opportunity for a late 2025 Wrigley Field experience if he continues to piece together his consistency and control. 2. RHP Frankie Scalzo, 24, Tennessee/Iowa 45 G, 0 GS, 9 SV, 2.14 ERA, 1.226 WHIP, 54.2 IP, 45 H, 22 BB, 48 K In 2021, the Cubs selected Scalzo in the 14th round of the amateur draft out of Grand Cayon University. Scalzo spent his first three years in the organization making the climb from rookie ball to Tennessee in steady increments. Other than a brief stint on the IL to start his 2022 campaign, the 6'3", 185 pound, righty has been healthy and consistent. Used primarily as a closer at Tennessee to start 2024, Scalzo accumulated all nine of his saves and accomplished a 0.00 Era over a 26 inning body of work. The jump to Iowa wasn't as kind as Scalzo worked one-to-two inning setup and middle relief outings, and he saw his ERA balloon to 5.65 against stronger and older talent. Was it the role change that impacted him the most? Should the Cubs consider working Scalzo back into the closer role for 2025 at Iowa? These are things to keep an eye on as this home grown prospect, and Freddie Mercury look-alike, reaches his next level of progression. 1. RHP Nico Zeglin, 24, Myrtle Beach/South Bend 25 G, 4 GS, 3 S, 0.95 ERA, 0.818 WHIP, 66 IP, 38 H, 16 BB, 90 K The 6’4”, 200 pound, Zeglin came out of nowhere to find his way to the top of this list. The free agent rookie bounced between the Pioneer independent league, Long Beach State, and the Olmecas de Tabasco of the Mexican League in 2023-24, only to land a minor league flyer contract with the Cubs. Zeglin couldn’t have responded any better to the opportunity, succeeding in every role that was asked of him in 2024. He pitched multiple innings in every game that he entered, ranging from the eighth and ninth innings at the start of his Myrtle Beach run to two five inning starts at South Bend in August. Three to four inning middle relief outings also permeates his game log, with one common denominator across all of his outings: Zeglin dominated. What’s not to be excited about? With a WHIP and ERA under 1.00 across 66 innings of work, Zeglin took command of his opponents, literally. His pitch-to-weak-contact skills, turned into strikeout skills, and potentially into starter skills. Where will his story end? Cubs fans can’t wait to find out! At the very least, watching Zeglin baffle hitters at Tennessee by the end of 2025 isn’t out of the question. Congratulations to the young pitchers we discussed today on great showings. For 2024, Nico Zeglin definitely earned and deserved our choice for North Side Baseball Minor-League Relief Pitcher of the Year. What do you think Cubs fans? Is there someone that we missed? Who are you most excited about for both the short-term and long-term future of the squad? View full article

Today, we continue to hand out our annual North Side Baseball hardware. Who were the top starting pitchers for the Cubs minor league ballclubs? Yesterday, we named Matt Shaw as the Cubs Minor League Full-Season Hitter of the Year. Today, we will discuss the brightest prospects for starting pitching in the Cubs minor leagues. The Cubs top four big league starters pitched to the tune of 7.4 WAR, and overall the core starters of Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, Javier Assad, Justin Steele, and even Kyle Hendricks provided quality starts and a consistent presence in the rotation. Hendricks will be an unrestricted free agent in 2025, so there is room at the big kid table for some of the minor-league arms. Injury concerns up and down the development ladder also mean that depth will be of crucial need in the coming seasons. This list of starting pitcher prospects on the rise through the minor league system is worth focusing on as Cubs fans continue to evaluate the whole organization in hopes of returning to the postseason in 2025. The North Side Baseball minor league writers and video providers were asked to vote on these awards. Before getting into the top four, some others received votes. Honorable Mention - RHP Nick Dean, 22, Myrtle Beach/South Bend: 22 G, 17 GS, 3.57 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 90 2/3 IP, 76 H, 26 BB, 86 K - RHP Juan Bello, 20, Myrtle Beach: 22 G, 22 GS, 3.21 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 89 2/3 IP, 73 H, 28 BB, 91 K - RHP Sam Armstrong, 24, South Bend/Tennessee: 27 G, 20 GS, 2.87 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 116 IP, 91 H, 36 BB, 101 K Minor League Full-Season Relief Pitcher of the Year Here are the top three vote-getters for Cubs Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year: #3. Connor Noland, 25, Tennessee/Iowa – 26 G, 25 GS, 3.49 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 134 IP, 132 H, 36 BB, 116 K The University of Arkansas native spent the 2023 campaign at South Bend High-A after being drafted by the Cubs in the 9th round of the 2022 June amateur draft. The big RHP Noland (6'2", 215 pounds) spent his 2014 season climbing from Tennessee to Iowa, making 16 starts in Double-A before getting advanced. While Noland's stat line took a hit with the promotion, doubling his ERA and increasing his WHIP from 1.12 to 1.49, if you toss out his August 29th start against Memphis (nine earned runs in less than three innings), his numbers compare much better across the competition levels. Noland doesn't throw hard (93-94 mph), but he is a ground ball machine and sported an improved K% at Iowa. Consistency will continue to be Noland's greatest strength as he makes his pitch to be a future innings-eater in Chicago. #2. Kenten Egbert, 23 , Myrtle Beach: 23 G, 16 GS, 3.04 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 97 2/3 IP, 72 H, 32 BB, 104 K Egbert signed with the Cubs as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Miami - Ohio in July 2023. The funky right handed hurler sports a big frame (6'3", 205 pounds) and an outstanding K%. Egbert spent all of his first season in the organization at Myrtle Beach, going 7-2 after starting the season as both a starter and middle innings reliever. Since June 11th, Egbert only pitched as a starter, and his he began to lengthen his outings until his last four games saw him pitch the best of the entire season and average near six innings per outing with a 0.78 ERA. Egbert could be a diamond in the rough that finds his way up the ladder, potentially even to Tennessee by the end of 2025 if needed. The Cubs would prefer to take the patient route, and hopefully a slow and successful climb where Egbert continues to build innings will work out just fine for both player and club. And the North Side Baseball Cubs Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year is… #1: Brandon Birdsell, 24, Tennessee/Iowa - 27 G, 26 GS, 3.91 ERA, 1.283 WHIP, 135.2 IP, 143 H, 31 BB, 134 K After being drafted by the Astros in 2018 (39th round out of Willis, TX High School) and the Twins in 2021 (11th round out of Texas Tech), Birdsell finally said "yes" to the Cubs in the 2022 draft (5th round, still Texas Tech). The Astros and Twins' loss should be the Cubs' gain. The brawny RHP Birdsell (6'2", 240 pounds) delivered yet again in his second year of minor league ball, advancing to Iowa midway through the 2024 season. As Jake Russell pointed out earlier on North Side Baseball, Birdsell is young and still adding pitches like a hard slider to his arsenal. In many ways, he is finding success ahead of schedule which might be exactly what the Cubs need as durability and consistency remain important indicators of 2025 success. These present and potential attributes are what make Birdsell the 2024 Cubs Minor League Starting Pitcher of the year. What do you think Cubs fans? Would you rank any of these pitchers differently? Comment below! View full article

With the baseball season over for the Cubs, it's time to start handing out awards. The full-season minor league awards are next up to bat, and here are the Cubs minor league hitting stars for 2024. To kick off our Cubs full-season minor league awards, the best offensive prospects come into the spotlight. Who are the prospects most ready to help the big league club? Who is climbing the development ladder for future impact? NorthSide Baseball writers voted for these awards using only full-season stats. We will highlight the Top 5 vote getters, but first we'll note a few hitters who received votes and deserve to be recognized. Honorable Mention James Triantos, 21 - Tennessee Smokies/Iowa Cubs - 115 G, .300/.346/.427, 23 2B, 6 3B, 7 HR, 75 R, 52 RBI, 27 BB, 54 K Cam Smith, 21 - Myrtle Beach Pelicans/South Bend Cubs/Tennessee Smokies - 32 G, .313/.396/.609, 5 2B, 4 3B, 7 HR, 20 R, 24 RBI, 15 BB, 24 K Kevin Alcantara, 22 - Tennessee Smokies/Iowa Cubs - 111 G, .278/.353/.428, 21 2B, 0 3B, 14 HR, 61 R, 61 RBI, 47 BB, 123 K The Top Five 5. Alexander Canario, 24 - Iowa Cubs - 64 G, .243/.336/.514, 13 2B, 0 3B, 18 HR, 46 R, 47 RBI, 32 BB, 86 K Canario joined the Cubs organization in the 2021 Kris Bryant trade with the San Francisco Giants. 2024 was the first season where Canario didn't play below AAA, and the results spoke for themselves. The 5'11", 165 pound, right-handed bat raked his way up to the majors early in the season by recapturing the slugging components of his approach at the plate after a down 2023. A late-July hamstring strain limited his games in 2024, but the Dominican Republic slugger shows promise for reaching Wrigley Field again in 2025. 4. Jonathon Long, 22 - South Bend Cubs/Tennessee Smokies - 114 G, .283/.391/.461, 21 2B, 0 3B, 17 HR, 86 R, 70 RBI, 69 BB, 101 K The Cubs drafted the 6'0", 210 pound, slugger Long in the 9th round of the 2023 amateur draft out of Long Beach State for his ability to generate power in the heart of the order, and after teasing fans with a three game burst in the ACL and a quick climb to Myrtle Beach in 2023. Long proved that his prospect status was here to stay by staking a .963 OPS in his Double-A run with the Smokies in 2024. Whether Long lands as a corner infielder or outfielder will depend on factors beyond his control, but continuing to deliver with each promotion has shown Long to be up to the challenge. His development is slated to continue in the Arizona Fall League in the coming months. 3. Owen Caissie, 22 - Iowa Cubs - 127 G, .274/.375/.473, 29 2B, 3 3B, 19 HR, 69 R, 75 RBI, 71 BB, 156 K Caissie landed with the Cubs in the 2020 Yu Darvish trade with the Padres. The former 2nd round pick out of Canadian secondary school baseball has followed the slow and steady path through the minor leagues, but the 6'3", 190 pound, lefty outfield bat finally found his way to the top of the minor-league ladder and doesn't look to be headed anywhere else but up. Caissie's overall numbers actually took a step down from his Double-A results in 2023, but a solid start to the season in 2024 could grant the lottery ticket at the core of the Darvish trade a chance to finally pay off for the Cubs. 2. Moises Ballesteros, 20 - Tennessee Smokies/Iowa Cubs - 124 G, .289/.359/.471, 24 2B, 1 3B, 19 HR, 57 R, 78 RBI, 45 BB, 93 K Ballesteros signed out of Venezuela in 2021, and has bounced up and down the lower levels of the Cubs minor-league system ever since. 2024 saw the 5'7", 215 (or so) pound, left-handed prospect finally rise to Triple-A, and a spot in the Futures Game. Some alarming trends emerged in the jump to the Iowa Cubs squad, with a decrease in walks, an increase in strike outs, without a relative rise in OPS. This needs to be remedied before Ballesteros can make the next jump in competition, but extended work in the Arizona Fall League in the coming weeks will hopefully provide opportunities for growth. 1. Matt Shaw, 22 - Tennessee Smokies/Iowa Cubs - 121 G, .284/.379/.488, 19 2B, 4 3B, 21 HR, 78 R, 71 RBI, 62 BB, 95 K The 13th overall pick by the Cubs in the 2023 amateur draft out of the University of Maryland found his way up to the penultimate level of the organization in 2024. Shaw came into the season as #21 on the Baseball Prospectus prospect list, and while his slash line dropped overall from his 2023 campaign with the rise in competition, his results in Iowa began to display the kind of slugging and plate discipline that he displayed in college. As Matthew Trueblood pointed out in August, while the signs of growth are encouraging, Cubs fans should be patient with the final leap to the majors. Whether or not the Cubs are in a position to wait is yet to be determined. Regardless, Shaw clearly rises to the top of the list of Cubs minor league hitters to be excited about as the club hopes to turn the page on a disappointing 2024 season. Did the NorthSide Baseball writers get it right? Who would you add? Who would you drop? Let us know! View full article

Today, we continue to hand out our North Side Baseball hardware. Who were the top pitchers for the Cubs Arizona Complex League and the Dominican Summer League? Yesterday, we named Anderson Suriel the North Side Baseball Short-Season Minor League Hitter of the Year. Today, we will discuss the pitchers in the two Cubs Complex Leagues, the Arizona Complex League (ACL) and the Dominican Summer League (DSL). The Cubs season definitely did not end the way fans had hoped, but in the off-season hope springs eternal. Finding young diamonds in the rough of short season minor league pitching should peak everyone’s interest and keep the cold-stove burning. The North Side Baseball minor league writers and video providers were asked to vote on these awards. Before getting into the top four, some others received votes. Others Receiving Votes RHP Emilio Ramos, 18, DSL Cubs Red: 12 G, 11 GS, 1.78 ERA, 3.31 WHIP, 35.1 IP, 26 H, 20 BB, 36 K RHP Lisandro Almante, 22, ACL Cubs: 9 G, 0 GS, 1.84 ERA, 0.682 WHIP, 14.2 IP, 5 H, 5 BB, 18 K RHP Emannoel Madeira, 18, DSL Cubs Red: 13 G, 11 GS, 3.35 ERA, 1.381 WHIP, 37.2 IP, 38 H, 14 BB, 34 K RHP Fred Fajardo, 19, DSL Cubs Blue: 15 G, 0 GS, 3.09 ERA, 1.157 WHIP, 23.1 IP, 16 H, 11 BB, 36 K Short Season Relief Pitcher of the Year Here are the top four vote-getters for Cubs Short Season Pitcher of the Year 3. RHP Brad Deppermann, 28, ACL Cubs 10 G, 0 GS, 0.69 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 13 IP, 15 H, 2 BB, 16 K It’s not often that a 28 year old in the Arizona Complex League gets labeled a top prospect, but Deppermann’s journey within the Cubs organization is a long investment that is just beginning to pay off. Deppermann was drafted in the 31st round of the 2014 amateur draft by the Cubs out of East Lake HS in Florida, but he elected to enter the University of North Florida instead. In 2019, the Cubs once again selected the 6’0’, 195 pound right-hander in the 7th round and Deppermann bounced between rookie ball and high-A levels for his first four years in the organization. 2024 brought the rise that the club was waiting for, and after a solid start in the ACL, Deppermann found his way to South Bend for six outings, and finally Tennessee for three outings where he surrendered zero runs and continued to find strike outs (albeit with a higher walk rate than in the previous levels). At his age, Deppermann’s path to the majors needs to continue the fast-track version of 2024 if he is going to reach the Cubs bullpen. 2. RHP Ronny Lopez, 21, DSL Cubs Blue: 10 G, 4 GS, 1.78 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 25.1 IP, 11 H, 20 BB, 34 K The 6’1”, 185 pound, Lopez signed with the Cubs organization as an international free agent out of Venezuela in 2023, and he has played with both Dominican Summer League squads in the past two seasons. Cubs fans should be delighted with the direction that the young man is headed, having dropped his ERA down from 5.75 in 2023 to a stellar 1.78 in 2024. Inside of this growth, is a move in 2024 from middle inning long relief to four-inning starts at the end of the season. Lopez’s strikeouts increased in this opener role, and he finished the season without surrendering a home run. Where he starts in 2025, and in what role, should give some indication to whether this new role was a sign of the situation the club faced or part of a longer vision for Lopez. 1. RHP Jostin Florentino, 19, DSL Cubs Red 10 G, 7 GS, 2.06 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 35 IP, 20 H, 10 BB, 40 K With the Cubs bullpen showing signs of promise at the higher levels, the short-season crop of starting pitchers gives the big league team a deep well of prospects for development. No starter shines brighter than the 6’10”, 175 pound, righty Florentino. Signed in 2023 out of the Dominican Republic, Florentino spent all of his first season in 2023 rookie ball as a reliever. The move to starter in 2024 paid big dividends, as the young hurler lowered his ERA from 3.57 to 2.06, and his WHIP from 1.245 to 0.857 in the starting role. Florentino gave up no home runs, and only one double and one triple the entire season! His ability to keep these metrics going as he ascends the system’s ladder will determine his speed of climb, but at only 19, the Cubs have the ability to develop him without rushing things. Hope definitely sprung up through the pitching performances in the Cubs complex leagues in 2024, with some key starters being groomed, live relief arms, and active coaching and development across all three squads. For 2024, Jostin Florentino earned and deserved our choice for North Side Baseball Cubs Short Season Minor League Pitcher of the Year. View full article

Jameson Taillon pitched brilliantly into the seventh inning, the Cubs offense recaptured the lead twice in late innings, and none of it mattered. At the end of the day, the Cubs aren't the Braves. Here's how Game 2 of the series went down. Image courtesy of Dale Zanine - USA Today Box Score: Starting Pitcher: Jameson Taillon - 6 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K (82 pitches, 62 Strikes, 68%) Home Runs: Mike Tauchman (8), Ian Happ (20) Bottom 3 WPA: Daniel Palencia (-.793), Mark Leiter Jr. (-.494), Julian Merryweather (-.189) Win Probability Chart (Via Fangraphs): The Cubs tried to pick themselves off the ground Wednesday night, remembering that they still controlled their playoff destiny. Jameson Taillon took to the hill to take another swipe at the National League titans, and Ozzie Albies took him deep in the bottom of the first to remind the Cubs that they were still the Braves. Down 1-0, the Cubs offense showed resiliance and exellent base running in the top of the second, with Sean Murphy providing the error this time with a passed ball, and Cody Bellinger racing home to knot the game 1-1. Brian Snitker found his way to the clubhouse immediately after this, as replays showed a foul tip that would have nullified the run. Luckily for Cubs fans, no such remedy would be awarded. Having received a gift, the Cubs kept cashing in against Darius Vines. With one out in the top of the third, Mike Tauchman dug in, and went out at 108.8 mph. Not to be outdone, with two outs Ian Happ took Vines slightly further for his 20th of the season. Taillon Dominates...Until the Seventh Taillon's impressive September continued Wednesday night, allowing only the Albies homer and a double to Marcell Ozuna through the first five innings. Sitting at 53 pitches, the hurler faced a similar situation as his teammate Justin Steele faced the night before. Success against a dominant Braves offense, but about to face the lineup for the third time through. Taillon cruised through the sixth retiring both Ronald Acuna Jr. and Albies in stride as he set down his 14th and 15th batters in a row. The seventh inning was a different story, however, as a lead-off walk to Austin Riley and a single to Matt Olson led to runners at the corners with nobody out. Ozuna hit a routine grounder, but Nico Hoerner threw high to second base. All were safe, a run scored, and Taillon exited the game for Drew Smyly. And boy, did Smyly deliver! He struck out Sean Murphy and induced a pop out from Kevin Pillar to escape the seventh with a 3-2 Cubs lead. Can the Cubs Hold On? It turns out the answer to that question is not so simple. Julian Merryweather got the call for the eighth, and he could not escape the Acuna Jr. and Albies buzzsaw without surrendering the tying run. Cubs answered with a rally of their own in the top of the ninth. A single by Yan Gomes plated Dansby Swanson to put the Cubs ahead 4-3. In the bottom of the ninth, Mark Leiter Jr. got the call to save the game. Ozuna had other plans, as he belted his 37th homer of the year to tied the game. Michael Harris II followed that blast up with a drive of his own, doubling to put the winning run in scoring position with one out. Juan Cuas came in to try to save the day, and he did. Even after unleashing a wild pitch to move Harris to third, Cuas inticed weak grounders from Murphy and Pillar to send the game into bonus baseball. Extra Inning Magic? Tauchman started out the top of the 10th as the ghost runner, and he scored to give the Cubs the lead after two fly ball outs and some quality base running. Bellinger singled to keep the rally going, but Seiya Suzuki struck out to end the inning and to put the ball back in the Braves' court. Daniel Palencia entered with Pillar ghost running at second, and Orlando Arcia at the plate before the lineup turned over yet again. Arcia was retired, Acuna Jr. and Albies were not. Acuna Jr. singled in Pillar to tie the game, and then stole his 70th base of the season to tie the Braves all-time record and, more importantly, place himself in scoring position as the winning run. Albies appreciated the gesture, and collected his game-winning RBI immediately with a single to right. Again, the "magic" was just barely on the Atlanta side of the ledger, and the Cubs are still winless in this crucial week of baseball. Another brilliant start goes for naught, and tomorrow becomes the next "must win" game of the season. What’s Next: Operation Playoff Push tries to survive one more night in Atlanta, and the Cubs will send RHP Marcus Stroman (10-8, 3.88 ERA) back into action against a Braves pitcher to be named later. First pitch is scheduled for 6:20pm CDT on Thursday night at Truist Park. Postgame Interviews: (coming soon) Bullpen Usage Chart: SAT SUN MON TUE WED TOT Assad 49 0 0 20 0 69 Merryweather 23 18 0 0 13 54 Cuas 18 10 0 12 8 40 Smyly 0 0 0 27 12 39 Palencia 0 13 0 0 9 22 Leiter 0 0 0 0 8 8 Wesneski 0 0 0 0 0 0 Wicks 0 0 0 0 0 0 Thompson 0 0 0 0 0 0 Little 0 0 0 0 0 0 View full article

The game started with hope and optimism, as Justin Steele held the prolific Braves offense in check into the sixth inning. From there a six-run lead evaporated, along with the Cubs' handle on the Wild Card. By the time the game-winning Braves runs laughed their way home following an inexpliable missed fly ball, the season had turned in less than three innings. Image courtesy of Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports Box Score: Starting Pitcher: Justin Steele - 5.1 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 K (90 pitches, 56 Strikes, 62%) Home Runs: None Bottom 3 WPA: Drew Smyly (-.522), Javier Assad (-.122), Ian Happ (-.117) Win Probability Chart (Via Fangraphs): The Cubs entered Tuesday night's matchup against the NL leading Atlanta Braves nursing a one game lead for the final Wild Card spot. Justin Steele took the mound having lost two straight decisions, but having an August victory over the Braves already on his resume. The final week of the season kicked off in earnest at Truist Park in Hotlanta, and it was the Cubs bats that brought the heat to start things off. Attacking Early and Often Bryce Elder has put together a solid rookie campaign for the Braves, but he was hit hard in his first start against the Cubs this season, and that trend continued Tuesday night. Cody Bellinger and Seiya Suzuki led off the top of the second inning with singles. A fielder's choice grounder and a strike out quickly put the rally on notice, but Yan Gomes delivered another single with two outs to give the Cubs an early 1-0 lead. Not to be undone, Miles Mastrobuoni followed up with the fourth single of the inning, and it was 2-0 Cubs. The top of the third saw more of the same from the Cubs offense, this time with Suzuki cashing in a pair of walks for two more runs on an opposite field line drive that Ronald Acuna Jr. wishes he could re-do his route on. The Cubs still weren't done attacking Elder. In the top of the fourth inning, Bellinger again delivered a single to set the score at 5-0. Pete Crow-Armstrong had entered the game as a pinch runner, and found his way to third base on the Bellinger knock. After a pitching change, the Cubs sent Bellinger and Crow-Armstrong learned what a Sean Murphy pump fake looks like, and got caught in no man's land, ending the rally. For good measure, Ian Happ singled in another run in the top of the sixth, and the Cubs and Steele found themselves cruising along into the bottom of the sixth with a 6-0 lead. There is a Reason the Braves are Amazing As good as the first six innings started for the Cubs, the ensuing innings were just as terrible. Kevin Pillar led off the bottom of the sixth with a solo shot, and by the time Jose Cuas entered the game to relieve Steele, he had to deal with two men on and Marcell Ozuna at the plate. Ozuna didn't stay at the plate for long, as he ripped a two-run double to cut the lead in half at 6-3. While the Cubs bats failed to cash in against the Braves bullpen, the Cubs bullpen was not so lucky. Javier Assad got the call for the seventh inning, and after granting Murphy a lead-off walk, Acuna Jr. atoned for his earlier miscue with a two-run blast to close the gap to 6-5. As Bad as it Gets...or Worse Drew Smyly got the bottom of the eighth with the Cubs still grasping to a one run lead. Another lead-off walk, two wild pitches, and a second walk later and runners were at the corners with nobody out. Smyly somehow escaped the jam by mixing in two strikeouts and a fly ball to right to end the threat. Except that's not what happened. For the love of all things good and Cubs, that's not what happened at all. Cubs fans erupt for all the wrong reasons, and the must-win series opener was lost. From hero to goat in a span of an hour, and Suzuki and the Cubs are left soul-searching for what it might take to redeem this collapse in this vital week. What’s Next: Operation Playoff Push marches on, and the Cubs will place their redemptive hopes in RHP Jameson Taillon (8-10, 5.05 ERA). The Braves will send RHP Darius Vines (1-0, 4.40 ERA) out as an opener for Wednesday’s contest. First pitch is scheduled for 6:20pm CDT. Postgame Interviews Bullpen Usage Chart: FRI SAT SUN MON TUE TOT Assad 0 49 0 0 20 69 Smyly 30 0 0 0 27 57 Merryweather 0 23 18 0 0 41 Cuas 0 18 10 0 12 40 Wesneski 17 0 0 0 0 17 Palencia 0 0 13 0 0 13 Wicks 0 0 0 0 0 0 Thompson 0 0 0 0 0 0 Little 0 0 0 0 0 0 Leiter 0 0 0 0 0 0 View full article

July brought winning ways back into the Cubs season, and a few new and surprising names were involved in making it happen. Here are the Cubs pitchers who kept bringing the heat in the month of July. July saw another winning record from the Cubs, as they went 15-11 and flirted with climbing over the .500 mark. Their team ERA actually ballooned from 3.43 in June to 4.87 in July, which further illustrates how the Cubs offense came to play this month. The feast or famine results of the starting staff and bullpen led to some low-marks, but also some players worth celebrating. Both starters and relievers impacted the team's success in July. Here's the list of those whose impact shone brightest: Honorable Mention - Adbert Alzolay - 12 G, 3.65 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 12.1 IP, 14 H, 1 BB, 16 K Alzolay couldn't match his epic June, but he did still save eight games with only one blown save. A 0.00 ERA for a month isn't easy to replicate, and he did appear in five more games in July. The Cubs ability to gain ground in the standings is a testament to the fact that when the game needed to be put away, Alzolay was still up to the challenge. July Pitchers of the Month #4. Justin Steele - 4 G, 4.44 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 24.1 IP, 30 H, 5 BB, 24 K Last month's pitcher of the month is now barely clinging to a spot on the list, mainly due to a shortage of starts and an inflated ERA in July. Steele still showed up as the headliner for this staff, but not to the degree he had in recent months. Opponent batting average leaped .100 points to .297 in July from .197 in June, but the Cubs still won three of the four games that Steele started. This looks more like a good month after a great month, and no doubt Steele will continue to be at the top of this list moving forward if he can stay healthy. #3. Daniel Palencia - 9 G, 1.86 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 9.2 IP, 7 H, 3 BB, 10 K The young righty reliever from Venezuela made his MLB debut on July 7th and never looked back. A two-run homer to Keibert Ruiz of the Nationals was the only blemish on his ledger, and while that impacted the game, the loss definitely doesn't hang on his shoulders. Palencia ended up going 2-0, while navigating everything from first man out of the bullpen duty to closing out a game that lingers just beyond a save situation. No doubt this rookie will continue to be tested in the dog days of summer, but he's a weapon that the Cubs didn't have in their arsenal before July, and he's not going anywhere anytime soon. #2. Jameson Taillon - 5 G, 2.65 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 30.1 IP, 23 H, 8 BB, 24 K After a horrendous May, and a mediocre June, Taillon turned on the jets to a 3-0 mark in July. His ERA lowered 1.50 after only five outings, and he held opponents to a .205 average. While three of his starts stopped in the sixth inning, his results set the Cubs up for success each and every time he took the hill. Granted, he got to face some reeling Yankees, Nationals, and Cardinals teams during July, but the results can't be ignored. Winner: Javier Assad - 8 G, 0.47 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, 19.1 IP, 7 H, 8 BB, 20 K July presented Javier with new opportunities out of the pen, and he kept seizing them. He held batters to a .113 average, down over .200 points from the previous month. Javier also pitched a whopping 19 innings of relief, both in keeping the Cubs in the game after a short start or in situational spots late in the game. Pride of Mexico, most of his highlight videos are in Spanish, but the stuff speaks for itself! Another youngster, Assad has rode the option bus to and from Iowa several times this season already, but it looks like he's now one of the best, if not the best option out of the pen for the Cubs as they head into August seeking to keep climbing up the standings. What do you think? How would you rank your top Cubs pitchers of June? Comment below. View full article

The Cubs climbed the standings in June, putting themselves right on the cusp between "buyers" or "sellers." The reason for the climb starts and ends with their pitching. Unfortunately, so might their trade deadline decisions. Here's a look at the top Cubs pitchers for the 14-11 month of June, and what their success means at this point in the season. How did the Cubs provide a winning record in June after floundering in May? Dropping your team ERA from 4.73 to 3.43 sure doesn't hurt! Strike outs per nine innings, team FIP, and team WAR on the pitching side of the ledger didn't improve drastically, but overall consistency from game to game and inning to inning did. If the Cubs are going to continue to climb up the NL Central, their pitching will be leading the way. Both starters and relievers impacted the team's success in June. Here's the list of those whose impact shone brightest: Honorable Mention Michael Fulmer - 12 G, 0.66 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 13.2 IP, 7 H, 5 BB, 14 K Honestly, a few of the Cubs bullpen stalwarts could have been on the list, but word counts matter. Fulmer gets the nod for June due to ability to garner three holds, eat up quality innings, and keep the WHIP below 1.00. He's never going to be the star of the bullpen, but he's what every contending team needs in the middle innings. Justin Steele - 3 G, 1.56 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 17.1 IP, 13 H, 3 BB, 18 K How does the potential All-Star stay out of the top four? Availability matters, and only starting three games in June held Steele back even though he was a dominant 3-0 in those contests. Hopefully a healthy July puts him right back where he belongs at the top of the list. June Pitchers of the Month #4. Julian Merryweather - 12 G, 0.00 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 12 IP, 8 H, 7 BB, 19 K Anytime a pitcher averages 14.3 K/9 in a month, you have to put him on the list of lights-out pitching weapons. Merryweather garnered the most saves in June with two, and he didn't allow an earned run all month. The bases were cluttered during his outings, however, which prevents him from being the top reliever of the month. This development seemed unfathomable as the DFA-birds were chirping for him to be gone in April. Increased velocity has led to a comeback campaign. Can his success continue into July, or was June a mirage? #3. Adbert Alzolay - 7 G, 0.00 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, 7 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 10 K Top reliever honors go to Alzolay, with his 0.00 ERA and 0.71 WHIP. His 12.9 K/9 rate also shows his dominance across his seven appearances. If the Cubs find a way to bring the lead into the late innings, success should follow them into July. Although, being ahead by enough runs to avoid save situations wouldn't hurt anyone's feelings either. The Cubs success in July will go a long ways towards determining whether or not Alzolay will be slamming the door on opponents in a Cubs uniform in August, or if he will be the prize trade chip for the continued rebuild. #2. Kyle Hendricks - 5 G, 2.51 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, 32.1 IP, 19 H, 4 BB, 14 K While his record doesn't shine as brightly as Steele's at 3-2, Hendricks ate up the most innings of the staff in June, and enjoyed a 0.71 WHIP which pointed out what "could have been" if the Cubs offense had matched his performance during all five starts. He provided 0.7 WAR for June, and kept the ball in the ballpark on a consistent basis. Hendricks also provides a voice of leadership among the starting staff, and brings leadership to the ballclub in intangible ways. Winner: Marcus Stroman - 5 G, 2.17 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 29 IP, 27 H, 11 BB, 23 K London wasn't kind to Stroman, but aside from that blister-riddled performance, he's been the ace of the staff (and that's saying something!). Stroman went 4-0 in his other starts in June, with a sub-2.00 ERA. 23 strikeouts paced the team, and while his 1.31 WHIP was trending in the wrong direction as the month went along his ability to turn in 6+ innings night in and night out served to also contribute to the bullpen's ability to succeed. Plus, he's got that "it" factor that you can't quantify. The kind of raw joy and emotion that, when aimed properly, can lift a team to new heights. What do you think? How would you rank your top Cubs pitchers of June? Comment below. Follow Steve Trefz on Twitter: @TwinsTrefz (because Twins&CubsTrefz seemed too long) View full article

April saw the Cubs bats provide 5.4 runs per game with a collective .276 average and a .795 OPS. The offense helped pace the club in their quest to upend season predictions, and this has led to several players entering the discussion for Cubs hitter of the month. Without further ado, here are the five Cubs hitters up for hitter of the month for April. Honorable mention #4: Yan Gomes Gomes has displayed consistency throughout the first month of the season, not really lighting up one particular hitting metric, but succeeding across all of them in key spots. With a slugging percentage of .537, Gomes offers a chance for multiple RBI with runners on base. Honorable mention #3: Ian Happ Happ has held down the third spot in the Cubs lineup admirably, and has hit enough to inspire confidence about the extension he signed during the month. His nine doubles and 19 walks led the team, and his .405 OBP made him worthy of honorable mention. Adding to his slugging percentage would move him up the list for May, and indeed, he hit a home run on May 1 to get started on that project. Honorable Mention #2: Nico Hoerner When it comes to blending total bases and batting average, along with situational hitting, Hoerner rises up the list. Hoerner also leads the Cubs in plate appearances, meaning that his successes create a high volume of opportunities for the team. Honorable Mention #1: Patrick Wisdom How does a person with 10 home runs in a month rank second in a hitter of the month category? That is a subject of debate for many, but for me, the strikeout rate (see also: Happ, and Dansby Swanson) impacts the flow of offense negatively in ways that need to be improved upon to win this category, at least in such a good month. He is essential to whatever success the Cubs are achieving, and this will be an important facet of his game to keep an eye on moving forward. April Hitter of the Month: Cody Bellinger Bellinger started April like a lamb, but his roar has been restored. Cubs fans couldn’t be happier. Average, total bases, hits, power, contact rate, RBI, slugging…you name it, and Bellinger is filling the need. One can’t overlook the vital role Bellinger also plays in balancing out the Cubs attack as a left-handed bat, and his ability to both cash in on the table-setting in front of him in the top half of the lineup and serve as a catalyst for the bottom third kept the whole machine in motion. Can the trend continue for Bellinger, or are his numbers from 2021 and 2022 more the reality than a mirage? What do you think? Who would get your award for Cubs Hitter of the Month? Leave your own rankings below. View full article

April saw the Cubs pitching staff balance solid outings with implosions, with the starters holding their own, and the bullpen taking the bulk of the losses. The team finished its first month with a 14-13 record, after dropping three straight to the Miami Marlins. The fact that the Cubs are in the mix for the division conversation at all can be attributed to these five arms who have met or eclipsed their projections. Without further ado, here are the five Cubs pitchers up for pitcher of the month for April. Honorable Mention #4: Keegan Thompson When the bullpen is the issue, then we have to honor someone who is trying to be the solution. Thompson fit that bill for the Cubs in April. While his advanced stats are actually down from 2022, and while he's started May on the wrong foot, he continues to be someone that can typically keep hits to a minimum in hold situations. He had a 1.07 WHIP and held batters to a .083 average in April. Honorable Mention #3: Marcus Stroman Stroman had a good month of April. The reason he isn’t ranked higher on this list is because he was expected to have a better month. His strikeout percentage is up from 2022, but so are his walks. He had a 1.05 WHIP and a 2.29 ERA, and worked at least into the sixth inning in every start. But nothing jumps out at you about his month, and his consistency didn’t match the story that an ace of the staff needs to tell. Honorable Mention #2: Drew Smyly Smyly put up career-best numbers in April, and they’ve gotten even better after his start on May 1. His 0.93 WHIP and 27 strikeouts in the month paced the club, and he was able to craftily keep opposing lineups to a .198 batting average. Trend or mirage? So far it looks like a very happy and surprising trend for Cubs fans. Honorable Mention #1: Adbert Alzolay Again, finding bullpen arms that can hold the lead into the ninth is a vital part of today’s game, and Alzolay has provided that for the Cubs, to the tune of six holds, and three games finished in April. His 18 strikeouts in 14 innings show his ability to dominate a lineup, as does his 0.79 WHIP. Will he enter the closer conversation by the end of May, despite his step in the wrong direction Wednesday night in Washington? April Pitcher of the Month: Justin Steele While he’s a new name to the national scene, Steele’s performance this April was the turn that Cubs fans were hoping would happen after 2022’s encouraging results. Steele went 4-0, with a 1.49 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP. His strikeout-to-walk ratio near 3.0 also showed that he can have rally-stopping stuff, which sets him up well to continue dominating for the rest of the season. His ability to stop losing streaks, and to provide left-handed balance to the rotation, proved vital to the Cubs staying above the .500 mark in April. Also, Steele (like Stroman) provided what the Cubs need most from their starting staff: Innings. With the bullpen serving as the team’s largest question mark, the ability of Steele to go deep into games adds value across an entire series or more, not just the day he takes the mound. Can the trend continue for Steele? What do you think? Who would get your award for Cubs Pitcher of the Month? Leave your own rankings below. View full article