Andrew Wright

Image courtesy of © Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images After a horrendous month of May for the Chicago Cubs offense, the bats picked it back up in the month of June. Chicago rolled to a 16-10 record throughout the month, including winning eight of their last nine games. The June success can be attributed to timely pitching from unlikely heroes, as well as stellar offensive performances from the following players. Ranking Cubs' Best Hitters in June Honorable Mention: Carson Kelly .259/.365/.444, 2 HR, 13 RBIs Kelly has consistently put up some of the best numbers in the Cubs lineup so far in 2026. He entered July hitting .281 on the season, but a lack in power may be causing him to not get the appropriate recognition. Kelly hit his first two home runs since the month of April, as well as driving in 13 runs, fourth most on the team in June. While the power doesn't necessarily need to come back for Kelly, it would sure be a welcome sight to see yet another option in the Cubs lineup that could get near the 15-20 home runs mark prior to the end of the season. #3: Dansby Swanson .247/.301/.541, 6 HR, 22 RBIs Let us never forget the insane four-game series Dansby Swanson had against the New York Mets in June. Swanson drove in 15 runs in a two-day span and 11 in just one single day. That stretch helped Swanson set the franchise record for most RBIs in a series against the Mets. The power came back again for Swanson in June, as he had two multi-home run games (Jun. 24, Jun. 30) and was second on the team in June with six long balls (a trend he has carried over into July). The season has still overall been a struggle for Swanson, as his average sat at just .203 entering July. Production from the shortstop at the bottom of the Chicago lineup will be gravely important for the success of the Cubs through the summer months and into postseason baseball. #2: Seiya Suzuki .315/.388/.551, 5 HR, 20 RBI After hitting just .190 in the month of May, Suzuki turned back into the outstanding hitter he's been since coming to Chicago from Japan. Just think about the stretch Suzuki had to end June: homer off of Jacob Misiorowski, homer off of Kyle Harrison, massive go-ahead single against Joel Kuhnel, and near-homer and walk-off hit against Mason Miller, all within a span of four days. Suzuki continuously came up clutch for Chicago in June and was one of the biggest parts of the team's hot stretch in the last nine games. Suzuki remains the second-most dangerous hitter in the Cubs lineup and is lining himself up for a nice payday when free agency rolls around in November. #1: Pete Crow-Armstrong .381/.468/.781, 11 HR, 20 RBI Yes, everyone very well remembers Sammy Sosa smashing 20 home runs in June of 1998. Many consider that to be the best singular month in Cubs history. However, Crow-Armstrong just gave Sosa a spirited challenge with the month of June that the 24-year-old superstar had. Crow-Armstrong was an unstoppable force, smashing two triples, five doubles, eight stolen bases. 11 home runs, his first career cycle, and a career high for walks in a month with 17. According to OPTA Stats, the center fielder was one of just three players in MLB history to have a month with the following stats: .375+ batting average .775+ slugging percentage 80+ total bases 15+ walks 10+ home runs 5+ stolen bases The company Crow-Armstrong joined with those stats? Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, two of the greatest to ever play the game. Crow-Armstrong also leads all position players in WAR at 5.1, just ahead of Bobby Witt Jr. It's obvious that he (nor anyone) can't replicate that success for a full season, but even a lesser version of that player for the remainder of the season will place him in not only MVP conversations, but "best player in the world" discussions. View full article

Image courtesy of © Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images After a slow 7-9 start to the season, the Chicago Cubs bounced back in a major way. The North Siders won 12 of their next 15 games and headed into May with a 19-12 record. All of the focus from March & April was on the Cubs offense, as it ranked near the top of the league in almost every major category. What didn't get a ton of recognition, though, was a Chicago pitching staff that felt like it lost another member with every passing day. Manager Craig Counsell and pitching coach Tommy Hottovy deserve quite the praise for getting the staff through an early stretch of the season that included games against the Phillies, Dodgers and Padres. While contributions from the entire rotation and bullpen led the Cubs to seven games over .500, the four pitchers below did the best work through the first 31 games of the season. Ranking Cubs' Best Pitchers in April Honorable Mention: Riley Martin Stats: 8 G, 2.16 ERA, 8.1 IP, 2 BB, 10K Martin was activated to make his MLB debut in early April, and he impressed in doing so. He quickly turned into a high-leverage reliever for Counsell, and he made the most of each opportunity. His most impressive work may have very well been getting out of a bases-loaded jam against the Phillies in the middle of the Cubs' big winning streak. Unfortunately for Martin, he's suffered an injury and is currently one of 12 Chicago pitchers on the injured list. He will certainly be a welcome addition when he returns to the staff. #3: Edward Cabrera Stats: 6 GS, 3.06 ERA, 35.1 IP, 12 BB, 29 K Cabrera was the big offseason acquisition for Chicago in the offseason. He was acquired from the Miami Marlins in exchange for then-top prospect Owen Caissie and others. Though Cabrera has been a bit shaky of late, his 3.06 ERA is the second-best for a Cubs' starter so far this season, trailing only behind our No. 1 pitcher of the month. Cabrera's advanced aren't quite as positive as his surface-level results, so that'll be something to keep an eye on in the month of May. #2: Ben Brown Stats: 10 G, 1.99 ERA, 22.2 IP, 7 BB, 22 K What a world we live in where an argument could be made that Ben Brown has been the best pitchers for the Cubs through the first month-plus of the year. The beleaguered right-hander has found success with a newly added sinker and added fastball velocity this season. Last season, Brown's fastball averaged 95.8 mph, but this year that number is back up to 96.5 mph. Opponents are hitting just .210 against Brown overall, and just .135 against his knuckle curve. His ability to provide length out of the bullpen during the current stretch with numerous injured pitchers has been instrumental to Chicago's early season success. #1: Shota Imanaga Stats: 6 GS, 2.88 ERA, 34. 1 IP, 9 BB, 38 K We all remember how poorly Imanaga pitched in the second half and the postseason in 2025. Those struggles nearly led to him not even being a part of the Cubs' roster in 2026. It is certainly a good thing that the front office (sort of) still believed in Imanaga's ability, because he's been huge to the 19-12 start. Much like the aforementioned Brown, Imanaga's fastball velocity is up from last season, a major reason for his success. Batters are hitting a lousy .171 against Imanaga this season, a number that would be the lowest of his MLB career if it were to hold up. View full article

Image courtesy of © David Banks-Imagn Images It's been a little over a month since our first 2026 roster projection for the Chicago Cubs, and there's been some notable changes since then. No major offensive additions have been made, but Jed Hoyer and Co. have made strong attempts to field another great bullpen next season. With all of the team's new additions accounted for, here is the second prediction at the Cubs' Opening Day roster. Pitchers (13) Shota Imanaga - SP Matthew Boyd - SP Cade Horton - SP Jameson Taillon - SP Colin Rea - SP Javier Assad - RP Phil Maton - RP Caleb Thielbar - RP Porter Hodge - RP Hoby Milner - RP Jacob Webb - RP Hunter Harvey - RP Daniel Palencia - RP The additions of Milner, Harvey and Webb all happened since our first projection. Those three likely signal that pitchers such as Luke Little, Ethan Roberts and others will begin the season with Triple-A Iowa. Also, not included on the list is Justin Steele. Steele is slated to return near the summer months of the season, and he will certainly be a factor down the stretch in the rotation. For now, the big question is who will win the No. 5 starter job in a fierce competition among Colin Rea, Javier Assad, Ben Brown, Jordan Wicks, and top prospect Jaxon Wiggins. Catchers (2) Carson Kelly Miguel Amaya Nothing significant has changed at catcher. Chicago did sign Christian Bethancourt to a split contract, but he will likely be a non-factor on the major-league roster unless Amaya or Kelly is injured during the season. Infielders (5) Michael Busch - 1B Tyler Austin - 1B Nico Hoerner - 2B Dansby Swanson - SS Matt Shaw - 3B In our first prediction, we guessed that the Cubs would add utility man Luis Urias for the fifth infielder spot. That is no longer the case with the addition of 34-year-old Tyler Austin. Austin has spent the previous six seasons in Japan and will likely be the platoon option at first base with Busch. Outfielders (5) Ian Happ Pete Crow-Armstrong Seiya Suzuki Owen Caissie Kevin Alcantara We predicted Rob Refsnyder to be on the North Side in our first edition of the roster projection, but that can no longer be true as he headed out West to Seattle. There doesn't seem to be much traction surrounding the Cubs and available outfielders — save for some loose rumors connecting them back to Cody Bellinger and Kyle Tucker — so we're likely headed toward Caissie and Alcantara getting those two reserve outfield spots. Designated Hitter (1) Moises Ballesteros No change here, as it seems likely that Ballesteros and Suzuki will have some sort of platoon situation going at DH depending on the pitching matchups and what happens with Caissie in spring training. These predictions are always subject to change with major offseason acquisitions, but as of now, this is our best guess at what the team will look like come Opening Day against the Washington Nationals. Do you think we missed anybody? Let us know in the comments below! View full article

Image courtesy of © Jerome Miron-Imagn Images The calendar has officially rolled over into December, meaning the Major League Baseball offseason should begin to really rev up. We've seen some compelling, unexpected signings and trades so far this offseason, but the blockbuster moves we're all waiting for haven't quite dropped yet. The Chicago Cubs aren't expected to re-sign Kyle Tucker, but there are other moves made that can improve next season's roster. Let's project a few of them, and the Opening Day roster that could take shape around them. Pitchers (13) Shota Imanaga - SP Matthew Boyd - SP Cade Horton - SP Ranger Suárez - SP Jameson Taillon - SP Colin Rea - RP Javier Assad - RP Ben Brown - RP Porter Hodge - RP Phil Maton - RP Luke Little - RP Daniel Palencia - RP Ethan Roberts - RP As you'll notice above, the Cubs' reported interest in left-hander Ranger Suárez is strong enough to place him into this first Opening Day roster prediction. Suárez has been linked to Chicago throughout the entire offseason, and he would be a welcome addition to a Cubs staff that already boasts three left-handed starters. The only other new name on the list is the recently signed right-handed reliever Phil Maton. Justin Steele is unlikely to be ready until at least May, but he's very much a factor, too. Catchers (2) Carson Kelly Miguel Amaya Expect no changes behind the plate for Chicago after the non-tendering of Reese McGuire. Barring any injuries (or an unexpected turning of the corner by Moisés Ballesteros, defensively), it should be Kelly and Amaya holding it down behind the plate for all 162 games next season. Infielders (5) Michael Busch- 1B Nico Hoerner - 2B Dansby Swanson - SS Matt Shaw - 3B Luis Urías - UTIL We're staying small here. Luis Urías would be a minor addition, but an important one. He can play either second or third base (and first, if the situation demands it). A righty batter, he's a possible platoon partner for Michael Busch, as well as a backup to Matt Shaw and Nico Hoerner. Hoerner himself serves as the backup for Dansby Swanson, although now that infielder Pedro Ramirez is on the 40-man roster, he could also become part of the equation. Outfielders (5) Ian Happ Pete Crow-Armstrong Seiya Suzuki Owen Caissie Rob Refsnyder Rob Refsnyder is a name that's been thrown around a bit to fill a need for an excellent platoon option against left-handed pitchers. The other four outfielders listed here are as expected, and they will play a majority of the games during the season. Designated Hitter (1) Moisés Ballesteros No surprise here, as Ballesteros showed his ability to handle major-league pitching during his limited time last season. With no more Tucker in the lineup and Suzuki likely to play more outfield in 2026, the DH role should belong at least partially to Ballesteros. There you have it: our best guess at the Opening Day roster for 2026, when Chicago takes the field against the Washington Nationals. These predictions could obviously change with time and signings, and we'll make sure to update that when our second prediction comes out. View full article

Yep, I agree. I think it's a bit insane that neither Swanson nor Busch (Bush especially) were nominated for one. Spencer Steer instead of Busch was kind of crazy in my opinion

The National League Gold Glove finalists have been announced and unsurprisingly, the Chicago Cubs lead the pack with six finalists. On the surprising side, Dansby Swanson is not one of those six. Nico Hoerner, 2B Matt Shaw, 3B Ian Happ, LF Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF Carson Kelly, C Matthew Boyd, SP Hoerner will be looking for his second Gold Glove Award in the last three seasons. He led second basemen in nearly every single defensive category, and he is the resounding favorite to win the hardware. Happ has won the award each of the previous three seasons and that is unlikely to change again this season. Happ would become the first Cubs left fielder to ever win four straight Gold Glove Awards at the position. The remainder of the group will all be looking for their first ever Gold Glove. We all know the defensive brilliance shown from Shaw and Crow-Armstrong this season. Kelly was excellent behind the plate this season and Boyd leading MLB in pickoffs certainly put him in position to win the award for the first time in his career. As things stand, Hoerner, Happ, Crow-Armstrong, and potentially Boyd appear to be favorites at their respective positions. Patrick Bailey (catcher) and Ke'Bryan Hayes (3B) will make it virtually impossible for Kelly and Shaw to win, however. The winners at each position will be announced Sunday, Nov. 2 on ESPN. View full rumor

The time for fun and celebration from the Chicago Cubs' Wild Card Series win over the San Diego Padres has come and gone. It is now time to look ahead to Saturday and Chicago's opening game of the NLDS against the Milwaukee Brewers. A stellar pitching effort from the Cubs in the Wild Card Series has, unfortunately, left manager Craig Counsell a bit short-handed on Saturday's starting pitcher. ESPN's Jesse Rogers just recently reported that Counsell has not yet announced a starter and will wait until all starters throw on Friday before making a decision. Among those under consideration is left-hander Matthew Boyd. Boyd started Game 1 against the Padres on Tuesday, meaning he would be one day short of his typical five-day rest. With Boyd having the second-most innings pitched of his career this season, it's unlikely he'd be brought back on just three days' rest. If not Boyd, that leaves a door open for none other than Javier Assad to get the starting nod. Assad was not on the roster for the first round, so he would need to be added to the NLDS roster for that to become reality. Assad pitched on the last day of the regular season, meaning he would be back on an extra sixth day of rest, regardless of how fans feel about Assad's tendency to find himself in trouble, announcing him as the starter may be the smartest move from a health perspective. Let's assume that it is Assad starting Game 1. What does that do for the remainder of the season? The most likely scenario would be Boyd getting Game 2 on Monday and Shota Imanaga getting Game 3 back home at Wrigley Field on Wednesday. Assuming neither side sweeps the series, Counsell should have a plethora of options for the potential Games 4 and 5. Jameson Taillon would likely be available for Game 4 on Thursday, and if the series goes to the fifth game, then what? An opener in one of the games is also a possibility. We saw it with Andrew Kittredge against San Diego, so it is evident that Counsell likes the idea of having that in his back pocket if needed. Unlike the Padres, though, the Brewers don't have terrifying right-hand sluggers at the top of the lineup. It may be best to save Kittredge for the high-leverage situations he's pitched in since coming over to Chicago at the trade deadline. It will undoubtedly be interesting to see how Counsell mixes and matches the starting rotation and bullpen during the Brewers series. The bullpen (counting Imanaga) threw 17 2/3 of 27 innings in the first round, meaning Counsell could want his starters going deeper into games against Milwaukee. It is, however, the postseason, and Counsell should not hesitate to make any moves he feels necessary to give his club the best shot to win a game and continue what has the makings of a magical October run. View full article

Image courtesy of © David Banks-Imagn Images A nail-biting NL Wild Card Round saw the Chicago Cubs escape with a 2-1 series victory over the San Diego Padres. Chicago used a combination of timely hitting and stellar pitching (especially from the bullpen) to advance through the first stage of the postseason and set up a divisional showdown against the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS. Chicago's roster in the first round of the playoffs did not have many surprises, but there are a couple of additions that may be coming to the next round's roster given the strengths of the Brewers (and the fact that this is a best-of-five series). Here's our best guess at the Cubs NLDS roster. Pitchers (12) Shota Imanaga Matthew Boyd Colin Rea Jameson Taillon Javier Assad Andrew Kittredge Brad Keller Daniel Palencia Michael Soroka Caleb Thielbar Drew Pomeranz Taylor Rogers Just one change here to the pitching staff, as we replace Aaron Civale with Assad. Assad throwing on the Sunday before the Wild Card series began made it an easy decision for Craig Counsell to take a fresh arm like Civale instead. Assad will be fully rested and may even be in line to start Game 1 against Milwaukee on Saturday, depending on if Matthew Boyd is ready/willing to take the ball on short rest. Catchers (2) Carson Kelly Reese McGuire No changes here to the catching unit, as we still do not have an update on Miguel Amaya. If by some chance Amaya is healthy, do not be surprised to see him crack the roster over McGuire, though Kelly will grab just about every start regardless, thanks to the built-in days off during the postseason. Infielders (5) Michael Busch Nico Hoerner Dansby Swanson Matt Shaw Justin Turner Outfielders (4) Ian Happ Pete Crow-Armstrong Seiya Suzuki Kevin Alcantara Designated Hitter (2) Kyle Tucker Moises Ballesteros Utility (2) Willi Castro Justin Turner As far as we can tell, these will be the 26 men repping the road blue/grey and home white when the Cubs and Brewers do battle in the NLDS. The one change we did make was swapping out Civale for Assad, but there are a couple of other changes that could potentially be made if the front office wants to. Replacing Alcantara with Billy Hamilton would be the first option. Hamilton was signed on Aug. 31, making him eligible for the postseason roster. You have to figure that was for a reason, and the option to put him on the roster over Alcantara is certainly there to make, especially since his glove and speed would make him a valuable addition to Counsell's bench. The trade-off, of course, is that he's a complete zero at the plate. This could come down to whether or not Tucker is healthy enough to play right field again. Another potential change made would be surrounding the status of the previously mentioned Amaya. How healthy is he and what can he produce? If he is healthy, should the Cubs carry three catchers and remove someone entirely, or should it just be a straight up McGuire for Amaya swap? Even if he is healthy, though, should he replace McGuire's hot lefty bat (112 wRC+ in September)? We should know the status of Amaya in the coming hours and that will determine his place on the NLDS roster. Chicago could very well just stick with the same 26-man roster that it used against San Diego, but that feels a bit unlikely, especially since Counsell won't be able to manage his bullpen quite so effectively in a longer series. Minuscule changes are more than likely at this point, and they are probably in the best interest of the team. Whatever the decisions may be, the series between the Cubs and Brewers is shaping up to be one of the more highly anticipated playoff series in recent memory. View full article