A Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005
Justin Steele had Tommy John surgery just about a year ago. So, most were hoping he could come back to the Cubs rotation sometime in late May or early June. That, apparently, will not be happening: We don’t really know anything beyond this, yet. A “setback” could be a few days, or a few weeks, […]
I had it in my mind to write this article a day or so ago after hearing the rankings of MLB teams on successful ABS challenges. So you’ll forgive me for writing it the day after the Cubs failed on two of three challenges in their loss to the Padres, including one by Matthew Boyd […]
Well, the Cubs weren’t going to win every game despite their longest winning streak since 2016. They probably aren’t going to lose every game either, although they’ve looked overmatched in their last three contests against the Dodgers and Padres as they started a three-game losing streak. As always with baseball, the real Cubs team is […]
And with that, we are well into the grind of the 2026 season. To this point, the Cubs hadn’t yet lost three straight. But the combo of a battered pitching staff, their 11th game in 11 days, and their fourth straight game against elite opposition turned out to be just too much for the Cubs. […]
Moisés Ballesteros has become a fine MLB hitter at age 22. Monday night, he hit his first career grand slam. Moisés Ballesteros is still very much a work in progress as a catcher. Monday night in his first start behind the plate this year, he got an ABS challenge wrong in the third inning, let […]
Today’s Reflections *means autoplay on, (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page as sarcasm font. The powers that be have enabled real sarcasm font in the comments. Food For Thought: Nashville animal control captures escaped emu (Video) 25 Most Unforgettable Travel Destinations in 2026 (Video) Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed […]
It’s Monday night here at BCB After Dark: the coolest club for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Come on in and sit with us for a while. The more the merrier. We still have a few tables available. The hostess will seat you now. Bring your own beverage. BCB After […]
Go get ‘em, Matthew.
Today’s roster move: Here Monday notes… Cubs lineup: Padres lineup: Matthew Boyd, LHP vs. Randy Vasquez, RHP Matthew Boyd’s first start since returning from a bicep issue, last Wednesday against the Phillies, was a bit rough around the edges (84 pitches in 4.2 innings), but he held them to two runs, struck out five and […]
Padres 9, Cubs 7: Let’s talk about Moisés Ballesteros 2026 Cubs Heroes and Goats: Game 29 Cubs vs. Padres, Monday 4/27, 8:40 CT live! Chicago Cubs vs. San Diego Padres preview, Monday 4/27, 8:40 CT
The Cubs welcomed back a member of their Opening Day bullpen before Monday night’s game in San Diego when they activated right-hander reliever Phil Maton from the 15-day injured list. Maton had been placed on the IL April 10 (retroactive to April 8) with right knee tendinitis. He had posted a 13.50 ERA (six earned […]
These teams meet for the first time since the Cubs defeated the Padres in last year’s tightly-fought Wild Card Series. Both teams are off to good starts in 2026; perhaps they will meet again in October. For more on the Padres, here’s Matt DeWalt, manager of our SB Nation Padres site Gaslamp Ball. The San […]
The Cubs had a 5-2 week, which on its face is excellent. The way it ended, with two losses to the Dodgers after sweeping the Phillies and mounting a stirring comeback Friday in Los Angeles, wasn’t great. But this team is still showing that it can compete with anyone, even with multiple bullpen injuries. Here’s […]
I don’t want to be too hasty, but I think this Shohei Ohtani kid is going to be pretty good and these Dodgers aren’t bad. It’s always great to catch a legendary player at the tail end of a cooler. He woke up over the weekend and had a very productive couple of games at […]
Happy Monday, everyone. The big news from over this weekend, of course, was the firing of Red Sox manager Alex Cora. The Red Sox are among the teams that have been struggling to start the season, but they are the first to take such drastic action. Alongside Cora, the team fired five additional coaches in […]
Free of charge for the discerning reader. Happy birthday to the Rajah and a mighty host of others. Today in baseball history 1997, Ryne Sandberg breaks the major league record for most home runs by a second baseman, and other stories as well. Cubs Birthdays: Michael Rucker, Joey Gathright, Rogers Hornsby* HOF. Other notables, Enos Slaughter HOF. Today in […]
Iowa Cubs The Iowa Cubs were battered by the Louisville Bats (Reds), 12-6. Paul Campbell gave up five runs, including a grand slam, in the first inning and two more in the third and got the loss. Campbell’s final line was seven runs on seven hits over three innings. Campbell walked three and struck out […]
This series wasn’t going to be easy, we all knew that before it began. And when Shōta Imanaga had a 32-pitch first inning in which he allowed a pair of walks and three runs, that made the Cubs’ task that much more difficult. That, and the fact that the Cubs again had RISP issues, going […]
Go get ‘em, Shōta.
Roster moves (Bluesky link): Sunday notes… The Cubs lineup was not available at posting time. Please check BCB social media for the Cubs lineup. Dodgers lineup: Shōta Imanaga, LHP vs. Justin Wrobleski, LHP After a somewhat rough first start this year, Shōta Imanaga has been just magnificent over his last four outings: 1.13 ERA, 0.542 […]
2026 Cubs Heroes and Goats: Game 28 Dodgers 6, Cubs 0: It just wasn’t Shōta Imanaga’s day Cubs vs. Dodgers, Sunday 4/26, 3:10 CT live! Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers preview, Sunday 4/26, 3:10 CT
I find it appropriate to start out by hat tipping the Dodgers offense. They curb stomped Colin Rea and Javier Assad in this one. A further hat tip to four Dodger relievers who combined to allow just two hits and a walk over the final four innings of the game. The Dodgers offense and bullpen […]
One thing that is absolutely, undeniably true about sports is that all winning streaks must end, sometime. Thus we knew that eventually, the Cubs would lose another game after going on their longest winning streak since the World Series year of 2016. It’s not always pretty when winning streaks end and that was the case […]
Today’s Reflections When Rick Monday woke up 50 years ago yesterday, I’m guessing he would never have expected to become an American hero. Neither had I as my dad sat me down to watch a delayed TV clip when I was 11. I was still trying to figure out what a bicentennial was, why girls […]
Iowa Cubs The Iowa Cubs shut out the Louisville Bats (Reds), 5-0. Connor Noland gave up just three hits over six innings on his way to the win. Noland struck out two and walked just one. Ethan Roberts relieved Noland in a rehab appearance and pitched the seventh inning. Roberts allowed one hit and one […]