AP Photo/Paul Beaty

The Rundown: Positive Opening Homestand Despite 3-3 Record, Boyd Embraces ‘Bear Weather,’ Rookies Posting Big Numbers

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterApril 2, 2026

“As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti; I seek to cure what’s deep inside.” – Africa by Toto

No one should be blamed for expecting the Cubs to be better than 3-3 as they embark on their first road trip of the season, but there’s a lot to like about this team. Chicago’s choppy start against the Nationals and Angels is clearly in the rear view mirror, with home openers in Cleveland and Tampa Bay on the near-term itinerary. Let’s focus on the bright spots this morning, shall we?

  • Matthew Boyd is averaging an ungodly 16.4 strikeouts per nine innings. He had 10 in yesterday’s 6-2 win over the Angels, and though his ERA is a lofty 6.75, his FIP is a miniscule 1.88. Boyd’s not going to remind anybody of Kerry Wood circa 1998, but he’s pitching like an ace.
  • Ian Happ leads the Cubs with a 177 OPS+ despite his .208 batting average. You may dislike Happ, but he produces and should be the next Cub to be extended. That is, unless you think future free agents Randy Arozarena, Trent Grisham, or Daulton Varsho are better options. It might be smart to lock up Seiya Suzuki, too.
  • Speaking of Suzuki, he starts his rehab assignment this weekend. I don’t know the extent of his knee injury, but he may return as a DH, at least initially. Suzuki will head out to Knoxville on Friday to join the Cubs’ Double-A-affiliated Smokies. His assignment is expected to last 3-7 days, but he still has a noticeable limp, so don’t expect the right fielder to return before the next homestand.
  • A contract extension apparently suits Nico Hoerner quite well. He’s sporting a .500 SLG without a home run, and he’s stolen four bases to boot. He and Pete Crow-Armstrong would be Chicago’s new daily double were we still in the pre-analytics era. That’d be some fun stuff.
  • Edward Cabrera and Cade Horton also look like potential aces. Chicago’s rotation will be among the best in baseball once Justin Steele returns. It’s nice to know that the team does not need to rush Steele’s rehab. The gritty 30-year-old may be champing at the bit, but the Cubs need their best horses in September and October more than they do in April and May. Steele is eligible to be added to the roster right around Memorial Day.
  • Ben Brown might be the most impressive Cub heading into Week 2 of the 2026 season. He’s staying in the upper-third of the zone with his fastball, which makes his sinker a deadly and bona fide out pitch. That trend started in Arizona and it’s continued into the regular season. If Brown can bury his changeup a little more, he might be an option for Chicago’s rotation. On the flip side, he will be one of the game’s better swingmen if his stuff remains that unhittable. Brown certainly gives the bullpen the type of depth Jed Hoyer and Craig Counsell love. He’s currently a lockdown option when Counsell prefers to keep his starters from navigating their opponents’ lineup for a third time.

Is the glass half-full or half-empty after six games and an uninspiring record? You’re entitled to your opinion, but I still think the Cubs are destined for a division title and a long postseason run.

Cubs News & Notes

  • A jump in bat speed may mean that Crow-Armstrong will generate more power this season.
  • Boyd took advantage of Wrigley Field’s brisk “Bear Weather” to mow down Angels hitters to the tune of 10 strikeouts in 5.2 innings.
  • Boyd refused to wear sleeves despite real-feel temperatures that sat in the mid-20s. “The mindset doesn’t change,” Boyd said. “The geography, the weather, time of day, the team – it can’t change what you expect of yourself when you go out there. So you just deal with it. Whatever it is, you deal with it as it comes.”
  • Happ is not expected to receive an extension offer this season. The veteran left fielder has a full no-trade clause so the Cubs won’t be able to move him ahead of free agency.
  • Cabrera is one of a dozen hurlers who impressed analysts with their 2026 debuts.
  • The Cubs will select 23rd, 62nd, and 75th in the first two rounds of this year’s draft. The 75th pick is compensatory for the loss of Kyle Tucker.

Ball Four

It’s too bad the Cubs don’t need an outfielder. Michael Conforto and Matt Shaw are the obvious choices over Kevin Alcántara, naturally. Alcántara, by the way, is currently slashing .294/.429/1.194 with two taters and six RBI. Though the SLG is unsustainable, that OBP tells me he’s ready. You may cry small sample size, but I’ll say a) at least he can catch the ball, and b) he had similar stats at Iowa in 2025.

Central Intelligence

How About That!

Jim Bowden believes the Pirates should have accepted the Yankees’ offer for Paul Skenes at last year’s trade deadline. The specific offer wasn’t revealed, but Jon Heyman noted that Cam Schlittler, George Lombard Jr., Spencer Jones, and Carlos Lagrange were among the players who may have been made available.

Tucker explained to the media why he wanted to play for the Dodgers this season.

It was a very good week for most of baseball’s top rookies.

It was a better week for many franchises. Opening Day television viewership increased over 2025 numbers for more than half of all MLB teams.

Data also showed that Netflix viewers trended younger demographically than games aired elsewhere.

MLB is doubling down on gambling thanks to its recent sponsorship deal with Polymarket.

Apropos of Nothing

Not following NASA on social media? You should be. Yes, we are going back to the moon, and whether you agree with the funding or not, the spectacle is amazing nonetheless.

Son of Apropos

I won’t spoil it for you, but the title of the show Something Very Bad is Going to Happen is 100% accurate. If you’re a fan of Twin Peaks and/or Lost Highway, you’ll love this Netflix series.

Extra Innings

I understand that CB Bucknor was hurt yesterday and may miss time, but I still found this funny. And who knew Max Scherzer is the current clown prince of baseball?

They Said It

  • “You absolutely need talent, first and foremost. Talent is how you do it. But caring about the details every single day is something that I think this team is good at — and we have to be good at — to put up a big win number.” – Counsell
  • “It’s always weird at the beginning. But I actually always like going on the road. You get your first bus ride to the airport with the group, your first flight with guys where there’s no families on it. You truly get to get familiar with guys and hang out and play board games or whatever it is on the flight, or go up and down the aisle and talk and get to know people. I always think the road is a good way to bring everyone together. As we get going, everyone will learn how to play together and win together.” – Jameson Taillon
  • “The reality of this is you can’t control if the team wants you back. It’s totally plausible another chapter elsewhere awaits me.” – Happ
  • “This is just an organization that I thought was first class from the top down. Really good players. Really great fan base. Everyone is committed to winning. So, just taking all that into account, [Los Angeles] is just a place that I want to be a part of.” – Tucker

Thursday Walk-Up Song

I’ve got you covered if you need a song that feels like a night out or a vacation to a warmer climate. Yeah, it’s blatant advertising, but it’s also a delightful combination of yacht rock and disco.

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterApril 2, 2026
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