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The Cubs might have looked worse in this series than they have in any series since the one at Cleveland in early April. There were series losses to the Pirates (cumulative score 12-10 Pirates advantage), the Dodgers (22-10) and Rangers (10-7) in the interim. So maybe that Dodgers one was worse than the Cleveland series […]
The Cubs are still having trouble scoring runs, as you likely saw in the team’s 2-0 win over the Braves Thursday evening in Atlanta. But with Ben Brown’s second straight excellent start and solid work from the bullpen, two runs was enough to win the game and end the Cubs’ four-game losing streak. The Cubs […]
It’s Rivalry Weekend or whatever — 15 matchups that I guess link two teams that are supposed to be rivals together. Sometimes, this is inherently fun, like when the teams in question are basically co-located and it’s a battle-for-the-jurisdiction of sorts (Mets-Yankees, Cubs-White Sox, and I guess even Angels-Dodgers, sorta). Sometimes, it’s a bit weirder, […]
Rivalry Weekend begins tonight. Some of the matchups are obvious: you needn’t ask why the Cubs and White Sox have beef with each other (not Italian beef. Disliking each other, they would not likely share a meal of that delicious Chicago specialty). Some are not: Detroit and Toronto may be close to each other, but […]
Free of charge for the discerning reader. Happy birthday to Bill North, and a mighty host of others. Today in baseball history, for example, in 1935 – Lou Gehrig steals home in a 4-0 Yankee win over the Tigers. It is his 15th and last steal of home, all of which were double steals, and other stories as well. Plus, since there […]
Iowa Cubs The Iowa Cubs were silenced by the Nashville Sounds (Brewers), 6-5. Starter Doug Nikhazy struggled with control tonight, walking seven batters in just 3.1 innings. But he kept the Sounds to only two hits and two runs. He struck out four. Luis Peralta pitched the seventh inning, gave up an unearned run on […]
In the preview for tonight’s game, I mentioned that this game might come down to who could find the big hits in the latter stages of the game. The Braves have made a good living when it comes to either turning games around or finishing things off during the money innings (seventh, eighth and ninth), […]
Go get ‘em, Ben.
Thursday notes… Cubs lineup: Braves lineup: Ben Brown, RHP vs. Chris Sale, LHP Ben Brown threw exceptionally well last Friday against the Rangers, throwing four no-hit innings, with 31 strikes in 46 pitches, allowing just one walk. He’ll likely be allowed to go a bit farther tonight, though I wouldn’t expect more than maybe 65 […]
Cubs 2, Braves 0: Ben Brown and the bullpen get the job done 2026 Cubs Heroes and Goats: Game 44 Cubs vs. Braves, Thursday 5/14, 6:15 CT live! Chicago Cubs vs. Atlanta Braves preview, Thursday 5/14, 6:15 CT
It’s been a tremendous season of Cubs baseball so far with the team putting together two 10-game winning streaks and still in the midst of a 15-game home winning streak before Memorial Day. Neither of those events have happened since 1935, and you know when a team with a 150-year history is doing things that […]
The Atlanta Braves are going for a sweep against the Chicago Cubs, which would cap off a fantastic six-game stretch if the Braves were able to pull it off. Things went well enough against right-handed Cubs starter Colin Rea in the first game and after shaking things up against the lefty Shota Imanaga in the […]
After matching their season-high 10-game winning streak, the team has now followed with a season-high four game losing streak. Spoiler alert, the last (full) season where the Cubs didn’t have a losing streak longer than four games was back in 2003. I didn’t take pen to paper (or make a spreadsheet), but the Cliff’s Notes […]
Shōta Imanaga is pitching like the ace everyone hoped he would be. Imanaga threw seven outstanding innings (and one batter into the eighth, and that inning led to the Cubs’ undoing), the third time this year he’s thrown seven. But Phil Maton could not hold a 1-1 tie together and the Cubs lost to the […]
Today’s Reflections The Cubs’ current hitting doldrums are one reason I play the blues on here. I picked the featured singer and song way back when the Cubs were the Hitting Kings of Baseball. So it’s so randomly accurate that I picked the King of the Blues, singing, “The Thrill (of double-digit scoring, of 10-game […]
It’s Wednesday night here at BCB After Dark: the coolest spot for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. We’re hoppin’ in here and you’re welcome to come in and join us. There’s no cover charge. If you have something you’d like checked, we can do that now. The show will start […]
Go get ‘em, Shōta.
The stage is set, and the Chicago Cubs are looking for a get -back against the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves. As leaders of the central themselves, they’re not going to be an easy team to keep at bay, especially if they can get some early runs. The Braves, however, are known to find their ways […]
ICYMI, the Cubs signed Liam Hendriks to a minor-league deal today. Can’t hurt, I suppose. Wednesday notes… Cubs lineup: Braves lineup: Shōta Imanaga, LHP vs. JR Ritchie, RHP Shōta Imanaga has been just outstanding this year. Last seven starts: 1.70 ERA, 0.850 WHIP, 46 strikeouts in 42.1 innings with only three home runs allowed. The […]
Braves 4, Cubs 1: Shōta Imanaga shines again, but the offense is still missing 2026 Cubs Heroes and Goats: Game 43 Cubs vs. Braves, Wednesday 5/13, 6:15 CT live! Chicago Cubs vs. Atlanta Braves preview, Wednesday 5/13, 6:15 CT
After ending yesterday’s game against the Chicago Cubs with a one-hitter, the Atlanta Braves are looking to secure an early series win and a whole new offensive plan with rookie JR Ritchie on the mound. Let’s look at who we have. The one question that’s been surfacing is, “Where’s Dominic Smith on the starting lineup?” […]
The collective-bargaining agreement (CBA) between Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association expires Dec. 1. Last time this happened, five years ago, a lockout was imposed on that date and lasted until mid-March, abbreviating Spring Training and forcing schedule changes which resulted in the Cubs playing six doubleheaders in order to get a full […]
Win 10, lose three, win 10, lose three. Win 10 again? Unlikely. But one of the more curious 26 game stretches we’ve ever seen has just concluded. What will be next? We can’t know. But the schedule doesn’t ease up. This Braves team is no joke. Coming off of a down season, experts were divided […]
Look at it this way. At least the Cubs scored some runs in this game. Not enough runs, as they lost to the Braves 5-2 in the series opener in Atlanta. Colin Rea and Grant Holmes matched zeroes through two innings, and the Cubs failed to score in the top of the third. The Braves […]
Despite the fact that the Braves were back in town and riding high following a successful road trip out West, there was still a bit of a somber feeling at the ballpark ahead of their series opener against the Chicago Cubs. That’s because this was the first time where the organization would be able to […]