The Chicago Cubs News & Notes April 28, 2026 begins with the club sitting at 17-12. They suffered a series-opening loss in San Diego. This loss extended their skid to three straight. Chicago’s offense showed life, but bullpen issues once again defined the last 24 hours.
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MLB Game Recap
The Cubs dropped a 9-7 decision to the Padres on Monday night at Petco Park in a back-and-forth contest. Matthew Boyd pitched for just over four innings. He allowed four runs on eight hits and issued three walks. This put early strain on the pitching staff. Chicago briefly grabbed momentum mid-game. However, Ben Brown surrendered a go-ahead two-RBI single in the fifth. A two-run triple in the seventh put the game out of reach.
Standout Performer
Moisés Ballesteros delivered the biggest swing of the night. He finished 1-for-4 with a grand slam. He scored one run and had four RBIs. His 404-foot blast to right field in the third inning marked his first career grand slam. It gave the Cubs a 5-3 lead at the time. The 22-year-old continues his scorching stretch, now hitting .387 with a 1.145 OPS through 25 games, solidifying himself as a major offensive force in the Chicago Cubs latest news.
Key News & Notes
The Cubs made a key bullpen move. They activated Phil Maton from the 15-day IL. This move addresses a relief corps currently missing eight pitchers. In a corresponding Chicago Cubs roster move, Charlie Barnes was optioned to Triple-A Iowa. Meanwhile, the pitching depth took another hit. Rookie left-hander Riley Martin was diagnosed with a left flexor strain. He is expected to miss roughly eight weeks. Manager Craig Counsell confirmed Martin has returned to Chicago for further evaluation.
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Farm Report (04/26/2026 games)
- Triple-A Iowa: Zac Leigh 1.0 IP. 0 H. 0 R. 0 BB. 3 K, 12-6 Loss | Leigh tossed an immaculate inning Sunday, striking out the side on nine pitches.
- Double-A Knoxville: Alex Ramirez 4-5, HR, R, 3 RBI, 7-2 Win. Ramirez hit a two-run homer. This was part of a dominant offensive showing, powering the Smokies to victory.
- High-A South Bend: Matt Halbach went 3-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, 3 2B. The game ended in a 3-0 loss. Halbach recorded three doubles. He received minimal offensive support.
- Low-A Myrtle Beach: Josiah Hartshorn had a mixed-fortune game. He went 1-4 with a home run, 2 runs, and 3 RBIs. However, his three-run homer wasn’t enough to prevent a 6-5 walk-off loss.
Looking Ahead
The Cubs updates 2026 continue tonight as Edward Cabrera (2-0, 2.73 ERA) takes the mound against Walker Buehler (1-2, 5.75 ERA) in San Diego. First pitch is set for 8:40 PM CT as Chicago looks to snap its losing streak.
The offense is producing, but until the bullpen stabilizes, leads will remain fragile.
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