The Chicago Cubs currently hold a 31-27 record following their series-opening loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. The North Siders’ two-game winning streak ended in the last 24 hours. Their divisional rivals took advantage of a persistent home run problem.
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MLB Game Recap
The Cubs fell 6-5 to the Cardinals Friday night, a frustrating defeat in a game that felt “extremely winnable”. Starting pitcher Shota Imanaga (L, 4-6) continued his struggles with the long ball. He surrendered 5 earned runs on three home runs over 5.1 innings. The Cubs’ offense pounded out 11 hits, including an early three-run blast by Ian Happ. However, they finished just 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position. A late insurance run surrendered by Phil Maton in the 8th proved to be the difference.
Standout Performer
Ian Happ was the clear offensive engine, finishing 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs and a home run. He launched a three-run shot in the first inning. This gave Chicago an early lead. He has now homered in three consecutive games. Happ remains the team’s most consistent force, carrying a 1.023 OPS and 11 RBIs over his last seven games.
Key News & Notes
The Cubs’ rotation is seeing progress from Edward Cabrera (finger blister). He began throwing plyometric balls. He is scheduled for a full bullpen session on May 31. On the injury front, Matt Shaw is expected to start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on June 2. Matthew Boyd is slated for a rehab start on May 31. Meanwhile, frustration is mounting regarding Phil Maton, whose ERA rose to 7.64. He gave up a critical run on Friday. Fans on social media have been vocal about ending the veteran’s “experiment” in high-leverage spots.
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Farm Report
- Iowa Cubs (AAA): Owen Miller was outstanding. He went 4-for-4 with a triple, a walk, an RBI, and scored two runs. This performance led a 15-hit attack in an 8-3 win over the Indians. Starter Campbell provided four scoreless innings.
- Knoxville Smokies (AA): Game was postponed.
- South Bend Cubs (High-A): Drew Bowser (1-for-3, HR, 4 RBI) crushed a grand slam. Despite his effort, the Cubs suffered a heartbreaking 9-8 collapse against Fort Wayne. They blew a 7-0 lead in the 9th, ending their 8-game win streak.
- Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Single-A): Eli Lovich went 3-for-5 with a home run, a double, and 4 RBIs. He led the Pelicans to an 11-10 victory over the Warbirds. He hit a go-ahead three-run homer. This happened in front of a season-high crowd of 4,794.
- ACL Cubs (Rookie): Ramirez (2-for-4, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 3 R) notched a two-homer game. However, the Cubs ultimately lost 11-7 to the ACL Guardians.
Deep Dive: Cubs seeing historic amount of breaking balls in May 2026
The Cubs’ offensive dip in May—sliding from a top-five OPS of .780 in April to a bottom-five unit at .633 in May—is largely due to a historic shift in how opponents are attacking them. While fastball usage is trending down league-wide, the Cubs are facing a “spin-heavy” scouting report that is nearly unprecedented.
In April, Chicago batters saw breaking balls on 32% of pitches; in May, that has spiked to 37%. This is the second-highest breaking-ball rate any team has seen in any month in the pitch-tracking era. The league has clearly identified a vulnerability: Seiya Suzuki (47.9%), Dansby Swanson (47.8%), and Alex Bregman (42.9%) are currently among the top 10 players in all of MLB seeing the highest percentage of spin.
This adjustment followed an elite April where the Cubs posted the best fastball Run Value (+30) in the majors. Essentially, the league has taken away the pitch the Cubs hit best. They are forcing the Cubs to survive on breaking balls. The team has struggled to handle these recently—Bregman, for instance, is slugging just .211 against breakers this month. The Cubs’ offense is unlikely to rebound until the core of the lineup proves they can punish the spin.
Looking Ahead
The Cubs look to even the series Saturday as Ben Brown (1-2, 2.01 ERA) takes the hill against Cardinals Kyle Leahy (5-3, 4.44 ERA).
Shota’s home run problem is becoming a major hurdle. The bullpen can’t afford to keep “experimenting” with high-ERA veterans in close games.
What do you think?
