Brett and Michael are back for the sixtieth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! The Cubs have navigated a solid start to the season, but from an injury standpoint, it’s been a real test—headlined by a significant setback for Justin Steele.

After appearing ahead of schedule earlier this spring, Steele has now suffered a flexor strain in his recovery and will be shut down and re-evaluated, pushing his timeline back significantly. At this point, a return before late June feels unlikely, and that raises real questions about how much he’ll be able to contribute this season—and whether he can be a meaningful piece for a potential playoff run.

That conversation leads into a broader discussion about the rotation as currently constructed. The Cubs have built a group capable of eating innings and stabilizing the regular season, but does that profile translate as well in October? It’s an early question, but one worth considering given the current makeup of the staff.

On the field, Jameson Taillon continues to provide steady value, turning in another quality outing while pairing his usual contact management with a noticeable uptick in strikeouts. That combination has made him a reliable piece of the rotation early on.

Out of the bullpen, Ben Brown has been a major bright spot, stepping into high-leverage situations and delivering, including a recent bases-loaded escape on short rest. He’s starting to carve out a trusted multi-inning role as the Cubs lean on their depth.

All in all, it’s a mix of encouraging performance and growing concern as the Cubs look to carry a strong April into an even better May.

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Brett and Michael are back for the fifty-ninth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! The Cubs are on an absolute heater, extending their winning streak to nine games, capped off by a wild comeback win over the Phillies that ended with a Dansby Swanson walk-off in the 10th.

They break down the rollercoaster game—blowing the lead late but never really feeling rattled—and how this stretch of wins, including a four-game sweep of Philadelphia, has changed the vibe around the team.

The guys also dig into a bigger-picture conversation sparked by Craig Counsell: “Do you want to develop players or do you want to win?” They explore how that applies to roster decisions, including whether it makes sense to call up a hot bat like Pedro Ramirez if he’s only going to see limited playing time, versus letting him continue to develop every day in Triple-A.

On the offensive side, Moises Ballesteros continues to rake, putting up elite early numbers in a limited sample, while Carson Kelly’s strong production raises questions about how the Cubs will balance playing time behind the plate moving forward.

It’s a mix of short-term success and long-term decision-making as the Cubs keep rolling.

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Brett and Michael are back for the fifty-eighth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! The Cubs keep their Wednesday magic alive, rolling into this episode on a high note after a strong series win over the Phillies.

They break down an offensive breakout that saw the Cubs put up 21 runs over the final two games of the series, and how that momentum shifts the tone after a brief stumble earlier in the week. The guys also touch on early-season overreactions, reminding everyone that a single series doesn’t define a team—especially with the Cubs sitting right at .500.

On the pitching side, Shota Imanaga delivered a dominant outing, striking out a career-high 11 batters with 26 whiffs over six innings of one-run ball. It’s exactly the version of Imanaga the Cubs need right now, especially with injuries testing the rotation’s depth.

Offensively, Nico Hoerner continues to produce at a high level, tying a career high with five RBI and emerging as one of the league’s early run producers—even from the leadoff spot.

The guys also check in on the rest of the NL Central, where fast starts from teams like the Reds and Pirates add a bit of early intrigue, before zooming out to the bigger picture of where the Cubs stand in the division.

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Brett and Michael are back for the fifty-seventh episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! The Cubs bounce back with a series win over the Rays, evening their record at .500 through the first 12 games—and the guys aren’t sweating the slow start one bit.

They reflect on a strong showing in Tampa, where the offense looked more like itself and the rotation depth stepped up in a big way. With injuries forcing unexpected starts from Javier Assad and Colin Rea, the Cubs still got quality production—highlighting exactly why this team prioritized starting depth in the first place. It’s a reassuring reminder that even with adversity, this staff can hold things together in the short term.

Of course, the schedule doesn’t get any easier, with a brutal stretch ahead featuring the Phillies, Mets, and Dodgers. Brett and Michael discuss what that means for the Cubs early-season outlook and how the pitching staff—both starters and relievers—will need to continue evolving as the season unfolds.

There’s also continued conversation about how to balance long-term concerns with what’s happening right now. Yes, there are real questions about health and sustainability, but it’s April—and the focus remains on what this team is doing well in the present.

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Brett and Michael are back for the fifty-sixth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! With the first week of the regular season in the books, the guys take a step back to reflect—and, of course, fire off a few early overreactions.

Is Matthew Boyd suddenly a strikeout machine after racking up 17 Ks through two starts? Is Alex Bregman “washed” at third base after a couple early errors (don’t worry, that one’s tongue-in-cheek)? And what’s going on with Dylan Carlson’s lack of playing time so far?

They also provide an update on Seiya Suzuki, who is now set for a rehab assignment after his knee injury during the World Baseball Classic. The timeline has stretched a bit longer than expected, but his return still appears to be on the horizon.

On the positive side, the guys dig into Bregman’s early swing data, which looks extremely encouraging despite modest raw power numbers so far. His approach at the plate—particularly his attack angle and quality of contact—suggests strong results could be coming soon.

They also discuss some in-game strategy, including the logic behind bunting in certain counts, before zooming back out to what we’ve learned (and maybe over-learned) from the Cubs’ first handful of games.

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Brett and Michael are back for the fifty-fifth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law) — and the first episode of the regular season!

They react to the Cubs’ Opening Day loss to the Nationals (10-4) at Wrigley, while keeping things in perspective. One game doesn’t define a season, but there are still some takeaways worth unpacking.

On the pitching side, Matthew Boyd’s outing was a tale of two games—dominant swing-and-miss stuff early (20 whiffs, 44.4% CSW), followed by a rough fourth inning where command slipped, and mistakes got punished. It’s a reminder of both the upside and volatility in this rotation.

Offensively, the Cubs created plenty of traffic but couldn’t capitalize, going 4-for-19 with runners in scoring position and leaving nine on base. Still, there were positives, including a strong day from Michael Busch at the top of the lineup.

The guys also break down a much bigger piece of news: the Cubs have signed Nico Hoerner to a six-year extension, locking up the second baseman beyond his would-be free agency. It’s the second major extension in a week—following Pete Crow-Armstrong’s deal—and a clear signal that the Cubs believe they are firmly in a contention window right now.

They also touch on the new challenge system, how it should be used, and early impressions from Opening Day. Plus, a quick discussion on lineup construction, including Ian Happ’s tough day and where he fits best moving forward.

And don’t forget — Bleacher Nation Cubs just added three new writers, so be sure to check out even more coverage all season long.

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Brett and Michael are back for the fifty-fourth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! With Opening Day just one week away—set for Wrigley Field against the Nationals—the excitement is building as the Cubs wrap up Spring Training.

The guys break down a pitching staff that has looked sharp throughout camp, highlighted by strong swing-and-miss stuff and encouraging early results. Cade Horton’s emergence is a major talking point, including his nasty change-up and him getting the Opening Day nod.

They also discuss how the Cubs’ defensive strength has played a key role this spring, allowing pitchers to attack the strike zone with confidence and trust the defense to handle balls in play. It’s a combination that could raise the overall ceiling of the staff if it carries into the regular season.

Overall, Brett and Michael share their optimism about where the team stands heading into the year, with a rotation that feels both top-heavy and deep, and a roster that looks ready to compete right out of the gate.

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Brett and Michael are back for Episode 53 of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! With the regular season fast approaching, the guys dive into a mix of Cubs news and broader baseball storylines, starting with the excitement surrounding the World Baseball Classic. The Cubs had a presence in the tournament as well, with pitcher Matthew Boyd appearing for Team USA before departing early to return to Cubs camp and continue preparing for the season. Shortly after that move, the Cubs announced Boyd will be their Opening Day starter, a decision that sparks discussion about how much the Opening Day designation really matters and why the matchup might actually make a lot of sense.

The guys also dig into some of the roster experimentation happening in Spring Training. The Cubs have been giving top prospect Matt Shaw reps all over the field—including first base—as they explore whether he can truly become a multi-position weapon. At the same time, Moisés Ballesteros has been getting significant time behind the plate, raising questions about how the Cubs might deploy their catching depth and lineup flexibility once the games start to count.

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