The Cubs keep finding ways to win, even with a pitching staff that’s been hammered by injuries all season.
Chicago has lost Justin Steele, Cade Horton, and Porter Hodge for the year, while Jameson Taillon, Edward Cabrera, and Ben Brown are all on the IL. That kind of injury pileup would knock most teams off course. Instead, the Cubs have kept rolling and have been one of the hottest teams in baseball lately.
That run showed up in a big way last week. Chicago swept the New York Mets in a four-game series, a stretch that ended with Mets manager Carlos Mendoza getting the boot on Friday morning. The Cubs then turned around and handled their division matchup with the Milwaukee Brewers, taking the three-game set 2-1 to finish the week 6-1.
All of that movement helped Chicago in the latest power rankings. Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter moved the Cubs from No. 12 to No. 7, noting just how strong this stretch has been.
"The roller coaster that is the 2026 Cubs is ascending once again, as they have won five straight series of three or more games, and have a [13-4] in their last [17 games]. Shortstop Dansby Swanson had 15 RBI in seven games last week out of the No. 9 spot in the lineup."
Swanson has been a major part of the surge, giving the Cubs a big boost with the bat. Chicago will try to keep the momentum going as it finishes a three-game series with the San Diego Padres this week, then welcomes the St. Louis Cardinals to Wrigley Field for a three-game set over the weekend.
In Other News...
Cubs May Be Eyeing The Exact First Round Arm They Need
Cameron Flukey has spent much of the scouting cycle reminding evaluators why he was such a coveted arm in the first place. The college right-hander entered 2026 with plenty of helium after a strong reputation at Coastal Carolina, and his blend of size, stuff and projection kept him in the first-round conversation even as an injury-shortened junior season interrupted the momentum.
For the Cubs, the appeal is obvious if he makes it to their pick. Flukeys arsenal gives him the kind of ceiling that can be hard to find in the back half of the round, with power velocity and multiple secondary pitches backing up the upside, but his recent injury history also makes him one of the more fascinating bets in the class. If he slides, Chicago could be looking at exactly the sort of arm that fits its draft priorities, even if there is plenty of competition ahead of them. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Just Handed Kevin Alcntara A Chance He Can't Waste
After opening the series with a walk-off win, the Cubs are tweaking the lineup again for Game 2 against San Diego, with Seiya Suzuki moving up to third and Michael Busch sliding to fifth. The changes come with Matthew Boyd set for his second start since returning from the injured list, a spot the Cubs will hope gives them a steadier look against a Padres group expected to stack right-handed bats.
Kevin Alcntara is also back in the picture after Chicago recalled him from Triple-A when Matt Shaw landed on the injured list with a wrist injury. For Alcntara, it is another chance to show the Cubs he can stick at the big-league level, and with the club already dealing with one roster shakeup, every at-bat now carries a little more weight. [Read more 🡒]