The Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast

Brett and Michael are back for the sixty-third episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! It was a rough stretch for the Cubs, who followed a disappointing series loss to the White Sox by getting swept—and thoroughly outplayed—by the Milwaukee Brewers. Losing three straight to the team you’re chasing in the division always stings, and the guys don’t shy away from that reality.

A big part of the conversation centers around just how consistently good the Brewers organization continues to be. It’s not simply “luck” anymore—they develop talent well, maximize their roster, continue producing prospects, and seem to stay competitive no matter who leaves town. Brett and Michael spend a good chunk of the episode digging into why Milwaukee keeps finding success year after year.

On the Cubs side, the offensive frustrations are mounting. The lineup has repeatedly found itself in good run-scoring situations without capitalizing, and even the heart of the order hasn’t been coming through consistently. Strikeouts have piled up, RBI chances have gone wasted, and the offense has looked disconnected during this recent skid.

There’s still plenty of season left, but this stretch served as a reminder that the Cubs still have things to clean up if they want to seriously chase down the division.

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Brett and Michael are back for the sixty-second episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! The Cubs finally lost a Wednesday game before a Thursday morning recording, but the guys aren’t exactly panicking.

They discuss the challenge of trying to avoid a sweep against the Braves—especially with Chris Sale looming—and why the recent offensive slowdown feels far more fluky than alarming. After all, the Cubs have run into some excellent pitching lately, and a four-game stretch isn’t enough to suddenly rewrite what this offense has been all season.

On the pitching side, the conversation turns once again to the rotation and potential trade targets, but there’s also optimism around Ben Brown’s continued growth. His increased groundball rate and evolving profile suggest he may be turning into a much more complete pitcher than many expected heading into the year.

The guys also preview the upcoming Crosstown Series against the Chicago White Sox, who have surprisingly hovered around .500 and become one of the more intriguing stories in baseball early this season. Much of that has been driven by Munetaka Murakami, whose arrival on the South Side has immediately made him one of the most entertaining players in Chicago baseball.

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Brett and Michael are back for the sixty-first episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! The Cubs’ winning streak nearly came to an end last night—but instead, they found yet another way to pull off a comeback victory. The guys react to a stretch that now includes eight straight wins, multiple comeback victories, and a growing feeling that this team simply refuses to fold late in games.

They also dive into a big-picture roster conversation: if extensions eventually come into play, would the Cubs realistically choose between Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki long term? Both are producing at a high level, but with payroll considerations and future roster construction looming, the guys debate whether both can realistically remain part of the core.

On the injury front, the rotation took another hit with Matthew Boyd undergoing surgery. While the Cubs remain optimistic he’ll contribute again later this season, it’s another challenge for a staff already dealing with significant injuries. The immediate focus now becomes surviving the next month-plus while keeping the rest of the pitching staff healthy.

Fortunately, the bullpen continues to step up. Phil Maton and Jacob Webb have both looked sharp recently, with Webb especially settling into valuable multi-inning work. Brett and Michael also workshop an interesting theory: all of these early wins may help preserve the pitching staff over the long haul by allowing Craig Counsell to avoid overtaxing key arms in high-stress situations.

And with both the Boyd and Justin Steele situations lingering, the guys discuss whether the Cubs are increasingly trending toward making a meaningful move for starting pitching before the trade deadline arrives.

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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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