Good morning, Bleacher Nation. Waking up to a blue sky and birds chirping after that remarkable comeback win over the Dodgers in Los Angeles last night is about as good as it gets!
There have been a handful of dramatic and fun Cubs games this season — go figure when you’re on a 10-game winning streak — but I think last night’s was the new No. 1 game of the young season.
- Win 10 games in a row and they’re bound to happen in all sorts of different ways, and multiple times now we’ve seen this team muster comebacks. Coming into the season the veteran leadership, clubhouse culture and intangibles brought by Alex Bregman and others were much talked about. Yes, the on-field results have been awesome, but let us not forget the off-field skill that’s undoubtedly playing a role in this epic win streak.
- Speaking of the on-field results, though, how about this!
- How about another sign that this Cubs’ offense is formidable? Particularly up the middle, where we know their defense is among the best in MLB.
- Also, as it relates to signs… Two “go home” signs from Cubs’ third base coach Quintin Berry last night resulted in second outs of the inning at home plate. The first came in the top of the 4th with the game still scoreless and Michael Busch on 2nd after a double. Alex Bregman laced a line drive up the middle, and Berry waved Busch home, only to be gunned down by the Dodgers’ strong-armed centerfielder Andy Pages. Then, in the top of the 8th with Ian Happ on 1st, Moises Ballesteros hit a double into the left-centerfield gap and an off-balance throw to cutoff man Hyeseong Kim — who followed with a great throw of his own — gunned down Happ and left the game tied at 4.
- Had Dansby not played hero with his game-winning two-run homer in the top of the 9th, and the Cubs lost the game, there would naturally be criticism for Berry today. I’d offer that the send of Busch in the 4th is fair to criticize since Pages was running in on the ball and the game was still scoreless with only one out in the inning.
- Being a third base coach is similar to an offensive lineman in the NFL. Most fans are only going to remember your name if you fail, and I don’t think any Cubs fans came into this season with the thought that Berry is a liability.
Sometimes I think we’re too hard on third base coaches. When they send a guy on a close call and he scores, we barely even notice because we’re celebrating the run. But when he sends a guy and there’s a beautiful relay, he often gets blamed for a “bad send.”— Brett Taylor (@Brett_A_Taylor) April 25, 2026
- Big props to lefty reliever Ryan Rolison for his three-inning, scoreless outing last night. It was Rolison’s first appearance in 10 days and second all season. His stuff looked good, and he’s certainly capable of being an arm that secures himself a role due to the Cubs’ litany of pitcher injuries. The best part of Rolison’s performance last night, though, wasn’t a pitch that he threw…
- That incredible play from Nico came after a Swanson web gem in the bottom of the 6th that robbed Kyle Tucker. I thought shortly after Nico’s play about the old saying that “offense is contagious,” that defense sure can be, too. At least with this Cubs team.
- Moises Ballesteros went 2-for-4 in last night’s win and is now hitting .400/.443/.655. Glad he plays for the Cubs.
Moisés Ballesteros’ rankings among Rookies:
AVG: .392 (1st)
OBP: .439 (1st)
SLG: .647 (1st)
wOBA: .469 (1st)
WRC+: 201 (1st)
OPS: 1.086 (1st)
Avg EV: 93.2 MPH (1st in NL)
Hard-Hit%: 57.1% (1st in NL)
pic.twitter.com/jiAM2gDqK0— Running From The OPS (@OPS_BASEBALL) April 24, 2026
- Down on the farm last night, Myrtle Beach, South Bend, and the Iowa Cubs all lost. The Knoxville Smokies saved the minor league night with an 11-9 win over the Chattanooga Lookouts. Recently promoted catcher Owen Ayers went 2-for-2 in the Smokies’ win and hit his first home run at Double-A. Meanwhile, at Triple-A, the rehabbing Phil Maton pitched a scoreless inning of relief in which he gave up two hits and struck out two.
After rough couple of games, Owen Ayers is beginning to find his footing in Double-A.
He’s 2-for-2 with a HR, a 2B, and a BB tonight and is now batting .308 since his promotion. pic.twitter.com/WtQq1Non68— Carson Wolf (@TheWrigleyWire) April 25, 2026
- Pete Crow-Armstrong got booed in his hometown last night, and the Dodgers’ social media even took a shot at PCA. Thankfully, the Cubs (and Brett) got the last laugh.
- The pursuit of an 11th-straight win begins at 6:15 this evening (thank goodness it’s not another first pitch after 9 p.m. central!), and it’s Colin Rea facing off against Roki Sasaki. Sasaki is off to a rough start this season, with a 6.11 ERA in four starts. Also worth noting, tonight’s game is being broadcast on FOX.
Rea has 7 pitch types. As a 35-year-old, he continues to evolve, all while embracing different roles at a snap of the finger. For example, the splitter is his most used secondary, when three years ago it was his least used secondary. Adaptable.
He had a 3.95 ERA last year, and…— Brendan Miller (@brendan_cubs) April 19, 2026
- Pirates 20-year-old super prospect Konnor Griffin turned 20 yesterday, and I couldn’t help but chuckle at this clip from Paul Skenes on the topic.
