The Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast

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.

A special thank you to Ankin Law for sponsoring this podcast!

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