Cubs in unfamiliar territory after deflating extra-inning loss to Athletics
The Cubs are in some unfamiliar territory.With their 5-4 10-inning loss to the visiting Athletics Wednesday night, Chicago became the first team in MLB history to win at least 15 straight home games and then lose their next eight straight at home.Chicago started its season blazing hot at 27-12, didn’t lose a home game from April 11 to May 18 and was in the driver’s seat in the NL Central.The team’s 15-game home win streak included sweeps over NL East teams in the Mets and Phillies as well as sweeps over the Reds and Diamondbacks.
With an offense producing at a high level and the team winning six one-run games at home during the stretch, it seemed Chicago was well on its way to its first NL Central title since 2020.But since May 18, everything that could’ve gone wrong for the Cubs has gone wrong.Chicago was first swept by its rival Brewers from May 18-20, scoring just five runs across three games.Against the Astros from May 22-24, the Cubs were outscored 15-7 and were even shutout in Game 2 of the series, 3-0.
Shota Imanaga struggled mightily in the series finale, surrendering seven runs on seven hits.The Cubs finally seemed to be getting out of their home funk Wednesday when they were up 4-2 in the eighth inning against the Athletics, but their bullpen imploded, allowing two runs in the eighth and one in the 10th.It’s not just one factor contributing to Chicago’s struggles, however.
The team’s lack of power hurt it throughout May, as Chicago hit just 27 home runs, the sixth-fewest in the majors.A year after blasting 31 home runs, Pete Crow-Armstrong has just eight in 2026 so far.
Chicago’s pitching staff also has dealt with injuries to Matthew Boyd and Edward Cabrera, and has a team ERA of 4.15, 18th in the majors.Once in first place in the NL Central, the Cubs are now just 32-30 and have dropped to fourth, six-and-a-half games back of first-place Milwaukee.Chicago is a game out of the NL’s final wildcard spot.
The Cubs look to avoid a sweep a...