- Michael Cerami (Bleacher Nation): With Palencia Hurt, Cubs Go Digging Through Their Reclamation Bin. “The injuries vary in severity, with Palencia on the lighter side, but the overall health of the pitching staff is in shambles. No doubt about it. And since the Cubs have already placed several other relievers on the Injured List, they’re officially turning to their true reclamation projects to backfill the bullpen.“
- TJ Morin (Sporting News): Cubs trade proposal sees Chicago replace injured Cade Horton with $75 million All-Star, former Cy Young candidate. “Sports Illustrated’s Ryan Shea proposes the Cubs buy low and trade for Mets All-Star Kodai Senga. Senga has had a pretty bad start to the season, but has shown flashes of greatness in the past, and a change of scenery could help him.”
- Jeremy Tecktiel (North Side Baseball): Moises Ballesteros’ Swing Changes Portend A Very Bright Cubs Future. “There is one other left-handed hitter in 2026 that swings the bat at 74 mph or higher and remains in the ideal attack angle range at least 65% of the time: Kyle Schwarber.”
- Carson Wolf (Just Baseball): Moisés Ballesteros Is Forcing His Name Into the Cubs Lineup. “The young lefty has picked up right where he left off following his call-up late in the 2025 season. During that stretch of his first extended look at major league pitching, Ballesteros made the most of his 66 plate appearances, showcasing his mature, well-rounded offensive skillset.”
- Daryl Van Schouwen (Chicago Sun-Times {$}): Cubs’ Nico Hoerner doesn’t feel pressure of new contract. “Hoerner wouldn’t be the first player whose numbers were affected by new money. But it’s certainly not making him complacent, and there are no signs of him succumbing to pressure to perform better.”
- Alex Farinacci (Diamond Centric): How Is The ABS Challenge System Working? Catchers Are Crushing, Games Are Slower. “Per Baseball Savant, while hitters have won only 47 percent of ABS challenges, the defense has won 60 percent.”
- Steve Greenberg (Chicago Sun-Times {$}): Cubs couldn’t fall apart like these miserable Mets … or could they? “If early-season disaster and despair can befall the $370 million Mets, it could happen to anybody. And the one-injury-after-another Cubs are vulnerable.”
“Every page these days has some form of advertising. {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page as sarcasm font. The powers that be have enabled real sarcasm font in the comments.“
Food For Thought:
Big Daddy Wilson is an American electric and soul blues singer and songwriter that has lived in Germany for almost thirty years. In his leisure time while in the Army in Germany, Wilson attended a blues concert and the experience changed his life. He had been writing
poems in his spare time, and following an honorable discharge from military service, he remained in Germany and tried to fuse his lyrical ability and singing voice, a rich, warm, low baritone. Using the blues as his base, and inspired by other American blues musicians who had found success in Europe, Wilson overcame his shyness and began singing at venues in his adopted home.
The marshal’s office said that the traffic closure is due to “a migratory visitor deciding that Camp Verde, AZ is where she wants to raise her children.”
10 USA Travel Destinations YOU Should Visit
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.
