The Rotation Is Key to the Cubs’ Success
At this point in the MLB season, the Cubs have a strong sample size to support their top-of-the-league standing in many categories.
Currently, the Chicago Cubs lead the league in Outs Above Average by a wide margin, and they have the third-highest OPS among all major league teams.
Those two stats cover defense and offense, so what about the pitching?
In the first half, the Cubs were tied for the seventh-highest ERA among starting pitchers in the MLB. But in the second half, they have the eighth-lowest ERA in the big leagues. This discrepancy shows up in the Cubs’ team performance. In the first half, the Cubs went 54-42; in the second half, they went 18-10. With the elite defense and offense the Cubs have, starting pitching is imperative to this team’s success.
Looking at the 2026 Chicago Cubs’ starting pitching from a distance, it has been a constantly changing group that is starting to find its stride.
It has often lacked continuity, but it is starting to look really nice as players get healthy and the front office makes acquisitions. That is shown in the dramatic improvement in ERA that this group has had after the All-Star break. Not only have they improved, but more help is on the way. Edward Cabrera will make his first outing today for the Cubs since June 23rd, and there is still hope that Ben Brown will rejoin this team at some point this season. Both have shown in their careers that they can be extremely effective pitchers and should have a large impact on the Cubs upon their return. It is unclear in what capacity Brown will contribute to the Cubs this season, but regardless, they will both add depth to the Cubs’ pitching group. If this season has told Cubs fans anything, it is that you can never have enough pitching depth.
The trade deadline, as it concerns starting pitching, was extremely significant for the Cubs. The moves to get Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes, who are both free agents after this season, show that the Cubs are serious about winning this year. On top of that, they think highly of the roster they have. Arguably the most important part of the postseason is pitching, and that certainly applies to this Cubs team. If they want to go far in the playoffs this season, their pitchers will have to succeed. That said, given the level of offense and defense the Cubs have shown they can play at, their pitchers will be in a position to succeed.
Currently, the Brewers lead the Cubs by four games in the division.
The Cubs are not out of the race yet, as these two teams will play each other seven more times in what’s left of the 2026 regular season.
It feels as if everything is coming together for this club.
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Categorized:Cubs