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.

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Brett and Michael are back for the fifty-fifth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law) — and the first episode of the regular season!

They react to the Cubs’ Opening Day loss to the Nationals (10-4) at Wrigley, while keeping things in perspective. One game doesn’t define a season, but there are still some takeaways worth unpacking.

On the pitching side, Matthew Boyd’s outing was a tale of two games—dominant swing-and-miss stuff early (20 whiffs, 44.4% CSW), followed by a rough fourth inning where command slipped, and mistakes got punished. It’s a reminder of both the upside and volatility in this rotation.

Offensively, the Cubs created plenty of traffic but couldn’t capitalize, going 4-for-19 with runners in scoring position and leaving nine on base. Still, there were positives, including a strong day from Michael Busch at the top of the lineup.

The guys also break down a much bigger piece of news: the Cubs have signed Nico Hoerner to a six-year extension, locking up the second baseman beyond his would-be free agency. It’s the second major extension in a week—following Pete Crow-Armstrong’s deal—and a clear signal that the Cubs believe they are firmly in a contention window right now.

They also touch on the new challenge system, how it should be used, and early impressions from Opening Day. Plus, a quick discussion on lineup construction, including Ian Happ’s tough day and where he fits best moving forward.

And don’t forget — Bleacher Nation Cubs just added three new writers, so be sure to check out even more coverage all season long.

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

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