The Cubs can still win this series against the Angels if they put it together this afternoon, and ultimately that’s what you’re always looking for: series wins. Yes, you want sweeps, especially at home against clubs that project to be not so great. But a series win is always an acceptable outcome.
Most nights, if you give up just two runs, you’re winning that game. I don’t think the 2026 Cubs will have too many nights like that. Combine Jose Soriano (who is good) with the weather, and it was just not going to be a great night for offense (four singles, four walks total). Not that Alex Bregman accepts any excuses:"I've played in hot, cold, all the way in between. It's no excuse. We didn't play good enough today." Alex Bregman on the Cubs' loss. pic.twitter.com/MafIRcrUze
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) April 1, 2026 Jameson Taillon had a better night than he was having in the spring, and he didn’t allow any runs over his 4.2 innings, but he was on the precipice multiple times, and walked four (three strikeouts, two hits). The four-seamer velocity was still down around 90-91 mph, which is going to be an issue if he can’t get it back up a couple clicks soon – the velocity being this far down is a concern that is independent from the results. But the results were not too shabby for the night, and, given the spring he had, we’ll take it. “It felt good,” Taillon said of the outing, per Cubs.com. “It’s a weird thing. Spring Training, I was pretty atrocious – really can’t get any worse. But I think in the back of my mind, I was always just telling myself, ‘Let’s get out of Arizona. Let’s get to Chicago, get to Wrigley, just get where it matters and we’re game-planning a little more.’ Glad to see I wasn’t crazy for thinking that the whole time. It felt good to just get back out there and start the year on a decent note. I know I can be a lot, lot better. But this was a good start.” It didn’t escape notice that Ben Brown threw 3.1 scoreless innings on the same night, striking out five with just one walk and one hit allowed. We talked about the two in tandem all spring, with Brown looking like he’d taken a step forward and Taillon looking like he was at risk for taking a step back. I don’t think we’re going to see the Cubs making a role swap any time soon, and Taillon’s success last year buys him a lot of leeway. That’s back-to-back nights that the Cubs got 3+ innings from a long reliever. You love to see it from the perspective of resting most of the bullpen, but it means other guys have to step up today, feeling nice and rested. Bad night for Phil Maton, who, more than just the walks, threw too many non-competitive balls (ones where you’re just not going to get any chase). He’s got a long enough track record of success, and was highly-desired enough by the Cubs, that I’m not gonna freak out. The walks will need to get under control, though, as he’s now up to 3 in 2.1 innings of work. (Bah, even as I type it, I’m like … those are just such small numbers.) This is a ball that really could have (should have?) been caught, and Matt Shaw didn’t get particularly close:Matt Shaw still not looking comfortable in RF. Or was he trying to deke the base runner? pic.twitter.com/V7HpINF0xq
— Aldo Soto (@AldoSoto21) April 1, 2026 He was perhaps deking at the end, but that was only after the rough route – those first five-ish steps were just nowhere close to the right route. Seiya Suzuki returning is the main thing in right field, obviously, but it would still be helpful all year if Shaw can get up to average out there. Hopefully there is learning happening with experience. I did like seeing how quickly Shaw was backing up Pete Crow-Armstrong on his sliding catch attempt in the 6th inning, though. If Shaw wasn’t on his horse the whole time, that ball maybe gets to the wall. Speaking of that play, PCA is so good out there that you expect him to make that catch. I think very few outfielders would have, but it was surprising to see PCA in particular not get a glove on it. Unfortunate, as it ultimately set up the game’s only two runs. In the early going, Pete Crow-Armstrong’s already-quick bat speed is up significantly in 2026. Now, tremendous bat speed in isolation may not tell you everything about a player’s potential production, but we do know that, all else equal, if you’re a guy like PCA who is going to be letting it rip anyway, then an increase in bat speed would seem a very good thing. Something to monitor. Good friends, and maybe Ian Happ wants to get a reasonable deal done to stick around, too:Ian Happ was "emotional" seeing Nico Hoerner land a lucrative long-term deal with the Cubs.Happ: "We've seen it all here, kind of the ups and the downs. We were together through trading everybody in 2021 and rebuilding … I've seen every pitch he's seen in the big leagues." pic.twitter.com/tjJWl6AmnD
— 104.3 The Score (@thescorechicago) March 31, 2026 J.J. Cooper believes MLB has once again succeeded with a significant rule change:MLB's on-field rule changes are working, writes @jjcoop36 ✅ Pitch clock✅ Ban on infield shifts✅ NL DHs✅ Reduction in pickoffs✅ Three-batter ruleAnd the ABS challenge system is the latest example.. t.co/7auCP4z3On
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) March 31, 2026 What can you even say:Shohei Ohtani currently has:The longest active on-base streak in MLB (36 games)The longest active scoreless inning streak in MLB (22 2/3 IP) t.co/cepKg55H01
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) April 1, 2026 I’m not sure what the equivalent of this would be in other jobs, but this is one of the most egregious mistakes I’ve ever seen:CB Bucknor strikes again, this time saying the runner did not touch first base. He very clearly did pic.twitter.com/zn6k9RtLXl
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) April 1, 2026 MORE CUBS FROM BLEACHER NATION: Go Ad Free | Subscribe to the BN NewsletterHence then, the article about taillon s season debut brown s good night shaw s defense and other cubs bullets was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Taillon’s Season Debut, Brown’s Good Night, Shaw’s Defense, and Other Cubs Bullets )
Also on site :