The Chicago Cubs last won a series on May 7. By losing last night to the A’s, they’ve already locked in another series loss. That means the earliest we could next see the Cubs win a series is June 7 against the Giants. AT LEAST a full month between series wins.
I can’t imagine that’s too common in the first three months of a season where the team goes on to be a big buyer at the deadline …
The Cubs haven’t had a lot of late leads to blow lately, so I suppose we haven’t seen them do a lot of losing like they did last night. I wouldn’t call it a team “finding a new way to lose every night,” but it does feel like the Cubs have become adept at adding a new or different gloss to the core story every time they lose. The core story? No hits in the biggest spots. The gloss? Oh, it might be a starting pitcher giving up too many homers. It might be a mistake on the bases, or a dropped ball in the field. Sometimes it’s some bad batted ball luck. Or, like last night, sometimes it’s a typically-reliable reliever failing to come through. But the core story – 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position last night, and repeatedly leaving runs out there in EASY-TO-SCORE situations – once again remained the same. Speaking of the bullpen, I won’t rip Caleb Thielbar too much. He got hit really hard, but he also came into the game with a 2.84 ERA. It happens sometimes. What matters more is that he stays healthy after coming back from the hamstring issue. His velo and spin were down a bit last night, but it could just be a one-off. Speaking of velo being down, Colin Rea was down a click across the board, which isn’t enough to be concerning, but it’s certainly something I notice and park in the back of my mind for next time out for monitoring. Setting that aside, Rea was once again his solid self. He will almost never take a game over, but he also almost never leaves the Cubs without a chance to win."We've been through adversity before and this is just another bump in the road for us."Colin Rea on the Cubs' struggles. pic.twitter.com/vZRtR8Rmms
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) June 4, 2026 Dansby Swanson, who’d been pinch-hit for the night before, actually moved up in the batting order last night, presumably a match-up-related decision and/or an attempt to shake something lose. But Craig Counsell isn’t ruling out a period of time where the Cubs might sit the veteran (Sun-Times): “You certainly consider all those things, and you think about them [and whether it’s] the right time and if it’s necessary. All those things, you think about.” He later also said, “This isn’t going to continue for Dansby. He’s going to be better. We’re just at a moment in time right now. I don’t think [pinch hitting for him is] going to happen very often. He’s going to be better.” Not every team has the luxury of being able to move a very good defender in Nico Hoerner over to shortstop, and then have a top prospect like Pedro Ramirez play second base (and Matt Shaw is due back in a few days, too). Watching live, I felt like Michael Busch woulda been meat at the plate if Quintin Berry had sent him for an attempted inside-the-parker. And, with fewer than two outs, I also understood not taking a crazy risk. But given the way the game played out, and given how rare and fun inside-the-parkers are, my hindsight bias says … shoulda sent him.MICHAEL BUSCH RBI TRIPLE! pic.twitter.com/1cFIhm2Mc1
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) June 4, 2026 Extremely narrow stat, but a dong punch nevertheless:From last night, FWIW, the Cubs are the first team in MLB history to win at least 15 in a row at home and then lose their next 8 in row at home. Unfriendly Confines these days.
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) June 4, 2026 Last night put quite the damper on a big moment for Ian Happ:"That's what makes it so special, just being with this team for as long as I have, wearing this uniform … The fans have given me so much here, that's the most special part. Every day they're here, they're supportive."Ian Happ reflects on his 1000th career hit and his career… pic.twitter.com/enZZPUEJU5
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) June 4, 2026 Javier Assad started for the I-Cubs yesterday, but went just one inning (6 pitches). It wasn’t necessarily an injury situation, though, because Tommy Birch hinted before the game that Assad might be going only one inning. No idea what the plan is here, but it would be fair to surmise that, with both Edward Cabrera and Matthew Boyd returning soon, the Cubs might want to make sure Assad is still good to go when it comes to bouncing back and forth between starting and relieving. I’d be ready to see him back up with the big league team, myself. I wonder, in fact, if some of the thinking is that Cabrera and Boyd might be kept a little shorter in their initial outings, so the Cubs want Assad back in the bullpen in the coming days for a little length protection? A dispute about territorial broadcasting rights in college basketball means that a Duke-Michigan game in the fall will be played … at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida. A college basketball game at the home of the Marlins. Wild. Corbin Burnes suffered a teres major strain as he rehabbed from Tommy John, so his ability to return this season to the Diamondbacks is now an open question. If he comes back at all, it sounds like it would be September. A very sad and ugly situation is developing with Ryne Sandberg’s estate, as the Sun-Times reports. Sandberg’s children from his first marriage have sued his widow, alleging that she tried to shift control of his trust shortly before he passed, in violation of his wishes. MORE CUBS FROM BLEACHER NATION: Go Ad Free | Subscribe to the BN NewsletterHence then, the article about variations on a theme thielbar rea swanson happ assad 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.
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