AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

The Rundown: Cubs Take 2 from Star-Studded Dodgers, Padres Next, PCA Tables Extension Talks

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterApril 14, 2025

“You should never argue with a crazy mind (mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-), you oughta know by now (you oughta know by now)…” – Movin’ Out by Billy Joel

I’m moving this week, so my posts will be shorter and slightly truncated (read: missing sections), but they won’t suffer due to a lack of verbiage. Expect a lot of bullet points because that’s what busy writers do. We cool?

  • The Cubs took two of three from the Dodgers, including a 16-0 whitewashing on Saturday night. I’d love to think Rōki Sasaki chose Los Angeles because he had little faith in Chicago’s bullpen, revenge being a cold whatever. The Cubs have a problem with middle relief, but their backend has been as tough as nails when required, including setup man Porter Hodge, who earned Beast of the Week for his performance. Then there’s Ben (The Wreck of the) Casparius, and I make no apologies for the Chris Bermanism after his Saturday evening implosion.
  • Los Angeles has a 58.3% chance of making the playoffs according to Baseball-Reference, while Chicago’s chances sit at 96.2% this morning. Do what you may with that information.
  • The Padres are up next for the Cubs, starting with the series-opening tilt tonight. San Diego is 13-3, but feel free to peel back that curtain: Two of those three losses came against the Cubs in a series Chicago’s North Side Baseballers should have swept. The Friars have won 12 of 13 from the Athletics, Rockies, Guardians, and woefully underperforming Braves.
  • Justin Steele is done for the year, but that’s not as bad as you might think. Matthew Boyd has been the best fourth starter in baseball, Shōta Imanaga performs like an ace, and Javier Assad is on the mend. Cade Horton has been fantastic at Iowa and the trade market for starters will be robust. The Cubs could look to the Twins for help, but I don’t think a solid match exists. Framber Valdez will cost Jed Hoyer two top-15 prospects or something similar, so send the Astros Kevin Alcántara (or Owen Caissie) and Jordan Wicks. Hoyer can make that deal if he can extend Kyle Tucker, but do it now because Valdez will cost more at the deadline, as will Dylan Cease.
  • Speaking of Tucker, the source of the latest rumor is credible but not nearly accurate enough to bank on an extension. Proceed with caution. Tucker loves playing for the Cubs, but asking him to forego free agency will be very expensive.
  • Pete Crow-Armstrong hit two homers and a triple last night, playing in front of his mom and dad. He and the Cubs had been talking about a possible extension that would have maxed out at $75 million, but the center fielder tabled those conversations, at least for now.
  • PCA is said to be intrigued by the thought of a possible extension.
  • Finally, first place feels good, yes? The pitching matchups in San Diego don’t favor either team, but I’ll take Chicago’s offense over San Diego’s. The Cubs are averaging 6.4 runs per game, nearly two runs better than the Padres. Matt Shaw has been the weakest link, but Craig Counsell can give him a long leash if the rest of his lineup keeps producing.

Odds & Sods

Chicago’s farm system is much stronger if Cristian Hernández has finally found his stroke. The comparisons to Álex Rodríguez were absurd, but he’s still a good player. His skills haven’t disappeared, and he may meet his initial projections after all.

Central Intelligence

How About That!

David Schoenfield of ESPN created a watchability index, and the Cubs are ranked fourth in all of baseball despite a lack of star power. That’s probably music to the ears of Tom Ricketts.

1966 NL Rookie of the Year and former Reds great Tommy Helms passed away this weekend. He was 83.

Orioles’ third base prospect Coby Mayo reached base nine consecutive times over the weekend.

The Padres have shut out their opponents five times this season. The Cubs scored 17 runs in their three games against San Diego two weeks ago, in case you were wondering.

Braves ace Spencer Strider is expected to make his season debut on Wednesday evening. Atlanta is 4-11, has yet to win a series, and Chris Sale has been very hittable.

Aaron Judge was named the USA team captain for next year’s World Baseball Classic.

Garrett Crochet took a no-hitter into the 8th inning in his start against the White Sox on Sunday but lost his bid to Chase Meidroth. The two were traded for each other as part of last winter’s blockbuster deal.

Sunday’s Three Stars

  1. PCA – Let’s just bring his folks to every game, okay?
  2. Jung Hoo Lee – The Giants’ budding star hit two homers and plated four runners on a 2-for-3 afternoon.
  3. Matt Mervis – The ex-Cub is making the most of his shot with the Marlins. Mash hit his fifth tater of the season in yesterday’s 11-4 win over the Nationals.

Extra Innings

Michael Busch has destroyed the Dodgers since the Cubs acquired him. He’s hitting .423 in six games against his former team, with three homers, eight RBI, and an impressive 1.368 OPS.

They Said It

  • “You don’t replace [pitchers] like Justin. The next guy has to step up. But it’s very difficult to replace that level of play, so you hope you have [the] options to do so. And we think we do. Those guys are going to get the next shot.” – Counsell
  • “The communication’s been great throughout all levels of this conversation. But there’s been a general understanding and a consensus that we’re not going to let it be a distraction [all season] because I’m here to play baseball.” – Crow-Armstrong

Monday Walk-Up Song

I’m calling it now: The Mets and Cubs will play in this year’s NLCS. The loss of Steele hurts, but Chicago’s offense is relentless.

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterApril 14, 2025
Cubs Insider © Copyright 2025, All Rights Reserved