Wednesday notes…
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TEAM HISTORY INCOMING: The Cubs can make a small bit of team history with a victory today. This is the 43rd season since 1901 in which they have started 2-3 — about one of every three. It is just the fourth they have begun by alternating losses and wins (loss, win, loss, win, loss). They did not win the sixth game in the previous three, tying in 1914 and losing in 1968 and 1993. The Cubs are 26-15-1 in sixth games after a 2-3 start. They are 16-12-1 after having lost fifth games. They finished above .500 after 20 of their previous 2-3 starts, including the three before this year: 2018 (95-68), 2023 (82-79) and last year (92-70). They won pennants in 1918 and 1935, won the division title in 2008 and earned Wild Card berths in 2018 and last year. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
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SPLITSVILLE: Last season, the Cubs split the first two games of 26 three-game series. They won 13 third games and lost 13. They were 6-3 after winning and losing in the first two, including 3-3 at home.
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LEADING THE LEAGUE: Nico Hoerner’s three stolen bases puts him in a four-way tie for the MLB lead with Jake McCarthy (D-backs), David Hamilton (Brewers) and Nasim Nuñez (Nats).
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ALSO LEADING THE LEAGUE: Edward Cabrera’s 0.333 WHIP is tied for the NL lead with Michael McGreevy of the Cardinals.
The Cubs lineup was not available at posting time. Please check BCB social media for the Cubs lineup.
Angels lineup:
Matthew Boyd, LHP vs. Yusei Kikuchi, LHP
Matthew Boyd did not have a good Opening Day start. Nope, not at all.
So let’s hope he’s flushed that one and moving on.
Boyd has not faced the Angels since 2022, and that was a couple of one-inning relief appearances. The only current Angels with more than a handful of at-bats against him are Jorge Soler (6-for-22, 10 strikeouts) and Yoan Moncada (5-for-19, a home run).
Hoping for a better day today, Matthew.
Yusei Kikuchi threw 4.1 innings and allowed two runs to the Astros last Thursday in Houston.
This is his eighth year in MLB and he’s made 200 appearances and 188 starts — but tonight will be his first-ever start against the Cubs. Alex Bregman has hit him well — 7-for-20 (.350) with three doubles, two home runs and eight walks.
Here is the weather forecast for the area around Wrigley Field.
Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network.
Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.
MLB.com Gameday
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit the Angels site Crashing The Pearly Gates. If you do go there to interact with Angels fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
Discuss amongst yourselves.
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