The Rundown: Cubs Sweep Reds, Imanaga Emerges as Team’s Ace, Happy Birthday Baseball America

“On we sweep with threshing oar. Our only goal will be the western shore.” – Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin

Try to listen to today’s opening song in lossless format. See what I did there?

No preamble today, and I apologize. I have to pick up my new car and then go sign permanent guardianship papers with a roomful of attorneys. Fun stuff!

So how about a video of Michael Conforto going yard instead?

Michael Conforto takes a trip to the Wrigley bleachers 💥 pic.twitter.com/foWd7FYlzK

— MLB (@MLB) May 7, 2026

Conforto is hitting .361 with a 1.133 OPS this season, and he’s also pacing the Cubs with an OPS+ of 226. Please don’t give me any of that small-sample-size BS, either.

In lieu of today’s extracurriculars, I will do either a Saturday or Sunday Rundown this weekend, and possibly both, because life is just so damn good for Cubs fans these days. Let’s keep the streak going in Texas!

A hearty toast to all who brought their brooms to Wrigley Field yesterday!

Cubs News & Notes

• A deep, balanced lineup and a strong bench are the keys to Chicago’s recent success.
• The Cubs have a near 90% chance of making the playoffs thanks to their recent hot streak.
• It has been 91 years since the Cubs last won 15 straight games at Wrigley Field.
• Shōta Imanaga is looking every bit the ace he is capable of being ($), and per Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic, it was simply a matter of being less predictable in the strike zone.
• The Cubs chose not to extend Ian Happ, at least so far, but his endless consistency will get him paid this winter.
• Chicago’s historic streak has coincided with three lineup changes: Moisés Ballesteros is officially the team’s two-hole hitter against right-handers; Craig Counsell is no longer platooning Michael Busch; and Pete Crow-Armstrong has been pushed down from cleanup to eighth or ninth in the order, depending on the pitching matchup.
• The Cubs acquired RHP Tyler Ferguson from the A’s for cash.
• ESPN named the Cubs as one of six teams capable of toppling the Dodgers this year.
• The Cubs are the No. 2 team, trailing only the Yankees, in the latest power rankings from the NY Post.
• Ben Brown will get the start against the Rangers in Texas tonight. He’ll be opposed by Kumar Rocker.

Ball Four

“We promise this is not any type of preparedness training for the ongoing global conflict.”

Members of the 1917 Cleveland Indians do close-order drilling. Most teams used bats in place of rifles, but here the players are using actual rifles. pic.twitter.com/vAAb7iYvC6

— BaseballHistoryNut (@nut_history) April 30, 2026

Central Intelligence

• Chicago (26-12): The Cubs, Yankees, and Braves are all on a pace to win 110 games this season.
• St. Louis (22-15): The Cardinals are getting a lot of respect among national analysts, but most of them have existing ties to the St. Louis organization. I still have my doubts that they’ll finish above .500, so let’s not get carried away. Their current Pythagorean record is 19-19.
• Pittsburgh (21-17): The Pirates aren’t getting any production from their catchers, and may try to swing a trade for an established backstop this summer. Pittsburgh is expected to be very aggressive at this year’s deadline.
• Milwaukee (19-16): The Brewers have one of the best farm systems in baseball, and Jesús Made could be the game’s top prospect before summer ends.
• Cincinnati (20-18): Shortstop Elly De La Cruz is quickly developing into a five-tool superstar for the Reds.

How About That!

Major League Baseball, its clubs, and MLB Together partners are showcasing their efforts this Mother’s Day to honor moms and raise awareness for breast cancer nationwide. This year’s efforts will also include a special Mother’s Day video produced by the MLB Network.

Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams is expected to be this summer’s number one trade chip.

Jasson Domínguez is entering concussion protocol, so the Yankees are recalling prospect Spencer Jones.

Bryce Harper promised he’d go back to playing elite baseball, and he’s delivered so far.

Apropos of Nothing

Allan Simpson founded Baseball America 45 years ago this month, laying the foundation for prospect coverage as we know it today. Prospecting has always been hit or miss, but BA has earned a reputation for being as close to accurate as any scouting site. Baseball America was also one of the first to incorporate modern-day analytics into their individual and team reports.

Son of Apropos

I’m picking up the new car today, but I’m a little miffed I have to put $4,200 down. I’ve never been required to put cash down on a loan, and that kicker will lower my payments by a mere $37.50. I need to win the Powerball this weekend or start begging for money on the interchange exit.

Place a number between 1 and 69 in the comments section and I’ll add it to my pick six, or send me a 24×16 piece of cardboard, a Sharpie, and a cool slogan.

Three from the Bill Chuck Files

1. Aaron Judge has 91 1st-inning home runs, third in Yankees history behind Mickey Mantle (103) and Babe Ruth (126).
2. Judge recently passed Albert Belle and tied Jim Rice, Ryan Howard, and Frank Howard for 71^st place on the all-time HR list, with 382.
3. Two former Cubs managers have lost 12 or more consecutive games since the start of the 2020 season. That would be David Ross in 2021 and Joe Maddon in 2022 (with the Angels). Former Cubs coach Brandon Hyde lost 12 straight with the Orioles in 20221.

Extra Innings

In other words, this streak is historic. The Cubs will be back at Wrigley Field to play the Brewers and continue setting new benchmarks a week from Monday.

The Cubs completed a 4-game sweep of the Reds on Thursday and extended their winning streak at Wrigley Field to 15 games, the second-longest home winning streak in franchise history.

The only longer streak at the Friendly Confines came in September 1935, when Chicago won 18… pic.twitter.com/FjVXl6871X

— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) May 8, 2026

They Said It

• “[Shōta] was trained a lot in Japan to not walk people. I also love not walking people, but also don’t want them to give in 2-0 with a heater right down the middle.” – Tommy Hottovy
• “A [4 percent] walk rate is extremely low, and [hitters] know that. [They’re] much more aggressive off him in the strike zone than the majority of baseball. It’s not just about throwing less strikes. It’s also about taking advantage of the fact that teams know you command the baseball. Can we throw competitive pitches that look like strikes and then aren’t? Then teams will be a little bit more aggressive to chase.” – Hottovy
• “I’m not the type of person to believe in something that I can’t physically see. But I feel like at Wrigley, there’s this, like, power you can’t see, but you can kind of feel. With the fans and the cheering, you know the other team, they feel the pressure when they’re on the mound or up to bat. And then on the other side, when we’re up to bat or we’re pitching, you also feel that extra push and support of this power you can’t see.” – Imanaga

Friday Walk-Up Song

Gliding into a weekend clash with the Rangers like…