The Rundown: Cubs’ Streak Ends in Texas, Peralta Reportedly Available, Bobby Cox Passes Away, Happy Mother’s Day

“I wake up to the sound of music, Mother Mary comes to me. Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.” – Let It Be by The Beatles (dedicated to my grandmother, Mary Flatley).

It’s Mother’s Day, and for the Cubs, it’s time to start another 10-game winning streak. The Rangers stopped our heroes dead in their tracks with a 6-0 win in Arlington last night. As odd as it was to see Chicago lose, it was more confounding to watch Jack Leiter and a couple of relievers completely shut them down. The Cubs managed just four hits and couldn’t take advantage of five free passes from Leiter. Maybe they were too focused on scheduling flower deliveries and making dinner reservations with their wives and/or mothers.

That said, the loss presents a new opportunity to go on another heater. The Cubs have been unable to muster much separation in the NL Central despite winning 20 of 24 games. Their lead sits at 3.5 games over the Cardinals, with the Brewers (-4.5), Pirates (-5), and Reds (-6) right behind, so there’s no letting up. All of the teams are playing above .500 and each has at least 20 wins, something no other division can claim. The Cubs are tied with the Braves for the best record in baseball, and they’ll meet for a three-game set in Atlanta starting Tuesday.

In the meantime, here’s to all the moms who stop by to read, and to all the mothers in your lives, whether they be wives, sisters, or daughters. And heck, if you’ve yet to pick up flowers, you can even get them at your local Home Depot. We’re going to Maxie’s Southern Comfort today, and I’m looking forward to warm cornbread and Amish fried chicken with maple-glazed collard greens.

Cubs News & Notes

• Michael Conforto stayed hot, but the rest of Chicago’s bats were ice cold in yesterday’s loss.
• The Cubs’ hot start has been a long time coming ($) for outfielder Ian Happ, according to Patrick Mooney of The Athletic.
• A proposed trade that would send Jaxon Wiggins to the Mets for Freddy Peralta seems to be a bit of a steep price to pay for a guy on an expiring contract. Mets bloggers have an insane desire to tax the Cubs for the mistake New York made in trading Pete Crow-Armstrong for Javier Báez.
• Reliever Hunter Harvey was shut down for at least four more weeks with a stress reaction near his triceps muscle.
• Ethan Roberts was reinstated from the IL on Friday, and Gavin Hollowell was optioned as the corresponding roster move.
• Alex Bregman has underperformed so far this year, but manager Craig Counsell is not concerned.
• The Cubs are the sixth team with a gap of 3 or fewer games between two distinct 10+ game winning streaks within a season, per Sarah Langs.

Ball Four

It’s okay to marry today’s special day with baseball. Who remembers Ladies’ Day every Friday at Wrigley Field? That’s how you raise new generations of Cubs fans.

Happy Mothers Day to all the Moms who raised their children Cubs Fans!!

The best fans in all of sports!!! pic.twitter.com/oO87Vh5CST

— Under Construction (@club400baseball) May 10, 2026

Central Intelligence

• Chicago (27-13): The Cubs are more interested in Peralta than you may believe. The Mets traded shortstop Jett Williams, the 66th-best prospect in baseball entering 2026, and righty Brandon Sproat to the Brewers for Peralta and righty Tobias Myers this past offseason. The Cubs won’t have to give up that much, so what might a trade look like? A package of Jefferson Rojas and a low-level outfield or pitching prospect should get it done. That depends on what other teams offer the Mets, of course. Fans should feel confident that Hoyer will swing a trade for Peralta.
• St. Louis (23-16): The Cardinals are still rebuilding despite the team’s quick start. The St. Louis front office could move as many as six players at this year’s deadline, including Lars Nootbaar. JoJo Romero and Ryne Stanek are also likely trade candidates.
• Milwaukee (21-16): The Brewers placed outfielder Brandon Lockridge on the IL with a right knee contusion. Lockridge hurt himself at AmFam Field when his knee hit the concrete on the bottom section of the outfield wall, just below the padding.
• Pittsburgh (22-18): Outfielder Marcell Ozuna stunned his teammates by recounting each of the 300 career home runs he has hit.
• Cincinnati (21-19): An eight-game skid has the Reds’ front office looking ahead to the trade deadline. High-value targets include power hitter Nathaniel Lowe, starter Brady Singer, and third baseman Eugenio Suárez. Injured closer Emilio Pagán is also reportedly on the block.

How About That!

Beloved former Braves manager Bobby Cox passed away on Saturday. He was 84 years old.

Braves legends, including John Smoltz, Chipper Jones, and Tom Glavine, reflected on Cox’s influence.

The American League standings look…so weird.

The Yankees have reinstated starter Carlos Rodón from the injured list.

Bo Bichette doesn’t appear to be enjoying his time in New York and could opt out of his contract with the Mets after this season.

The Guardians acquired catcher Patrick Bailey from the Giants. The two-time Gold Glove winner was traded for LHP Matt Wilkinson and a 2026 competitive balance pick.

Apropos of Nothing

Anna Jarvis conceived Mother’s Day in 1908 to honor her late mother. She later came to regret the commercialization of the holiday, holding boycotts and protesting the loss of the original sentiment. Jarvis would bear witness to a projected $38 billion in spending this weekend were she alive today.

Near the end of her life, Jarvis vigorously (but unsuccessfully) campaigned for the legal cancellation of Mother’s Day in the United States.

Sunday Six-Pack

Sunday is music day in the Canter household, and here’s what I am listening to today:

1. The Complete Stax-Volt Singles, 1958-69
2. Eric Clapton’s 461 Ocean Boulevard
3. The Nightfly by David Fagen
4. Blue Moon Swamp by John Fogerty
5. The Skiffle Sessions featuring Van Morrison, Lonnie Donegan, and Chris Barber
6. Tracking Buffalo Through the Bathtub by The Big Wu

I’ll have today’s Cubs game on the television, but with the sound silenced.

Extra Innings

Raise a glass in her honor or give her a hug.

Celebrating all the incredible moms today 🫶 pic.twitter.com/7Nk8n1BXuQ

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) May 10, 2026

They Said It

• “One of Ian’s superpowers is his consistency. That’s not exciting to anybody, usually, but the way that Major League Baseball works, you get a lot from that. It’s really hard when you’re playing every day for six months to show up as the same person, as the same competitor, with the same energy level, with the same effort. It’s difficult, and Ian does a fabulous job with it.” – Counsell
• “162 is a beast. We go into spring training, all of us trying to make perfect lineups and rotations and all that. But, unfortunately, it is never that simple. It takes a whole lot more than the starting nine.” – Nico Hoerner

Sunday Walk-Off Song

Being a mom is a near-superhuman feat, so please make sure you appreciate the very reason you exist today.