Chicago Cubs vs Athletics – Series Preview (June 2-4): Overview, Game and Broadcast Info, Starting Pitchers, W2W4
The Cubs (32-28) finished a 3-4 road trip by dropping two of three to the Cardinals to wrap up a disappointing 13-16 month of May that included a 10-game losing streak. That slump erased a lot of the ground gained during a 17-9 April, so now they try to get June off on the right foot with a three-game series against the Athletics starting Tuesday night at Wrigley Field.
The A’s (28-31) are still waylaid in Sacramento as they await the completion of their new stadium in Las Vegas. They got off to a surprisingly strong start in 2026, hanging around the .500 mark and holding first place in a very weak AL West, but they have gone cold recently by losing seven of the last 10.
The Athletics’ offense has been good the first two months of the season, with a .724 team OPS that is 9th best in baseball. Catcher Shea Langeliers is having a career year with 14 home runs and a .909 OPS. First baseman Nick Kurtz is also playing well, but it’s been a real struggle for Brent Rooker, who has a .646 OPS after busting out in 2024 and having a solid ’25 season.
Pitching has been a lot more of a struggle for the A’s, with a 4.48 team ERA that is 21st in MLB. They are currently down two of their top three starters, with Luis Severino and Aaron Civale on the injured list. The bullpen uses a closer-by-committee approach, with Hogan Harris and Luis Medina standing out as two of their most effective relievers.
The Cubs are entering possibly the softest portion of their schedule this season, as they play seven consecutive series against teams with losing records. If they are going to get back into contention, they have to take advantage of this stretch.
Game Time and Broadcast Info
- Tuesday, June 2 at 7:05pm CT on Marquee.
- Wednesday, June 3 at 7:05pm CT on Marquee.
- Thursday, June 4 at 7:05pm CT on Marquee.
Starting Pitchers
| Date | Pitcher | Age | T | ERA | W/L | FIP | K/BB |
| 6/2 | Jameson Taillon | 34 | R | 5.37 | 2-4 | 6.57 | 2.55 |
| Gage Jump | 23 | L | 7.20 | 0–1 | 2.28 | 5.00 | |
| 6/3 | Colin Rea | 35 | R | 4.70 | 5-3 | 4.56 | 2.45 |
| Jeffrey Springs | 33 | L | 4.07 | 3-6 | 4.70 | 2.85 | |
| 6/4 | Shōta Imanaga | 32 | L | 4.37 | 4-6 | 4.42 | 3.83 |
| TBA |
What to Watch For
- The A’s are starting two left-handers in the series, so expect Kevin Alcántara to be in the lineup.
- Michael Busch had six hits against the Cardinals.
- Taillon has allowed 19 home runs in 60.1 innings in 2026.
- The Cubs went winless in their last homestand.
