Chicago Cubs 2026 Preview: Are they Good Enough To Unseat the Milwaukee Brewers?

The Chicago Cubs are a good baseball team that is clearly going to sign and trade for big stars. What they need to do to unseat the Milwaukee Brewers is to sign or trade for a star pitcher. This is a 90-win team right now, but it might take 100 wins to win the Central Division.

Last season, the Chicago Cubs made it to the second round before they fell to the Brewers. They also won 92 games. That was a successful season, though probably not the kind of success the owner of the Chicago Cubs, Tom Ricketts, wanted. The team went out and signed Alex Bregman to play third base. Do you think this free agent signing will push the Cubs over the top?

Chicago Cubs 2026 Preview

Pitching

The Chicago Cubs’ starting rotation finished ninth last year in earned run average, with a 3.81, thanks to five pitchers who made 20 starts and had an earned run average less than 4.00. Matthew Boyd anchors the starting rotation for the Chicago Cubs. He pitched much better than he did in 2024 and was an All-Star at 35.

Shota Imanaga is probably the second pitcher for the Cubs, but he is coming off a second half of the season where he was injured and ineffective. Youngster Cade Horton is the third starter for the Cubs. He had an excellent rookie season last year, going 8-1 with a 1.06 earned run average in 12 starts. Edward Cabrera and former star Jamison Taillon round out the starting rotation for the Cubs. They make a good, not great, starting rotation.

In the bullpen, the closer for the Cubs is Daniel Palencia. He is a star who averaged 99.6 miles per hour on his fastball and had a 7.4% walk rate last season. He is a star, while the rest of the bullpen is a question. Phil Maton was signed to set him up. He is a soft tosser with a great curveball.

Hunter Harvey will also set him up. He throws harder and was signed by the Cubs on a one-year contract. Caleb Thielbar, Hoby Milner, and Jacob Webb provide bullpen depth.

Hitting

The hitting is better for the Chicago Cubs. They are in good shape at catcher. Carson Kelly and Miguel Amaya are a good pair. The infield is the strength of this team, with Michael Busch at first base. He had a breakout season last year with 34 home runs and 90 runs batted in. Tyler Austin provides a platoon, though he is hurt right now. At second base, Nico Hoerner will start for the fourth consecutive year. He is one of the best defenders in baseball and produced a 4.8 WAR last season.

On the left side of the infield, the Chicago Cubs are all set. Dansby Swanson is the shortstop. Swanson is coming off his first 20-20 season, both career bests. At third base, the Cubs signed Alex Bregman. He is coming off a great year for the Boston Red Sox and represented the United States at the World Baseball Classic.

While the infield is the strength of this team, the outfield is good as well. It all starts with Centerfielder Pete-Crow Armstrong. He is an elite defender. Offensively, he had a great first half of the season in 2025, but fell apart in the second half. In left field, Ian Happ is the opposite of Crow-Armstrong. He makes a few outstanding defensive plays, but makes consistent contact at the plate. Seiya Suzuki could be the right fielder, but he is hurt right now, so expect Michael Conforto to start there.

Moises Ballesteros is listed as the designated hitter now, but expect other players to get time there. Suzuki is the most likely candidate. However, others may find time there as well.

Organization and Management

Ricketts has demonstrated that he is willing to do anything, but there is always pressure on him to do more. The main need is in the bullpen. Manager Craig Counsell has made the playoffs in 6 of the last 8 years and has three years left on his contract. The President of Baseball Operations is Jed Hoyer, and the General Manager is Carter Hawkins.

Parting Shots

The Chicago Cubs are good, but probably need one more piece, most likely in the bullpen, to unseat the Milwaukee Brewers as NL Central champions. They probably need to win 100 games to do it. As it stands now, this team will win 90 games and probably make the playoffs as a wild card.