2026 Cubs Heroes and Goats: Game 26

Last note. If you are someone who has ridden Craig Counsell, I’d at least suggest you take a few minutes and reconsider your impression of his abilities. That guy is managing his butt off and he’s killing it. It’s early, but I’ll be surprised when the various outlets that run odds for various things start listing him as one of the favorites for Manager of the Year. Eight Cub pitchers have hit the injured list this month alone. There is no win last night without four scoreless innings from the bullpen. Down four, you were always going to be using the “B” relievers. But after the three-run seventh, you might consider an “A” reliever. After the run in the eighth, you almost certainly go to the main group. And after the two in the ninth, you absolutely run out your best guy to close it. But none of those guys are healthy right now.

Unbelievable. Go Cubs.

Three Positives:

• This is Dansby’s game. Two hits, a triple and a homer. Four runs driven in. Two runs scored. He had a hand in all but one of the runs that scored. How many teams have their ninth hitter say hop on, I got this?
• Ryan Rolison. Only a heroic effort by Dansby kept this one from being my top spot. Unbelievable performance. The second longest outing of his major league career. His previous high for scoreless outing was 2.1 innings. Only his second major league win. While that stat may be flawed, there was no fluke about that win. Good stuff.
• Among a lot of excellent choices, I’m going with Pete Crow-Armstrong, who drew a two-out walk in the seventh to extend the inning for Dansby’s two-run triple that turned into three runs. He was also on board ahead of the game-winner.

Hat tips to Nico Hoerner, Alex Bregman and Corbin Martin earning his third career save.

Game 26, April 24: Cubs 6, Dodgers 4 (17-9)

Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.

THREE HEROES:

• Superhero: Dansby Swanson (.465). 2-3, HR, 3B, HBP, 4 RBI, 2 R
• 2nd biggest WPA game of the season for the Cubs
• **Hero:**Ryan Rolison (.159). 3 IP, 10 BG, 2 H, K (W 1-0)
• Sidekick: Alex Bregman (.154). 2-5, HR, RBI, R

THREE GOATS:

• Billy Goat:Jameson Taillon (-.188). 5 IP, 21 BF, 4 H, 3 BB, 4 R, 4 K
• Goat: Seiya Suzuki (-.114). 0-4
• Kid: Carson Kelly (-.113). 0-3, BB

WPA Play of the Game: Dansby Swanson homers with a runner on first and no outs in the ninth to break a 4-4 tie. (.345)

*Dodgers Play of the Game: Will Smith batted with runners on first and second with two outs in the third and hit a three-run homer. (.276)

Cubs Player of the Game:

Game 25 Winner: A particularly rare occurrence, Michael Busch and Seiya Suzuki tied at 92 votes apiece. I have no data for it, but I think unanimous votes happen more than ties.

Rizzo Award Standings:(Top 3/Bottom 3)

The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.

• Nico Hoerner +7.5
• Michael Conforto/Shōta Imanaga +7
• Seiya Suzuki -8
• Jacob Webb -9
• Pete Crow-Armstrong -13

Current Win Pace: 105.9

Up Next: What do you do for an encore after that? This one is played at a much more reasonable hour. Game two in Los Angeles. The Cubs send Colin Rea (3-0, 3.00, 24 IP) for his third start (in addition to one bulk outing). He’s got a 20:5 strikeout to talk ratio, a 1.04 WHIP and a save for good measure. It would be hard to overstate how much he’s meant to this Cub pitching staff in his year plus here.

Roki Sasaki (0-2, 6.11, 17.2 IP) is the rare modern era Dodger signing that hasn’t worked out (yet). This is his fifth start of the year. His best outing was actually his first one of the year against Cleveland when he allowed a run on four hits and two walks over four innings. He does average nearly a strikeout per inning, but also more than a hit per inning and almost a walk per inning. His numbers simply don’t suggest a high probability of success and if the Cubs are patient, I think they’ll put some runs on the board.

Win one for? Uniform No. 11 has been worn by quite a number of people through the years. There are some great names on that list. Ron Cey was my first No. 11 that I remember. A lot of really fun Cub middle infielders have worn the number. Drew Smyly would have been wearing that number the day of his really enjoyable almost no-hitter. But given the oddity in modern baseball of the manager’s jersey being visible, I certainly did not know that Craig Counsell is currently Cub No. 11. As I think he’s as responsible as anyone for this streak, let’s go win another one for Craig.