2026 Cubs Heroes and Goats: Game 30

All in all, a very nice road win. The Cubs have now played 12 straight games with the last five of those being on the west coast against two of the three best teams in the NL to date, and they are 9-3. The Cubs have one to go, then an off day before some home games. It won’t get a ton easier, but Fangraphs at least preliminarily gives the Cubs a slight (or better) edge in every one of those seven games on the next homestand. After the off day, the Cubs have 10 straight scheduled for a total of 23 games in 24 days. It’s going to be wild when this team reaches the end of May and the easiest teams it has faced will have been the Phillies and Mets. Changing of the guard.

Three Positives:

• PCA’s big night. A walk, a three-run homer and two runs scored.
• Seiya Suzuki had two hits and a walk. He scored a run. He remains scorching hot.
• Hoby Milner four up four down.

Game 30, April 28: Cubs 8, Padres 3 (18-12)

THREE HEROES:

• Superhero: Dansby Swanson (.194). 1-1, 2 RBI
• Hero:Nico Hoerner (.175). 1-5, 2 RBI
• Sidekick: Pete Crow-Armstrong (.142). 1-4, HR, BB, 3 RBI, 2 R

THREE GOATS:

• Billy Goat:Matt Shaw (-.158). 0-4
• Goat: Edward Cabrera (-.075). 5.2 IP, 25 BF, 6 H, BB, 3 ER, 7 K, HBP (W 2-0)
• Kid: Moisés Ballesteros (-.075). 0-4, BB

WPA Play of the Game: With two outs in the sixth inning, Nico Hoerner batted with runners on second and third and the game tied at two. Nico doubled, driving in two runs. (.269)

*Padres Play of the Game: Luis Campusano batted with runners on first and second and two outs and the Padres down two. He singled, driving in a run and sending the other runner to third. (.148)

Cubs Player of the Game:

Game 29 Winner: Moisés Ballesteros received 129 of 137 votes.

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 +9.5
• Michael Conforto +7
• Moisés Ballesteros +6
• Jacob Webb/Pete Crow-Armstrong -9
• Matt Shaw -10

**Current Win Pace:**97.2

Up Next: At 3:10 p.m. CT, the third and final game in San Diego. Jameson Taillon (1-1, 4.55, 27.2 IP) gets his sixth start of the season. Last time out he started in Los Angeles and didn’t go so well. He allowed four runs on four hits and three walks in five innings. As is somewhat usual for a back of the rotation guy, he’s been up and down. He had a strong start, then a decent one, then a rough one, then a good one, then a rough one. So we can hope he’ll bounce back again.

29-year-old Matt Waldron (0-1, 12.46, 8.2 IP) makes his third start of the year for the Padres. Matt was an 18th round pick of the Indians in 2019 (550th overall). He allowed six runs on eight hits and three walks over five innings in his last start at Colorado. For his career, he is 8-16 with a 5.19 ERA in 38 appearances (35 starts). He’s never faced the Cubs in his career.

Hopefully the offense can keep rolling against Waldron and Taillon can keep them in the game. That just might get the Cubs one more win on this trip.

Go Cubs.