CricketRecap
IPL 2026 | 'You die from that cramp': Ex-CSK star's remark on Krunal Pandya sparks fan outrage
Former cricketer's joke about Krunal Pandya's cramps ignites fan backlash.
Yahoo Sports1 min read
MLBRecap
2026 Cubs Heroes and Goats: Game 41
TL;DR
The Cubs have lost four of their last five games, with two shutouts over the weekend, but still maintain a top five offense in MLB. Concerns about their recent performance are present, but expectations remain high for a strong season.
Key points
- Cubs lost four of their last five games
- Two shutouts over the weekend
- Cubs have top on-base percentage in MLB
- Cubs rank fifth in slugging percentage
- Jacob deGrom is a key player for the team
Cubs
The results of these Cubs games are getting more stratified. Four of the last five losses have felt pretty lopsided. Even in that other game, the Cubs allowed nine runs. You do expect to lose nearly 100 percent of the games in which you allow nine runs. Also, the Cubs have only lost five of their last 25 games. The Cubs either feel a little overmatched, or they find a way to win the game. When those proportions are 4 to 1, you have to feel pretty good about your chances to make a very deep run in the season.
As a blogger, the way these losses are going doesn’t make a lot to talk about. This feels like a just throw it away and move on, just like Saturday’s game. The larger concern out of this, to the extent that there is one, is the offense getting stifled for two straight games. I’m not ready to worry about it. Certainly, before Sunday’s game we talked about it. When healthy, Jacob deGrom has been a borderline Hall of Fame pitcher. The only question that will ever exist with him is if the body of work is large enough to justify his inclusion.
Even with the two shutouts over the weekend, the Cubs still own the top team on base percentage in baseball. Their slugging still sits fifth. The net result has their team OPS at fourth overall. By pretty much any objective measure, they have a top five offense. The offense failed them this weekend. But I do not think this was some kind of gateway drug to a punchless offense and a lot of losses. There are more tough games ahead, but I expect the team to bounce back quickly.
Your mileage may vary, and all of our expectations are probably drifting upwards, but none of us suddenly thought this team was heading for 110ish wins.
Three Positives:
- Nico Hoerner had a single, a double and a stolen base. He should have been on Team USA. He’s a great bench player for a team like that.
- Phil Maton faced four batters, retiring them all and striking out two.
- Michael Busch had a single in three plate appearances.
Q&A
What are the recent performance trends of the Cubs in 2026?
The Cubs have lost four of their last five games, with the last two being shutouts, but they have only lost five of their last 25 games overall.
How does the Cubs' offense rank in MLB despite recent losses?
The Cubs currently have the top on-base percentage and rank fifth in slugging, resulting in a fourth overall OPS in MLB.
What is the significance of Jacob deGrom for the Cubs?
Jacob deGrom is considered a borderline Hall of Fame pitcher, and his health is crucial for the Cubs' success this season.
What are the expectations for the Cubs' season after recent struggles?
Despite recent struggles, expectations remain high for the Cubs to bounce back and potentially make a deep run in the season.