The Chicago Cubs are starting to heat up after a bit of a slow start to the 2026 season. They are now 13-9 and sit in a three-way tie for second place in the National League Central, just 1 1/2 games back of the Cincinnati Reds.
The Cubs made some key moves in the offseason, trading for right-hander Edward Cabrera and signing slugger Alex Bregman in free agency. However, they have been hit hard with some injuries, particularly with their starting rotation.
Cade Horton is now out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery and Matthew Boyd and Justin Steele are also on the shelf.
Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report lists the North Siders as a team that already has a clear hole to fill at the trade deadline. For the Cubs, the clear need is for an impact starting pitcher.
“Statistically, starting pitching has not been an issue for the Cubs so far this season, as they rank ninth in the majors with a 3.58 ERA from the starting staff,” Reuter wrote.
“The trio of Edward Cabrera (2.38 ERA, 22.2 IP), Shota Imanaga (2.45 ERA, 22.0 IP) and Jameson Taillon (3.97 ERA, 22.2 IP) has been rock solid, but Opening Day starter Matthew Boyd is nursing a biceps strain and the Horton injury has created an early void.
“Javier Assad and Colin Rea are both quality depth options that have helped fill in the gaps, and Justin Steele is expected to make his return from elbow surgery at some point before the All-Star break. Still, one more impact starter will almost certainly be atop the team’s summer wish list.”
Cubs Will Need Impact Starter at Deadline
The trade deadline is still months away, so it is unclear who will be available and what the asking prices will be, and in truth, the Cubs do still have a lot of depth, and when Boyd and Steele come back, they will be getting some reinforcements later this season.
However, that doesn’t mean that they don’t need some help. Starting pitching is always in very high demand at the trade deadline. Even rental starting pitchers can cost a lot of prospects, so the Cubs will have to do their homework and see which starter can help them the most, while also making sure they make a good deal that doesn’t negatively impact their future.
It’s especially important because the NL Central is such a tightly packed race at the moment. In fact, every team in the division is over .500, and it’s possible that most of the teams in the division will add at the trade deadline. Getting an impact starter could set them apart from the rest of the pack and allow them to ascend to the top of the division by the end of the season.
The last place Milwaukee Brewers are 12-9 and sit only two games back of first.
How Cubs Can Survive Until Deadline
Fortunately, the Cubs do have plenty of depth in their system. As Reuter notes, they have Colin Rea and Javier Assad who are good options to fill holes in the rotation. The problem for the Cubs is the quality of starting pitching.
If they want to break through in the tight NL Central, they’ll need that type of arm. That could potentially be what gets them to the top and allows them to win their first division title since 2020. But it’s going to be crucial to find that arm for the rotation with the division being as competitive as it is.
Cubs Pitched to Make Big Deadline Splash Amid Tight NL Central Race