Mar 29, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs left fielder Ian Happ (8) celebrates with third baseman Alex Bregman (3) and supervisor Craig Counsell (11) after he homers through the fourth inning in opposition to the Washington Nationals at Wrigley Area. Obligatory Credit score: Matt Marton-Imagn Photographs Chicago Cubs left fielder Ian Happ carries a three-game dwelling run streak into Tuesday’s dwelling recreation in opposition to the slumping Los Angeles Angels.
Whereas the Cubs respect the facility surge, in addition they are inspired by one other attribute they hope to maintain: Endurance on the plate.
A 7-2 victory in opposition to the Angels within the collection opener Monday noticed the Cubs take seven walks. In the meantime, seven members of the beginning lineup had hits.
“General, we acquired rallies began by getting on base and drawing walks, completely,” Chicago supervisor Craig Counsell stated. “And that is one thing that we will do, we will must do, we ought to be good at doing.”
Losers of three straight, the Angels will attempt to sluggish the Cubs’ assault behind their handiest starter within the early season.
Proper-hander Jose Soriano (1-0, 0.00 ERA) will intention to ship his second dominant outing in as many tries as he will get the decision for Los Angeles.
Making his first profession Opening Day begin final Thursday, Soriano steered visiting Los Angeles to a 3-0 shutout of the Houston Astros. He spaced two hits, 4 walks and 7 strikeouts in six innings whereas serving to the Angels to their first season-opening shutout since 2012.
“(Soriano) was being aggressive,” Los Angeles supervisor Kurt Suzuki stated. “He was attacking the zone. He was executing his offspeed pitches, retaining them off stability.”
Suzuki, a former main league catcher, added that Angels backstop Logan O’Hoppe “did an exceptional job with Sori and all of the pitchers, retaining the hitters off stability.”
Soriano stated he thought “all my pitches had been working and my command was there” on Thursday. He’ll attempt to channel it once more to select up his first victory in opposition to the Cubs. Soriano is 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA in three profession appearances versus Chicago, together with one begin, with six strikeouts in seven innings.
The Cubs out-hit the Angels 9-5 on Monday. Dansby Swanson had two hits and an RBI whereas Carson Kelly and Moises Ballesteros contributed two-run singles to go together with Happ’s dwelling run in opposition to Angels starter Ryan Johnson.
Johnson yielded six earned runs in 3 1/3 innings, persevering with a troubling pattern for the rotation. Los Angeles beginning pitching has allowed 16 earned runs in 16 1/3 innings over 4 begins since Soriano’s gem on Opening Day.
Righty Jameson Taillon is about to start out for Chicago. Taillon navigated calf and groin accidents final season and was restricted to 23 begins, his fewest in his three seasons with the Cubs. Nonetheless, the veteran earned double-digit victories for the second straight marketing campaign, going 11-7 with a 3.68 ERA.
Taillon endured a tough spring coaching, surrendering 10 dwelling runs in 13 1/3 innings round representing Workforce Canada within the World Baseball Traditional. He admitted late within the spring that, “I’ve tinkered a little bit bit and messed myself up” however vowed he would repair any points by his first flip within the rotation.
“I really feel like as soon as the season will get going, I do know what I can do,” Taillon stated. “I do know I can work my manner by a lineup and execute pitches.”
Taillon is 3-2 with a 5.64 ERA in six profession begins in opposition to the Angels.
–Area Stage Media
