The Chicago Cubs wrapped up their West Coast road trip in style, grinding out a hard-fought 5-4 victory over the San Diego Padres in Game 31 of the 2026 season. It wasn't always pretty, but this team is proving that resilience is their middle name.
Let's be honest: the injury bug has been relentless this year. In 2025, the Cubs were relatively healthy—a fact that's easy to forget. Justin Steele, Kyle Tucker, and Cade Horton all missed significant time, and Javier Assad was sidelined for most of the season. But in 2026, the injured list has become a revolving door. At no point last year did the Cubs have this many players on the IL at once. Losing two potential rotation cornerstones like Steele and Horton could be devastating for any team. Yet, despite these setbacks and a host of relievers also going down, the Cubs have once again emerged as one of baseball's early-season powerhouses.
Wednesday's game was a rollercoaster. Jameson Taillon was nothing short of dominant through six innings, pitching seven total and looking like an ace. He started with five perfect innings, but baseball is a game of momentum shifts. A homer-walk-homer sequence saw a three-run lead vanish in the blink of an eye. Then came Corbin Martin, who had been terrific for the Cubs this season but was thrust into his first high-leverage situation. He struggled with command, walking the bases loaded before being pulled. In short, the pitching was uneven. But on this day, seven good innings were enough.
Why? Because this Cubs offense is relentless. They now lead all of Major League Baseball in on-base percentage, have drawn the most walks, and rank third in total hits and fourth in slugging percentage. A stat flashed on the broadcast told the story: the Cubs have more plate appearances with runners on base than any other team in the league. That kind of pressure wears down opponents, and it's the reason this team keeps finding ways to win.
As the Cubs head home from their West Coast swing, they carry the confidence of a team that refuses to let injuries or adversity define them. In a season where every game matters, this squad is showing that grit and a relentless approach at the plate can overcome just about anything.