The Chicago Cubs are officially heating up at the perfect time. After a sluggish start to the 2026 season, the North Siders have found their rhythm and now sit atop the National League Central—baseball's most competitive division, where every team still boasts a winning record.
What's driving this resurgence? A balanced attack that's clicking on all cylinders. The Cubs' offense ranks fourth in the majors in team batting average, while their pitching staff has been equally impressive, posting a 1.19 WHIP—the third-lowest in baseball. That's the kind of formula that turns early-season doubts into October dreams.
The schedule won't let them rest, though. Chicago faces a grueling week ahead, starting with a four-game set against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday, followed by a three-game weekend series with the Texas Rangers. But if last week was any indication, they're ready for the challenge.
The Cubs took two of three from the San Diego Padres before sweeping the Arizona Diamondbacks in a clean three-game series. The offense was on fire, with every regular starter beginning to hit their stride. Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller took notice, bumping Chicago from No. 6 to No. 3 in his latest power rankings.
"The Cubs have won 15 of their last 18," Miller noted. "It's a stretch in which all 10 of the regulars in the lineup have hit better than .250, including both Pete Crow-Armstrong and Michael Busch, who have woken up a bit from their sluggish starts."
That's huge for Chicago. When your young stars like PCA and Busch start producing after cold spells, the lineup becomes that much tougher to navigate. Add in the consistent production from Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ, and you've got a lineup that can hang with anyone.
The big question mark remains Justin Steele, who recently suffered a setback in his rehab from UCL surgery. If the Cubs can get their ace back on track, this team has all the pieces to make a serious postseason push come October. For now, they're proving that slow starts don't define a season—and that's exactly the kind of momentum any fan wants to see.