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  "path": "/cubs/2026/04/03/cubs-offense-not-good-enough-in-loss-to-guardians",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-04T00:26:07.840Z",
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  "textContent": "<p>CLEVELAND — Something was off with the Cubs on Friday.</p><p>Aside from <b>Cade Horton</b>’s injury status being up in the air, the team looked discombobulated, particularly in the seventh.</p><p>Reliever <b>Hunter Harvey</b> needed 30 pitches to get through ⅔ of an inning, allowing three runs on two hits with a walk and no strikeouts. Right-hander <b>Jacob Webb</b> relieved Harvey and needed 12 pitches to get the final out.</p><p>Aside from the runs, the team unraveled in the seventh. There was the fielding error by center fielder <b>Pete Crow-Armstrong</b> that allowed Guardians All-Star <b>Jose Ramirez</b> to advance to second after his line-drive single. Second baseman <b>Nico Hoerner</b> also bobbled a routine ground ball before getting the out at first to end the inning.</p><p>Though Horton's injury loomed over the game, the Cubs still weren’t good enough in Friday’s 4-1 loss to the Guardians.</p><p>“Offensively, that just wasn't enough today,” manager <b>Craig Counsell</b> said. “We didn't create traffic, really. We created one inning of good scoring [opportunities] and didn't cash in on it, but not enough offensively.”</p><p>The Cubs were 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position.</p><p>After <b>Miguel Amaya</b>’s RBI double in the third inning, the Cubs totaled just 2 hits the rest of the game. The offense failed to put much pressure on Guardians left-hander <b>Joey Cantillo</b>, who cruised throughout Friday’s game, controlling the Cubs’ lineup.</p><p>Cantillo was good at “playing the front and back game” with his velocity. He generated most of his whiffs (six of 10) with his changeup that flummoxed the Cubs’ lineup.</p><p>“His changeup is just kind of a floating changeup, but [it] just feels like it never gets there,” Counsell said. “So you either get it off the end or you get beat by a fastball.”</p><h3><b>ABS one-week review</b></h3><p>The implementation of the Automated Ball-Strike System was going to take some time for teams to adjust to. Though many focus on the number of calls that umpires get wrong, Counsell is looking at it from a different perspective.</p><p>“We've had some games already where it's like, ‘Man, that umpire was unbelievable,’” Counsell said. “And I wish that would actually get highlighted a little more in this new system. We should highlight how good some of the umpires are, which we don't, but we should.</p><p>“I mean, the first day of the Angels series, the umpire was brilliant; he was incredible. [He saw] 270 pitches [and] he missed, like, two of them.\"</p><p>Entering Friday, catcher <b>Carson Kelly</b> had challenged four calls behind the plate, winning three and losing one. He’s gained two strikes and eliminated a walk through six games.</p><p>But Counsell is holding off on judging ABS until after three weeks, which he feels is an appropriate amount of time to assess the system. He wants to see more information about it proliferate through more video and data.</p><h3><b>Suzuki rehab assignment</b></h3><h3></h3><p>Right fielder <b>Seiya Suzuki </b>began his rehab assignment at Double-A Knoxville on Friday. Suzuki is recovering from a PCL strain that he suffered playing for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic.</p><p>The plan is for him to play five innings in right field, and Suzuki could return on the Cubs' six-game road trip if the knee is feeling good after a couple of games.</p><p></p><bsp-listcarousel class=\"PageListE\" data-module data-column-count=3 data-hide-authors=\"true\" data-hide-categories=\"true\" data-hide-dates=\"true\" data-hide-descriptions=\"true\" data-show-loadmore=\"true\" ><a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"list-c90005\" name=\"list-c90005\"></a><div class=\"PageList-header\" > <div class=\"PageList-header-title-wrap\" > <div class=\"PageList-header-title\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs\" target=\"{borderColor=#dfdfdf, pageNumber=1, titleUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs, inverseColors=false, footerBgColor=#000000, title=Latest on the Cubs, bodyFont=font-3, showListNumbers=false, imagePositionHorizontal=null, rteBodyFont=font-3, 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publishDate=April 03, 2026 04:20 PM, isFeatured=false, anchorId=promo-020000, target=null, category=[{items=[Cubs]}], primaryMediaType=null, authors=[{bio=[{items=[Kyle Williams covers sports for the Chicago Sun-Times.]}], media=[{narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/29/f8/02a66e2347d6b4cd2b2fa0d55b68/kylewilliams-121124-6.JPG, width=6000, height=4000}, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/29/f8/02a66e2347d6b4cd2b2fa0d55b68/kylewilliams-121124-6.JPG, width=6000, height=4000}, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, alt=KYLEWILLIAMS-121124-6.JPG}], ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/author/byline/AuthorByline.hbs, name=[{items=[Kyle Williams]}], jobTitle=[{items=[Sports reporter, Report for America]}], authorPageUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/kyle-williams}], wordCount=469, timestamp=1775251200000, ampLink=null, audio=[], audioDuration=null, description=[{items=[Horton called for the trainers in the second inning against the Guardians after walking the first batter he faced and throwing two pitches to Bo Naylor. ]}], url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/04/03/cubs-right-hander-cade-horton-exits-fridays-start-against-guardians-with-injury, _template=/page/promo/PagePromo.hbs}, {type=Image, categoryUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs, media=[{ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/08/04/b1aaf84b40369b7b39ac655b16e9/cubsfans-110516-40.JPG, width=2805, height=1870}, alt=Fans celebrate at the Chicago Cubs World Series rally in Grant Park, Friday morning, Nov. 4, 2016. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/08/04/b1aaf84b40369b7b39ac655b16e9/cubsfans-110516-40.JPG, width=2805, height=1870}}], _styledTemplate=null, title=10 years after: How Cubs went from lovable losers to 2016 World Series champions, imageAlignment=null, timestamp=1775210400000, publishDate=April 03, 2026 05:00 AM, category=[{items=[Cubs]}], target=null, primaryMediaType=null, wordCount=7062, isFeatured=true, ampLink=null, authors=[{authorPageUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/steve-greenberg, jobTitle=[{items=[Reporter/columnist, sports]}], ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, bio=[{items=[Steve Greenberg is a sports columnist at the Chicago Sun-Times.]}], media=[{ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, alt=258097893_10227367806079844_1724022405929237952_n.jpg, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/11/58/fc94fb4e49bebd891825a398c8d4/258097893-10227367806079844-1724022405929237952-n.jpg, width=750, height=750}, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/11/58/fc94fb4e49bebd891825a398c8d4/258097893-10227367806079844-1724022405929237952-n.jpg, width=750, height=750}}], _template=/author/byline/AuthorByline.hbs, name=[{items=[Steve Greenberg]}]}], description=[{items=[With a trip back to Cleveland this weekend, we look at a 2016 team that had mostly smooth sailing to the postseason, then rallied time after time to finally win it all.]}], audio=[], audioDuration=null, _template=/page/promo/PagePromo.hbs, anchorId=promo-030000, url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/chicago-cubs-world-series-2016-team-story-10-years-later}, {type=Image, category=[{items=[Cubs]}], categoryUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs, media=[{alt=The Cubs’ Nico Hoerner safely steals second base past the tag of the Angels’ infielder Oswald Peraza during the sixth inning on April 1 at Wrigley Field., ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/ab/03/dcbc231d4be4889e1f02b1f099ce/2269432867.jpg, width=3925, height=2616}, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/ab/03/dcbc231d4be4889e1f02b1f099ce/2269432867.jpg, width=3925, height=2616}}], _styledTemplate=null, imageAlignment=null, wordCount=204, isFeatured=false, authors=[{bio=[{items=[Chicago Sun-Times sports contributor]}], ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, media=[{ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/8c/3b/a9e4df4442f181af5f9e4e9e5510/image0.jpeg, width=1001, height=1331}, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/8c/3b/a9e4df4442f181af5f9e4e9e5510/image0.jpeg, width=1001, height=1331}, alt=Gordon Edes}], _template=/author/byline/AuthorByline.hbs, jobTitle=[{items=[Gordon Edes is a sports contributor at the Chicago Sun-Times.]}], name=[{items=[Gordon Edes]}], authorPageUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/gordon-edes}], publishDate=April 02, 2026 10:25 PM, target=null, primaryMediaType=null, url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/04/02/cubs-stealing-bases-quintin-berry, timestamp=1775186729000, ampLink=null, description=[{items=[Third-base coach and accomplished base stealer Berry is “just trying to make guys feel confident, confident and comfortable.’ So far, Cubs are 7-for-7 stealing bases.]}], audio=[], title=Cubs learn art of stealing bases from ‘zen’ master Quintin Berry, audioDuration=null, anchorId=promo-030001, _template=/page/promo/PagePromo.hbs}], carouselSpeed=null, buttonHoverBgColor=#a91d23, rteHeadingFont=font-1, secondaryColor=#656565, hideCategories=true, _template=/page/list/includes/PageList-header.hbs, font3=Arial, font4=Source-serif-4, ctaUrl=null, hideImage=false, footerLinkHoverColor=#d3242c, _styledTemplate=/page/list/PageListE.hbs, hideAudioPlayback=false, description=[], listColumns234=null, showSecondItemMedia=false, footerTextColor=#ffffff, hideDescriptions=true, headerSecondaryBgColor=#000000, pagination=[{body=[Next Page], href=?p=2, _template=/link/Link.hbs, contentId=null, pianoSectionSlug=null, target=null}], primaryTextColorInverse=#ffffff, titleColor=null, ampLink=null, listHeaderPosition=null, showActionBar=true, count=13809, linkHoverColor=#d3242c, buttonBgColor=#d3242c, ctaTarget=null, suppressPagination=false, promoButtonText=null, backgroundColor=null, headerSecondaryTextColor=#ffffff, anchorId=list-c90005, listTitleFont=font-2, headlineFont=font-1, promoDescriptionFont=font-3, primaryColor=#d3242c, slimFooter=false, hideHeadline=false, pullQuoteIcon=[{image=null, narrowImage=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, alt=null}], hideDates=true, headerBorderColor=#e9e9e9, ratingCardFont=font-1, titleTarget=null, tableCaptionColor=#626262, mobileCarousel=false, tableEvenRowsBgColor=#f9f8f3, containerTitleFont=font-2, listBorderColor=#dfdfdf, defaultArticleLeadStyle=standard, _parentFiles=[/page/list/includes/PageList-header.hbs]}\">Latest on the Cubs</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class=\"PageListE-items\"> <div class=\"PageListE-items-item\"> <div class=\"PagePromoB\"data-align-top> <div class=\"PagePromo-media\"><a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"Cubs right-hander Cade Horton exits Friday's start with right forearm discomfort\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/04/03/cubs-right-hander-cade-horton-exits-fridays-start-against-guardians-with-injury\" ><picture data-crop=\"medium-4x3\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/bbb17e7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6947x4650+14+0/resize/490x328!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F9e%2Ff2%2F5fd05e50430db895124e33bd66f8%2F2269703961.jpg\"/> <source width=\"490\" height=\"328\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7cdddca/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6947x4650+14+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F9e%2Ff2%2F5fd05e50430db895124e33bd66f8%2F2269703961.jpg\"/> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"Chicago Cubs v Cleveland Guardians\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7cdddca/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6947x4650+14+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F9e%2Ff2%2F5fd05e50430db895124e33bd66f8%2F2269703961.jpg\"> </picture> </a></div> <div class=\"PagePromoB-content\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-category\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs\" >Cubs</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-title\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/04/03/cubs-right-hander-cade-horton-exits-fridays-start-against-guardians-with-injury\" >Cubs right-hander Cade Horton exits Friday's start with right forearm discomfort</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-description\">Horton called for the trainers in the second inning against the Guardians after walking the first batter he faced and throwing two pitches to Bo Naylor. </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-byline\"><div class=\"PagePromo-date\"> <bsp-timestamp data-timestamp=1775251200000 data-promo=\"true\"> <template data-date-tpl>[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]</template> <span data-date> </span> </bsp-timestamp><span class=\"dot\"></span></div> <div class=\"PagePromo-author\"> <span>By </span><strong><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/kyle-williams\" >Kyle Williams </a></strong> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-readingTime\"> <span class=\"dot-divider\"></span> <svg class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-icon\"> <use xlink:href=\"#icon-clock-reading\"></use> </svg> <span class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-text\"> <bsp-time-to-read data-article-word-count=\"469\"></bsp-time-to-read> read </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class=\"PageListE-items-item\"> <div class=\"PagePromoB\"data-align-top> <div class=\"PagePromo-media\"><a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"10 years after: How Cubs went from lovable losers to 2016 World Series champions\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/chicago-cubs-world-series-2016-team-story-10-years-later\" ><picture data-crop=\"medium-4x3\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/edd727c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2794x1870+0+0/resize/490x328!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F08%2F04%2Fb1aaf84b40369b7b39ac655b16e9%2Fcubsfans-110516-40.JPG\"/> <source width=\"490\" height=\"328\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/accd038/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2794x1870+0+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F08%2F04%2Fb1aaf84b40369b7b39ac655b16e9%2Fcubsfans-110516-40.JPG\"/> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"Fans celebrate at the Chicago Cubs World Series rally in Grant Park, Friday morning, Nov. 4, 2016. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/accd038/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2794x1870+0+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F08%2F04%2Fb1aaf84b40369b7b39ac655b16e9%2Fcubsfans-110516-40.JPG\"> </picture> </a></div> <div class=\"PagePromoB-content\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-category\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs\" >Cubs</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-title\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/chicago-cubs-world-series-2016-team-story-10-years-later\" >10 years after: How Cubs went from lovable losers to 2016 World Series champions</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-description\">With a trip back to Cleveland this weekend, we look at a 2016 team that had mostly smooth sailing to the postseason, then rallied time after time to finally win it all.</div> <div class=\"PagePromo-byline\"><div class=\"PagePromo-date\"> <bsp-timestamp data-timestamp=1775210400000 data-promo=\"true\"> <template data-date-tpl>[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]</template> <span data-date> </span> </bsp-timestamp><span class=\"dot\"></span></div> <div class=\"PagePromo-author\"> <span>By </span><strong><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/steve-greenberg\" >Steve Greenberg </a></strong> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-readingTime\"> <span class=\"dot-divider\"></span> <svg class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-icon\"> <use xlink:href=\"#icon-clock-reading\"></use> </svg> <span class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-text\"> <bsp-time-to-read data-article-word-count=\"7062\"></bsp-time-to-read> read </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class=\"PageListE-items-item\"> <div class=\"PagePromoB\"data-align-top> <div class=\"PagePromo-media\"><a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"Cubs learn art of stealing bases from ‘zen’ master Quintin Berry\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/04/02/cubs-stealing-bases-quintin-berry\" ><picture data-crop=\"medium-4x3\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8fc96e5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3908x2616+0+0/resize/490x328!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fab%2F03%2Fdcbc231d4be4889e1f02b1f099ce%2F2269432867.jpg\"/> <source width=\"490\" height=\"328\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d987369/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3908x2616+0+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fab%2F03%2Fdcbc231d4be4889e1f02b1f099ce%2F2269432867.jpg\"/> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"The Cubs’ Nico Hoerner safely steals second base past the tag of the Angels’ infielder Oswald Peraza during the sixth inning on April 1 at Wrigley Field.\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d987369/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3908x2616+0+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fab%2F03%2Fdcbc231d4be4889e1f02b1f099ce%2F2269432867.jpg\"> </picture> </a></div> <div class=\"PagePromoB-content\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-category\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs\" >Cubs</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-title\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/04/02/cubs-stealing-bases-quintin-berry\" >Cubs learn art of stealing bases from ‘zen’ master Quintin Berry</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-description\">Third-base coach and accomplished base stealer Berry is “just trying to make guys feel confident, confident and comfortable.’ So far, Cubs are 7-for-7 stealing bases.</div> <div class=\"PagePromo-byline\"><div class=\"PagePromo-date\"> <bsp-timestamp data-timestamp=1775186729000 data-promo=\"true\"> <template data-date-tpl>[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]</template> <span data-date> </span> </bsp-timestamp><span class=\"dot\"></span></div> <div class=\"PagePromo-author\"> <span>By </span><strong><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/gordon-edes\" >Gordon Edes </a></strong> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-readingTime\"> <span class=\"dot-divider\"></span> <svg class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-icon\"> <use xlink:href=\"#icon-clock-reading\"></use> </svg> <span class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-text\"> <bsp-time-to-read data-article-word-count=\"204\"></bsp-time-to-read> read </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </bsp-listcarousel><p></p>",
  "title": "Cubs offense 'not good enough' in loss to Guardians",
  "updatedAt": "2026-04-04T00:42:53.761Z"
}