{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "bskyPostRef": {
    "cid": "bafyreiebxwxg7mmn4bqozdscen3k55mnbtxz2nji66wdken6v4xbz7l4oi",
    "uri": "at://did:plc:ha7wpngv4f2qwrk5hta4ktbb/app.bsky.feed.post/3miumc5u3r7i2"
  },
  "coverImage": {
    "$type": "blob",
    "ref": {
      "$link": "bafkreig7hmxgbi3gn2etququ34kywni5zedmkmzcdjerk3kx3on6xraj7q"
    },
    "mimeType": "image/jpeg",
    "size": 231576
  },
  "path": "/cubs/2026/04/06/cubs-need-to-flip-the-switch-after-loss-to-rays",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-06T23:22:46.017Z",
  "site": "https://chicago.suntimes.com",
  "textContent": "<p>TAMPA, Fla. — The margins for the <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs\" >Cubs</a> are thin.</p><p>Given the rash of pitching injuries to rotation starters <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/04/06/cubs-put-opening-day-starter-matthew-boyd-on-15-day-injured-list-with-left-bicep-strain\" ><b>Matthew Boyd</b></a><b> </b>and <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/04/05/cubs-place-right-hander-cade-horton-on-15-day-injured-list-recall-left-hander-riley-martin\" ><b>Cade Horton</b>,</a> combined with the offense getting off to a slow start, the Cubs’ pitching staff is stretched especially thin, and they just don’t have much room for error.</p><p>The Cubs’ offense was more productive than it had been in Monday’s 6-4 loss to the Rays, but it still left some runs on the table. In the second inning, the Cubs put runners on first and second after back-to-back walks by <b>Michael Busch</b> and <b>Dansby Swanson</b>.</p><p>But instead of a big inning,<b> Pete Crow-Armstrong</b> and<b> Matt Shaw </b>proceeded to strike out. Miguel Amaya drew a walk to load the bases and keep the inning alive, and then Nico Hoerner delivered with a two-run scoring single.</p><p>Instead of piling on, <b>Alex Bregman</b> popped out to end the inning. The Cubs had Rays starter <b>Shane McClanahan </b>on the ropes but were unable to knock him out of the game. He went four innings, allowing two runs on one hit with five strikeouts and four walks.</p><p>“We needed to win one more at-bat,” manager <b>Craig Counsell</b> said. “The next inning we hit three balls really good and got nothing for it. [McClanahan] got through it, and then we just didn't do much against their bullpen.”</p><p>The Cubs’ offense finished with four hits and four walks.</p><p>“I thought a lot of the guys put together good at-bats,” Bregman told the Sun-Times. “We haven't really played our best baseball early, but we got to flip a switch and start playing better.”</p><p>The Cubs are 4-6 and dealing with injuries to their top two rotation starters. It’s still April, so it's too early to panic, but some consternation is warranted and the Cubs have show a sense of urgency soon.</p><p>The Cubs were also unlucky on Monday; they had some well-struck balls that didn’t fall for hits. In the third, Ian Happ and Carson Kelly both had hard-hit flyouts with expected batting averages of .370 and .540, respectively.</p><p>Luck is not in the Cubs’ favor. Already reeling due to injuries, the offense can’t seem to get any good fortune, but they must find a way to produce more runs to support its depleted pitching staff.</p><p>“We have very good hitters,” Counsell said. “Some of them are not succeeding right now, [but] they will … in a big way. And on top of that, we're light on some breaks. But you got to put more runs on the board to win baseball games.”</p><p><b>Horton update</b></p><p>Horton got imaging done on his forearm on Monday in Chicago. From there, the Cubs and Horton can assess the next steps.</p><p>The club will know more about the results over the next couple of days. Horton was arguably the team's best pitcher in the second half of the 2025 season, posting a 1.03 ERA in the second half.</p><p><b>Welcome back, Tropicana Field</b></p><p>For the first time in 561 days, the Rays hosted a proper home game after Hurricane Milton destroyed the roof at Tropicana Field.</p><p>The city of St. Petersburg invested $60 million not only to repair the stadium but also to refurbish it. The stadium now sports artificial turf, an upgraded video board and refreshed clubhouse carpets.</p><p></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, headerBottomBorderColor=#111010, subTitle=null, stickyHeader=true, listTitleColor=#000000, tableCellBorderColor=#ccd1d5, pageCount=4606, relatedListFont=font-1, hideAuthors=true, tertiaryTextColor=#6c6c6c, buttonHoverTextColor=#ffffff, tableFont=font-1, carouselAutoPlay=false, promoTitleFont=font-2, ctaButtonText=[], primaryTextColor=#2a2a2a, buttonTextColor=#ffffff, items=[{type=Image, category=[{items=[Columnists]}], description=[{items=[Holy sports meltdown, Chicago.]}], _styledTemplate=null, imageAlignment=null, isFeatured=false, media=[{alt=The Sky's Angel Reese, left, shoots against Washington Mystics' Kiki Iriafen during the second half of the WNBA All-Star Game, Saturday, July 19, 2025, in Indianapolis. , ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/7e/ad/042fe80141d0ba14466e02b8b6cd/ap25201082893086.jpg, width=3953, height=2635}, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/7e/ad/042fe80141d0ba14466e02b8b6cd/ap25201082893086.jpg, width=3953, height=2635}}], title=Angel Reese is gone, the Bulls are starting over and another Cubs pitcher is hurt? Been one heck of a day, target=null, primaryMediaType=null, authors=[{authorPageUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/steve-greenberg, name=[{items=[Steve Greenberg]}], ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/author/byline/AuthorByline.hbs, 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}}], jobTitle=[{items=[Reporter/columnist, sports]}], bio=[{items=[Steve Greenberg is a sports columnist at the Chicago Sun-Times.]}]}], timestamp=1775512719000, categoryUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists, ampLink=null, audio=[], anchorId=promo-3a0000, audioDuration=null, publishDate=April 06, 2026 04:58 PM, url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/bulls/2026/04/06/angel-reese-traded-sky-dream-wnba-bulls-arturas-karnisovas-marc-eversley-cubs-matthew-boyd, wordCount=665, _template=/page/promo/PagePromo.hbs}, {type=Image, categoryUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs, publishDate=April 06, 2026 02:29 PM, _styledTemplate=null, authors=[{name=[{items=[Kyle Williams]}], 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, bio=[{items=[Kyle Williams covers sports for the Chicago Sun-Times.]}], jobTitle=[{items=[Sports reporter, Report for America]}], authorPageUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/kyle-williams}], media=[{ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/a0/21/73140c6743c9b62be63cd1b175b9/2269437567.jpg, width=4401, height=2934}, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/a0/21/73140c6743c9b62be63cd1b175b9/2269437567.jpg, width=4401, height=2934}, alt=Los Angeles Angels v Chicago Cubs}], imageAlignment=null, isFeatured=false, wordCount=495, description=[{items=[Manager Craig Counsell said Boyd shouldn’t be out longer than his 15-day IL stay.]}], target=null, primaryMediaType=null, url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/04/06/cubs-put-opening-day-starter-matthew-boyd-on-15-day-injured-list-with-left-bicep-strain, ampLink=null, title=Cubs put Opening Day starter Matthew Boyd on injured list with strained left biceps, audio=[], anchorId=promo-3a0001, audioDuration=null, _template=/page/promo/PagePromo.hbs, category=[{items=[Cubs]}], timestamp=1775503787000}, {media=[{image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/8b/cb/153961554c14a571b88ea718e354/cubs-guardians-baseball.jpg, width=6475, height=4317}, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/8b/cb/153961554c14a571b88ea718e354/cubs-guardians-baseball.jpg, width=6475, height=4317}, alt=Cubs Guardians Baseball}], type=Image, authors=[{name=[{items=[Kyle Williams]}], ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, 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}], _template=/author/byline/AuthorByline.hbs, bio=[{items=[Kyle Williams covers sports for the Chicago Sun-Times.]}], jobTitle=[{items=[Sports reporter, Report for America]}], authorPageUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/kyle-williams}], categoryUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs, wordCount=544, _styledTemplate=null, imageAlignment=null, isFeatured=false, timestamp=1775446522000, anchorId=promo-3b0000, target=null, primaryMediaType=null, publishDate=April 05, 2026 10:35 PM, description=[{items=[The Cubs won Game 1 with just two hits. It was the first time they’ve won a game with two or fewer hits since August 2022 against the Brewers. ]}], category=[{items=[Cubs]}], title=Cubs split doubleheader, drop series to Guardians, ampLink=null, audio=[], url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/04/05/cubs-split-doubleheader-drop-series-to-guardians, audioDuration=null, _template=/page/promo/PagePromo.hbs}], linkTextColor=#1a1a1a, hideTitles=false, footerLinkColor=#ffffff, 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, count=13817, primaryTextColorInverse=#ffffff, titleColor=null, ampLink=null, listHeaderPosition=null, showActionBar=true, linkHoverColor=#d3242c, buttonBgColor=#d3242c, ctaTarget=null, suppressPagination=false, pullQuoteIcon=[{image=null, narrowImage=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, alt=null}], promoButtonText=null, backgroundColor=null, headerSecondaryTextColor=#ffffff, anchorId=list-c90005, listTitleFont=font-2, headlineFont=font-1, promoDescriptionFont=font-3, primaryColor=#d3242c, slimFooter=false, hideHeadline=false, hideDates=true, headerBorderColor=#e9e9e9, pagination=[{body=[Next Page], href=?p=2, _template=/link/Link.hbs, contentId=null, pianoSectionSlug=null, target=null}], 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=\"Angel Reese is gone, the Bulls are starting over and another Cubs pitcher is hurt? Been one heck of a day\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bulls/2026/04/06/angel-reese-traded-sky-dream-wnba-bulls-arturas-karnisovas-marc-eversley-cubs-matthew-boyd\" ><picture data-crop=\"medium-4x3\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/afbcb42/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3936x2635+0+0/resize/490x328!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F7e%2Fad%2F042fe80141d0ba14466e02b8b6cd%2Fap25201082893086.jpg\"/> <source width=\"490\" height=\"328\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0eb3f60/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3936x2635+0+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F7e%2Fad%2F042fe80141d0ba14466e02b8b6cd%2Fap25201082893086.jpg\"/> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"The Sky's Angel Reese, left, shoots against Washington Mystics' Kiki Iriafen during the second half of the WNBA All-Star Game, Saturday, July 19, 2025, in Indianapolis. \" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0eb3f60/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3936x2635+0+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F7e%2Fad%2F042fe80141d0ba14466e02b8b6cd%2Fap25201082893086.jpg\"> </picture> </a></div> <div class=\"PagePromoB-content\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-category\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists\" >Columnists</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-title\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bulls/2026/04/06/angel-reese-traded-sky-dream-wnba-bulls-arturas-karnisovas-marc-eversley-cubs-matthew-boyd\" >Angel Reese is gone, the Bulls are starting over and another Cubs pitcher is hurt? Been one heck of a day</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-description\">Holy sports meltdown, Chicago.</div> <div class=\"PagePromo-byline\"><div class=\"PagePromo-date\"> <bsp-timestamp data-timestamp=1775512719000 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=\"665\"></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 put Opening Day starter Matthew Boyd on injured list with strained left biceps\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/04/06/cubs-put-opening-day-starter-matthew-boyd-on-15-day-injured-list-with-left-bicep-strain\" ><picture data-crop=\"medium-4x3\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1947420/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4383x2934+9+0/resize/490x328!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fa0%2F21%2F73140c6743c9b62be63cd1b175b9%2F2269437567.jpg\"/> <source width=\"490\" height=\"328\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7490952/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4383x2934+9+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fa0%2F21%2F73140c6743c9b62be63cd1b175b9%2F2269437567.jpg\"/> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"Los Angeles Angels v Chicago Cubs\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7490952/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4383x2934+9+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fa0%2F21%2F73140c6743c9b62be63cd1b175b9%2F2269437567.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/2026/04/06/cubs-put-opening-day-starter-matthew-boyd-on-15-day-injured-list-with-left-bicep-strain\" >Cubs put Opening Day starter Matthew Boyd on injured list with strained left biceps</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-description\">Manager Craig Counsell said Boyd shouldn’t be out longer than his 15-day IL stay.</div> <div class=\"PagePromo-byline\"><div class=\"PagePromo-date\"> <bsp-timestamp data-timestamp=1775503787000 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=\"495\"></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 split doubleheader, drop series to Guardians\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/04/05/cubs-split-doubleheader-drop-series-to-guardians\" ><picture data-crop=\"medium-4x3\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/99c10e7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6449x4317+13+0/resize/490x328!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F8b%2Fcb%2F153961554c14a571b88ea718e354%2Fcubs-guardians-baseball.jpg\"/> <source width=\"490\" height=\"328\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9cfa476/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6449x4317+13+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F8b%2Fcb%2F153961554c14a571b88ea718e354%2Fcubs-guardians-baseball.jpg\"/> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"Cubs Guardians Baseball\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9cfa476/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6449x4317+13+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F8b%2Fcb%2F153961554c14a571b88ea718e354%2Fcubs-guardians-baseball.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/2026/04/05/cubs-split-doubleheader-drop-series-to-guardians\" >Cubs split doubleheader, drop series to Guardians</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-description\">The Cubs won Game 1 with just two hits. It was the first time they’ve won a game with two or fewer hits since August 2022 against the Brewers. </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-byline\"><div class=\"PagePromo-date\"> <bsp-timestamp data-timestamp=1775446522000 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=\"544\"></bsp-time-to-read> read </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </bsp-listcarousel><p></p>",
  "title": "Cubs need to 'flip the switch' after loss to Rays",
  "updatedAt": "2026-04-06T23:37:43.688Z"
}