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The Cubs can't be stopped right now -- but they're about to face their biggest challenge yet.
Chicago is on an MLB-best nine-game winning streak. But tonight, they face the juggernaut Dodgers. The series opener between the two contenders, who are both tied for first place in their divisions right now, is a must-watch game (10:15 p.m. ET, Apple TV).
Can the Cubs take down the Dodgers and take their win streak to double digits? Here are three keys to how they've gotten to this point:
1) The top-of-the-order bats are firing
The Cubs' run starts at the top. During their win streak, five hitters have filled the top four spots in their batting order, depending on the game: Nico Hoerner, Alex Bregman, Ian Happ, Michael Busch and Seiya Suzuki. And they've been raking.
Cubs' top-of-the-order hitters during their win streak
- Hoerner: .310 BA / .872 OPS / 3 HR
- Bregman: .333 BA / .845 OPS
- Happ: .314 BA / 1.042 OPS / 3 HR
- Busch: .282 BA / .785 OPS / 2 HR
- Suzuki: .364 BA / 1.142 OPS / 3 HR
Hoerner has been a feel-good story all year and an incredible spark in the leadoff spot, both with his usual elite contact ability and also his newfound slugging. Bregman is starting to look like the star hitter the Cubs signed him to be. Happ is his old reliable self. Suzuki's return to the lineup has gone even better than the Cubs could have hoped, and he's now homered in three straight games. Even Busch, who was in a horrible slump to start the season, has raised his batting average more than 60 points during the Cubs' winning streak and had a big day yesterday to set up Chicago's walk-off win.
Since the start of the streak on April 14, the Cubs' 1-through-4 hitters have combined for a .342 batting average and .979 OPS. Both of those are best in the NL and second-best in the Majors over that time (behind, interestingly, the White Sox at .346 and 1.142).
2) Imanaga's resurgence
The Cubs really needed a bounceback from Shota Imanaga this season, and he's provided it … and then some. The crafty lefty has a 2.17 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 29 innings through his first five starts, and he's led the way for the rotation during the winning streak.
Imanaga picked up his first two wins of the season during the Cubs' streak by dominating the Phillies twice in a row -- first with a six-inning, one-run, 11-strikeout gem in Philadelphia last Wednesday, then with a seven-inning, one-run gem this Tuesday.
Imanaga's fastball-splitter combo has been nasty -- his heater is especially improved, with an extra tick of velo and more rising movement -- and after his two starts vs. the Phils he's collected 28 strikeouts on just those two pitch types this season, second most of any pitcher behind Kevin Gausman (35).
3) They're the best defensive team in baseball
These Cubs are elite in the field. We saw it last season. We saw it in the playoffs. And we're seeing it again this season. And during their winning streak, defensive gems have helped the Cubs win games.
The numbers back that up. Chicago is the No. 1 fielding team in the Majors this season according to Statcast, with a team Fielding Run Value of +12 runs prevented via defense.
Best teams by Fielding Run Value in 2026
- 1. Cubs: +12 runs prevented
- 2. (tie) Red Sox/Braves: +10 runs prevented
- 4. (tie) Cardinals/Royals/D-backs/Blue Jays: +8 runs prevented
The Cubs have two top-five overall individual fielders, and it's no surprise who they are: Pete Crow-Armstrong in center field (tied with Bobby Witt Jr. for No. 1 overall) and Hoerner at second base (tied for No. 4 overall). They save the Cubs tons of runs, and that leads to wins.
