Opening Day Reaction & Two Major Extensions! | Bleacher Nation Cubs
Brett and Michael are back for the fifty-fifth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law) — and the first episode of the regular season!
They react to the Cubs’ Opening Day loss to the Nationals (10-4) at Wrigley, while keeping things in perspective. One game doesn’t define a season, but there are still some takeaways worth unpacking.
On the pitching side, Matthew Boyd’s outing was a tale of two games—dominant swing-and-miss stuff early (20 whiffs, 44.4% CSW), followed by a rough fourth inning where command slipped, and mistakes got punished. It’s a reminder of both the upside and volatility in this rotation.
Offensively, the Cubs created plenty of traffic but couldn’t capitalize, going 4-for-19 with runners in scoring position and leaving nine on base. Still, there were positives, including a strong day from Michael Busch at the top of the lineup.
The guys also break down a much bigger piece of news: the Cubs have signed Nico Hoerner to a six-year extension, locking up the second baseman beyond his would-be free agency. It’s the second major extension in a week—following Pete Crow-Armstrong’s deal—and a clear signal that the Cubs believe they are firmly in a contention window right now.
They also touch on the new challenge system, how it should be used, and early impressions from Opening Day. Plus, a quick discussion on lineup construction, including Ian Happ’s tough day and where he fits best moving forward.
And don’t forget — Bleacher Nation Cubs just added three new writers, so be sure to check out even more coverage all season long.
A special thank you to Ankin Law for sponsoring this podcast!
Visit Ankin Law's Website ➡️ ankinlaw.com
Link to pre-order Michael's book ➡️ https://www.amazon.com/My-First-Trip-...
=============================
Connect with us!
=============================
Follow Michael on Twitter ➡️ https://x.com/michael_cerami
Follow Brett on Twitter ➡️ https://x.com/brett_a_taylor
Follow Bleacher Nation on Twitter ➡️ https://x.com/bleachernation
Follow Michael on BlueSky ➡️ https://bsky.app/profile/michael-cera...
Follow Brett on BlueSky ➡️ https://bsky.app/profile/brett-taylor...
Follow Bleacher Nation on BlueSky ➡️ https://bsky.app/profile/bleachernati...
Visit our Website ➡️ bleachernation.com
=============================
=============================
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
03:27 - BN News
06:38 - Opening Day Reactions
27:55 - PCA and Nico Extensions
45:17 - Game!
=============================
#mlb #chicago #cubs #chicagocubs