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Chicago Cubs starting rotation: From wrecked to elite

Jul 7, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) pitches in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images

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Chicago Cubs starting rotation: From wrecked to elite

Originally posted on ChiCitySports | By Paul Magno | Last updated Aug 10, 2026 2:57 PM ET

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The Chicago Cubs starting rotation looked like it was headed for disaster very early into the 2026 campaign.

Emerging 24-year-old ace Cade Horton went down to an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery in just his second start of the season. Jameson Taillon was getting absolutely crushed every time out. Matthew Boyd had already made two visits to the IL before the end of May. Edward Cabrera, who was good in his first few starts, suddenly started becoming not-so-good over his next few starts and would eventually find himself on the IL as well. Meanwhile, returning ace Justin Steele suffered a setback in his rehab from elbow surgery last year and would not be rejoining the rotation.

It was ugly. And even the one bright spot of Ben Brown’s surprising next-level breakthrough was muddied up by the return of his recurring neck injury and a trip to the IL.

That’s why what we’re seeing now is mind-blowing.

The Cubs rotation has become elite

Since June 11, the Cubs’ starting rotation has a 3.31 ERA—the best in the National League and the third best in all of baseball. Zoom in further and you’ll see that the starters posted a 2.90 ERA over this last 17-game stretch of exhausting Summer ball, with ten of those games on the road and two high-profile series at Wrigley against the Dodgers and Yankees.

The true grit from this rotation is slowly becoming the story of the season. And with Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes added at the trade deadline, things could even get better.

“Really can’t ask for much more,” Matthew Boyd said after his seven quality innings in Sunday’s 10-2 win over the Royals in Kansas City, referring to the staff’s masterful run over the last two-and-a-half weeks. “It was awesome. It’s a tough stretch, especially at this time of year with the heat and the weather and the competition. But guys responded to the task at hand each day, and that was really, really special. And it speaks to the quality of this group. I think our best baseball is still ahead of us.”

“We’re very talented,” Boyd added. “Not only the five that we have now, but the seven, with C-Rea and Assad. They’re very much a part of this, too, and they’ve got us to where we are…We really believe in this group, and we’ve been on a good run.”

To the playoffs and beyond

Aug 8, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Clay Holmes (25) looks into home plate before throwing a pitch in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-Imagn Images

“There’s a lot of really good arms, a lot of experience,” new Cub Holmes told media on Sunday. “We can all make each other better and keep elevating each other.

“At this time of the year and in the playoffs, pitching is what drives things. For us all to be at our best in this part of the year would be a fun thing to be a part of because of the potential here.”

And, really, the playoffs is really what this is all about. Right now, it looks like a sure thing that the Cubs will make it into postseason play. From there, their offense could carry them. But having pitching like they’ve gotten recently turns them from playoff entries to serious championship contenders.

This article first appeared on ChiCitySports and was syndicated with permission.

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