Cubs begin season on right foot as win streak reaches five games

The Chicago Cubs have begun the 2025 season on the right foot. 

On Saturday, the Cubs (7-4) defeated the Padres (7-2), 7-1, extending their early win streak to five games. Chicago swept the Athletics (3-5) in a three-game set from March 31-April 2 and won the first game of its current series against San Diego on Friday.

The Cubs offense has led them during their win streak. They're hitting .296 (55-for-186), and Chicago is averaging nine runs per game.

In the team's most recent win, shortstop Dansby Swanson and catcher Carson Kelly hit home runs, and batters reached base 21 times in 44 plate appearances.

The team's pitching staff hasn't been shabby, either, allowing 2.2 runs per game and holding opposing batters to a .224 batting average.

While the Cubs' hot start to the season is nothing new for them, it's much preferable to digging out of an early hole. The trick for Chicago is to avoid an in-season swoon like the one it experienced last year.

In 2024, the Cubs also had an early five-game winning streak and were 24-17 through the season's first quarter before hitting a lull. They were 13-27 in their next 40 games, entering the second half of the season 37-44.

Chicago finished 83-79, missing the playoffs after entering the season as the NL Central favorite.

This year, the Cubs entered with a 51.5 percent chance of reaching the postseason and were once again the favorites to win their division.

If Chicago plays to its potential, its current winning streak should be one of several it enjoys this season.