Biggest Takeaways from the Cubs 2026 Spring Training Campaign

Major League Baseball’s 2026 Spring Training is almost in the books, with Opening Day rapidly approaching later this week on March 26th.  The Chicago Cubs have had a somewhat underwhelming showing as a team in preseason, currently holding a record of 12-16 and sitting near the bottom of the Cactus League standings. Spring Training, however, is a stretch of exhibition games bout much more than simply wins and losses. It’s a chance for teams to give their young guys a shot, to see what they have in their unproven players, to evaluate their talent, and to rethink their depth charts. So, what are the most noteworthy assessments of the Cubs over the last several weeks?

Young Third Baseman on Promising Trajectory

Perhaps the biggest takeaway concerns an exciting young infielder: third baseman Matt Shaw is legit. The 24-year-old will begin his second MLB season in 2026, having had quite a promising rookie campaign in 2025, during which he hit 13 home runs and stole 17 bases in just 126 games played. He’s currently showing the organization exactly what they hoped for in Spring Training; in 18 games played, Shaw has 15 hits with a home run and three RBIs while batting .333 with an OPS of .893 and a slugging percentage of .467. Shaw has been an offensive highlight for the Cubs this preseason and is showing flashes of being their next genuine star.

Pitching Roster Continues to Struggle

A less positive aspect to consider is the current state of the Cubs’ pitching. Sound familiar? Quality and consistency from the pitching roster have been a constant issue for the Cubs over the past several seasons, and judging by the current Spring Training slate, it seems to be a persistent problem in 2026. The Cubs currently have a team ERA of 5.84 in Spring Training, and have given up eight runs or more in nine games so far. Shota Imanaga, who spent 2025 being viewed as the team’s ace, has given up 13 hits in as many innings pitched, and the newly acquired Edward Cabrera has an ERA of 6.35 in just 11 innings. As with all things in Spring Training, these stats, while concerning, should be taken with a grain of salt. However, when pitching is as consistent a problem for a team as it is for the Cubs, it can be tough not to assess these disheartening stats through a more pessimistic lens.