Cubs takeaways: What we learned as big inning bests Marlins at Wrigley
CHICAGO — The Cubs extended their perfect record in seven Wrigley Field openers this year with a 5-2 win over the Miami Marlins on Monday night.
A five-run fifth inning, complete with home runs from Dansby Swanson and Seiya Suzuki, cemented a much-needed bounce-back victory after offensive woes weighed them down in New York.
The Cubs, who were coming off back-to-back series losses for the first time this season, commenced a stretch of 21 consecutive games against teams currently under .500.
Here are three takeaways as the Cubs (24-18) shut down the Marlins (15-25) to open the six-game homestand.
Rea rolls on
“This is exactly the reason that we thought he was an important piece in the offseason.”
That’s what Cubs manager Craig Counsell had to say about Colin Rea before the latter’s start Monday, and when the veteran right-hander took the mound, he again proved the Cubs’ investment in him worthwhile.
Rea needed to bounce back from his previous start May 6 against the San Francisco Giants, to whom he allowed four earned runs on eight hits — both season highs.
Rea returned to excellence against Miami, delivering his longest outing of the year at 6.2 innings. He only faltered in the seventh when he walked his first two batters of the night and gave up a two-run homer to Marlins center fielder Derek Hill.
Rea finished with four strikeouts, and his ERA is a glowing 2.48 after six starts. He also owns a 3-0 record.
Rea pulled out one of his rarest tricks in the process. In the third inning, he picked off the Marlins’ Xavier Edwards at first base to end a two-runners-on threat for himself — and collect only the second successful pickoff of his seven-year MLB career.
These Cubs can crush
When Suzuki clobbered his two-run shot in the fifth inning, he became the third Cub to reach 10 home runs on the season, joining Kyle Tucker and Pete Crow-Armstrong.
Because of that power-hitting trio, the Cubs are the only team in MLB to have three players hit 10 or more homers so far this season — and they’ve done it in just 42 games. Last year, it took the Cubs nearly twice as long (83 games) to reach that mark.
Additionally, 2025 marks just the third time the Cubs have had three players reach the 10-homer mark in the first 42 games of the season, joining the 2019 team (Willson Contreras, Javier Baez, Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo) and 2000 squads (Sammy Sosa, Henry Rodriguez, Shane Andrews).
The Cubs have several other players knocking on the 10-homer door, with Swanson (9), Carson Kelly (8) and Michael Busch (7).
It’s the Dad strength
Swanson is hitting .384 (5-for-13) with two homers and four RBI since he and his wife, Chicago Stars FC forward Mallory Swanson, announced they are expecting their first child.
That second homer came in the fifth inning Monday — a 400-foot, two-run shot to demolish the Cubs’ goose egg on the scoreboard and kickstart the five-run frame.
Swanson has been a constant topic of conversation since the Cubs’ trip to Pittsburgh, when he moved down the batting order for the first time this season. Swanson, who was slashing .181/.232/.345 before the switch, has hit .382/.447/.706 (1.153 OPS) in the month of May and raised his 2025 line to .248/.303/.472 (.775 OPS).
The Cubs will look to claim the three-game series Tuesday at 6:40 p.m. CT when they send Ben Brown (3-3, 4.95) against Marlins righty Valente Bellozo (0-2, 3.50).
