Cubs Takeaways: What we learned as Cubs pick up second straight series win
CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs continued their six-game homestand with another chilly, gray day at Wrigley Field.
The weather might not be ideal, but fans will be more than glad about the results. The Cubs again beat the San Diego Padres, 7-1 on Saturday.
It’s the Cubs’ fifth straight win and their second straight series win, improving them to 7-4 and dropping the Padres to 7-2.
[READ: How Kyle Tucker, top of Cubs lineup can impact young hitters in 2025]
Here are three observations from the contest:
Happ’s milestone game
Saturday was always going to be a special day at the park for Ian Happ, regardless of the result.
The day marked his 1,000th-career major league game, a significant milestone for the Cubs left fielder. He received a standing ovation before his leadoff at-bat in the first inning, as the video board in left field displayed a graphic for the achievement. Happ doubled in the at-bat and finished 1-for-4 with a walk in the game.
The highlight of the day, though, might have come in the top of the seventh inning. Pinch hitter Gavin Sheets hit an opposite-field liner drifting towards the foul line in left field that looked destined to drop. Happ charged at the ball, then lunged and made the catch as he dove and crashed into the wall to rob Sheets.
Arguably the most impressive part about his achievement is the fact Happ has played every game of his career with the Cubs. Only eight active players have played 1,000 games with one team, per Elias Sports Bureau and there are 59 active players who have surpassed that number.
“The big significance for me is 1,000 games with the same team,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said before the game. “That’s, to me, what makes it rare and definitely worth talking about. That, in this era of baseball, is not happening, it’s just not happening. And that speaks a lot about to kind of how Ian’s gone about it. It’s hard to do.
“It’s rare and there’s a reason that it’s rare. And Ian’s made it this far, and he’s got ways to go too, in a good way.”
Kelly keeps on shining
Catcher Carson Kelly wasn’t the flashiest signing this offseason. While All-Star catchers like Travis d’Arnaud (Los Angeles Angels) and Elias Díaz (Padres) signed elsewhere, Kelly’s addition almost went under-the-radar.
He’s easily outperformed those two players – and showcased it on Saturday.
Kelly finished 2-for-3 with a three-run home run and four RBI in the win. He’s 7-for-15 (.467) this season with a whopping 1.658 OPS this season. It’s elevated a position group that was a weakness last year.
Cubs’ catchers had a .601 OPS in 2024, the fifth-worst mark in the game. Their OPS was .480, second worst through their first 81 games last year. They found a bit of a better receipe down the stretch with Miguel Amaya’s swing changes and the emergence of Christian Bethancourt but still faced plenty of questions entering 2025.
They’ve been answered emphatically so far. Cubs backstops have a .964 OPS this season, fifth best in baseball. If they can continue to produce, it really lengthens the lineup for Counsell.
Boyd’s Wrigley debut
Like Kelly, Matthew Boyd wasn’t a headline-grabbing addition by the Cubs this winter.
But like his batterymate, Boyd showed the results are ultimately what matters. The lefty turned in a quality start in his Wrigley Field debut with the Cubs, tossing six shutout innings with five strikeouts and allowing just five hits and a walk.
There were questions about what the southpaw would be – he appeared in just eight games in 2024 with Cleveland after returning from Tommy John surgery, but so far the results have been encouraging. He’s pitched 11 scoreless frames across his first two starts.
He’s been a nice addition to a rotation that was a strength of the Cubs in 2024. They’ll need performances like this if they hope to breakthrough the 83-win threshold this season and make the playoffs.
