The Cubs’ Dismal Start Fails to Spark Hope in NLDS
It was an exhilarating moment when Michael Busch kicked off the postseason with a home run, sending waves of excitement through the crowd. But unfortunately, that joy was short-lived and quickly transformed into a frustrating nightmare. Matt Boyd met with overwhelming challenges, suffering a barrage of hits that included three successive doubles. Shortly thereafter, he issued a walk, and to make matters worse, Nico Hoerner mishandled a routine ground ball—an error so uncharacteristic it could be likened to something you might witness at a middle school game. When even your most reliable players falter, you know trouble is brewing. Things only went downhill from there.
By the end of the first inning, Boyd had already been removed from the game, the Brewers had rallied to score six runs, and what initially seemed like a competitive contest quickly turned into a lopsided affair. The game, it seemed, slipped away before the Cubs could get their bearings.
Now, if you want to keep the optimism alive despite the overwhelming odds stacked against the Cubs, consider these points: (1) No matter how devastating a loss can feel, it is merely one game out of a potential five-game series; (2) Facing Freddy Peralta, especially on short rest, was always going to be a formidable task, so the odds were never in their favor this game; and (3) perhaps this game was simply an unfortunate set of occurrences, wherein the Cubs purged their less-than-stellar moments all at once.
While I jest with that last observation, the reality is that the second point regarding Peralta's skill doesn't bring much comfort, particularly with him slated to pitch again soon. However, I do genuinely stand by the first point—losing is still losing, regardless of whether it’s by one run or by a staggering six. What matters most right now is that the Cubs find a way to move on from this loss, seeking answers to how the Brewers managed to read their pitching so effectively in the early frames (mind you, this isn't an accusation this time, but Boyd was serving up some obvious pitches).
Kudos are due to Aaron Civale and Ben Brown, who stepped up to pitch the majority of the innings. Their solid performance afforded the rest of the bullpen an unexpected breather, potentially preserving their stamina for future games. Civale might even merit the Ankin Law "Making It Personal" Player of the Game title with his commendable effort today, assuming the honor doesn't go to a member of the opposing team—of which I am not inclined.
For more detailed stats, feel free to check out the full box score here.
Author:
Brett Taylor, the Lead Baseball Writer at Bleacher Nation, can be found sharing insights on social media—on X at @Brett_A-Taylor, on Bluesky at @Brett-Taylor, and on LinkedIn here. As the founder of Bleacher Nation, which started in 2008 as a blog dedicated to the Chicago Cubs, he has since expanded coverage to include various Chicago sports, making it one of the most prominent regional sports websites available today.
