Cubs Pitching Issues 4 Leadoff Walks and a Leadoff HBP

Four leadoff walks and a leadoff hit by pitch — that is the Cubs pitching staff's inning-opening résumé in this game, per White Sox beat reporter Scott Merkin.

Each of those free passes arrived before a single out was recorded, a pattern that tends to make bullpen math uncomfortable in a hurry. Whether those baserunners translated into runs is not addressed in the report, nor is it clear which pitchers were responsible or how many innings the stretch covers.

Why it lands differently right now

The Cubs are navigating a rotation already under strain. Edward Cabrera was placed on the 15-day IL with a right middle finger blister, and Dansby Swanson is expected to miss roughly four weeks with a strained oblique per manager Craig Counsell — so the margin for sloppy innings is thinner than usual. Control issues compound quickly when a roster is already absorbing that kind of attrition.

What to watch: which arms are being asked to eat innings in Cabrera's absence, and whether the walk rate in this game reflects a broader trend or just a rough afternoon.