Cubs Struggle to Capitalize in Loss to Rays

Offense leaves runs on the table as pitching staff deals with injuries

Apr. 6, 2026 at 11:22pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball game or match, with sharp, overlapping planes of color and form representing the action on the field.The Cubs' inability to capitalize on scoring chances against the Rays exposes the challenges facing their depleted pitching staff.Today in Tampa

The Chicago Cubs fell 6-4 to the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday, struggling to capitalize on scoring opportunities despite a productive offensive performance. With injuries to key rotation starters Matthew Boyd and Cade Horton, the Cubs' pitching staff is stretched thin, leaving little room for error. The Cubs put runners on base in the second inning but were unable to break the game open, and their offense finished with just four hits and four walks on the night.

Why it matters

The Cubs' thin pitching staff and slow offensive start have put early pressure on the team, as they try to stay competitive in the NL Central despite the rash of injuries. Finding a way to support the depleted pitching staff with timely hitting will be crucial for the Cubs to turn things around in the coming weeks.

The details

In the second inning, the Cubs loaded the bases with back-to-back walks, but Pete Crow-Armstrong and Matt Shaw struck out to squander the opportunity. Nico Hoerner delivered a two-run single later in the inning, but Alex Bregman popped out to end the frame. The Cubs had Rays starter Shane McClanahan on the ropes but were unable to knock him out of the game. The Cubs' offense finished with four hits and four walks on the night.

  • The Cubs fell 6-4 to the Rays on Monday, April 6, 2026.
  • Cade Horton underwent imaging on his forearm on Monday in Chicago.

The players

Matthew Boyd

A starting pitcher for the Cubs who is currently dealing with an injury.

Cade Horton

A starting pitcher for the Cubs who is currently dealing with an injury and underwent imaging on his forearm on Monday.

Michael Busch

A Cubs player who drew a walk in the second inning.

Dansby Swanson

A Cubs player who drew a walk in the second inning.

Pete Crow-Armstrong

A Cubs player who struck out in the second inning with the bases loaded.

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What they’re saying

“We needed to win one more at-bat. The next inning we hit three balls really good and got nothing for it. [McClanahan] got through it, and then we just didn't do much against their bullpen.”

— Craig Counsell, Manager

“I thought a lot of the guys put together good at-bats. We haven't really played our best baseball early, but we got to flip a switch and start playing better.”

— Alex Bregman

What’s next

The Cubs will await the results of Cade Horton's imaging tests over the next couple of days to determine the next steps for his recovery.

The takeaway

The Cubs' thin pitching staff and inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities have put early pressure on the team, as they try to stay competitive in the NL Central despite the rash of injuries. Finding a way to support the depleted pitching staff with timely hitting will be crucial for the Cubs to turn things around in the coming weeks.