Edward Cabrera silences Angels, shines in debut with Cubs

The right-hander struck out five while throwing 80 pitches in the opener of a three-game series.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 3:48am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the various motions and actions of a baseball pitcher, with the vibrant colors of the Cubs and Angels uniforms visible throughout the abstract composition.A cubist interpretation of Edward Cabrera's dominant debut for the Cubs, showcasing his electric stuff and ability to silence the Angels' lineup.Chicago Today

In his Cubs debut, Edward Cabrera pitched six crisp innings in Monday night's 7-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. The right-hander struck out five while throwing 80 pitches in the opener of a three-game series, 49 for strikes.

Why it matters

Cabrera's strong debut performance is an encouraging sign for the Cubs, who acquired the 28-year-old pitcher in a January trade with the Miami Marlins. His ability to shut down the Angels' lineup, including star Mike Trout, demonstrates his potential to be a valuable addition to the Cubs' pitching rotation.

The details

Cabrera set the tone for his outing with a first-inning strikeout of Angels star Mike Trout. The three-time AL MVP fouled off a 97.2 mph fastball before fanning on a full-count curveball on the eighth pitch of the at-bat. Cabrera allowed only one hit, a single to Nolan Schanuel in the fourth inning, and got Jorge Soler to bounce into an inning-ending double play after the hit.

  • Cabrera made his major league debut with Miami in 2021.
  • Cabrera went 8-7 with a 3.53 ERA in a career-high 26 starts and 137 2/3 innings last year.
  • Cabrera agreed to a $4.45 million, one-year contract with the Cubs a day after the trade, avoiding salary arbitration.

The players

Edward Cabrera

A 28-year-old right-handed pitcher who was acquired by the Chicago Cubs in a January trade with the Miami Marlins.

Carson Kelly

The Cubs' catcher, who praised Cabrera's performance and said he had good command of all his pitches.

Mike Trout

The Los Angeles Angels' star outfielder and three-time AL MVP, who Cabrera struck out in the first inning.

Craig Counsell

The Cubs' manager, who said Cabrera had everything working and that the team's catcher felt comfortable with any pitch or count.

Yoán Moncada

The Angels player who walked with one out in the second inning against Cabrera.

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What they’re saying

“He did a tremendous job. Had good command with everything. He's got electric stuff. Having all those pitches and keeping guys guessing, I think there's not one pitch you can sit on, and I think that's what really makes him special.”

— Carson Kelly, Cubs catcher

“I just went out there and gave it my 100% like I always tend to do. I had faced him before, but I just wanted to go out there and give it my absolute best regardless of who was up to bat.”

— Edward Cabrera

“As he got into it, he had everything working. Carson felt really comfortable with kind of any pitch, any count. With his stuff, if we get into that mode, it's going to be a tough night for hitters.”

— Craig Counsell, Cubs manager

“Just goes right after guys. He's like 'I think I'm the best every time I take the mound, and I truly believe that,' and I think he's going to go out there and bring that energy every single time.”

— Carson Kelly, Cubs catcher

What’s next

Cabrera's next start will be on Sunday, April 5th against the Milwaukee Brewers.

The takeaway

Cabrera's dominant debut performance is a promising sign for the Cubs, who are hoping the 28-year-old right-hander can solidify their starting rotation and provide a boost to their playoff aspirations this season.