Chicago’s rotation faces a power-heavy Athletics lineup in a high-stakes series. The Cubs’ struggling pitchers must neutralize Oakland's long-ball threat and keep baseballs inside the park.
The Chicago Cubs begin a three-game series against the Athletics on Tuesday night.
Neither team has played particularly well in recent weeks. The Cubs have not won a series since sweeping a four-game set against the Reds back on May 7, and the Athletics have lost seven of their last 10 games entering June.
Despite the Athletics recent skid, the North Siders will have their hands full in this series. They’re hoping to limit some damage on the mound and get their bats going as the calendar flips to June.
So, what’s the key for the Cubs to take this series from the Athletics?
It’s pretty simple.
The Cubs pitching has to limit home runs.
The Athletics might rank around league average in terms of home runs, but they have some big-time bats at the top of their lineup. Nick Kurtz, Shea Langeliers, Brent Rooker, and Tyler Soderstrom are all dangerous hitters in this lineup.
Kurtz hit 36 home runs in his rookie campaign in 2025 and has 10 homers this season. Langeliers had 31 home runs last year and has 14 home runs in the early going this year. Rooker has hit 30+ home runs in three consecutive seasons, and Soderstrom has 32 home runs since the start of last year.
It’s even scarier to know that those four power hitters will be going up against Jameson Taillon, Colin Rea, and Shota Imanaga in this three-game series.
The Cubs rotation has allowed the most home runs to begin the season (54). Taillon and Imanaga are a large reason for that, as both pitchers have given up double-digit home runs in the early going.
Keeping the ball in the park has been a problem for both pitchers all season, but especially as of late.
Imanaga has allowed eight combined home runs in his last three starts, which includes giving up three home runs in each of his last two outings. His 13 long balls on the year are tied for the fifth-most among all pitchers in baseball.
Those home run struggles are also there for Taillon. He has allowed eight combined home runs in his last three starts, which included giving up five homers in an outing against the White Sox on May 16. His 19 home runs allowed this season are the most in baseball.
Even Rea has had some problems with the home run ball recently. The right-hander has allowed multiple home runs in two of his last four outings and has given up nine total on the year.
If the Cubs want to win their first series since early May, their pitching staff has to limit the home runs against a really good Athletics lineup. It could be the difference in this series.
