CHGO Chicago Cubs Podcast · ALLCITY Network, CHGO Sports

2026 Chicago Cubs PROJECTIONS! How Do They Stack Up Against the Rest of MLB? | CHGO Cubs Podcast

·1 hr·5 clips

Craig Council shocks by naming Daniel Palencia the Cubs' closer—can he stabilize a rebuilt bullpen?

This episode of the CHGO Cubs Podcast features hosts Luke Stuckmeyer and Joey Christopoulos discussing the start of Cubs spring training and 2026 season projections. They are joined by producer Sarah and interact with listener comments from their community. The hosts announce the CHGO baseball road trip to Arizona from March 5th-8th, which will include Cubs and White Sox games, a golf outing, and a Bulls-Suns game. Manager Craig Counsell named Daniel Palencia the team's closer during his first spring media session, a decision the hosts analyze at length. They reference projections from PECOTA (referred to as "Pakoda") forecasting the Cubs to win 90.1 games and the NL Central by 10 games over the Milwaukee Brewers. Luke and Joey debate whether Palencia can be a reliable difference-maker for a rebuilt bullpen, noting his late-season struggles and injury in 2025. They speculate on potential bullpen alternatives like Michael Kopech, Hunter Harvey, Ben Brown, or even top prospect Jackson Wiggins transitioning to a relief role. The PECOTA projection of 90 wins leads to a discussion of the team's improved depth and key variables, including the health of pitchers like Justin Steele and the performance of Pete Crow-Armstrong and Cade Horton. A surprising claim is Joey's prediction that the Cubs will win the division by at least nine games, contrasting with the more volatile recent history against the Brewers. The hosts find humor in the Brewers' minimal offseason spending, highlighted by a $1.75 million signing that reportedly doubled their winter budget. They share an overreaction to a video of new Cub Alex Bregman hitting a home run off Jamison Taillon in batting practice. The tone is conversational and enthusiastic, blending fan excitement with analytical discussion about roster construction. The style is informal, featuring inside jokes, sponsor reads, and playful banter between the co-hosts. This episode is ideal for Cubs fans eager for spring training updates and speculative season previews. Listeners who prefer strictly news-focused content or are uninterested in projection systems and roster debates might choose to skip it.

As heard by us

Spring-training banter, Cubs optimism, and overreaction talk with a loose live-show feel.

The CHGO Cubs crew turns a spring-training update into a brisk, personality-first Cubs chat. Luke Stuckmeyer and Joey Christopoulos keep the pace moving with banter, overreactions, and enough baseball substance to anchor the conversation, including young players, Miguel Amaya's…

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You want Cubs projections with real fan-room energy.

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