Brett and Michael are back for the fifty-fifth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law) — and the first episode of the regular season!

They react to the Cubs’ Opening Day loss to the Nationals (10-4) at Wrigley, while keeping things in perspective. One game doesn’t define a season, but there are still some takeaways worth unpacking.

On the pitching side, Matthew Boyd’s outing was a tale of two games—dominant swing-and-miss stuff early (20 whiffs, 44.4% CSW), followed by a rough fourth inning where command slipped, and mistakes got punished. It’s a reminder of both the upside and volatility in this rotation.

Offensively, the Cubs created plenty of traffic but couldn’t capitalize, going 4-for-19 with runners in scoring position and leaving nine on base. Still, there were positives, including a strong day from Michael Busch at the top of the lineup.

The guys also break down a much bigger piece of news: the Cubs have signed Nico Hoerner to a six-year extension, locking up the second baseman beyond his would-be free agency. It’s the second major extension in a week—following Pete Crow-Armstrong’s deal—and a clear signal that the Cubs believe they are firmly in a contention window right now.

They also touch on the new challenge system, how it should be used, and early impressions from Opening Day. Plus, a quick discussion on lineup construction, including Ian Happ’s tough day and where he fits best moving forward.

And don’t forget — Bleacher Nation Cubs just added three new writers, so be sure to check out even more coverage all season long.

A special thank you to Ankin Law for sponsoring this podcast!

Visit Ankin Law's Website ➡️ ankinlaw.com

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