The Chicago Cubs enter the second half of the 2026 Major League Baseball season firmly in the National League playoff race, but with the trade deadline approaching, the club’s biggest priority has become increasingly clear: finding pitching help.
Despite sitting second in the National League Central following the All-Star break, the Cubs have struggled to establish consistency on the mound, leaving the front office with significant work to do before the Aug. 3 trade deadline if the team hopes to make a deep postseason run.
While Chicago remains within striking distance of the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers, the club is also in strong position to secure one of the National League’s three Wild Card berths. However, analysts believe the current pitching staff lacks the depth necessary to compete with the league’s top contenders over the final months of the season.
According to Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller, pitching should be the Cubs’ unquestioned focus as the deadline nears.
“The Cubs have one pitcher who has been worth more than 1.0 WAR according to Baseball-Reference or FanGraphs, and that one pitcher swingman Ben Brown has been on the injured list for a month with a stress reaction in his neck,” Miller wrote. “Starters. Closers. Middle relievers. The Cubs could use them all.”
Brown’s injury has proven especially damaging for Chicago.
Few expected the versatile right-hander to emerge as one of the Cubs’ most valuable pitchers this season, yet he became the club’s first pitcher to surpass the 1.0 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) mark before being sidelined by a neck stress reaction. His absence has exposed the lack of reliable depth throughout both the starting rotation and bullpen.
Rather than stepping up in Brown’s absence, the rest of Chicago’s pitching staff has struggled with injuries and inconsistency.
Several key starters have spent time on the injured list this season, including Matthew Boyd, Justin Steele, Edward Cabrera, Jameson Taillon, and rookie Cade Horton, whose season has already come to an end due to injury.
Meanwhile, left-hander Shota Imanaga has managed to stay healthy, making 19 starts, but his performances have varied throughout the season, preventing him from fully stabilizing the rotation.
The mounting injuries have left the Cubs with one of the thinnest pitching staffs among National League contenders, increasing the urgency for president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer to pursue reinforcements before the trade deadline.
Chicago is expected to explore several options on the pitching market, including high-profile starters who could become available if their respective clubs choose to sell.
Among the names linked to potential trade speculation are Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal and Milwaukee Brewers standout Freddy Peralta, both of whom would immediately strengthen the Cubs’ rotation if available.
The Cubs could also pursue experienced veterans such as Kansas City Royals right-hander Michael Wacha, whose postseason experience and consistency would provide valuable stability for the stretch run.
Beyond the rotation, the bullpen remains another significant concern.
Chicago has lacked dependable late-inning options throughout much of the season, meaning the front office could seek both high-leverage relievers and middle-inning arms capable of easing the workload on an already overextended pitching staff.
With the playoff race expected to tighten over the coming weeks, adding multiple pitchers may become essential if the Cubs hope to challenge Milwaukee for the National League Central crown or make a meaningful postseason run through the Wild Card.
As the Aug. 3 deadline approaches, one thing has become increasingly evident: if Chicago intends to capitalize on its playoff position, reinforcing its pitching staff will be the organization’s top priority.
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