CHICAGO -- The last time Wrigley Field was packed with fans prior to Thursday’s season opener, the Cubs pulled off a needed win to keep their October dreams alive. The North Siders nabbed a victory over the rival Brewers to force a decisive Game 5 in the National League Division Series.
Cubs fans know what happened next, but the arrival of the 2026 season is an official turning of the page and a renewal of hope for another deep postseason run. The players also remember the sting of their October ending and carried that with them through the offseason and into Spring Training and back to the Friendly Confines on this Opening Day.
“I think sometimes that’s the best catalyst for a good season, is the disappointment of the year before at the end, but also the confidence that season gave them. I think that combination is really powerful, and I can feel that with this group.”
The Cubs believe they are better equipped for the 162-game schedule ahead and the expected October run to follow. Chicago brought in star third baseman Alex Bregman via free agency, swung a trade for hard-throwing starter Edward Cabrera and overhauled the bullpen. The roster is deeper, more experienced and believes it can improve on the Wild Card berth and 92-win showing a year ago.
And Chicago is thinking beyond just this year, too.
After the game, the Cubs officially announced a six-year extension with star center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, keeping him as part of the core through the 2032 season. News also broke following the season-opening loss that second baseman Nico Hoerner -- a crucial leader for this group -- reached an agreement (via source) on a six-year extension, too.
“We’ve got a great team,” Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson said. “We have all the pieces that we need in place. There’s depth. There’s consistency. There’s experience. There’s stuff. There’s personality. Things are in a great place.”
Things just got off to a rocky start for the Cubs.
Opening Day starter Matthew Boyd -- coming off an All-Star showing last year for Chicago -- was charged with six runs and was chased after just 3 2/3 innings. The veteran lefty struck out seven and generated 20 whiffs (his most in an outing since Aug. 3, 2019), but the first five Nationals batters reached in the fourth to spark a six-run outburst.
Boyd nonetheless cherished the chance to start for the Cubs to begin this important season.
“It was awesome. The energy out there was great,” Boyd said. “It’s so fun to be back at Wrigley and the fans are electric, the energy that they bring. It was a really special day. Regardless of the result, it’s still a really special day and I'm really grateful to be a part of it. Obviously, I wish it was a different result.”
On a blustery day on the North Side, Chicago’s offense managed three runs (two earned) off Washington righty Cade Cavalli, who also exited before the end of the fourth inning. Michael Busch and Crow-Armstrong each connected for an RBI single off Cavalli. In the seventh, Crow-Armstrong also used a bunt single to score Busch from third, trying to spark a comeback.
The Cubs ended with only four hits in 19 at-bats with runners in scoring position.
“We had a lot of guys on base -- a lot of traffic,” said Bregman, who had a walk and a single in his Cubs debut. “Obviously, that’s a good thing. Hopefully here, we’ll get it rolling and capitalize on those opportunities. … It was an awesome environment. This is a loud, fun place to play. Everything but the win. So next time, let’s get the win.”
It was not the ideal start, but there is a long road ahead with big expectations for this Cubs squad.
“Day 1 is different and it’s fun. It’s the start of something,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “And then the baseball season quickly settles into a marathon. And that’s fun, too. I think that’s the part that I love about these guys, is that they really enjoy the marathon of it. That’s really important in a baseball season. The details. That’s how you rack up wins, to me.
“You absolutely need talent. First and foremost, talent is how you do it. But caring about the details every single day is something that I think this team is good at, and [what] we have to be good at to put up a big win number.”