During the 2026 Major League Baseball postseason, the Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, and Houston Astros quickly exited, exposing fatal roster flaws that the regular season had managed to mask.
The Chicago Cubs entered the postseason having scored more runs than any team in baseball during the regular season, bolstered by Pete Crow-Armstrong hitting 45 home runs and stealing 41 bases. However, their rotation — which featured Shota Imanaga allowing a majors-leading 34 home runs — was built on the premise that the lineup would cover up its flaws. In their wild-card series against the San Diego Padres, the Cubs scored just one run, and Crow-Armstrong combined with Alex Bregman to go 0-for-15 with eight strikeouts.
Offensive Droughts in Boston and Houston
Boston’s troubles mirrored its regular-season offensive output, where the team finished 23rd in runs and 26th in home runs. The Red Sox managed only two runs across 18 innings against the New York Yankees, collecting just seven hits in total before Willson Contreras hit a solo home run in the sixth inning of Game 2. First-year manager Chad Tracy pulled both starting pitchers, Payton Tolle and Sonny Gray, with two outs in the fifth inning while trailing 1-0, noting he felt forced to manage aggressively because the team could not score.
In Houston, the Astros faced a different burden after needing a club-record 19 starting pitchers to navigate the 162-game schedule. In an elimination game against the Chicago White Sox, right-hander Hunter Brown threw 36 pitches to record just two outs, allowing four runs in the first inning alone.
Chicago Cubs Must Rebuild Their Pitching Rotation
As the eliminated clubs head to the golf course, each faces distinct demands to get stronger for next fall. Chicago must completely rebuild a rotation as Imanaga, Kevin Gausman, Matthew Boyd, and Clay Holmes all head to free agency. While injured arms like Cade Horton and Justin Steele work their way back, the Cubs may need to pursue a top-tier stopper like two-time American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal.
It is unclear how aggressively these front offices will spend to patch their fatal flaws.
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