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Sports Thursday, April 23, 2026 | | |
| | | | | Good morning, Chicago. Manager Craig Counsell and the Cubs expected some cobwebs in Matthew Boyd’s outing last night against the Phillies at Wrigley Field. The left-hander was pitching in his first game in the majors in 21 days, after a bicep injury landed him on the 15-day injured list. Boyd worked around a rocky second inning to toss 4 2/3 innings of two-run ball on five hits in the Cubs’ 7-2 win over the Phillies that extended their winning streak to eight. It’s the Cubs’ first streak of eight or more wins in the month of April since 1970. The Phillies, meanwhile, have lost eight straight, their longest skid since 2018. Fans celebrate a 7-2 Cubs win over the Phillies at Wrigley Field on April 22, 2026, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) “I think that’s hopefully what you expect is a little bit of rust after not being
out there that much for the last three weeks,” Counsell said after the win. Boyd’s return to the Cubs rotation is a welcome boost for a group that has thrived during the winning streak. Cubs starters boast a 2.09 ERA in that span, the third-best mark in the majors. On Wednesday, Boyd and the rest of the Cubs’ staff continued to show just how strong they’ve been. Today’s eNewspaper edition | Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History | | | | The Democratic-run Illinois House passed the latest proposal to help the Chicago Bears build a new stadium in Arlington Heights. | | | | | Carnell Tate, Pat Coogan and Jimmy Rolder were together at Marist High School “for a real short amount of time,” but they’ve had a lasting impact. | | | | | The NFL draft begins Thursday. The Chicago Bears pick at No. 25 in the first round. Here’s everything fans need to know ahead of the draft, including how to watch. | | | | | Munetaka Murakami joined an exclusive club of Chicago White Sox to hit home runs in five consecutive games. Miguel Vargas and Colson Montgomery also continued home run streaks. | | | | | The Chicago Cubs have their first streak of eight or more wins in the month of April since 1970. | | | | | “Captain Connor Bedard” has a ring to it, and the Chicago Blackhawks star says he would be ready for the challenge. | | | |
