{"id":656709,"date":"2026-04-01T14:02:21","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T14:02:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/656709\/"},"modified":"2026-04-01T14:02:21","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T14:02:21","slug":"cubs-eager-to-rebound-from-challenging-performance-vs-angels-field-level-media-professional-sports-content-solutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/656709\/","title":{"rendered":"Cubs eager to rebound from ‘challenging’ performance vs. Angels – Field Level Media – Professional sports content solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"

After being shut out just once at home last season, the Chicago Cubs matched that mark in 2026 with a 2-0 setback to the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

The Cubs will look to rebound from that loss in the rubber match of a three-game series on Wednesday afternoon.<\/p>\n

Chicago rolled to a 7-2 victory in Monday\u2019s series opener as left fielder Ian Happ homered for the third straight game. Happ wasn\u2019t as electric the next night, though, going 0-for-2 with two walks and a strikeout Tuesday while four Angels pitchers combined on a four-hit shutout.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had four singles, four walks, one error \u2026 challenging, for sure,\u201d Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. \u201cBut regardless, you\u2019ve got to put more pressure on a pitcher in any situation, and we just didn\u2019t apply pressure (on Tuesday).\u201d<\/p>\n

The Cubs limited the Angels to five hits on Tuesday. Oswald Peraza doubled among his two hits while Logan O\u2019Hoppe had a two-run single to account for lone runs of the game.<\/p>\n

Angels leadoff man Zach Neto walked to start the night. He has six walks in as many games after walking only 33 times last season. Neto enters Wednesday with a .345 on-base percentage.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe past couple years I\u2019ve been super aggressive, especially on 3-2 (counts), just trying to do too much maybe and swinging at pitches that the pitcher wants me to swing at,\u201d Neto said. \u201cI think the league has noticed that I\u2019m a very aggressive hitter. It\u2019s just a matter of slowing everything down and taking my pitches when I need to.<\/p>\n

Wednesday\u2019s pitching matchup will pit a pair of left-handers looking to improve on their first starts of the season.<\/p>\n

Chicago\u2019s Matthew Boyd (0-1, 14.73 ERA) scuffled Thursday in his first career Opening Day start. He lasted just 3 2\/3 innings against the Washington Nationals, allowing six runs and six hits, including a home run, while walking one and striking out seven in a 10-4 loss.<\/p>\n

While Boyd pledged to move past a poor performance, he still used the word \u201cawesome\u201d to describe the pomp and circumstance of Opening Day and called the energy \u201cgreat.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRegardless of the result, it\u2019s still a really special day and I\u2019m really grateful to be a part of it,\u201d Boyd said. \u201cObviously, I wish it was a different result.\u201d<\/p>\n

Los Angeles\u2019 Yusei Kikuchi (0-0, 4.15 ERA) took a no-decision against the host Houston Astros on Friday but ultimately contributed to an Angels win. The southpaw spaced two runs and eight hits in 4 1\/3 innings with one walk and three strikeouts.<\/p>\n

As with Boyd, Kikuchi surrendered a home run, but blasts from Josh Lowe, Mike Trout and Neto helped Los Angeles to a 6-2 victory.<\/p>\n

Boyd is 2-1 with a 2.41 ERA in five career appearances (three starts) vs. the Angels. He has 17 strikeouts in 18 2\/3 innings.<\/p>\n

Kikuchi will face the Cubs for the first time in his career. He has pitched against every other major league team.<\/p>\n

\u2013Field Level Media<\/p>\n

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