Baseball fans across the country are witnessing something extraordinary in the early days of the 2026 MLB season. The Chicago Cubs, a team with a storied past and high expectations, have stormed their way into the record books with a feat not seen in over 70 years. On Friday night, May 8, the Cubs notched their 10th consecutive victory, dispatching the Texas Rangers 7-1 in Arlington, Texas. But this wasn’t just another win—it marked the Cubs’ second 10-game winning streak of the young season, a rarity that has baseball historians scrambling for the record books.
Let’s set the scene: the Cubs, who entered the game with a 26-12 record and riding high atop the NL Central, sent Ben Brown to the mound for his first start of the year. Brown, pressed into duty due to a rash of injuries in the Cubs’ rotation—including Matthew Boyd undergoing knee surgery—delivered four hitless innings, striking out three and lowering his ERA to a sparkling 1.82. “That is some goosebumps to think about how talented this team is. It’s special to be a part of, it’s special to witness, it’s special to watch,” Brown said after the game, reflecting the excitement echoing through the Cubs’ clubhouse.
Offensively, the Cubs wasted no time. Michael Conforto, who has been red-hot at the plate, got things started with a first-inning double. Ian Happ, whose on-base streak reached 29 games, drove Conforto in for the game’s first run. The Cubs’ approach at the plate—working counts, drawing walks, and making opposing pitchers labor—has been a defining feature of their success. “It’s been the recipe for a lot of wins,” manager Craig Counsell noted. The Cubs have become one of the league’s best at taking walks and extending at-bats, a strategy that paid dividends against Rangers starter Kumar Rocker, who was chased after just 3 2/3 innings and nearly 90 pitches.
The real fireworks came in the fourth inning. With Happ leading off with a walk and the heart of the order coming up, Seiya Suzuki delivered his seventh home run of the season—a towering shot that cleared the left field fence and put the Cubs up 3-0. That blast would stand as the game-winner, but the Cubs weren’t done. After a brief hiccup in the fifth, when Justin Foscue’s RBI single got the Rangers on the board, the Cubs bullpen slammed the door. Javier Assad took over and tossed 3 2/3 near-perfect frames, needing just over 40 pitches to keep Texas at bay.
In the sixth, Pete Crow-Armstrong chipped in with a ground-rule double to push the lead to 4-1. The Cubs then broke the game wide open in the seventh. With the bases loaded and no outs, Michael Busch delivered a three-run double, capping a relentless offensive attack. The Cubs finished with nine hits on the night, with multi-hit performances from Conforto and Crow-Armstrong. Texas, meanwhile, managed just two hits as Chicago dominated from start to finish. Ethan Roberts, newly reinstated to the roster, closed out the ninth to secure the Cubs’ 10th straight win.
“That means you’re doing something that’s pretty rare, and I think we realize that,” Counsell said, putting the accomplishment in perspective. The last team to have two 10-game winning streaks within the first 40 games of a season? The 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers, who went on to win the World Series. The Cubs now join an elite list that includes the 1941 St. Louis Cardinals, the 1887 St. Louis Browns, and even their own franchise’s 1880 White Stockings and 1906 juggernaut. “Baseball is a game of a ridiculous amount of stats and things to look up, so anytime you have to go that far back, it is obviously a good sign, especially on a positive like that,” second baseman Nico Hoerner told reporters. “We’re just going to keep it rolling.”
The Cubs’ two winning streaks came in quick succession. The first ran from April 14 through April 24. After dropping three straight, Chicago started their current run with a win over the Padres on April 28. That means the Cubs have won 20 of their last 23 games—a torrid pace by any measure. As of May 8, their record stood at 27-12, including an impressive 18-5 mark at Wrigley Field. They also boast a plus-56 run differential, the best in baseball, all while playing the second-toughest schedule in MLB as measured by opponents’ winning percentage.
What’s even more remarkable is that the Cubs have accomplished this with a depleted pitching staff. Injuries have sidelined starters like Boyd, Riley Martin, Hunter Harvey, Jordan Wicks, and others, forcing Chicago to dig deep into their rotation and bullpen. Yet, the team’s depth has shone through, with newcomers like Brown stepping up and relievers like Assad and Roberts providing stability. “That’s kudos to all the guys in the clubhouse, all the coaches, all the trainers, the sports staff,” Brown emphasized.
At the plate, the Cubs have been getting contributions from up and down the lineup. Conforto’s average soared to .375 after his two-hit night, while Crow-Armstrong quietly raised his to .255. Nico Hoerner continues to be a force, tallying four home runs, 28 RBIs, and seven steals in as many attempts. Happ, with nine home runs and 18 RBIs, has provided both power and consistency. The team’s ability to manufacture runs, combined with timely power, has turned them into a true offensive powerhouse.
The Cubs’ recent success is not coming out of nowhere. Last season, they won 92 games and reached the playoffs, but 2026 is shaping up to be something special. The team’s historical run has fans and analysts alike wondering just how far this group can go. “Two double-digit winning streaks in a season, that sounds pretty wild to me,” Brown remarked, capturing the sense of awe surrounding the club.
Looking ahead, the Cubs will try to keep the streak alive as they face the Rangers again on Saturday night at Globe Life Field. Edward Cabrera (3-0, 3.27 ERA) is set to start for Chicago, while Jack Leiter (1-3, 5.45 ERA) takes the mound for Texas. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET, with the game airing on Marquee Sports Network and Rangers Sports Network, and streaming on MLB.TV via Fubo. The Cubs’ injury list remains lengthy, but with the way this team is playing, fans have every reason to believe the magic will continue.
The baseball world will be watching closely as the Cubs chase even more history in Arlington. For now, Chicago stands alone atop the majors, their early-season heroics already the talk of the league. Can they keep this remarkable run going? With their blend of resilience, depth, and star power, the Cubs have shown they’re a force to be reckoned with in 2026.