3 Takeaways After Homers and Solid Bullpen Effort Lift Cubs Over Nationals

The Cubs are a season-high 20-games over .500, with exactly 42 games left to play.

In an 8-6 win, the Chicago Cubs (70-50) took down the Washington Nationals (59-62) and their league-leading offense. Both teams hit three home runs while the Cubs scored at least a run in 5 consecutive innings, overcoming a Nationals 3-1 lead in the 2nd.

The Cubs also gained a game on the Brewers with their victory, now sitting 4.5 games back of the top spot in the National League Central. Their lead for the top Wild Card spot is 6.5 games. With their 8-2 record in the last 10 games, the Cubs are in a great spot heading into the dog days of summer.

The long balls were the story

Aug 9, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman (3) at bat during the ninth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Both the Cubs and Nationals went deep three times, with Shota Imanaga allowing 3 homers in 4.2 innings of work. After a 2-run home run by CJ Abrams in the bottom of the 1st, Imanaga would manage to keep the other two long balls solo home runs and left the game with the Cubs leading 6-3 in the bottom of the 5th.

Imanaga avoided the big inning and let the Cubs work their way back into the game quickly. And after a monster solo home run from Pete Crow-Armstrong, the Cubs pulled within one run at 3-2 in top of the 3rd.

🫨 PETE pic.twitter.com/WggRhmcvSK
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 11, 2026

PCA popped that Jake Irvin fastball for his 27th home run of the year, landing in the third level of seats at Nationals Park. In the bottom of the 7th, Alex Bregman hit his own solo shot, marking his 13th of the year. This was followed by Seiya Suzuki smashing his 20th home run of the year, giving the Cubs an 8-4 lead.

The Nationals lived up to the top run-scoring offense in the MLB and pushed two more runs in the 8th before getting the tying run up to the plate in the 9th. But the Cubs' offense came through with key insurance runs late in the game, and they ended up being enough for the win.

Bullpen regulars get the job done again

Aug 7, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Jacob Webb (71) celebrates with catcher Carson Kelly (15) after the win over the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Cubs bullpen has found a groove as of late, with names like Ryan Rolison, Trent Thornton, and Jacob Webb becoming mainstays in Craig Counsell's bullpen this season. All three combined to limit the Nationals to just 2 hits, no runs, and 5 K's, covering 3.2 innings for the Cubs this evening.

Newcomer Ryan Zeferjahn had a strange inning of work, allowing the two other Nats runs after five consecutive hard-hit balls. Zeferjahn's strikeout stuff wasn't there, but the rest of the bullpen picked him up, with Jacob Webb getting a 4-out save.

"He's been nails. Those four-out saves are tough ... that's a well-earned save and Jacob's done a heck of a job."

Craig Counsell on Jacob Webb 🔥 pic.twitter.com/lCaBSuNzll
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) August 12, 2026

The Cubs did have to use four arms after Imanaga ran out of gas before the 5th inning. With that in mind, Counsell will likely lean on starter David Peterson for some extra work in Game 2. The Cubs should have Javier Assad, Aaron Civale, and Caleb Thielbar available, but with Webb getting four outs and Zeferjahn throwing 23 pitches, it's unlikely either will be available to close.

Cubs arms are getting healthy

Jun 23, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Edward Cabrera (30) delivers a pitch during the third inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Cubs already added two veteran arms in Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes at the trade deadline, but their big off-season acquisition in Edward Cabrera is close to returning to the squad. The 28-year-old right-hander threw 5 no-hit innings tonight in a rehab start for the Cubs' Double-A affiliate.

Edward Cabrera threw 5 innings of no-hit baseball in his rehab start in Knoxville tonight 🔥 5 IP | 0 H | 0 ER | 1 BB | 7 Ks 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/QQYAisXqHM
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) August 12, 2026

The Cubs' rotation is starting to get crowded already, and Cabrera getting back into the mix raises the ceiling on what is looking like a talent stable of starters for the Cubbies. Cabrera could slide into the bullpen and provide some plus-plus stuff towards the back of the bullpen or eat innings behind a Clay Holmes as he rounds back into form.

Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy did say last week the plan was to build up Cabrera's pitch count, so expect him to factor into the rotation. Ben Brown is also reportedly back to his normal throwing routine and working out at the Cubs' Arizona complex, while Shelby Miller just threw in his first rehab outing this Sunday.

A lot of arms making their way back and Craig Counsell having options this late into the season is a major change from where the Cubs were just a few short months ago.

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