Windy City Breakdown

The Cubs offense disappeared in the postseason for the second straight year. Is there anything to that? Is it just a product of playoff baseball? Or is there something the Cubs can tangibly point to and address in future seasons? Andy Martínez, Tony Andracki and Kyle Millinowisch examine this issue while also taking a look at the delta between the Cubs and Brewers and providing thoughts on how the...

The 2026 Cubs season ended in disappointment in a Wild Card sweep at the hands of the Padres in San Diego. President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer met with the media Friday afternoon, providing an honest assessment of the season and explaining how the Cubs "let one slip away." Andy Martínez and Tony Andracki react to Hoyer's comments while Kyle Millinowisch provides his thoughts and instant rea...

ESPN and Marquee Sports Network reporter Taylor McGregor joins the Windy City Breakdown Podcast to preview the Cubs-Padres NL Wild Card Series and chat about her career on the North Side of Chicago. McGregor and the WCB panel of Andy Martínez, Tony Andracki and Kyle Millinowisch each predict how the Wild Card Series might play out in San Diego, including their choices for X-factors on each team as...

The Chicago Cubs have clinched a playoff spot, but there is still much to be decided as far as seeding and opponent for the Wild Card Series goes. Kyle Millinowisch and Tony Andracki attempt to answer the most pressing questions surrounding this team, including: -What can we expect from Alex Bregman now that he has returned to the Cubs lineup? -How will the Cubs roll out their rotation and pitchin...

The Chicago Cubs have less than a dozen games before the postseason -- so what should give fans optimism and what should cause them concern? The Windy City Breakdown analyzes the stretch run for the Cubs, then they discuss a big Week 1 win for the Bears. Tony Andracki, Kyle Millinowisch and Andy Martínez share why the Cubs should give you optimism for a deep run, then they discuss why you should b...

The Chicago Cubs were just swept by the Milwaukee Brewers, leading to another 10-game gap in the NL Central -- just like two years ago. So what is the Panic Meter at for the Cubs, both in terms of making the playoffs and putting together a deep run in October? Zooming out, the Cubs rank No. 1 in team defense and offense but have the 30th-ranked pitching staff based on FanGraphs' WAR. How did this...

The Cubs bullpen -- which looked like a strength earlier in the year -- scuffled in a tough loss to the Brewers at Wrigley Field. Tony Andracki, Kyle Millinowisch and Andy Martínez break down the reliever issues for the Cubs and how concerned they are for the team as a whole with the playoffs nearing.  The trio breaks down what's going on with the Cubs, whether they could have done more and w...

The Cubs suffered a pair of difficult walk-off losses to the Mariners and Diamondbacks, then received some concerning news on right-hander Ben Brown. Tony Andracki, Kyle Millinowisch and Andy Martínez discuss the state of the Cubs after their West Coast trip. The trio also discuss whether or not you should be concerned about the Cubs bullpen situation.  Later in the pod, they discuss Merrill...

Pete Crow-Armstrong had an emphatic moment in his 2026 MVP-caliber campaign as he launched a pair of home runs, including a walk-off blast, against the White Sox in the Cubs win in the Crosstown Classic. Andy Martínez, Tony Andracki and Kyle Millinowisch recap the incredible night from PCA and assess what this means for his MVP campaign, especially going up against the Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani.  The...

Jed Hoyer and the Chicago Cubs showed their aggressiveness this trade deadline, acquiring pitchers Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes, Ryan Zeferjahn and Braxton Garrett, and outfielder Tyrone Taylor. The front office showed a willingness to try and bolster a roster that has been positive in 2026. Andy Martínez, Tony Andracki and Kyle Millinowisch break down all of the moves a day after the deadline. The...

Alex Bregman and Nico Hoerner have completely turned things around since the All-Star Break as the Cubs continue their incredibly streaky season. Andy Martínez, Tony Andracki and Kyle Millinowisch evaluate the team's most recent 27-12 stretch (a story we've seen before) and wonders what comes next. Plus, they react to Jameson Taillon's somewhat surprising DFA and what it means for the Cubs pitchin...

The MLB trade deadline is rapidly approaching and the Cubs have a very curious situation ahead of them. Do they go all-in and try to target pitchers like Tarik Skubal and Mason Miller? Andy Martínez, Tony Andracki and Kyle Millinowisch debate the Cubs' approach to the deadline, including laying out their own ideas of what a perfect trade haul would look like to boost this 2026 roster. The panel th...

The Chicago Cubs enter the All-Star Break 12 games over .500 and in a playoff position, but it's arguably been one of the wildest rides to that point. Tony Andracki, Andy Martínez and Kyle Millinowisch assess the team's first half and what the rest of the season may look like for this unpredictable team. Then, the trio handout some midseason superlatives and awards, including: - Biggest surprise o...

Pete Crow-Armstrong has been on another level for a month-and-a-half, begging the question: Did the Cubs actually fleece him in the $115 million contract extension they signed him to before the 2026 season? Crow-Armstrong's hot stretch and eye-popping skillset was a main topic of conversation on the latest Windy City Breakdown Podcast as hosts Tony Andracki, Kyle Millinowisch and Zoe Grossman disc...

The Cubs could put together a very strong pitching staff just with all the guys on the injured list. Ben Brown, Edward Cabrera and key relievers have all landed on the shelf over the last week, putting the Cubs in a bit of a bid. Andy Martínez, Tony Andracki and Kyle Millinowisch discuss all the pitching injuries on the Windy City Breakdown Podcast and how the Cubs weather the storm. The panel als...

The Cubs just finished up the easiest stretch of their schedule, where they went 6-6 against two of the worst teams in baseball (Giants, Rockies). Despite Pete Crow-Armstrong's superstar hot streak, the offense still can't find its way with runners in scoring position and the pitching staff continues to deal with a litany of injuries. Andy Martínez, Tony Andracki and Kyle Millinowisch welcome Zoe...

The Cubs were the best team in baseball through their first 39 games. But in the 30 games since then, they were among the worst teams in baseball with an 8-22 record. How did that happen? Why has the season gone sideways? The Bigs' Eugene McIntosh joins Andy Martínez, Tony Andracki and Kyle Millinowisch on the Windy City Breakdown podcast to attempt to answer those questions -- the biggest questio...

The Cubs are getting some reinforcements back on the pitching staff with Matthew Boyd and Edward Cabrera set to return in the next week or so. But how effective will they be? And who will get bumped from the rotation? One pitcher who looks like a sure thing to stick around is Ben Brown, who may actually be the Cubs' best bet for an All-Star next month. Andy Martínez, Tony Andracki and Kyle Millino...

FINALLY. It happened. The Cubs won a game. After a brutal 10-game slog, the Chicago Cubs came out victorious in Pittsburgh, halting the franchise's toughest stretch since that fateful losing streak in the summer of 2021. Andy Martínez, Tony Andracki and Kyle Millinowisch discuss the latest streak on the Windy City Breakdown Podcast and try to make sense of a team that put up a pair of 10-game winn...

The Cubs are in a funk. They were firing on all cylinders earlier in the year, with multiple 10-game winning streaks. But they are in the upside down right now, struggling in every aspect of the game. Andy Martínez, Tony Andracki and Kyle Millinowisch analyze it all on the latest Windy City Breakdown Podcast, from the series sweep at the hands of the "no-name" Brewers to Pete Crow-Armstrong's cont...

Crosstown Classics are always fun, but the first edition of the 2026 matchup between the Cubs and White Sox should be a blast. Andy Martínez, Kyle Millinowisch and Tony Andracki are joined by CHSN's Chuck Garfien to preview the matchup between the two teams that are off to strong starts. Chuck also shares the behind-the-scenes, incredible story of breaking the news that the White Sox were retiring...

The Cubs are off to their best start since 2016 (and one of the greatest starts in franchise history). Why? Andy Martínez, Tony Andracki and Kyle Millinowisch break it down on the latest Windy City Breakdown Podcast, discussing "undertalked" about storylines, the keys behind the team's winning streaks and success at home and much more. Plus, a view at how ABS has changed the game and why Carson Ke...

The NFL Draft is in the books and the Bears added some playmakers to their roster. The Score's Chris Emma stops by the Windy City Breakdown to chat with Andy Martínez, Tony Andracki and Kyle Millinowisch on the Bears' draft haul, what to make of Dillon Thieneman and provides an answer as to why the heck the team took a tight end in the third round. Plus, how do the Cubs survive the wild rash of in...

The Cubs haven't lost for a calendar week and seem to be firing on all cylinders right now. Andy Martínez, Tony Andracki and Kyle Millinowisch each provide their top takeaway from the team's 6-game winning streak. Is it time to talk about Colin Rea and his underrated contributions on the Cubs pitching staff over the last two seasons? Does Moisés Ballesteros need to more against lefties? Are the Pi...

Cade Horton is officially done for the season. How does that affect the calculus for the 2026 Chicago Cubs? The Athletic's Patrick Mooney joins the Windy City Breakdown Podcast to chat with Andy Martínez, Tony Andracki and Kyle Millinowisch about what comes next for the Cubs in the aftermath of Horton's devastating injury. Does this mean the Cubs will be actively searching for a rotation upgrade o...