'Could this be?' Is there a team performing better than the Dodgers and Yankees? The Chicago Cubs have achieved two 10-game winning streaks in 91 years — their momentum is unstoppable! Japanese core players are truly remarkable.

*This content was translated by AI.

This is truly "crazy momentum." It is not the "Space Legion" Los Angeles Dodgers, nor the "traditional powerhouse" New York Yankees. The team dominating the early 2026 Major League Baseball season is the Chicago Cubs, anchored by Japanese core players including left-handed pitcher Sho Imanaga (33) and outfielder Seiya Suzuki (32).

On the 9th (Korean time), the Cubs secured a decisive 7-1 victory over the Texas Rangers in an away game at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. They added three runs in the seventh inning, when they were already leading 4-1, to seal the game.

With this win, the Cubs recorded their second 10-game winning streak of the season, improving their record to 27 wins and 12 losses (winning percentage 0.692). They have firmly secured the top spot in the overall MLB standings, surpassing the New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves (both with a winning percentage of 0.667). The Dodgers, with 24 wins and 14 losses (winning percentage 0.632), also trail the Cubs.

The Cubs' performance this season is extraordinary. According to U.S. sports specialty media outlet The Athletic, the Cubs have recorded two 10-game winning streaks in a single season for the first time in 91 years, since 1935. Notably, achieving two 10-game winning streaks within just 40 games after the season opener is the fifth time in MLB history. Considering that most teams to achieve this record have gone on to win the World Series, the Cubs' momentum this season is no ordinary feat.

At the center of this success are the performances of Japanese players. On this day, Japanese batter Seiya Suzuki started as the cleanup hitter and right fielder, hitting his seventh home run of the season to showcase his offensive power. On the mound, ace Sho Imanaga has been a cornerstone of the starting rotation with stable pitching, posting a 4-2 record and a 2.28 ERA in eight games since the start of the season. Under the contributions of these Japanese core players, the Cubs have built a perfect balance on both offense and defense.

In particular, Seiya Suzuki, who suffered a knee injury during the World Baseball Classic (WBC) that concluded in March, made his long-awaited MLB debut for the season on April 11. Despite the late start, he has contributed significantly to the team with solid statistics over 25 games: a .304 batting average (28 hits in 92 at-bats), seven home runs, 16 RBIs, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.979. Although his start was somewhat delayed, he ranks second on the team in home runs, trailing only Ian Happ (nine home runs).

In fact, the game on the 9th was nothing short of perfect. Seiya Suzuki hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning to take control of the game while the Cubs were leading 1-0. Michael Conforto, who joined the Cubs from the Dodgers after last season, led the Cubs' lineup with two hits in four at-bats. Conforto's OPS for this season currently stands at an impressive 1.155.

On the mound, Ben Brown (27), who started as an "opener" to fill the void left by Matthew Boyd (35), who was sidelined due to a knee injury while caring for his child, silenced the Texas Rangers' lineup with a no-hit performance over four innings, allowing not a single hit. The relief pitchers who followed secured the victory by allowing only one run, locking the door from the back.

The Cubs, who have won 20 games (with three losses) in their last 23 games, are currently displaying overwhelming home-field dominance with a 15-game home winning streak. Both their run differential (+56) and total runs scored (215) rank among the very top in Major League Baseball. If this continues, analysts suggest the Cubs could surpass not only the 103rd wins they achieved during their 2016 World Series championship season but also the franchise record of 116 wins set in the 1906 season.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.