Cubs Take Phillies Series, Imanaga Dominates & Hoerner Stays Hot | Bleacher Nation Cubs episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 16, 2026 · 50 MIN

Cubs Take Phillies Series, Imanaga Dominates & Hoerner Stays Hot | Bleacher Nation Cubs

from The Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast · host brett taylor, michael cerami

Brett and Michael are back for the fifty-eighth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! The Cubs keep their Wednesday magic alive, rolling into this episode on a high note after a strong series win over the Phillies. They break down an offensive breakout that saw the Cubs put up 21 runs over the final two games of the series, and how that momentum shifts the tone after a brief stumble earlier in the week. The guys also touch on early-season overreactions, reminding everyone that a single series doesn’t define a team—especially with the Cubs sitting right at .500. On the pitching side, Shota Imanaga delivered a dominant outing, striking out a career-high 11 batters with 26 whiffs over six innings of one-run ball. It’s exactly the version of Imanaga the Cubs need right now, especially with injuries testing the rotation’s depth. Offensively, Nico Hoerner continues to produce at a high level, tying a career high with five RBI and emerging as one of the league’s early run producers—even from the leadoff spot. The guys also check in on the rest of the NL Central, where fast starts from teams like the Reds and Pirates add a bit of early intrigue, before zooming out to the bigger picture of where the Cubs stand in the division. A special thank you to Ankin Law for sponsoring this podcast! Visit Ankin Law's Website ➡️ ankinlaw.com Get your Cubs Coverage at https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs Get your Bears Coverage at https://www.bleachernation.com/bears Get your Bulls Coverage at https://www.bleachernation.com/bulls Get your Blackhawks Coverage at https://www.bleachernation.com/blackhawks Get Sports Betting Updates, Info, & Tips at https://www.bleachernation.com/betting Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Brett and Michael react to the Cubs’ series win over the Phillies, highlight Shota Imanaga’s dominant start, and discuss Nico Hoerner’s early-season production. They also put early-season results into perspective and take a look around the NL Central.

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Cubs Take Phillies Series, Imanaga Dominates & Hoerner Stays Hot | Bleacher Nation Cubs

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This episode is 50 minutes long.

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This episode was published on April 16, 2026.

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Brett and Michael are back for the fifty-eighth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! The Cubs keep their Wednesday magic alive, rolling into this episode on a high note after a strong series win over the...

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