Wrigley Field has been buzzing this spring. The Cubs have turned the old ballpark into something close to a no-fly zone for visiting teams, ripping off 15 straight victories at the Friendly Confines. Left-hander Shota Imanaga swears there is “this, like, power” at Wrigley that you cannot see but definitely feel.
The run started on April 12 and hit 15 with a four-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds. That makes it the longest streak at Wrigley since 1935 and the franchise’s best home heater since an 1880 stretch. As reported by MLB.com, the surge has turned Wrigley into one of the toughest places to play in baseball this season.
Imanaga has been at the center of the surge. The lefty came back after accepting a one-year qualifying offer and has helped steady a banged-up rotation. His choice to return on a $22.025 million qualifying deal, along with his strong early form, was detailed by the Chicago Sun‑Times.
The scoreboard drama has matched the vibes. The Cubs have already pulled off six walk-off wins during the streak and posted a plus-40 run differential. The crowds have shown up too, with an average of more than 33,000 fans per game and nearly half a million fans total over the 15 contests, according to The New York Times.
Why Wrigley Feels Different
Momentum is doing laps around the ivy right now. A couple of late-game finishes, the wind off Lake Michigan turning routine flies into chaos, and a locked-in crowd can flip an ordinary night into something that feels historic. Team historian Ed Hartig and the club’s records note that Chicago has now put together separate undefeated homestands of at least seven games in a single season for the first time since the 19th century, a feat chronicled by MLB.com. Runs like that only crank up the noise and the confidence.
Depth, Injuries and What’s Next
The hot streak has not come without some damage to the pitching staff. Cade Horton is out long term, Justin Steele is still on the mend, and Matthew Boyd underwent surgery to repair a partial meniscus tear and is expected to miss roughly six weeks. The front office reacted with a series of moves, including selecting Trent Thornton to the active roster, as outlined by MLB Trade Rumors. So far, the Wrigley win streak has cushioned the blow from those absences.
Right now, the split is glaring. Chicago sits comfortably above .500 at home and under .500 on the road, a contrast that underscores just how much the park, the crowd and the timing of the wins have mattered. Per The New York Times, that home dominance could be the edge the Cubs lean on as the season grinds forward.
