The Cubs’ first half was full of ups and downs, as Chicago navigated injuries and both 10-game winning and losing streaks. However, they have managed to remain in the playoff race for nearly the entire season. Chicago remains behind the Brewers for the N.L. Central, but also in possession of the top Wild Card spot. Now, they get a chance to rest up during the All-Star break. Here’s a closer look at some of the key players who have driven the team through 96 games.
Cubs First Half Awards
Cy Young of the Cubs First Half: Ben Brown
Through the Cubs’ first half of the season, the pitching has been the story of the season. Overall, it was negative, as it was one of Chicago’s biggest weaknesses. On the bright side, there has been one good story for the team. Ben Brown, before he went down with an injury, was in the midst of a breakout season. He started the season off as a reliever, but once he broke into the starting rotation, he never looked back. Unfortunately, due to his neck injury, it is hard to say when he will be back in 2026.
Cubs right-hander Ben Brown was diagnosed with a stress reaction in his neck, manager Craig Counsell says.
“It’s a very similar injury to ’24,” Counsell says.
Brown will be limited in his activity for the next month, then the Cubs will decide/know more from there. pic.twitter.com/cYTACY83F0
— 104.3 The Score (@thescorechicago) June 25, 2026
Brown had been one of the biggest prospects for the Cubs for years, but struggled to adjust to the Major League level. Coming into 2026, there was more optimism, as he added more to his pitch arsenal. This clearly paid off, as in 68 innings, he went 4-2. The 26-year-old pitcher had a 1.85 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 65 strikeouts. Through all of the injuries, Brown was holding down the rotation and acting like a true ace. Despite his limited action, there are no other options that come close to the success in the pitching department.
Breakout Player of the Cubs First Half: Ryan Rolison
Giving Ben Brown this award would be a top choice, but since he received the Cy Young Award, I decided to change it up a bit. Also, due to the streakiness of the bats, it is hard to give any of the hitters this award. Staying on the pitching side of things, Ryan Rolison has been one of the best relievers for the team. He and Trent Thornton are two of the biggest surprises this season. Still, Rolison has had a bit more of a breakout, given that this is only his second season at the Major League level, following a rough 7.02 ERA in 42.1 innings with the Rockies last season.
In 2026, Rolison has already almost matched his innings from last year, being at 35.1 innings. In those appearances, he has a 2.80 ERA and 36 strikeouts. Additionally, he is 5-1, also adding one save. Last season, he had a -0.3 WAR, and in the 2026 Cubs’ first half, he recorded a 0.6 WAR. This leap has been crucial for Chicago, which has lost the majority of its pitchers due to injuries. He has managed to increase his consistency, although that has been in question recently, and his command, making him a dangerous weapon out of the bullpen.
Biggest Disappointment of the Cubs’ First Half: Edward Cabrera
On the other side of things, there have been a few rough spots for Chicago in the first half of the season. With how poor the starting rotation was, I was half tempted to put that unit as a whole here. Then Alex Bregman came to mind, but his ability to stay on the field and provide strong defense made him a safe option. That made Edward Cabrera the biggest disappointment for the Cubs in the first half. When Chicago traded for Cabrera, it gave up significant capital in hopes that he would become a star.
His 2026 season has been far from that, as injuries and poor stretches have plagued the first half. Two injured list stints limited him to 72.1 innings. In those games, he is 5-4 with a 5.10 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. Cabrera’s -0.7 WAR is the worst in his career so far. Additionally, his latest injury makes it hard to predict when he will be able to return. He still has a chunk of the season and future years to make this trade pay off. Yet, so far, it feels safe to say that it has backfired and that he was one of the most disappointing players in the Cubs’ first half.
MVP of the Cubs First Half: Pete Crow-Armstrong
Similar to the Cy Young award, the MVP of the Cubs’ first half is pretty clear. Pete Crow-Armstrong has been both the best hitter and best player on the team. To take it a step further, he has been one of the league’s best players and will represent Chicago in the All-Star Game. His combination of defense, hitting, and speed is something that very few players are capable of. Also, he has more than doubled his walk rate from 4.5% to 11.2%.
Pete Crow-Armstrong MLB position-player ranks entering the All-Star break…
AVG: 19th
OBP: 12th
SLG: 14th
OPS: 9th
wOBA: t-6th
wRC+: 6th
BsR: 11th
HR: t-13th
SB: t-4th
fWAR: 1st
bWAR: 1stFanGraphs’ overall offensive metric: 3rd
FanGraphs’ overall defensive metric: 2nd— Matt Clapp (@TheBlogfines) July 12, 2026
Crow-Armstrong’s 5.8 WAR ranks second in all of baseball, only behind Shohei Ohtani. This season, he is hitting .291 and has 53 RBI and 63 runs. Also, he is already in the 20-20 club, with 21 home runs and 24 stolen bases. His 4.6 offensive WAR is third best in the league, while his 1.5 defensive WAR is tied for fifth best. There are very few players who can compare to being an elite player in every aspect of the game. Crow-Armstrong has been the reason behind the Cubs’ offensive growth, is the clear MVP of the Cubs’ first half, and one of the top N.L. MVP candidates.
Last Word on the Cubs’ First Half
Chicago had an interesting first half to say the least. You will commonly see teams go through slumps and hot streaks, but the extent to which the Cubs did so was unusual. However, they have managed to remain one of the top teams in the league. Whether for positive or negative reasons, these four players have played major roles in how 2026 has gone so far. Now, the hope is that they can become healthier and more consistent so they can return to the playoffs and make a deep run.
Main Photo Credits: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images
