The offense is malfunctioning, but at least the Cubs defense isn’t broken.
In the fifth inning, second baseman Nico Hoerner made a memorable play when he charged in to field a well-placed drag bunt by the Astros’ Cesar Salazar. Hoerner grabbed the ball barehanded and with his momentum taking him away from first base, flipped the ball between his legs to Michael Busch for the out.
“Nico is always creative out there,” said Cubs starter Colin Rea, who went seven innings but allowed two home runs by Houston’s Christian Walker. “He was coming so fast towards home that it’s not like he had enough time to turn his body and throw it. It was his only play and it was incredible to see.”
Nico Hoerner BETWEEN THE LEGS 🤯 pic.twitter.com/GGpinBVbsA
— MLB (@MLB) May 23, 2026
Center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, who leapt into the ivy in the sixth to make a catch on a Braden Shewmake drive, had a good view of Hoerner’s play.
“That was pretty cool,” Crow-Armstrong said. “That was definitely something to smile about when stuff wasn’t really going our way. I got a kick out of that in center field but that just goes to show he’ll make just about every play where the ball touches his glove or his hand.”
New kids on the block
Before Saturday’s game, the Cubs recalled outfielder Kevin Alcantara from Triple-A Iowa. Manager Craig Counsell wasn’t exactly committal about how much Alcantara would play.
“Kevin’s on the roster,” Counsell said. “If there’s spots to get him in there, absolutely.”
Counsell did find a spot for Alcantara, but he struck out in the seventh pinch-hitting for Michael Conforto.
Saturday was not Alcantara’s Cubs debut – he’s appeared in 13 games for the Cubs, 10 last year and three in 2024 – and sees his role as helping in whatever way’s necessary.
“Whether it’s on the field or even just personal, anything in the clubhouse, literally to be able to wait for an opportunity and help and contribute any way possible,” Alcantara said through a translator. “We’re all a team, so we’re all here to support each other and collaborate.”
Another way Alcantara could contribute is with needed power. Alcantara, 23, hit 15 home runs and slugged .567 with Iowa, reflecting the work he’s done to prepare for this chance.
“See the ball and hit it hard, that’s what my mindset was,” Alcantara said.
Alcantara is also familiar with infielder Pedro Ramirez, who was recalled Friday. The two were teammates at Iowa, and Alcantara said Ramirez always listens and learns.
Ramirez did make his big-league debut Saturday, pinch-hitting in the eighth and grounding out to second.
In a corresponding move, infielder Nicky Lopez was designated for assignment. Lopez went 0 for 5 over four games.
Pitching updates
Starter Matthew Boyd (left meniscus) threw around 50 pitches in a bullpen Saturday. Counsell called it a “volume day” and said Boyd will throw a live bullpen during the Cubs’ upcoming road trip in Pittsburgh.
Boyd was placed on the 10-day injured list on May 6 (retroactive to May 4).
Fellow starter Edward Cabrera has a bullpen scheduled for Sunday and is “all good,” per Counsell. Cabrera left his start Wednesday with a blister on his right middle finger.