Cubs Demolish Mets Behind Three-Homer Barrage at Wrigley

The Chicago Cubs handed the New York Mets an embarrassing 12-4 defeat on Friday at Wrigley Field, and honestly, this wasn’t even close. This was a clinic in how to exploit a visiting pitcher having an absolute stinker, and the Cubs took full advantage with ruthless efficiency.

Let’s start with the obvious culprit: Kodai Senga lasted all of 3.1 innings before getting yanked, surrendering 6 runs on 6 hits while walking three batters. For a Mets rotation that was supposed to be the crown jewel of their roster, watching Senga get shelled this badly in April is genuinely alarming. You can’t win games when your ace is serving up meatballs to a hungry Cubs lineup.

The Cubs’ offense was absolutely ferocious. Moisés Ballesteros got things started with a three-run blast in the first inning, and frankly, you could feel the Mets’ confidence evaporate right then. This wasn’t going to be one of those grinding, competitive divisional matchups. This was a bloodbath.

Nico Hoerner was the star of the show, going 3-for-5 with a two-run homer that added insult to injury. The Cubs’ shortstop is off to a blazing start to 2026, and performances like this one prove he’s not just a flash in the pan. Ian Happ joined the home run party with a two-run shot in the eighth, essentially putting the final nail in the coffin.

Mets Can’t Get Out of Their Own Way

The Mets did manage to scrape together 4 runs, but their offensive efforts were scattered and ultimately futile. Marcus Semien drove in a run with a double in the second, and Tyrone Taylor added a two-run single in the same inning, but once you’re down 6-0 to a Cubs team that’s clicking on all cylinders, these isolated moments of competence feel more like mercy than momentum.

Edward Cabrera was workmanlike for the Cubs, going 6 innings while allowing 3 runs. He wasn’t spectacular, but he didn’t need to be. When your offense is pumping out 12 runs, even average pitching gets the job done.

A Cautionary Tale

This game was a reminder of baseball’s harsh realities. One bad start from a supposed ace, combined with an opponent that’s hungry and swinging freely, and you end up on the wrong end of an 8-run defeat. The Mets will need to answer some serious questions about Senga’s performance going forward. Is this an outlier or a sign of deeper concerns? Friday’s debacle certainly suggests the latter needs investigating.

The Cubs, meanwhile, proved why they should be taken seriously in the NL Central. This team can flat-out hit when the moment calls for it, and their depth up and down the lineup is genuinely impressive. Sweeping a divisional rival in April doesn’t win pennants, but it certainly sends a message. Chicago showed up Friday ready to play, and New York simply got out of the way.