The Chicago Cubs are above .500 for the first time in 2026 as they crushed the New York Mets 12-4 in Friday’s series opener. The offense scored double-digit runs for the third straight game, and Edward Cabrera kept the Mets in check just enough, delivering a quality start to earn his second win of the year. However, there was one scary moment at the Friendly Confines as the Cubs nearly experienced a horrific injury on the mound.
This team has already suffered through a boatload of pitching injuries, so it would have been just their luck if a slip had resulted in Cabrera taking a line drive directly off his head. It was the fifth inning, when Mets’ rookie Carson Benge squared up a 95mph changeup and singled sharply to center field.
On that 2-2 pitch, Cabrera lost his balance and fell to a knee on the left side of the mound. The line drive off Benge’s bat came within inches of what would have been a horrific scene at Wrigley Field, as Cabrera narrowly escaped a disaster.
That was way too close for comfort. This came on the same day that the Cubs announced Cade Horton’s timetable to return from Tommy John surgery and about an hour before first pitch closer Daniel Palencia was placed on the injured list with an oblique strain.
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The Cubs traded for Cabrera in the offseason not only because they believe in his talent, long-term projection, and his relatively cost-effective value, but also because they needed more capable arms in the rotation. Injuries happen every year, but it’s gotten out of hand already in April for the Cubs, who have 12 pitchers from their 40-man roster currently on the injured list, and 32 total pitchers in the organization sidelined with an injury.
So yeah, unlucky how that ball was hit right back at Cabrera, who slipped, and lucky that it missed him.
The 28-year-old righty wasn’t at his best in windy conditions, but Cabrera settled in after the Mets scored three runs in the second inning. Cabrera did give up eight hits in six innings, but he only walked a pair and got help from his defense to avoid any further damage.
An underrated moment came in the second inning, when Tyrone Taylor hit a ball to the left-center field gap, driving in two runs. That cut New York’s deficit to 4-3 at a time when they were crushing Cabrera. Five of the first seven balls in play against Cabrera had an exit velocity above 105mph, including Taylor’s two-run hit. However, thanks to Pete Crow-Armstrong’s defense, Taylor was thrown out at second base for the second out of the inning.
Tyrone Taylor singles on a sharp line drive to center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. MJ Melendez scores. Marcus Semien scores. Tyrone Taylor out at 2nd on the throw, center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong to second baseman Nico Hoerner. pic.twitter.com/82lJqinOkM
— Cubs Highlights (@Cubs_Highlights) April 17, 2026
So, instead of the Mets having a runner at second with one, the bases were empty with two outs, and Cabrera was able to get out of the inning without giving up more runs.
The Cubs’ offense gave Cabrera plenty of run support as Moises Ballesteros, Nico Hoerner, and Ian Happ all homered.
