Chicago Cubs strength of schedule takes a dramatic turn for the rest of the 2025 campaign

The schedule makers were not too kind to the Chicago Cubs when dishing out their opponents for the month of April in the 2025 season. Not only did they begin their season a week earlier than 30 other teams in the league, they had to play in Tokyo against the defending World Series champions. The Dodgers swept the two-game set against the Cubs in the Japan series, which instantly had fans worrying about what this season could look like.

If Chicago couldn’t hang with the best in the National League, thoughts of already regretting the Kyle Tucker trade and the general roster construction began to creep in fans heads early. This season is a make-or-break year for a few individuals in the organization. The team hasn’t made the playoffs since the shortened 2020 season due to the pandemic, which is also the last time that they won the division.

With how this franchise should be set up, there is no reason why fans should have to wait years between playoff appearances. Frustration has certainly gotten to most of the fanbase and that has clearly rubbed off on the front office as well with some of the moves made this offseason. Wrigley Field has been rocking this season already, and the Cubs don’t seem to care who they have played so far.

The Chicago Cubs fully embraced their gauntlet to begin the season

Through their first 29 games of the 2025 season, the Cubs have had the toughest schedule so far. Their opponents have held a .573 winning percentage so far this year, the most in MLB. Tuesday night in Pittsburgh will be the first time all season where Chicago will square off with a divisional opponent. The fact that they are getting their first NL Central contest at this point in the season is pretty wild to say the least.

Before having seen a single divisional opponent in 2025, the Cubs have faced the Dodgers seven times and the Padres and Diamondbacks six times each. In these 20 games, Chicago managed to finish above .500 with an 11-9 record. This includes season series victories over the Dodgers and Diamondbacks after getting swept by Los Angeles in the two-game Japan series in mid-March.

Chicago is 17-12 through these first tough 29 games of a crucial season. The club found a way to keep their heads above water against some of the best teams in baseball and now the fanbase can see that there is a reason for Wrigleyville to have some buzz this summer.

It will only get easier from here for the Chicago Cubs

After having the toughest schedule to begin their season, the opponents that the Cubs will see the rest of the way have a .469 winning percentage. This makes their slate the easiest to navigate across the league for the last 133 games of the campaign, which is obviously subject to change at some point during the summer.

Regardless, knowing that the Cubs have made it through their hardest part of the schedule already before May 1 is a major victory. They have had a few September collapses due to tough scheduling in recent memory, so that aspect of the slate should not be an issue in 2025. The NL Central games won’t be easy, and they begin on Tuesday night with a 6:40 first pitch at PNC Park against the Pirates.