Yankees’ Spring Finale Ends in Blowout Loss to Cubs, Carlos Lagrange Struggles on the Mound

MESA, AZ — March 23, 2026 — The New York Yankees wrapped up their spring training with a rough loss to the Chicago Cubs in an exhibition game at Sloan Park, suffering a 15-6 defeat. Although the game didn’t count toward the regular season standings and wasn’t televised, it was a tough outing for the Yankees, particularly for starting pitcher Carlos Lagrange, who endured a rocky performance on the mound.

Yankees Jump Out to an Early Lead, But Pitching Woes Emerge

The game began on a positive note for the Yankees, as they struck first in the top of the first inning. Jazz Chisholm Jr. led the charge with a two-out single that brought home Paul Goldschmidt, who had reached base earlier on a walk. But the good vibes quickly evaporated in the bottom half of the inning.

Carlos Lagrange, who had earned a spot as a pitching prospect for the Yankees, got off to a shaky start in the first. He allowed two singles to the first two Cubs hitters but managed to escape the early threat with a double play. However, his troubles began to mount when he walked Ian Happ and gave up another single to Carson Kelly, which tied the game at 1-1. It was the start of a long and painful afternoon for Lagrange and the Yankees’ pitching staff.

Cubs Capitalize on Lagrange’s Struggles

The Cubs didn’t let up, and their offense really got rolling a couple of innings later. In the third inning, Nico Hoerner started things off with a single, followed by back-to-back home runs from Michael Busch and Alex Bregman. After another hit from Kelly, Lagrange was pulled from the game in favor of Will Brian, but the damage didn’t stop there. Matt Shaw added a three-run shot, further increasing the Cubs’ lead.

Lagrange was brought back out to the mound for the fourth inning, but his struggles continued, as the Cubs added a couple more runs. His final line: 8 runs on 9 hits, with 2 walks in just 2.2 innings pitched. Despite the rough outing, Lagrange had a solid spring overall, and this game can be chalked up as an off day against a tough MLB lineup. Still, the outing showed why he is not yet a finished product, as his stuff can be tantalizing but inconsistent.

Yankees’ Offense and Pitching Collapse

As the game wore on, the Yankees’ pitching continued to falter. In the sixth inning, Cade Winquest and Yerry De los Santos were unable to keep the Cubs at bay, giving up 5 more runs. The Cubs were relentless, taking advantage of every mistake and piling on the runs, ultimately pushing the score to 15-6.

Despite the pitching struggles, there were some positives on the offensive side for the Yankees. Cody Bellinger contributed with a sacrifice fly that allowed Goldschmidt to score, after Goldschmidt had reached third on a double and an Aaron Judge single. Spencer Jones also had a standout moment, belting two home runs off of Phil Maton and Jacob Webb, bringing his total to five home runs for the spring. Jones’ performance, though, wasn’t enough to mount a full rally, as the Yankees’ comeback effort fell short.

Late Relief Efforts from Castro and Bido

There were some bright spots on the pitching front late in the game. Kervin Castro and Osvaldo Bido came in to close out the game, and they delivered solid innings. While their efforts helped the Yankees salvage the latter stages of the game, the damage had already been done.

Despite the rough outing, the good news for the Yankees is that Lagrange, Winquest, and De los Santos are not expected to be major contributors to the MLB team at this point in the season. While these pitchers may play roles later on, the game served as a reminder that the Yankees are still working to finalize their pitching staff, with several relievers and prospects still battling for spots.

Looking Ahead: Yankees to Face Cubs Again

The Yankees will wrap up their spring training with one final game against the Cubs tomorrow. Gerrit Cole is scheduled to take the mound for the Yankees in the series finale, which will take place at 3:05 pm ET. After this, the Yankees will head to the West Coast to kick off the regular season with a series against the San Francisco Giants, where they’ll be hoping for better performances across the board after the disappointing spring finish.

With opening day approaching, the Yankees will be looking to build on the positives from their spring and leave behind the tough moments like this exhibition loss to the Cubs.