Peoria Chiefs

The Peoria Chiefs opened their 2026 High‑A campaign with a commanding 10‑1 victory over the South Bend Cubs at Dozer Park in their home opener on April 7, showcasing a revitalized lineup amid stadium upgrades ([aol.com](https://www.aol.com/news/peoria-chiefs-stocked-cardinals-prospects-053841915.html?utm_source=openai)). The following week, the Chiefs secured a tightly contested 5‑3 win against the same opponent. Starting pitcher Tanner Franklin delivered three scoreless innings with seven strikeouts, followed by key home runs from Rainiel Rodriguez and Jesús Báez that propelled the team past the Cubs ([thecardinalnation.com](https://thecardinalnation.com/cardinals-minor-league-notebook-april-10-2026/?utm_source=openai)). These performances underline the Chiefs' potent offensive start and pitching depth early in the 2026 season.