Cubs Week in Review: Cubs Come Out Swinging to Start Season's Second Half

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Image courtesy of © Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Everyone, including World Series-contending ball clubs, deserves a rest once in a while. Navigating the most exciting season on the North Side of Chicago in over half a decade, the Cubs took the All-Star Break as an opportunity to recharge their batteries, while those representing the club in Atlanta showed why this team is not one to take lightly. With enemies (namely the Milwaukee Brewers) knocking at the door, Chicago kicked off the second half of the season striving to prove that they are the class of Major League Baseball. 

Boston and Chicago are not only two of the greatest cities in the world, they're also two baseball clubs with more combined history than The Smithsonian. As Pete Crow-Armstrong and his squad welcomed the Red Sox to town, there was an undeniable aura of respect and appreciation, even as both franchises have their gaze set on championship glory. Enjoying a sneakier season of success than his All-Star coworker Matthew Boyd, Colin Rea put in one of his most gritty outings of the 2025 campaign. Though the five-inning start won't make the end-of-year highlight reel, Rea helped his side roar into the second half of the season. In an all-around solid outing from the team, Seiya Suzuki made it known that he will not soon let the world forget about his egregious All-Star snub. The designated hitter launched a 3-run blast into the bleachers in left-center field, stirring the 41,000-plus sardines wedged into Wrigley Field to a frenzy. The North Siders cruised to a 4-1 victory in the series opener. 

On the Fourth of July, the Chicago Cubs set a franchise record for home runs in a single game with eight long balls. In Game 2 of this set against their American League foe, they mounted only a slightly less awesome barrage, with five dingers. On a comforting quality start day for Shota Imanaga, the home nine bopped their way to a 6-0 shutout win. Back-to-back homers from Michael Busch and Kyle Tucker set the tone early. Crow-Armstrong stayed hot with a solo shot to right field, his 26th of the year and part of another back-to-back set of bombs with fellow outfielder Ian Happ.

Sunday is a far less fun day when the baseball team you support blows a late lead. In a game that sank the team into a tie for first place with the Brewers, a late-inning bullpen implosion set into motion by Ryan Pressly denied the North Siders a sweep of Boston. The Cubbies clung to a 1-0 lead through the first two thirds of the game, but failed to cash in on crucial insurance runs. Wilyer Abreu hit a two-run go-ahead bomb in the seventh. Back from injury, Alex Bregman dealt a crushing blow in the form of a three-run bomb out to the left-field bleachers in the eighth. The contest swung what was a flourishing symphony of good vibes into a sinking realization that, like it or not, the Cubs must defeat their past demons to claim the crown in the NL Central. More sobering than a 6-1 loss was the wasted effort of a brilliant Cade Horton, who matched Garrett Crochet stride for stride.

The second half is on, and so is the race for the division title. The Cubs certainly have what it takes to win more than just top honors in their division, but what this week showed is how competitive this league is, and how infinitesimal the margins for error are in this fight to the finish. Craig Counsell's team has covered some ground, but there is still much work left to be done. 

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