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Image courtesy of © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images There's no better place on planet Earth than Chicago when the city's North Side ball club bops its way into postseason contention. That's where Craig Counsell's highly capable, talent-rich club finds itself right now. The going has been tough, with the team encountering (and eventually prevailing in) myriad battles and setbacks that would leave weaker squads in ruin. Even before the club's star right fielder Kyle Tucker succumbed to his initial injuries back in the middle of summer, adversity had forced them to find alternative paths to what they still hope will be a happy destination. Along with Tucker, Cubs standouts Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, Javier Assad, and the much-improved and valuable Miguel Amaya have gone down for long stretches—to say nothing of Justin Steele, whom they lost for the year when the season was still just getting going. With each blow, the club regrouped. And at each of those points, a glimmer of unexpected brilliance showed the team a way forward. Whether it was a satisfying but brief star turn from Carson Kelly or yet another on-the-fly reconstruction in the bullpen, the Cubs have done what it takes to stand up and keep going. An 8-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates last Wednesday at PNC Park secured a much-anticipated playoff berth. The squad basked in a locker room celebration for the ages, with each player rejoicing, sharing in the culmination of a job well done. For several of the players in that visitor's locker room, it was the first time they had engaged in such a ceremony. The nature of the major-league season creates an understanding that while every team wants and thirsts for World Series glory, simply making the playoffs is a big deal. As the Cubs have corrected the wrongs of the past few seasons, that undeniable fact has informed the manner in which the club has treated their accomplishments thus far. Everyone in the North Siders' clubhouse recognizes that participation is not the ultimate prize, but you don't have a chance if you don't make it. For much of the 2025 campaign, you've heard me promote the idea of a team with "championship DNA". Why do I keep saying that? Because the Cubs are a team who looked poised to make it this far since way back then. And what that means is that they are more than just a squad that believes in itself; it's a squad that has enough skill for that belief to matter. Enjoy this Cubs team. Though they've trudged through agonizing segments of this season, they've inflicted just about as much pain as they've absorbed. While we are yet uncertain as to if and when the club will return to full strength (and more importantly, what some of those players will look like upon return), this is a dangerous, hungry club even in their current form. The playoffs are a simple thing: "survive and advance". Sure, there is cause for concern in terms of what this team might not be capable of, but there's even more cause for hope in terms of what it could be. View full article

Image courtesy of © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Clad in Cubbie blue, I've traversed the streets of Milwaukee this summer, doing my level best to conjure up a playoff run for the Chicago Cubs in 2025. By clinching their first postseason berth since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season (which didn't count, anyway), the team made that dream (and maybe even more) a distinct possibility. Sans tarp or designer ski goggles, I toasted this baseball club, one that continuously finds surprising ways to win, with a shiny bottle of champagne. How far will they go? How many more times will we get to drink champagne? And, how did the squad's performance from this past week inform the answers to any of those inquiries? As Craig Counsell's squad navigated its way to the postseason, much was made of the significantly lower quality of opponents in this final stretch. Despite that fact, the Cubs labored at times earlier this month against franchises with little else to play for, delaying what would become the inevitable. Chicago, then, traveled to Pittsburgh, squaring off versus the Pirates for the final time in 2025 in baseball's penultimate week of the regular season. They sent Jameson Taillon to the bump in game one of their three-game set, and the sturdy veteran looked like a playoff hurler in this contest. Delivering six innings of two-hit baseball, Taillon announced his candidacy as one of the more trustworthy arms to roll out in the playoffs. He looks poised, confident, and possesses just enough of that chip on his shoulder that makes him a tough customer for any opposing batter, even against tough postseason competitors. With his 29th home run of the season, Pete Crow-Armstrong helped power a 4-0 victory. Lately, many Cubs fans are clamoring for Cade Horton to be the Game 1 starter. In taking the middle game of this series in resounding fashion, that became an increasingly difficult argument to counter. We really ought to be savoring what Horton has given this squad as a starting pitcher. His club's offense backed him up with a 14-hit performance versus the Bucs on Tuesday. Though they left 13 men on base, they peppered Pirates pitching when it mattered most, scoring opportunistic runs that felt much more valuable, given the sparkling performance of Horton. The 4-1 triumph set the stage for the following day's proceedings. That put Chicago on the cusp of a clinch, and the next afternoon, they took care of business. On the strength of an eight-run outburst, including long balls from Ian Happ and Moisés Ballesteros, the Cubs galloped into the postseason by sweeping the Pirates. All season long, I've held firm in my belief that this is one of the most likable teams in baseball, brimming with good guys and even better chemistry. Whether it be the silly strategy of Shota Imanaga's alcohol consumption, or the mature recognition from players like Carson Kelly that the club is "just getting started," the effusive display which unfolded in the Cubs' locker room signaled the arrival of a team that could really make a name for itself in the Fall Classic. The hungover Cubs received a pretty lousy congratulations from their division rival Cincinnati Reds: a date with Hunter Greene. With their sights obsessively fixed on a playoff appearance of their own, the Reds deployed their lethal righty, who spun a magnificent gem of a complete-game shutout. Shrouded in the glitter of Greene's outstanding start, the Cubs' countering starter Colin Rea showed up with one of his best outings of the second half of the season, tossing seven innings in which he punched out a career-high 11 batters. The vibes around the Cubs suggest what could end up being a deeper run in the postseason than some were expecting. But the masses would feel better about the group's October chances if they host the Padres in their three-game Wild Card Series. That's what the Cubs are focusing on in their final regular season games, but the objective wasn't aided in a 7-4 loss to the Reds in the second game of a four-game set. Still evening out from their post-celebratory rush, the Cubs' typically lockdown bullpen stumbled. Cannon fodder Porter Hodge surrendered three runs in the sixth inning, giving Cincinnati the lead as the game approached its last three innings. The contest was indecisive in what it meant to the North Siders' hopes of hosting playoff baseball, but it did serve as a reminder of how difficult it is to maintain momentum in this game, even for good teams. In handing the Chicago Cubs their third straight loss in the wake of their playoff clinch, the Reds' desprrate final playoff push became pretty admirable. If Javier Assad is to fill a role on the Cubs' playoff roster, it figures to be in relief, but he started Saturday. The Cubbies' bullpen suffered an off day, giving up crucial runs through the middle and late innings. Reds starter Zack Littell took command in a five-inning performance that earned him his 10th win of the season. Cincinnati shut out the visitors 1-0 again Sunday, leaving the magic number to secure home-field advantage against the Padres heading into the final week of the campaign. The offense will have to wake back up, but they can be forgiven for a brief letdown after a long journey to a long-held goal. We've known for the better part of this calendar year that the Cubs are a good baseball team. Punching their ticket to the postseason merely validated that sentiment. Now, the real fun starts. As you adorn yourself in official playoff gear, perhaps just before scanning your ticket under the famous marquee at Clark and Addison, allow yourself to get excited. Postseason baseball is back on the North Side of Chicago. View full article

Image courtesy of © Benny Sieu-Imagn Images The so-called "I-94 Rivalry", which pits our Chicago Cubs against the Milwaukee Brewers, is one of the more underrated matchups in baseball. Even in an historic campaign for the Brewers—one no doubt given extra fuel in the wake of the legendary Bob Uecker's passing—the Cubs have more than held their own versus Pat Murphy's club. Pointing to as many examples as you'd like, including the extremely fluky and unfortunate concussion to Owen Caissie, the Cubs have stared down and risen above constant adversity, especially in the second half of 2025. But through persistent ailments, hitting slumps, and other miscellaneous calamities, the North Siders have found their identity, and found their groove, while their foes up across the state line dig through a quickly emptying bag of tricks for more magic. While almost certainly on their way to another NL Central title, the Milwaukee Brewers, as many clubs do, have gotten multiple bites from the injury bug. During the course of a marathon 162-game season, attrition is bound to set in, and injuries are inevitable. Having the depth to rest players and recharge both their stamina and their mental health serves any contender toward piecing together the right formula for postseason success. The Brewers' depth is being tested. Trevor Megill became the Crew's new shutdown closer after the offseason departure of Devin Williams. Before going down with a right flexor injury, Megill had racked up 30 saves. I don't care how much good karma or juju you've got as a squad; that's a big number to simply replace with the "next man up". While their starting pitching has been sensational, stars like Freddy Peralta and Jacob Misiorowski have started to reveal vulnerabilities in their game. For every player the Brewers have on a heater, the North Siders can counter with heat of their own. Forced to rely on a rotating stable of youngsters to come up in clutch situations, boppers like Moises Ballesteros possess a rare, eye-opening presence in the batter's box, delivering massive hits, as he did in the club's recent series against the Tampa Bay Rays. He's supplemented the superb Nico Hoerner, who appears to have late October on his mind. Hoerner and his .353 average with runners in scoring position are extraordinary, and he's not doing it by luck. He has great vision and knows how to really square up the ball. If the Cubs win their Wild Card matchup, they're going to have a ball in the NLDS, splashing champagne in either their own home locker room or the visitor's one at American Family Field. Why do I say that with such confidence, bordering on defiance? Because the North Siders are a better team. Where the Brewers have gotten "high off their own supply" since the early days of summer, the Cubs have trudged through every setback put in their way, building a tough muscle memory perfectly suited for playoff baseball. If none of this were enough for you, the Cubs took the season series 7-6 from Milwaukee. The Cubs managed to take 3 of 5 from the Brew Crew in that mid-August, super-sized meeting, and they're closer to full strength now than they were then. It's late September and we really should be back in school. Here in class, you'd be surprised to find out that it is the Chicago Cubs who are, in fact, the instructor, and the Milwaukee Brewers are the student. While that student is an awfully quick study, the even-keeled, calculated methods of their instructor on the North Side of Chicago, is teaching a masterclass in perseverance and chemistry. Class has started on time, and has Craig Counsell in a surprising advanced placement. There is still so much work to do before making the grade, and the Brewers will be the toughest test yet, but the Cubs will pass the test with flying autumn colors. View full article

Image courtesy of © Matt Marton-Imagn Images It's a funny thing, being a writer tasked with describing the indescribable. After all, that's what you come for, isn't it? We're a fortunate lot, us Cubs fans—treated to decades of friends and memories more indelible than the bricks which line the walkway on Waveland Avenue. With just a fortnight remaining, the 2025 season is at its ultimate tipping point. Perhaps that's the reason why Anthony Rizzo's return, juxtaposed against the backdrop of enormous baseball games, exceeded our impossibly high expectations. It was hard to put his homecoming into words. This new week of Cubs baseball opened up with a road trip to Georgia. You'd be a hopeless optimist plucked directly from a G-rated Disney movie to think it an easy task to beat a team for a second series, after having just played this very same club a week prior at the Friendly Confines. But even though game one of this set didn't indicate it, that's exactly how things played out. There are a handful of top-tier pitchers whose overall records fail to really take off in a given season, because they simply do not get run support from their offense. Shota Imanaga, who spent a good chunk of time on the injured list this spring and early summer, is one of those pitchers. The Pitching Philospher did almost exactly what you've come to expect from him, giving up early runs but settling down to near-shutdown levels. Going six innings and surrendering just three earned runs, that's the type of start Imanaga had. Scattering a meager five hits, though, the Cubs managed just one run of their own. Atlanta took the series opener by a score of 5-1. At this exact moment in time, Cade Horton is the best pitcher in baseball, and the reasons why were on full display as his squad evened the series 1-1 with a convincing 6-1 victory. While the North Siders enjoyed a gratifyingly steady day of offense fueled by the likes of Matt Shaw and Pete Crow-Armstrong, Horton's dazzling performance stole the spotlight. Going a commanding 6 1/3 innings. Horton picked up win No. 10 on the year, giving up one run on just four hits. One of the hottest new pieces of merchandise from the fine folks at Obvious Shirts reads: "Horton Earns A W", a clever reference to the Dr, Seuss book "Horton Hears A Who". If things keep up the way they've been for this young man, I surmise that will be a difficult piece of apparel to come by. With the bullpen enjoying a run for the ages, the Cubs scooped up a gargantuan series victory with a 3-2 triumph in the finale. Squaring off against the mighty Chris Sale, the North Siders played one of their most stunning and confident games of the 2025 campaign. Made possible by another clutch blast from Carson Kelly, the Cubs used a 4 1/3-inning performance from Jameson Taillon as a springboard for this storybook bullpen. Collecting the last 14 outs of the ball game, Chicago relievers slammed the door shut and locked it. The win capped an impressive all-around performance against this Atlanta squad over the past two weeks, but more importantly, it seemed to answer questions about the relief corps's readiness for October. The Cubs came home to host the road-weary Rays. Battling back from another alarmingly pedestrian outing from Matthew Boyd, the home team picked up a 6-4 victory in Friday's opener. It was the squad's third straight win, and featured fabulously impressive days from Ian Happ and Moisés Ballesteros. Ballesteros, the upstart youngster occupying Kyle Tucker's place in the lineup, laced a huge RBI triple into the far corner of right field. The comeback conjured up visions of the club's first half of the season, full of tenacity and offensive heft. If that weren't enough, it solidified the perfect road map for getting on without the squad's superstar slugger. At least for now. There was a time (possibly returning soon) when watching the iconic ivy take on an orange fall tint brought on emotions of postseason promise. On a summer-like afternoon, all of that happiness and jubilation returned to Wrigley Field, as it welcomed back the living Cubs legend Anthony Rizzo. In a stunning turn of events on an unassuming Wednesday, Rizzo and the Cubs organization announced that the former Platinum Glove Award winner would be retiring a Chicago Cub after a 14-year career, 10 of them in a Cubby uniform. As tears streamed down the faces of the Wrigley faithful. Cubs fans were handed a heartfelt reminder of what makes this franchise great: family. Though the 5-4 Cubs loss was not a fitting ending to this cinematic day, there was no shortage of Hollywood-worthy moments. While becoming the impromptu architect of his very own beer snake, Rizzo was nearly the recipient of Ballesteros's first major-league home run. The 39,000-plus in attendance were in an absolute uproar the whole afternoon, but moments like this one—not to mention a seventh inning stretch singing of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" with fellow Chicago legends Eddie Vedder and Cindy Crawford—created an all-time cornerstone memory for everyone who loves Chicago Cubs baseball. It was a sensational weekend in Wrigleyville from a vibes standpoint, but what about from a baseball standpoint? Their rubber match with Christopher Morel's squad offered the North Siders a chance to stride to the precipice of locking up a playoff spot, perhaps by the next time we gather for this weekly recap. Imanaga again toed the rubber in this critical tilt, in search of a better result from his previous outing. But despite striking out nine Rays over five innings, he didn't find it. Once again, the lefty succumbed to first inning woes, allowing Tampa on the board early. The North Siders had the bats rolling from jump, yet couldn't deliver the sequence of knocks to give them the upper hand versus the club formerly known as the Devil Rays. Until they could. Down 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning, the outstanding Nico Hoerner laced a ball into the left-field corner, giving the Cubs a 4-3 lead. There's no way to overstate how instrumental Hoerner has been to his squad's final push to the postseason. If Chicago is to host playoff games at Wrigley in a couple short weeks, he'll have been a major reason why. So will the bullpen, and once Hoerner gave the North Siders the late lead, Caleb Thielbar and Andrew Kittredge shut down the scrappy, eager Rays hitters. The 4-3 victory gave the home side their second straight series win, as they head to Pittsburgh to battle the Pirates. Earlier this summer when I spoke with Alex Cohen, he emphasized how special this baseball team is. They don't look at the odds, they don't panic in the most dire situations, and they sure as hell don't back down from a fight. Alex is right, and indeed, it was a special week in Chicago, Illinois. With more to come. View full article

Image courtesy of © David Banks-Imagn Images Starting pitcher is one of the most important positions in professional sports. Every five days, skippers like Craig Counsell trust the man toeing the rubber to harness the hopes, dreams, and tangible outcomes of a whole organization. Certainly, there's less pressure and responsibility baked in than there used to be (in the days when starters often pitched the whole game), but it's still the center ring in the daily circus. With the Cubs making a strong playoff push this September, the temperature is ratcheted up even higher. The success of hurlers like Shota Imanaga, Javier Assad, and Matthew Boyd could determine whether the Cubs are a postseason "also-ran" or a serious disruptor, but they've needed something a bit more for what seems like forever. Enter 24-year-old righty Cade Horton, the most important starter in the Cubs' playoff rotation. Now on a pitch limit that is frustrating for Cubs fans and baseball fans alike, we are yet unaware of whether or not the squad's braintrust will really let Horton loose in pivotal postseason situations. But, we do know this: With a 9-4 record, a 2.74 ERA, a lethal arsenal of punchout pitches, and dripping with uncommon confidence for a rookie, the Oklahoma City native will be a reason why the North Siders stick around just a little bit longer in baseball's annual fall tournament. To paraphrase an old adage, one must know who they are and what has come before them to better lay out a path for the road that lies before them. Horton, a fellow who frequently speaks wisdom beyond his years, knows that history often provides the best lessons for current success. Modeling his game after the great Kerry Wood both in approach and facial hair, Horton wields maturity and good 'stuff' that hasn't even realized its full potential yet. Well, this certainly sounds good on paper, but why does any of this matter as it relates to the North Siders' postseason fortunes? Because he is one of the most coveted assets in baseball come this time of year: an unknown commodity. While here in Chicago we're quickly getting acquainted with Horton's brilliance, other clubs aren't that familiar yet. That's invaluable in playoff baseball. Every pitch matters on a heightened, amplified level where one gaffe can wildly throw the entire game off its axis. Which arguably makes Cade Horton's presence even more paramount in keeping their adversaries off balance. As his stock continues to rise, he's built a reputation on pounding the strike zone, and twirling his way through swift innings. And that's quickly making a serious playoff run seem more plausible. Even anecdotally, think back to the last Cubs' great playoff run. That rotation was filled with postseason staple Jon Lester, reigning Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta, veteran stalwart John Lackey, and... soft-tossing Kyle Hendricks. Now, Hendricks wasn't quite the baby-faced assassin that Horton is (he literally won the National League ERA title during that 2016 regular season), but in a postseason rotation filled with big names with a history of living up to the biggest moments, it was Hendricks who twirled an all-time gem in Game 7 of the World Series. Like Hendricks, who served as Joe Maddon's No. 3 behind Arrieta and Lester, Horton will be tasked with backing up co-aces Shota Imanaga and Matthew Boyd this October. Good teams have good players. But great teams have a "dude". What is a dude? A dude is someone other teams game plan for just a little bit more. Someone who gives you a better chance to win a baseball game. The Cubs know they have a better chance to win when Cade Horton pitches. I'm not saying that Horton is the best pitcher in baseball. I'm not saying that, like his idol Kerry Wood, he's going to punchout 20 batters in a game. But, what I am saying is that he could do whatever the Cubs need from him on a given night. That's his potential, and that's what he's been doing recently. It's what makes him, and the team he plays for, dangerous. View full article

Image courtesy of © David Banks-Imagn Images When I see specific opponents pop up on the Cubs' schedule, I feel an inescapable and visceral feeling of deja vu. With the Atlanta Braves pulling up to the Friendly Confines on Labor Day for a massive three-game set, that's the exact sensation that came over me. That familiar feeling was deflation, thinking back to the club's mammoth collapse in September 2023, lowlighted by a tumultuous series full of miscues and follies versus (a much better version of) this squad. It was a chance squandered, and a dream that fell short of reality. But that was a different team, a different time. Like a soothing stroll through the Garfield Park Conservatory, the 2025 Cubs calmed concerns of the past. They showed up with a rousing extra-innings victory on the holiday. On another shaky day for starter Colin Rea, the offense played hero ball, with gargantuan swings from Ian Happ and Carson Kelly. Happ is absolutely electric right now. He collected another three hits, came around to score twice, and drove in a run. But in the bottom of the 8th inning, with the home nine down 6-4, Kelly, the squad's workhorse catcher, drilled a game-tying two-run bomb into left field. The long fly was Kelly's 14th of the year, and sent the Wrigley crowd into a state of euphoria that would make Zendaya blush. The bullpen (after excellent showings from Aaron Civale and Brad Keller) trotted out Andrew Kittredge in the 10th, who slammed the door shut on the Nats, making way for Kelly's thunderous curtain call: a walk-off, line-drive single down the left-field line. Cubs win, 7-6. What did the North Siders do for an encore after collecting one of the most clutch wins on the campaign? Got another one. Though their 4-3 triumph Tuesday came at the steep cost of (temporarily) losing the resurgent slugger Kyle Tucker, it showed us another dazzling and dominant performance by the Cubs' bullpen. After Shota Imanaga got through six innings, Drew Pomeranz and Caleb Thielbar set the stage for Daniel Palencia to pick up a cathartic save in the 9th. Despite allowing the tying and go-ahead runs to reach base, Mr. Gasolina went 0-60 in no time flat from the traffic light, fueling his team to the dramatic win. Recent evidence has suggested that the Cubs' once-mighty offense might be back. But none of that evidence was provided in the North Siders' series finale defeat, 5-1 on Wednesday. Wasting a five-inning, no-hit masterpiece from the superb Cade Horton, the bats failed to produce more than one run for the likely Rookie of the Year winner. Chicago's 1-for-7 output with runners in scoring position denied them the head-turning sweep, though that shouldn't be the headline here. With three left down in Georgia coming up this week, the North Siders used this series to announce that they are up to the challenge of this breathtaking playoff push. Or did they? Turning the page to one of the last remaining regular season weekend tilts at Wrigley, the club played host to their 2026 Opening Day opponent, the Washington Nationals. In the first of a three-game set, Javier Assad took the bump, with each of his appearances serving as critical auditions to his postseason viability. His first three scoreless frames allowed the Cubs' offense to dig their heels in, starting with an explosive five-run first inning. For a time, it appeared as though the scorching hot bats of Dansby Swanson, Reese McGuire, and Pete Crow-Armstrong were leading an all-out romp. While the game never really felt in doubt, things did get a bit trickier in a three-run sixth inning for Washington. Always ready with a counter punch, the Cubs were able to answer most of the Nats' run production, handing the stellar bullpen a sizeable cushion to work with in securing the 11-5 win for the home team. The Chicago Cubs are masters of seizing momentum, only to unceremoniously watch it slip from their grasp. And while that may seem a bit melodramatic, each game down the stretch is not only critical toward clinching a playoff berth, it's a chance to greatly shake up the perception of what's possible once they get there. In game 2 of this set, Cubs baserunners were Tom Hanks in "Castaway", which is to say, they were stranded. On another frustrating day which featured an alarmingly pedestrian start from Matthew Boyd, Nico Hoerner and his club couldn't deliver the big hit when they needed it. Matt Shaw laced one in the middle innings that certainly would have put the North Siders up 3-2, perhaps altering the fortunes of the day as a whole, but it was tracked down by a charging Dylan Crews. I don't think that this game was harbinger of doom, just a bad luck kind of outing on an excessively windy afternoon both squads had to reckon with. With the backdrop of a thrilling playoff chase behind them, the Chicago Cubs welcomed two of their own, Sammy Sosa and Derrek Lee, back into the loving arms of their home at 1060 W. Addison. With the two iconic sluggers taking their official place among the greats in the organization's Hall of Fame, it was easy to get caught up in the pomp and circumstance of the moment, and forget how we got here. When it comes to 'Slammin' Sammy", much has been made of his long road to redemption and good standing with his beloved Cubs, but just witnessing the sheer expression of joy and gratitude on the faces of Sosa and his close family members was a magnificently human and endearing moment. As far as "D-Lee", his enshrinement in the Cubs' Hall of Fame seemed never to have been in doubt, yet no less satisfying. With their places in team history cemented, the rubber match of this series commenced. Counsell rolled out Drew Pomeranz as the opener, in an effort to give Rea a reset without pushing him truly out of the rotation. That part worked, as Rea came on and pitched 5 1/3 strong innings. The team had an early edge and then created a bit of separation late, thanks in large part to two solo homers by Kelly. This time, though, Palencia didn't wriggle off the hook after getting into trouble in the top of the ninth. Two Washington homers led to five last-at-bat runs, and the Cubs fell 6-3 in a heartbreaker. On a homestand against the two worst teams in the NL East, Chicago could only claim a split. Another opportunity missed, although hopefully, this one will turn out less costly. Weathering the storm of challenging injuries and zeroing in on what they do have, not what they don't have, It's the club's resilience and self-awareness that make them a danger in the postseason. The sudden health concerns around Tucker and Pete Crow-Armstrong may kneecap this club, though neither has sustained an ailment so severe as to rule them out of being a factor in this squad's playoff success. Things are really starting to get good, and they might even get better. Unfortunately, it was also a week that reminded us that it could get worse. View full article

Image courtesy of © Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images You don't have to do much coaxing to get me to speak romantically about October. Whether it was watching Magglio Ordoñez send a walk-off bomb into deep left field under the lights of Comerica Park or witnessing the magic and moments of the 2016 Cubs World Series run, playoff baseball hits different. We're not quite there yet, but it's starting to feel that way. By the time you read this, Craig Counsell and the Chicago Cubs will have just one month of grind-it-out contests remaining to punch their playoff ticket. What happens after that, nobody knows. This past week was a missed opportunity to open things up a bit in the scramble for playoff seeding, but there were good things mixed in with the bad. Will this group provide us a lifetime of new memories, or force us to spend a lifetime wondering what could have been? Enjoying the jubilation of their sweep over the Los Angeles Angels last Sunday, the North Siders traveled to San Francisco for the second leg of their West Coast road trip. Unfortunately, it looks like the Giants have this team's number. It showed in game one of this three-game series. The first contest featured future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander taking the bump opposite surprise Cubs ace Matthew Boyd. Though Verlander spun one that was far from "Vintage JV", his counterpart suffered one of his worst outings of the season, going just 5 1/3 innings and coughing up five earned runs to the Giants' offense. For the North Siders, the struggles from inside the batter's box persisted, leaving eight men on base. San Francisco took the opener, 5-2. Things got uglier in the second game of the set. The 12-3 loss came on a night where the Cubs' run-scoring opportunities came few and far between. On the other hand, Rafael Devers and his squad ripped the cover off the ball, slugging with tremendous efficiency. Wasting one of Nico Hoerner's few long balls of the season, and in his home state, Chicago failed to make up ground on the Brewers; the division slid fully and finally out of reach. By the time the club got out of McCovey Cove, it was three steps forward, three steps back. As you'd expect, Shota Imanaga put his side in a reasonable position to win, going seven innings and punching out five batters. The North Siders stranded over 33 baserunners this week, though, and that same failure to knock in guys in scoring situations stymied them in the last game of the Giants series. But what actually spoke louder in this contest was the astonishingly poor performance of the bullpen. Closer Daniel Palencia could not put the ball where he wanted it, and swung the door wide open in the ninth inning for the Giants to deliver the knockout blow to the Cubs. The 4-3 defeat marked the first time in the 2025 campaign in which the North Siders were swept in a three-game series. The Cubbies lifted their spirits after traveling to the Mile High City for the first of a three-game set with the MLB-worst Colorado Rockies. It's been some time since they have enjoyed a no-drama victory. Things were no different in this one. Dansby Swanson and our favorite play, the home run, took center stage like a performer at Red Rocks. Offensive pop has become a puzzling rarity for the lineup in the second half of the season, but it came back with a vengeance in this tilt. Cade Horton helped his squad get out to a 9-2 lead with five respectable innings. In a throwback to their early-season woes, the bullpen was slightly rocked by the Rockies, giving up five runs and making things far more interesting than they should have been. All told, however, the relievers provided a sigh of relief to the faithful in securing a victory, 11-7 over Colorado. A key piece of Chicago's formula for success in 2025 has been the remarkable reliability of its back-end rotation pitchers (Ben Brown not included). Still getting up to cruising altitude after missing much of the season due to injury, Javier Assad has been admirable in his recent starts. Trouble is inevitable, yet somehow, Assad continues to build an eyebrow-raising reputation of resilience, as he can routinely get himself out of a jam. He tip-toed his way out of adversity like Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible. Making it possible for the pen to come in and slam the door shut in breathtaking fashion, Ian Happ delivered an RBI double. It was one of the most clutch hits I've seen since the season started in Tokyo. The Cubs guaranteed the series victory with a 4-3 triumph. One more word on the bullpen; This is a unique amalgam of veterans and youngsters, and if they pitch in the playoffs like they did in this one, they'll beat whoever they face in October. Before returning to the warmth and welcome of Wrigley Field, Boyd and the Cubs took the field in Denver for one more versus the Rockies. With a winning road trip already under their belt, could the North Siders pull off the bookend sweep? No. Boyd, despite going six innings and striking out five, wasn't sharp. Chicago went 2-for-8 with RISP. An early clutch knock from Seiya Suzuki put the weary travelers out in front 2-0 early. After trailing 5-2 for what seemed like a whole holiday weekend, Ian Happ launched a game-tying three-run bomb to left field, breathing new life into the group. Capping off what was a concerning week to say the least for the young fireballer, however, Palencia allowed the leadoff runner aboard in the home half of the ninth, and Mickey Moniak drilled a ball into the deep corner in right-field. It gave baseball's worst team a salvage game, and gave the Cubs a stark reminder of what happens when you let even the most lowly of squads a chance to get off the mat. The North Siders dropped the last game of the trip, 6-5. In the space I'm provided to recap each week of Cubs baseball for you, I attempt to uphold an air of optimism. But one thing I will never do is sell you on false hope. This squad faces adversity both externally and internally, but with the final month of the regular season upon us, with more sports options to divert our attention, they are still a team worth paying attention to. The last-minute warchest the team's top decision-makers are building right now should provide all of the evidence you need to prove that this club is still chasing October romance, and has just about caught up to it once more. View full article

Image courtesy of © Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images With fists pumping and the roof ever-raised, Matt Shaw and Owen Caissie, two of the newest, scrappiest Chicago Cubs, have announced their arrival in The Show. In helping their squad stack up wins in this imperative playoff push, Caissie and Shaw are making a statement that they are not a nice story—they're the real deal. It could be time to start getting comfortable with that idea. A handful of you are about to roll your eyes at this next line, but with the way they've started out, and Shaw obviously has a considerably larger sample size, Caissie and Shaw are starting out much in the same way Pete Crow-Armstrong did. The outset of Crow-Armstrong's time in the bigs was marked by intriguing defensive prowess, paired with overwhelming offensive struggles. Shaw, who has made some of the more impressive plays at third base we've seen in a long time, struggled too, even earlier this year, but he's evened out remarkably for a rookie. As far as Caissie, he's come in, after the fanbase pined for his call-up, and has been not just a smart, aggressive hitter, but a shot of emphatic positive energy in the clubhouse. Towering in the batter's box like a child gazing up at the Hancock Tower, the 6'3 Owen Caissie has an undeniable presence when he steps onto the field. In twenty plate appearances, he's connected on five hits and driven in four runs, most of which came in the recent series versus the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field. In the immediate aftermath of that series, the Cubs pulled off a sweep against the Angels, while the Crew's underwhelming showing opposite the San Francisco Giants put the North Siders back within shouting distance of the NL Central's top spot. He hasn't played much since that, but manager Craig Counsell has shown he will not hesitate to plug Caissie into consequential situations. The kid absolutely deserves more starts, which, admittedly, with Kyle Tucker returning to form is not likely, but Caissie can do just as much damage as his teammate at third base has shown. Every phase of the season has a story, and since the All-Star break, the Cubs' 23-year-old infielder is the club's best-selling tale. Slugging a blistering .408, Matt Shaw is hammering the ball with increasing proficiency and has a Hard-Hit% rate of 29.3%. Arguably, Shaw wasn't laboring to figure things out long enough to have been considered a period of growing pains. The fact that he bats ninth speaks more to how lethal the North Siders' lineup really is, at least when things are clicking. Much like some of his peers on the team, the expectation is that Shaw will come through with a clutch hit when you need it, or at least make the pitcher work a little bit. Already a strong defender and elite runner, Shaw's improved offensive prowess has turned him into exactly the player that made him such an intriguing top prospect. Let's face it: The playoffs have already started, and the Cubbies are a tough out. A good playoff team possesses attention to detail and unique intangibles that separates them from the other competition. If and when the Cubs punch their official ticket to the dance, Shaw and Caissie are two assets that will only add to that concoction of good baseball on Chicago's North Side. View full article

Image courtesy of © Kirby Lee-Imagn Images When it comes to finding something to do in Chicago, we have a plethora of options at our disposal. Sadly, however, watching Chicago Cubs playoff baseball in October has not been one of those options for several years. That could be changing very soon. Lockdown pitching (paired with an overdue offensive onslaught from the squad's biggest boppers) has the North Siders back to their old selves and racing back toward the front of the National League pack. If you haven't checked out my comprehensive recap of Chicago's five-game chess match with the Milwaukee Brewers, where have you been? Though the Cubs still trail Milwaukee's best by a full 5.0 games, the North Siders proved that they could be one of the only true foils to Pat Murphy's upstart Crew. The helmet sundaes at Wrigley are incredible, but they're not supposed to be the best part of day baseball at the ballpark; the baseball is. That was not the case in the opener of that long series, as the Brewers employed their signature brand of fundamental baseball to dismantle Craig Counsell's squad. Milwaukee used a four-run eighth to put the Cubs away, on an anemic day of offense from the North Siders. "Cold one" didn't just describe what fans imbibed at Sluggers after the 7-0 loss, but also the feeling they were left with from a flat performance. Mother Nature desperately wanted the June 18 game between these sides not to be played—so much that she pushed it back a second time, nixing the nightcap of the doubleheader Monday and pushing it to Tuesday. With the Friendly Confines brimming with an eclectic mix of different shades of blue and "No. 23" Ryne Sandberg jerseys, the home team came through with its best day of baseball in 2025 so far. Matthew Boyd is one of the best pitchers in the league, and proved why in the first game of that twinbill. His stability out of the gate in a 5 2/3-inning outing allowed the Cubs' bats to get going early, without a sense of creeping dread. Utility master Willi Castro belted a three-run homer, which kept the home team out in front, while the bullpen slammed the door on Milwaukee's potent offense. Sweeter than anything on the menu at Tim Horton's, the squad's top prospect Owen Caissie launched a bomb to left-center field, which gave his team the much-needed insurance to push them over the finish line in a thrilling 6-4 victory. Presented with the opportunity to pull off a doubleheader sweep of their pesky division rivals, the North Siders showed up in the championship-caliber form we've come to expect from them. Jameson Taillon had virtually zero rust to shake off from an extended stay on the injured list. Backed by a sensational, play-making defense, Taillon enacted Prohibition on the Beermakers over six five-hit innings. The offense continued to benefit from its youthful spark, as Caissie supported the efforts of his teammates Michael Busch and Nico Hoerner with a clutch RBI single. The team held on again, this time 4-1. Chicago claimed a series victory (for the week and the season) in the penultimate contest of the five-game fight. The perpetually underrated Colin Rea looked good, collecting his 10th win of the campaign, while his offense clicked at the right moments. Matt Shaw's meteoric rise continued, unloading a thunderous, eighth-inning tank to the left-field bleachers. Though critics will argue that the series was less relevant due to the Cubs' substantial deficit in the division, the improved optics of the squad playing winning baseball cannot and should not be overlooked. After a 4-3 win, that felt like the biggest takeaway. In their final home game before embarking on a nine-game West Coast trip to close out the month of August, the Cubbies found out that good teams are good for a reason. Admittedly, they didn't help themselves much, stranding a dismaying 11 baserunners. The steady and consistent Shota Imanaga put in fine work, going seven innings, but it would be for naught. Despite the Crew's 4-1 triumph in this contest, this series largely heralded the Cubs' return to form, getting them ready for the season's definitive last five weeks. Dr. Dre's so-called "Wild Wild West" has offered a calm harbor for the Cubs this season, at least in Southern California. Powered by a fundamental tandem of clutch pitching and timely hits, the North Siders picked up an award-worthy victory versus the Halos. The fanbase has collectively, at times painfully, waited for star center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong to break out of his frustrating slump. In the most clutch, stirring fashion imaginable, Crow-Armstrong drilled a go-ahead solo shot over the wall in right field. It was the kind of cathartic, mental health-boosting release the young superstar and his adoring teammates knew was coming, and did not disappoint. The brilliant Mr. Gasolina himself, Daniel Palencia, slammed the door shut on the Angels in the home half of the ninth to collect the 3-2 victory for the Cubs. As the frustrations mounted a few weeks back, easy, relaxing wins came at a premium for the North Siders. But with the outstanding Cade Horton (7 punchouts) toeing the rubber in game two, the offense exploded back onto the scene in a style worthy of a Michael Bay action film. Not far removed from reclaiming his throne with a homer in the series's opening game, Kyle Tucker erupted with a multi-home run game, his first as a Cub. Counsell's squad clogged up the bases with more traffic than "The 101" and constantly made the Halos pay. The North Siders pummeled some shlubby Anaheim hurlers and danced to a 12-1 'W', but the biggest swing of the game came from Reese McGuire, who detonated a ball into right for his first-ever grand slam. Don't overlook the fact that the blast put his club up 6-0, but please do zoom in on the meaning of that swat. Sending the Cubs' dugout into an absolute frenzy, McGuire's dinger officially announced the return of this Cubs team as a contender in the chase for the World Series crown. The heavenly middle game versus the Angels earned the road warriors their third-straight series win. Arguably, no one played a bigger role for the Chicago Cubs' 2016 World Series run (and the good parts of their subsequent years, for that matter) than veteran righty Kyle Hendricks. "The Professor" was a calming presence in the clubhouse for years, and a shockingly viable starter even as his stuff began to erode. The final contest of this three-game set brought about the emotional reunion of the Angels' hurler with his former club. The Cubs chased him early, and although they couldn't add on to the four runs they pushed across in the first half of the game, another strong outing from Taillon (plus great work by the bullpen) secured a series sweep. The wait is over. Playing some very good baseball, the best version of the 2025 Cubs we've gotten to know over 131 games this season is back. What we learned this week is that, yes, this is a playoff team, and no, opponents facing off against this club can not take anything for granted. The job is not done yet, but they're making quicker progress lately. View full article

Image courtesy of © David Banks-Imagn Images The Hunt for Blue October is in full swing and, fresh off of a fortune-changing series win against baseball's best team, the Cubbies are lurking in the trenches. When a weather postponement earlier in the year transformed the Cubs versus Brewers four-game August series, into a five-game mega-tilt, Chicago's North Side club was playing in much closer proximity to first place in their division. It had seemed that this series we just witnessed was essentially a title fight for the division crown, positioning the victor for a deep playoff run full of spoils. What played out was much different: Blazing through an improbable run of success, the Brewers created an almost insurmountable gap between them and the next challenger. Meanwhile, that next challenger, your Chicago Cubs, spiraled into an unexpected slide marked by untimely injuries and futile offensive production. Chicago had been playing like a team looking for answers to the wrong questions, but, lockdown defense, edge-of-your-seat pitching, and an extraordinary debut stretch from Owen Caissie put the Cubbies right back where we thought they'd be: on an express train to the postseason. Wise sages and pundits have often said that anticipation is the greater reward, and so one would be forgiven in their overreaction to pitching matchups, hitting streaks, and slugging percentage fluctuations versus right-handed or left-handed pitchers. Honestly, what we witnessed in Game 1 of this series, what was supposed to be the first of a split doubleheader, did not surprise anybody who has grown familiar with the Cubbies' post-trade-deadline struggles. Impressive rookie Cade Horton was forced out of the game early with a blister on his middle finger. Not only did the Brew Crew convincingly blank the North Siders, they even turned the tables on Chicago's fabled "Wrigley North" travel efforts, echoing "Let's Go Brewers" chants throughout the Friendly Confines. What happened next is the stuff of dreams, or at least the stuff of a documentary on a premium streaming service. One day removed from a sobering loss which set the club 9.0 games back in the division, the Cubs grinded out a delirious, harrowing, doubleheader sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers. With his first Major League hit under his belt, young pup Owen Caissie set the North Side of Chicago ablaze with a shade even more vibrant than his flowing locks. Caissie cashed in three absolutely enormous RBIs, including a late solo shot which gave his team a crucial insurance run, inciting a roar louder than a Kendrick Lamar set at Lollapalooza. As the orange sunset turned into darkness at Wrigley Field, Jameson Taillon took the hill for his first start since his return from the injured list, spinning a storybook outing peppered with guts and clutch pitches. Beyond him, a massive missing piece to the Cubbies' puzzle for success was any modicum of situational hitting. But not on this night. Throwing the ginger phenom back out on the field for a well-deserved encore, Craig Counsell rolled Caissie back out into the starting lineup and he continued his impressive debut stretch. Caissie not only squares up enormous hits, he's doing so with a rare sense of confidence and appreciation that make him seem impervious to the pressure of the moment. Despite the loss in the series' finale on Thursday, the Cubs played like a team that wants the postseason designation next to their name. If you're a 'trust but verify" type of person, please see Willi Castro gun down Brice Turang to end the Crew's late rally in this contest. Don't contest this fact: The Cubs are a good team. In taking three of five from their division rivals, they didn't necessarily change the narrative, but they changed the theme of the book. What lies within the clubhouse of 1060 West Addison is a club that is primed for a playoff run, and who can play with anybody. Mining success from unexpected sources, the North Siders' alchemy of youth and veterans make them the threat we thought they were. Let me answer the question that's on your mind: Are the Cubs back in business? It sure seems that way. View full article

Image courtesy of © Benny Sieu-Imagn Images Anyone who has stopped off for a perusal of the goods at Mars Cheese Castle can inform you of the similarities between the reluctant neighbor cities of Chicago and Milwaukee. They share a lake, whose beaches are often teeming with revelers, fitness buffs, and foodies alike. But, more than just their gastronomic pursuits, the two cities share an eternally burning passion for their baseball teams. For the better part of a decade, the North Siders' northern siblings have enjoyed the sweet taste of division championships. Boasting a loaded lineup of some serious offensive heft, this was to be the year for Craig Counsell and his Cubs to claim their first full-season division crown since 2017. With a mystifying second-half slump, and a historic run of victories for Milwaukee, the Cubbies are staring down their last chance at claiming the NL Central. The Brewers' big boulder is standing in the way, do the Cubs have enough strength to move it? Before the All Star Break, the North Siders were such the envy of their division rivals that running into fans of opposing clubs invoked another unsolicited history lesson about the Cubs' curses, not a check of the standings. Leading the majors in several key offensive categories such as runs per game, the Cubs boasted an unspoken sense of confidence that no order was too tall. Then, the post-All-Star-break stretch of the season commenced, sparking an unprecedented run of victories from the Milwaukee Brewers that not only caught the rest of league off guard, but literally put food on the table for residents of Southeastern Wisconsin. Listen, the Crew's dominance is no fluke: They play the type of baseball our middle school coaches would fawn over. Milwaukee plays one of the most fundamentally sound styles of baseball you're likely to find. They field incredibly well, produce runs with timely hitting, and have lights out pitching. On the Cubs' side, if their offense was their main power source, starting pitching is their backup generator. If the Cubbies can generate enough of what made them a contender in the first place, it will go a long way in restoring comfort in the minds of those thinking about their return to the playoffs. Heading into this five-game set, the Chicago Cubs sit a full 8.0 games back of the Brewers for first place in the NL Central, and are practically tied with the San Diego Padres for the first Wild Card spot. The news has been close to nothing but bad for the Cubs for what seems like a lifetime, but at the outset of this showdown with the Brewers, two key things are true: 1. The Cubs, for all their struggles, still have not been swept in any series since the pre-Opening Day Tokyo Series against the Dodgers. 2. Any permutation of outcomes versus Milwaukee in their five-game series, outside of a sweep, keeps the Cubs' heads above water. If they were to somehow best the Brewers in all five games, they could essentially cut Milwaukee's lead in half with nearly a month and a half remaining in the regular season. Alright, I hope that quelled some of the "sky is falling" members of the fanbase who needed to hear that all, is in fact, not lost. I think the fact that it could be is what will finally ignite the fire in this team to push them back into favor among the postseason movers and shakers. At almost each position, the North Siders match up favorably with the Brew Crew. Milwaukee is one of the worst slugging teams in baseball and overall, Chicago has been one of the best. Before cooling off, Carson Kelly showed off some power in his bat and though he has just 13 homers right now, has been just as defensively stout as William Contreras. Before Miguel Amaya's prolonged stint on the IL, followed by the devastating re-aggravation of his injury, the Cubbies' boasted the best catchers in the game. Both clubs have dazzling infields that prevent offenses from gaining the upper hand or from balls touching grass. An emphasis on sure-handed throws, and a strong baseball IQ, looms large in this contest. Leading up to the trade deadline, the loudest cries from Cubs fans across the globe was to bring in an imposing starting pitcher. What they got was righty Michael Soroka from the Nationals. But not for long. In his first start for the Cubbies, Soroka was forced to leave the game after just two innings with shoulder discomfort. The starting rotation, which has been in flux for much of the year, had to step up for the North Siders, and it has. Emerging as a legitimate Rookie of the Year Candidate, Cade Horton's big league career has arrived. His ability to consistently go six innings, control of his fastball, and 3.07 ERA has nearly canceled out all other woes facing the club's starting rotation. Now, the Brewers' team ERA of 3.64 is bolstered by the club's prolific offense, plating 5.21 runs per game. At 5.02 runs per game, Chicago is still up there with the game's best. Both squads can recover from a blow-up inning, but for the Cubs' sake, it's best not to have one. From Freddy Peralta to Brandon Woodruff, the Crew doesn't give opposing squads much to work with, so the Cubbies must show up at their most opportunistic. Faster than a swipe from Pete Crow-Armstrong or Sal Frelick, the Cubs and Brewers collision course with one another has led to this ultimate moment. The preparation, the performance on the field, and the optics of how this series plays out stands to tremendously influence the perception of these two squads respective campaigns. Long removed from witnessing the likes of Rafael Ortega and Frank Schwindel suit up in Cubs uniforms, Chicago has its biggest opportunity yet to bury some of the ghosts of its recent past. The Cubbies are in the moment, but will they seize it? View full article

Image courtesy of © Melissa Tamez-Imagn Images In their song "Heartbreak Feels So Good", Fall Out Boy, one of the city's favorite native bands, poses the question: "Is there a word for a bad miracle?" The game of baseball for the Cubbies has been nothing if not an uphill battle as of late, stacking up losses like a Jenga tower, as the dream of a division title, and even a playoff berth, drifts off into the distant horizon. Whether stagnant offense, or pretending this season's joys wouldn't end, is to blame, this week and the past several have indicated to this organization that things very well could end most prematurely. Unofficially, the Cubs have encountered puzzling struggles in their Sunday contests, even against weaker opponents such as St. Louis. After dropping the series' finale against their rivals 3-2, Pete Crow-Armstrong and his squad were hoping that an off day and arrival in Toronto might bring about a change in fortune. It did not. Marking Javier Assad's hopeful and long-awaited return, the righty labored, surrendering eight hits and four earned runs over four rough innings. Ben Brown came in to replace him, and as he has often done of late, looked pretty good. Brown's climb to improved, though still modest, stability has helped alleviate at least some of the mounting stress on Craig Counsell's shoulders. Despite not breaking in half, the Cubs' broken offense couldn't keep them in this one. The squad left ten on base and went a comical 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. The final score from the Rogers Centre was 5-1, Toronto. As much of the offense has swooned to staggering lows, the heroics of Matt Shaw and his second-half mashing cannot be understated. Not only have 80% of his home runs come since the All-Star break, but he's also shown an impressive maturity and awareness in each contest. On the mound, the progressively fantastic rise of rookie Cade Horton has firmly thrust him into the center of the Rookie of the Year conversation. When his squad has needed it the most, Horton, owner of a sub-4 ERA, has stepped up. Striking out eight batters, Horton helped hold off the Jays' powerful lineup long enough for the Cubs to get cooking. Michael Busch and the aforementioned Matt Shaw both homered in a cathartic return to some of the pop this club has built its reputation on. The North Siders evened things up 1-1 with a 4-1 victory over Toronto. With the offense showing signs of life in the previous contest, the Cubs had a chance to win a series versus a quality opponent, but the perplexing frustrations of this second half persisted. Let down by the gruesome injury Miguel Amaya sustained a day prior, the North Siders once again struggled to get their offense going. Matthew Boyd turned in a Cy Young-worthy performance, surrendering only a late two-run homer to Vladimir Guerrero Jr.. That would prove to be the game-winning knock as the Cubs stranded another seven runners and could not manage one hit with runners in scoring position. Failing to lift its magnificent pitching staff, Chicago fell 2-1 to the Blue Jays in Canada. Certain teams in MLB just seem more beatable than others. For the 2006 and 2012 Tigers, that team was the Kansas City Royals, a perennial cellar dweller in the American League Central. Occupying a similar space in the NL Central, the Pirates should present as that sort of opponent for the Cubs, though the Buccos were unwilling to play the part in game one of their divisional series at Wrigley. As the Blue Angels soared above the Wrigleyville skies, Pete Crow-Armstrong's bat began its takeoff process. He enjoyed a 3-for-3 day, notching critical hits, held back only by his critical base-running gaffe in the ninth. As this squad's starters are known to do, Colin Rea punched in a highly respectable five-inning outing. Though the North Siders suffered a 3-2 loss to Pittsburgh, the club showed encouraging signs that it is heading toward turning the corner, which we have all been breathlessly anticipating. A win would go a long way in transforming the vibes around this ball club. Did Craig Counsell's squad sink the Pirates' ship? You bet they did. Starting with a very good second outing of the season from Javier Assad. He gave up just one run over four innings. On his bobblehead day, Dansby Swanson loaded the cannon and did not miss. He swatted the most clutch swings the Cubs have seen in some time with a go-ahead RBI double and later a sac fly, which gave his club the lead for good. Not only did the 4-3 win give the Cubs the series, but it also notched their 70th win on the season with a shot to seriously shake up the division in their tilt with the Crew. Nobody said the road was friendless, though the Cubs' play of late has made it seem that way. Just hours away from the North Siders' heavyweight bout with the Milwaukee Brewers, the focus has shifted drastically. The 2025 Chicago Cubs should have one goal: make the postseason. Should they make good on that endeavor, we'll collectively dance the tears away, emancipating ourselves from these temporary woes. View full article

Image courtesy of © Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images For 20 years and counting, my friends and I voyage to the golf resorts of Northern Michigan to compete in a Ryder Cup-esque tournament. It's a whirlwind weekend of lush green vistas, frequent beer cart purchases, and (sadly, for me) mediocre golf. Listen, I'm not making it viral for my ball-striking capabilities, but one thing I can do on most days: putt like an absolute dream. And while my short game prowess won't get me an exemption at Medinah, it serves my team well in our annual golf tournament. From a Cubs standpoint, the key ingredient to their recipe for success in 2025 has been a slugging lineup that keeps them in most games, and their opponents out of them. That has very glaringly not been the case over the last couple of weeks, though, forcing the bullpen to attempt to hit out of the rough far too many times to get back up to par. Chicago's collective bullpen ERA is 3.86. Rare rocky outings from this season's standouts (such as Drew Pomeranz and Caleb Thielbar) have come in situations where the club has left them with virtually no margin for error. The Cubs have scored just 30 runs in their first 10 games in August. When Cubs closer Daniel Palencia took the ball in his club's series finale versus the Orioles a week ago, he failed to hold on to a one-run lead, making way for Justin Turner's ninth-inning heroics. Not unlike Joe Pesci in Home Alone, pitchers like Palencia are traversing a rope that's been doused in kerosene and lit on fire. The last time the squad's bullpen looked pedestrian, it came at a time when the Cubbies were making a name for themselves as one of the elite offenses in Major League Baseball, arriving in much more low-leverage situations. Turning our attention to Chicago's recent offensive power outage, one must factor in the unnerving, almost mystical dominance of the Milwaukee Brewers, a squad whose play has been so close to flawless, it renders the efforts of other competitors futile. For this team and this bullpen to have a legitimate shot at playing past the first few days of October, things have to get better. Location and velocity from relievers like Thielbar, Pomeranz, and newcomer Taylor Rogers must improve. Getting back to their trademark formula in Saturday night's game, the North Siders chased Andre Pallante in the second inning and cruised from there. Once the game got turned over to the bullpen, it wasn't perfect, but it didn't have to be. The pen finally enjoyed the opportunity to pitch in a situation where they could breathe, a bit. Though each loss in the last fortnight comes with a deflating sense of letdown, there is still time to make a steady return to prominence. Whatever made this squad so special in the first place is still there, within them. Now, we will find out if they can make it matter. View full article