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Image courtesy of © Benny Sieu-Imagn Images When it comes to the ongoing war both on and off the field with the Milwaukee Brewers, the Cubs could collectively sit in a rose bush and have less of a thorn in their side than Pat Murphy's club has proven to be. Racing toward the post-trade-deadline home stretch, both squads have their sights set on a division crown and securing an all-important bye during the first round come October. Depending on what day you checked the standings, the Crew and Cubbies traded places boasting baseball's best record ahead of this three-game tilt. But, with the dust settling from this series of heavyweights, nothing is quite settled. Far from it in fact. The Chicago Cubs have pitching hindrances that were not shored up at the deadline, but at the outset of the series, one thing was clear: Craig Counsell had to line up his three best pitchers, and he did. Rolling out Matthew Boyd, Colin Rea, and Shota Imanaga, the hurlers taking the mound for Chicago's North Side team at American Family Field were to lock their squad in a tit-for-tat chess match with Milwaukee's best. If you watched every pitch of this series, which some of us had the distinct misfortune of doing, you realized that the squad's best laid plans don't always come to fruition, ending the series just one game back of their rivals from across state lines. Holding a lead in each of the first two games of this tilt, the Cubs' widely known shortcomings, namely sporadic starting pitching and a short bullpen, kept the North Siders from having any real chance of defeating the Brewers. Game one starter Matthew Boyd did not look the part of an All-Star Cy Young candidate and struggled with control early. The Brewers' scrappy crew of hitters like Sal Frelick, Isaac Collins, and new villain Andrew Vaughn jumped all over the Cubbies' veteran early. The game started with both pitchers and both teams understanding the enormity of the moment, shaking off nerves and struggling to find their respective grooves. The Cubs more or less got to Milwaukee's pitching phenom Jacob Misiorowski, but could not string together enough clutch hits to deliver the knock out blow to the young ace. Suffering losses in both games in which more resolve, and yes, more weapons, could have led to far more positive outcomes for the North Siders, the Cubs got a rude wake-up call to what it takes to be successful in playoff-type situations. No one in the Brewers' batting order wields the dangerous pop of most of the Cubs' boppers, but what Milwaukee does is play nearly mistake-free baseball. Their opportunistic offense and fundamentally-tight defense puts them in game situations that prevent the bottom from falling out. If the Cubs are to have even a puncher's chance of fighting back to take this division, they're going to have to operate on a similar plane. Did the Cubs blow this series? Yes, they absolutely did. The club's offense could not muster a hit when it mattered, going a ghastly 4-21 with runners in scoring position in the first two contests. That's losing baseball, and that's a poor recipe for postseason affluence, where the cream of the crop eventually rises to the top. If Chicago wants to keep the Cream City from being the ones who rise, they had better get some things figured out, and fast. Alas, the Cubs that we know and love made a largely heartwarming reappearance to close out the series. The explosive offense, powered by some of the club's usual suspects in Michael Busch, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Kyle Tucker, pelted one clutch hit after another in front of a Wrigley-leaning crowd. Each smooth swing of the bat that drove in another run for Craig Counsell's club felt like pain relief and proof that the squad may yet round back into form to make a serious run at the NL Central crown. The Cubs' triumph in the eleventh hour in Milwaukee issued a two-game swing in their pursuit of the division's superior team, making the climb seem slightly less daunting. What comes next for these two clubs relies heavily on the typical baseball factors: health, depth, and luck. Not much was decided in this most recent battle. Milwaukee won the war of attrition, but both sides are now left to retreat back to their corners, watching the stakes soar to new heights. View full article

Image courtesy of © David Banks-Imagn Images Any frustrations pertaining to the Chicago Cubs at this moment in time stem from they're status as a good team that very well could be great. Coupled with a surprising offensive slump, the squad's tepid starting pitching has the North Siders and all involved with this organization eager to usher in a change for the better. Entering the phase of the season that can unequivocally be deemed as the home stretch, much has been made of how the Cubbies’ schedule and its proximity to Wrigley aligns perfectly for their clubhouse. Well, their opponents this week reminded us all that familiarity breeds contempt. The sub-.500 Kansas City Royals play in a division that only recently got interesting, but they roared into Wrigley like a tiger in Game 1 of their three-game set with the Cubs. On another nauseating bullpen day kicked off by Ryan Brasier, Ben Brown got drilled in perhaps with the worst outing of the season. Lasting four innings, Brown has throngs of Cubs fans shouting from the rooftops on Sheffield for a shakeup in the starting rotation. In a silver lining play, a suddenly emerging Matt Shaw belted a three-run homer to the left-field bleachers. That moment accounted for all of the joy supporters of the North Siders would enjoy on this day in a 12-4 route for the Royals. The Cubs are capable of being a phenomenal baseball team, and they looked the part in the middle game of this series. After giving up a barrage of runs to one of the lowest-scoring clubs in the game a day prior, the Cubs blanked 45-year-old Rich Hill and the Kansas City Royals. The dark horse Cy Young candidate, Matthew Boyd, was exquisite in seven innings of four-hit shutout baseball. His dominance on the mound elevates his squad to a more elite tier of teams competing for the postseason. More encouraging still was one of the cleanest bullpen showings in days with Caleb Thielbar and Daniel Palencia slamming the door on the Royals in a 6-0 win for the home team. When one door closes, another one opens, but not the one Craig Counsell and his squad had hoped for as they dropped the rubber match to Kansas City. Former Brewer Colin Rea has shown signs of perking up lately. Still, his confidence quickly evaporated in the face of surrendering three early long balls to the below-average Royals lineup. The Cubbies hung around in the early innings, but could not manage any offense of consequence, especially with Kyle Tucker sitting out the final game of this three-game tilt. Garbage time home runs from Pete Crow-Armstrong and Matt Shaw gave CTA commuters something to talk about on the ride home, but not much else. Beyond dropping the series with the 8-4 loss, the North Siders also had to reckon with the unfamiliar feeling of second place in the NL Central yet again after starting the day tied for first with the Milwaukee Brewers. Another blisteringly hot summer weekend arrived in Chicago to kick off part two of the Crosstown Classic. Taking the field off the Sox/35th Red Line stop at "The Rate", the White Sox had little else to do in this series but play spoiler to their North Side rivals. That's exactly what they did in Game 1 of this series. The resounding success the Cubbies have enjoyed in this civil war in recent contests came to a screeching halt at a very inopportune moment for Shota Imanaga's team. The Cubbies' ace suffered his worst start and worst loss as a big leaguer. The Pitching Philosopher surrendered seven earned runs and three homers to the Sox batters. The stakes being what they are for playoff positioning, it felt much worse than it probably was, though it was pretty bad even as a one-off. Like a passenger sleeping on your shoulder during a Metra ride, the Cubbies' offense refused to wake up in a 12-5 thumping for the Sox. Despite suffering a rather humiliating loss in game one of this series, the North Siders proved why they run this town, and maybe even more, in the middle contest of this matchup. Cade Horton spun the best game of his young career, which could have signaled more prosperity to come in a dazzling 6 1/3 inning performance. Clutch homers from Ian Happ and Matt Shaw sparked a late-game rally for the Cubbies on their way to a 6-1 triumph. More than just comforting in a therapeutic sense, how the North Siders took this game bodes well for their chances in the postseason, a space in which 27-out nailbiters are the norm. Headed into their rubber match with the White Sox, the Cubbies found themselves tied for first place in the NL Central and at the precipice of the biggest series of the season to date up in Milwaukee. Taking the mound in this series-deciding contest, the young Ben Brown needed an outing that resembled competence, and boy, did he get it. In his five innings of work, he surrendered just one run, a solo shot off the bat of Andrew Benintendi in the first inning. The start probably didn't do much to make a case for Brown as a starter (if there is one), but he came up big when his club needed it. The Cubbies had Lakshore Drive volumes of traffic on the bases pretty much the whole game. Crow-Armstrong aided in making the drive a bit easier, delivering a two-run double. He's been seeing the ball well all season long, and wouldn't you know it, so is his teammate Matt Shaw, who continues to hit with consistency and poise. An offensively proficient Shaw drastically alters the complexion of this club and certainly the upcoming trades to be executed by Jed Hoyer and his staff. Staving off a late-inning rally from the Sox, marked by a three-run bomb by Benintendi, the Cubbies took the game 5-4. What a catharsis to feel as they head into the critical tilt with their division rivals. While the days that lie ahead loom large in deciding where this team goes in the immediate and long-term future, there's no reason for any parties involved to get too worked up about how these next couple of series play out. The way this club is playing suggests that even if they fall, they have what it takes to get back on their feet. The stage is set for the Cubs to take control of their destiny and create some serious fireworks once Summer fades. View full article

Image courtesy of © David Banks-Imagn Images In his second year as the club's skipper, Craig Counsell is at the helm of a squad much more balanced and well-rounded than the one he inherited at the outset of his time as the Cubs' manager. One could look at a plethora of reasons why this is a winning ball club, but more than any one area of strength, the Cubs are a good team because they're sound at each position. Here's a look at how the North Siders stack up at each position, and what areas for enhancement there may be at the trade deadline. Catcher: #15 Carson Kelly- For a time, Kelly (along with Miguel Amaya) was one half of the most fearsome catching tandem in baseball. The power he provided in the early going nearly canceled out the 31-year-old's more pedestrian pitch-framing. Though his offensive output tapered off through most of June, he's enjoying a bit of a resurgence in July. Checking in with an OPS of .893, Kelly is one reason why there are no safe zones for opponents when facing this lineup. One thing to watch is how the imminent return of Amaya enhances Kelly's game and facilitates some much-needed rest. #20 Reese McGuire- Arriving for the purpose of alleviating the pressure on Kelly in the absence of Amaya, McGuire splashed on to the scene, showing off the potential for power in the back end of the Cubs' lineup. His sample size is not large enough to do much with the numbers he's provided in a Cubs uniform. McGuire does possess respectable pitch-framing abilities, though, and has reaped the rewards of receiving the ball from an excellent starting pitching rotation. He's purely a stopgap, but he's been a fine one. #9 Miguel Amaya- Before he went down with an oblique strain, it was hard to argue that any player for the Chicago Cubs was more improved than Amaya. He left off with an OBP of .313 and an eyebrow-raising OPS of .819. Wholesale upgrades to his swing mechanics and sound defense highlight the youth and adaptability of Amaya, a cherished commdity in a veteran corps. First Base: #29 Michael Busch- Recently installed into the leadoff spot, Busch has vastly outperformed his totals from his previous two seasons with the club. With his power and production in the top of this dangerous batting order has come a considerable level of confidence. His youth not only makes him the obvious choice for the squad's everyday first baseman, but decreases the workload for the perpetually struggling Justin Turner and Jon Berti. #3 Justin Turner- Not to sound overly negative, but the 40-year old Justin Turner has been little more than a warm body in a Cubs uniform this season. Not a whole lot was expected from the veteran infielder and he has delivered on that (lack of) expectation. What Turner does provide Counsell's squad, however, is tremendous mentorship and an admirable clubhouse presence. His infamous dugout celebration with the scorching-hot Seiya Suzuki was not only hilarious, but a prime example of the positive energy and leadership he adds to this team. #5 Jon Berti- Identifying Berti's place on this team, other than to provide bench depth, is a challenging proposition. With the excellence of the Cubs middle infield, Berti mostly makes his appearances as a pinch-runner or in extra-inning contests, in which the Cubs have not fared so well in. Having said that, if it's depth you're looking for, Berti does provide that, and does so without making any costly errors. With the club shifting its attention to postseason strategy, it remains to be seen whether or not Berti will have a role on this team. Second Base: #2 Nico Hoerner- A fan favorite, veteran second baseman Nico Hoerner is arguably the most consistent player on the roster. His defensive proficiency is practically a given. His staggering range informs his elite prowess in the infield, turning in 9 outs above average (OAA). He's also shown a knack for coming up with big hits, despite not having much power. #17 Vidal Brujan- Similar to Berti, Bruján's contributions are more evident in the breach than in the observance. He barely gets on base, and even slotted at the bottom of the batting order, he offers far too easy an out to the opposition. Bruján is serviceable from a defensive standpoint, but isn't a sufficiently viable hitter to make that matter. Third Base: #6 Matt Shaw- Now, things get quite interesting. Anyone who knows that Yak-Zies is a bar, and not a mammal, is rooting for the Cubs' most coveted prospect. Shaw is dynamite at the hot corner. Less explosive, however, is his plate production. He's warmed up marvelously coming out of the All-Star break, with three home runs. He's hit in all six games since the season resumed, totaling nine knocks. With the trade deadline almost here and the squad's sights set on postseason contention, however, the acquisition of a player like Eugenio Suárez—pushing Shaw into the wings—is seeming more and more possible. Shortstop: #7 Dansby Swanson- Swanson's range has decreased with age, but he still does a decent job holding down his position. His OAA of 1 is not meant to set the world on fire, but he's not costing his team in any significant way. In the batter's box, his 108 OPS+ tops his career average of 97, and like Hoerner, he seems to have come up clutch quite often. Left Field: #8 Ian Happ- There are times when it feels like Happ has been playing left field for the Chicago Cubs since before the city laid down the first track for the "L". Happ is a consummate professional and approaches his position with a decidedly cerebral attitude. Average in a number ways, including arm strength, Happ has provided more than just a modest level of pop in his bat over the years, with a career OPS of .786. What makes Happ special (other than his podcasting prowess) is his penchant for hitting off-speed pitches. In 2025, he's hitting .349 against curveballs. Center Field: #4 Pete Crow-Armstrong- The Cubs enjoy several luxuries as a franchise, but one of them is that in Crow-Armstrong, they have the best center fielder in the game this year. Crow-Armstrong has almost single-handedly changed the perception of what's possible at the position. His arm strength ranks in the 94th percentile, he gets to just about everything (even if it has a 0% catch probability), and if that weren't enough, he can hit just about any type of pitch, regardless of location. Right Field: #30 Kyle Tucker- Playing alongside one of the most electric players in baseball, Tucker's defense in right doesn't get as much attention as his lumber, though he is an incredibly well-rounded player. His arm value is elite, and as the high-leverage situations have increased, he's played largely mistake-free baseball. A far cry from what the club endured with former everyday right fielder Suzuki, Tucker has provided the whole organization a tremendous sigh of relief. Countless metrics (and the eyeball test) make Tucker an elite outfielder, but arguably more than anything else, his plate discipline sets him apart from his peers. He doesn't chase bad pitches, doesn't swing and miss a whole lot, and frankly, much of the reason he's such a prolific offensive player is because he knows how to pick his spots. While a cloud of uncertainty swirls around how long he'll be in a Cubs uniform, he certainly provides security at the position right now. To analyze and investigate the Cubs position by position, is to find an imperfect masterpiece that has pockets of beauty, but glaring gaps that could make for tougher sledding. The club, even if it made no moves at all, could legitimately compete deep into the postseason. With that said, there has never been a more important juncture for Jed Hoyer and his office to deliver the right haul for his organization to move the needle. View full article

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. View full article

Image courtesy of © Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images At the 2025 All-Star break, the Chicago Cubs own the third-best record in baseball and a legitimate shot at a long run into the postseason. They've played an electric brand of baseball, fronted by superstars like Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki, and they've made people take notice, including one of their own: Marquee Sports Network's Alex Cohen. I recently got the chance to catch up with the Philadelphia native on a number of topics, including what this special season feels like from an inside perspective, smiling through broadcasts, and how many of the pieces that make up this Cubs squad are reason to consider long-term prosperity on the North Side of Chicago. Recalling "electric" nights such as the one the Cubbies enjoyed in front of a national audience on Sunday Night Baseball a couple of weeks ago versus the rival St. Louis Cardinals, Cohen sees this squad as a serious contender. "The vibes are high, and this is a team with postseason and World Series aspirations," he said. One point of evidence that this team could find themselves in a long playoff run (other than simply turning on the TV and watching them), is the brilliance of designated hitter and All-Star snub Seiya Suzuki. A top-five leader in runs batted in, Suzuki, Cohen says, "answers the call" in prime-time situations. Cohen specifically cited the big hits Suzuki got over the team's last homestand before the break, with three doubles, three home runs and eight RBIs in six games against the Guardians and Cardinals. To cash in on some of the team's loftier goals, they'll have to keep pace ahead of "surging Brewers and Reds teams," who at this point in time have considerably improved their chances of catching up to the division leaders. Luckily, Craig Counsell's club has one of the most exciting and valuable players in baseball, Crow-Armstrong, on the everyday lineup card. Since his days calling games in Des Moines, Iowa, Cohen recognized Crow-Armstrong's potential, but didn't anticipate it getting to this level so quickly. "I knew that he'd have the opportunity to hit 20 home runs in a season," he said. "I didn't expect him to have (more than) 20 before the All-Star break. And he's a great defender." The Cubs are a very good baseball team; that much is obvious. But what might surprise the casual fan is how much better the club has gotten in turning its weaknesses into strengths. Having been around some of the squad's young stars (like fireballer Daniel Palencia, who has helped rewrite the book on the once-maligned Cubs' bullpen), Cohen offers a unique perspective on what an arm like Palencia's might do to enhance the Cubbies' championship hopes. "He gives the Cubs a legitimate back-end of the bullpen arm. I think with Daniel Palencia, the question was, could he throw enough strikes?" Cohen said. "And I think the answer is yes. When you're throwing 101, 102 it's a matter of where you put it, and where he's putting it is not allowing hitters to make contact and not make hard contact." Boasting a 1.57 ERA, Palencia is as close to a sure-thing closer as the Cubs have had since Wade Davis in 2017. Baseball is a game peppered with history so deep it would make a Chicago pizzaiolo blush. Cohen recognizes that history, both in legends from the game's broadcasting past, and his contemporaries like the great Pat Hughes. "Pat said if you can't have fun doing this, then you can't have fun doing anything else. So I broadcast with a smile on my face," he said. Cohen values the approachability of taking baseball in 2025 and all of its complexities, and making it something listeners of all ages can dig into, deriving not just enjoyment, but identity with the game on a more personal level. "Calling fun baseball" is where he's at right now, in going to work as a broadcaster for a team that's provided numerous memorable moments in the first half of the 2025 campaign alone. Citing instances like Matthew Boyd's call to the All-Star Game or the club mashing a franchise-record eight home runs on the Fourth of July, he translates genuine excitement to the fans watching at home that come away with a little bit extra in either an isolated play or the game as a whole. Chicago is a place that's easy for one to find themselves as the lead role in their very own love story. For Cohen, this is where his love story with the game of baseball originated. "Because it's not just the team, it's the ballpark, it's the neighborhood, it's the community," Cohen said. "So I think it's just a special team with a special reputation, but also a special atmosphere and a special city." Hearing the sound of the Red Line rumbling down the track isn't the only thing that makes the city unique. Loved and respected by countless individuals from all corners of the Earth, Chicago is a town whose identity is molded by its people, its neighborhoods, and its baseball teams. There is no doubt that the Chicago Cubs' lauded stable of broadcasters (Cohen, Boog Sciambi, and Hughes on play-by-play; Jim Deshaies and Ron Coomer as color commentators) elevates them to a special place in the community and the game, as it has done since the roster included Jack Brickhouse and Lou Boudreau. Given the track this ball club is on, no one involved with the organization would think to replace this season anytime soon. "Just sit back and enjoy it. The team will lose games in the future at some point, but if they can get to 90-95 wins—which they're on track for—you'll be watching a Chicago Cubs playoff team, so just try to enjoy it." Advice we are all ready and willing to follow. View full article

Image courtesy of © Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images In the English language (and most others), there are several adages regarding the importance of seizing opportunities when they present themselves. If you need to verify this in some small way, go to your local bakery and be right behind the person who claims the last bear claw. It's painful to miss out on a chance so delicious, but sadly, it's not unfamiliar to Cubs fans. They've longed for the team to step on the throats of their rivals in the NL Central, but the team was too slow to the counter for that. Not much has changed for the North Siders in their quest for a division crown, paired with playoff prosperity. The heat in the kitchen is rising, and as you might have expected, I would say: Good things don't come to those who wait. After the team bashed their way to an 11-0 national TV win over the Cardinals before hitting the road last week, they were on top of the world. Leave it to the Minnesota Twins—about as average a team as you'll find, one game over .500 since the start of 2024—to send the Cubs cascading downward from the summit. I'm not much of a "count your chickens" type of fellow, but when Shota Imanaga takes the bump, as he did in Game 1 of his squad's three-game tilt with the Twins, I expect at least a puncher's chance at victory. Imanaga had the length, going six two-run innings, but the team behind him lacked the punch, scraping only one run across the plate, long after it ceased to matter. A curiously poor performance from the typically sound Porter Hodge revealed a lingering injury, which sent the right-handed reliever back to the injured list. The North Siders dropped the opener 8-1. The second game was a bit less lopsided, but no less frustrating. Aside from Ben Brown, Cade Horton (though he possesses a near-bottomless well of potential) has been the club's most uneven starter. That remained true in this one, as the 23-year old righty labored over 4 2/3 innings of four-run ball. If, on a given day, the defense isn't there, the offense has to be, but for the second straight game, it wasn't. Cashing in just two runs, Chicago fell in this contest 4-2. Chicago did salvage something from the Twins series Thursday, and that something (an 8-1 triumph) felt like a lot more than just a parting gift for a squad looking for a "get-right" win. Colin Rea was a stopper, delivering a seven-inning quality start that felt like his best in ages. He worked with confidence and efficiency; his club's mighty offense took care of the rest. If you haven't already purchased your Pete Crow-Armstrong jersey, that endeavor didn't get any easier, as the All-Star center fielder launched his 24th and 25th long balls of the campaign. In an already historic season, Crow-Armstrong became the fastest Cub ever to reach 25 home runs and 25 stolen bases. The New Yorker bestowed the not-so-flattering moniker of "The Second City" on our beloved town. While Chicagoans spun that title into a term of everlasting endearment, the North Side club sure did feel like a runner-up in their first of a three-game set versus the Yankees. It can't quite be called an unexpected outcome, though; the team tried a fairly uninspiring bullpen game to bridge their rotation gap. Chris Flexen toed the rubber to kick off the proceedings, but his colleagues in the pen (especially the now-optioned Jordan Wicks) helped the Bronx Bombers live up to their nickname in an 11-0 drubbing. Few Cubs have had a season as impressive as Matthew Boyd's, and in Game 2 of Chicago's series against New York, he showed why. Spinning eight dominant innings, the southpaw stifled the Bombers' formidable offense. Carson Kelly smashed his 12th home run of the year, in a match in which the Cubs took the field with a sense of urgency that seemed lacking in other recent contests. During a 5-2 victory, the Cubs failed to take the whole Big Apple, but certainly got back to their hotel room with a decent slice of it. The concluding game of this series in New York gave Chicago a chance to end the first half of the season on a high note, leaving a good taste in everyone's mouth before the outset of the fateful home stretch to the campaign. Shota Imanaga delivered the ace-like performance his squad so eagerly desired. Aside from surrendering a solo shot to Giancarlo Stanton, Imanaga soared through 7 sensational innings. The Cubs offense closed out the first half of the season in respectable fashion with crucial home runs from Michael Busch and Dansby Swanson. Securing the 4-1 win over the Yankees not only locked up the series victory, but ensured the North Siders sole possession of first place in their division to start the second half of the 2025 campaign. The first half of the season is over. The Cubs are in the mix, but there's still much work to be done. One could argue that this club has more untapped potential that could very well be unleashed with the proper trade deadline moves. If Jed Hoyer goes out and bolsters the pitching staff, we can reassess the team as something more than a divisional co-favorite. Perhaps the lapses the Cubbies have displayed at times in the campaign thus far have led you to proceed with caution, but with this club's biggest, most ambitious goals laid before it, the time is now to ascend to the next level. View full article

Image courtesy of © Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images Since 1876, the baseball team known as the Chicago Cubs have delighted (and dismayed) multitudes of fans from all corners of the Earth. As such, there's little uncharted territory. They've been here before, but arguably, they've never arrived at this point in quite this fashion. Another bout of adversity looms, but the team had a profitable week as they marched closer to both the All-Star break and the MLB trade deadline. The Cubs couldn't get off the ground against the Astros last weekend, but a winning surge to begin the week made that feel like a thing of the past. Matthew Boyd dazzled his former squad, the Cleveland Guardians, earning his eighth win of the year with a 7-inning, 5-hit performance. Boyd, who might earn an All-Star nod by the time you read this, is on a long list of the Cubs most responsibile for the team's prosperity. The league's leader in RBIs, Seiya Suzuki, belted yet another home run in a 5-2 Cubs victory to begin a three-game set. Throughout the months of April and May, the North Siders stacked up series wins. That was their focus this week, too. In his second start back from injury, Shota Imanaga gave up a trio of solo shots to the Guards, but settled in for 5 1/3 innings of decent ball. Regardless of whom the Cubs scoop up at the trade deadline, Imanaga's brilliance and resolve make him a legitimate candidate for their Game 1 start. The National League All-Star center fielder, Pete Crow-Armstrong, delivered a clutch performance and an RBI triple in the fourth inning of a 5-4 win for the Cubbies. Hovering around .500 in extra-innings contests this year, free baseball hasn't exactly been a comforting sight for the Cubs. Stirring feelings of 2016 nostalgia and ecstasy, the North Siders earned a three-game sweep Thursday night in a 10-inning thriller at the Friendly Confines. Along with another perfect appearance from the underrated Chris Flexen, Cade Horton punched in his best work as a big-league pitcher, with seven scoreless innings. Broom in hand, Clark the Cub ascended to the top of the iconic center field scoreboard to celebrate Matt Shaw's sacrifice fly to win the ball game 1-0. Riding a three-game win streak, the Cubs had the St. Louis Cardinals seeing firework red in the first of a three-game set, set off on America's birthday. The Cubs made history in front of another sellout crowd, clubbing a franchise-record eight home runs. With the Wrigley faithful in an absolute frenzy, Crow-Armstrong (the city's unofficial mayor) and sensational first baseman Michael Busch combined for five long balls. The rest came from Dansby Swanson, Carson Kelly, and Suzuki. It was one of those July days that puts October in your nose. Unfortunately, sharing the hangover of millions across the Chicagoland area, the Cubs came up short on Saturday. Trailing from the jump, the team made less than a full feast out of one scoring opportunity after another, stranding a total of 10 runners on base and hitting just 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position. They still managed to fashion a late-inning lead, but Brad Keller had his worst appearance of the year, surrendering five runs in the fateful eighth. The North Siders were able to get one back in the bottom half of the frame, but could not prevail in an 8-6 loss. At the outset of the Sunday night rubber match versus the Cardinals, the club is playing a great, sustainable brand of baseball. At this stage of the season, Chicago's primary focus is putting distance between themselves and their division rivals. What comes of the trade deadline will be the most impactful toward this end, as the acquisition of key pieces (like starting pitching, particularly in the wake of Jameson Taillon's injury) could have Chicago dictating their own postseason narrative. The next chapter starts now. View full article

Image courtesy of © Jeff Curry-Imagn Images I suspect I'm not the only one who felt this sentiment, but until very recently, I allowed myself to believe in the myth that Chicago's North Side baseball club had essentially locked up the NL Central. Oops. While Craig Counsell and his clubhouse could still take the division crown near the end of September, the last two weeks of baseball have proved that no one in this league will go down without a fight. Wincing in the aftermath of last Sunday's 14-6 drubbing at Wrigley Field at the hands of a capable Seattle Mariners club, the Cubs loaded up their personal effects and took off for a seven-game trip to end an unremarkable, even turbulent month of June. Up first: the hated rival St. Louis Cardinals. Busch Stadium is "Big Mac Land," but at the outset of this four-game tilt, the only big thing the North Siders received was a massive slice of humble pie. Serving as the last straw for Ben Brown's demotion to Iowa, the Cubs were throttled by their arch nemeses. The Cards decked Brown, and the visitors answered with only seven hits and two runs in an 8-2 defeat, As their division lead dwindled, the Cubs got tied up in a slump of poor swing decisions and costly throwing errors. In other words, they started playing not to lose, rather than to win. This notion was reflected with Jameson Taillon, one of the sturdier hurlers for this club, toeing the rubber in game two. The offense briefly resuscitated itself with a five-run third inning, marked by a three-run bomb from the electric Seiya Suzuki, but that was far from enough. The Cards came roaring back with two runs of their own in that frame to cut the lead to one, followed up by a decisive four-run inning in the fourth to give Oli Marmol's squad the lead for good. The Cubs dropped the second game 8-7. Reaching a pre-All-Star break tipping point that could have shaped this club's outlook in a much different light, the Cubs bounced back in game three. Matthew Boyd is as good a stopper as this organization has right now and with his club needing it, he delivered a masterful performance. While his counterpart Erick Fedde was touched up for seven earned runs, Boyd spun six scoreless innings, lowering his ERA to 2.65. People had started to wonder out loud where the Cubs' intimidating offense went, but in this contest, they returned. Michael Busch led the way to an 8-0 victory. To qoute Cubs play-by-by announcer Boog Sciambi: "This is a series split that feels like a win." A win is a win, but it feels just a bit more significant when you hold your opponent to a goose egg. Chicago delivered a statement win in the series finale. Making his much-anticipated return from the injured list, staff ace Shota Imanaga looked as good as the team could have asked. He went five flawless innings, restoring an aura of confidence and electricity on the mound that felt like it had been missing. Not to go unnoticed, the bullpen remained brilliant, combining for four innings of shutout ball. Busch requested the naming rights to the Cardinals' house by becoming the first person of that surname to blast a home run. The Cubs tallied a 3-0 win at (Michael) Busch Stadium. In baseball, and indeed in sports, players switch sides all the time. It's a routine part of the game, but in some circumstances (such as the one that swapped Cam Smith and Kyle Tucker between the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros), it feels anything but routine. Cade Horton had a rough start in the first game of the Cubs' first entanglement with the Astros since that trade, including giving up a three-run homer to Smith. Houston won, 7-4. Less than a full day after Smith recorded his indelible moment, however, Tucker got his. Coming just a triple away from the cycle, the Cubs' superstar right fielder punished his former squad, highlighted by a three-run blast over the wall in right field. His three RBIs were contributions to an all-day barrage of Cubs offense. Everyone in the lineup (except Pete Crow-Armstrong) recorded a hit. Though it was a pedestrian day for Crow-Armstrong at the tail end of a pedestrian week, he did still draw a walk and bring in a sac-fly RBI. Colin Rea delivered a respectable outing, pitching five innings and surrendering only two runs. Not only did the Cubs clobber their way to a 12-3 win, but in doing so, they calmed some of the nerves starting to swirl around the clubhouse. Taillon is currently the most divisive starting pitcher in the Cubs' rotation, although (unfortunately) not the least volatile or the worst. While Taillon largely held his own in the series finale, his squad's performance was emblematic of how things have gone recently when he takes the hill. Houston was a problem for Craig Counsell's club in the final game of this three-game set. A staggering inability to come through with clutch knocks stymied the Cubs at Daikin Park. The North Siders left seven runners on base and went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Heading into a day off, the Cubs dropped the contest 2-0, and came up on the short end in the series as well. Taillon couldn't escape the fifth inning, although Houston's only runs came on a skyscraping Crawford Boxes Special by Jose Altuve. Victims of their own shortcomings and lapses, the Chicago Cubs are on a slide. They've squandered a commanding lead in the NL Central. The Rockies scratched out a win over the red-hot Brewers Sunday, so the Cubs still have a two-game cushion, but that's not much—and the Cardinals and Reds are close behind Milwaukee, too. It's only fair to retain some confidence, as the team is still on pace for over 90 wins, but the race is very much on. They still have a lead, but it's no longer a comfortable one. View full article

Image courtesy of Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images On the North Side of Chicago, the topic at the forefront of everyone's mind (other than the blistering heat) is exactly who Jed Hoyer will bring in to round out a Cubs starting pitching rotation in need of more than just a cosmetic shift. Zooming in on the top three candidates — Mitch Keller, Sandy Alcantara, and Seth Lugo — the individual that ends up with the squad will not just be a fresh face, but someone who clearly dictates the potential fortunes of this ball club. After years occupying the realm of sellers, the North Siders are firmly in the conversation to win the NL Central and more. All three of the above hurlers bring their own unique brand of positives, as well as drawbacks, but there is an answer as to who the Cubs should scoop up, and it's Seth Lugo. Our own Matt Trueblood connected the sides earlier this week, and what the 35-year-old righty stands to offer the Cubs is not only a proven winner, but much-needed familiarity. Like most pitchers who creep up into their mid-30's, Lugo has moved around to a number of squads where he wasn't necessarily the ace, but a guy in the top half of the rotation any skipper would expect to get outs and put the team in a position to rack up victories. Over 10 seasons in the big leagues, Lugo has a record of 60-45, 897 career punch outs, and a 3.34 ERA that's benefited greatly from his time in Kansas City. Of course, the veteran right-hander is craftier than he is dominant, and he gets by thanks to his unfathomable array of offerings. Per Baseball Svant, Lugo possesses a whopping ten different pitches he can send across the plate. From his most frequent (the four-seam fastball), to most seldom (split-finger fastball), he can change things up like Illinois weather in mid-February. Other than giving the Cubs a decently nasty trio of starters atop the rotation — along with Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga — Lugo's pitch variety is an almost immeasurable intangible in postseason play where batters can get all too familiar with what the guy on the mound is featuring. And, lest you bemoan his subpar metrics under the hood, note that his obscene diversity of pitches actually has some method behind the madness. None of his three most-used pitches this year — the four-seamer, the curveball, and the sinker — are allowing a wOBA to opposing hitters greater than .300, and only his cutter (.464 wOBA allowed) is getting hit with any sort of real authority. It might seem like smoke and mirrors on the surface, but there is a genuine harmony to the variety he has in his arsenal. Given the Cubs' recent infatuation with pitchers with bizarre traits, it isn't surprising that they're interested in deploying a guy who can throw every pitch under the sun. Championship teams, without exception, uncover a non-negotiable, evergreen staple it can roll out to either sustain momentum, or snatch it from the clutches of their opponent. Should he end up with the Chicago Cubs, that's exactly who Seth Lugo will be, 100 different pitches and all. View full article

Image courtesy of Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Waking up in a city like Chicago, witnessing the early-morning sun glitter off of Lake Michigan, it's easy for anyone, even hardened baseball supporters, to get caught up in dreams. Based on my observations, the obsession with those dreams is the notion that we live in a place where they're more likely to come true. For most of the Cubs' 2025 campaign thus far, that's been the vibe. However, even the most dream-like seasons have their pitfalls, and position player depth is proving to be one on the North Side of Chicago this year. Could the Astros' ambitious Cam Smith, so briefly once a Cub, have helped solve the problem? It's impossible to use hindsight to describe what Cam Smith, a multi-position 22-year-old, could have been for the Chicago Cubs, because the performances are unfolding right before our eyes. He blasted through an elite spring training earlier this year to make the big club in Houston out of the gate. The deal that sent him there brought Kyle Tucker, a man who is the definition of a "win now" presence on the squad, to Chicago, but probably only for one year. Less consequentially, the trade also sent Isaac Paredes (who is also having a strong year) and Hayden Wesneski (recovering from Tommy John surgery) to Houston, but let's focus on Smith and Tucker. To offer you a statistical comparison between Tucker and Smith would be fruitless at best. Tucker is one of the game's elite outfielders, while Cam Smith is developing as we speak. It is worth noting that, in the Cubs' mission to compete for a World Series, Smith's slash line of .271/.343/.402 does not scream prosperity nor production. The Chicago Cubs may very well reach the baseball summit without the young prospect, but if they don't, get ready to feel some buyer's remorse. Just as with any shopping run, the idea is to bring home goods that will last a while. If Tucker is wearing another team's uniform this time next year, it will be apparent that the Cubs shopped for groceries that could provide instant gratification, and not necessarily ones that could feed them later. Regardless of whether or not Cam Smith's value appreciates in the duration of his time with the Astros is immaterial to what Chicago could have done with him in their stout system. The Cubbies have a stockpile of desirable farmhands, which is perhaps why they were so willing to cut ties with Smith so soon after drafting him, yet the bottom line remains: whatever he accomplishes, it won't be for the Cubs. It's curious that Smith is not a pitcher, a position on the field that Jed Hoyer openly covets; were he a hurler, maybe he'd still be in blue Cubby pinstripes. Of note, some prominent starting pitchers could soon be donning the beloved home threads. For the Cubs to earn their stripes this season and beyond, they need to play good baseball. That's true no matter who is on this roster that Counsell has at his disposal. In this fun run the North Siders are on, we've been properly acquainted with individuals with a tenacious work ethic and some impressive tools of their own. Even with taking that and so much more into consideration, however, one would not be scolded for dreaming about how Cam Smith could have factored into this team's realities. The Cubs are built for right now, but if their championship hopes are deferred until later, the organization will have to dream on. View full article

Image courtesy of © David Banks-Imagn Images To this point in the 2025 season, even the most trepidatious Cubs fans had grown accustomed to viewing a baseball club that is easy to love because it has been winning at a high rate. In the past two weeks or so, while that feeling hasn't completely dissolved, it's become more apparent the challenges this squad must overcome to secure the division, and maybe even baseball's ultimate prize. This sentiment informed a tough week of contests from the Friendly Confines. An uncharacteristic dip in offense thrust the Cubbies into some curious one-run tilts. That's how their contest ended up in the finale of a four-game set with the Pirates. The North Siders eked out a 3-2 victory on the strength of another magnificent appearance from Chris Flexen. On the whole, the bullpen has taken a step back, but Flexen hasn't. To be the best, you have to beat the best, and while I say this begrudgingly in unison with scores of Cubs fans, the Milwaukee Brewers are still the class of the National League Central until Craig Counsell's squad dethrones them. The first of what was scheduled to be a three-game set with the Brewers at Wrigley Field suggested that the Cubs are perhaps ready for their coronation ceremony. The Cubbies broke through against Brewers starter Chad Patrick with a three-run blast off the bat of Seiya Suzuki. What happened in the eighth inning of this contest will replay in front of thousands at Pete Crow-Armstrong's Hall of Fame induction, should he make it there. After making one of the more jaw-dropping catches you'll ever see, Crow-Armstrong launched a ball deep into the right field bleachers that bounced off near the apex of the scoreboard. It was the signature moment of Cubs baseball thus far in the 2025 campaign and will be remembered far longer than the 5-3 final in favor of the North Siders. A sweeping monsoon across the Midwest postponed the middle game between the two interstate rivals, but the action resumed with two aces taking the bump for each team: Freddy Peralta of the Brewers and Jameson Taillon of the Cubs. Peralta is one of the more consistent Cubby killers in recent memory, and on an off day for Taillon, that was just about enough. Despite getting out to an early lead, the North Siders couldn't solve the Crew's elite righty. Taillon fell victim to a barrage of home runs as he often did in his more pedestrian campaigns. The Cubbies' furious late-game rally fell short in an 8-7 loss. The Cubs' three-game weekend set with the Seattle Mariners arrived with a clean slate and dangerous, near record-setting heat. The much-anticipated bullpen decline arrived in the first game of this series with an atrocious outing from Ryan Pressly. Still one of the more surprising success stories of this season, Pressly labored through a consequential inning of baseball, surrendering three hits and two crucial earned runs. Scattering nine hits, the Cubbies' seafaring abilities were no match for Seattle in a 9-4 defeat. Off the heels of one of the season's most deflating losses, there was a feeling the Cubs had to bounce back in the oppressive summer heat situated at 1060 West Addison, and luckily, they did. With a blustery wind howling out to the last row of bleachers, the Cubs were reunited with their thunderous offense. Ian Happ and Kyle Tucker led off the game with back-to-back bombs that sent the Wrigley faithful into a complete frenzy. The onslaught of home runs, including another from Happ as well as from Michael Busch and Pete Crow-Armstrong, staved off Seattle's considerable pop from the likes of Cal Raleigh. On the hottest day of the year, the Cubs promise burned brightly. Craig Counsell's club earned a 10-7 victory. Entering Sunday's rubber match with the Mariners, the Chicago Cubs are the closest they've been to a complete package. Weathering more injuries to players like Matthew Boyd seems neutralized by the long-awaited return of Shota Imanaga. When it comes to the eventual, climactic outcomes of this year's campaign, nothing was decided this past week, nor will it be for some time. But with the All-Star Break approaching, what the Cubbies have done is at least find a level of consistent play, which suggests that they will avoid a serious fortune-altering slide, as they have suffered in recent years. This team has all of its goals in front of it, and even better, an opportunity to attain them. View full article

Image courtesy of © David Banks-Imagn Images When you live in a garden as vibrant with flourishing life as the Chicago Cubs is, some flowers go unnoticed. It doesn't take a botanist or a baseball analyst to tell you how stunning a season Suzuki is having; all one must do is tune in and watch. After some increasingly agonizing blunders playing in right field the past couple of seasons, Suzuki, a fan favorite since arriving with the club in 2022, is turning in a career year in 2025 as a designated hitter for the Chicago Cubs. Were he not teammates with superstar center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, Suzuki would indeed hog much more of the spotlight. The double headliner of Suzuki and Crow-Armstrong, as it turns out, is one of the more exhilarating offense tandems in baseball, and a painfully enviable bromance. Likely to shatter his output from recent past seasons, Seiya Suzuki's full potential has been unlocked, and the ramifications of that serve to keep his squad in the mix for a World Series run. Even though you wouldn't know it after checking the box scores from the Cubs' most current stretch of games, they're top-to-bottom a feverishly proficient offensive club. Part of how they get their runs across the plate is by way of the long ball. As of the time of this writing, the Cubs have launched 104 home runs, nearly a quarter of them have come off the bat of Crow-Armstrong, but nearly another quarter of them have been deposited in the seats courtesy of Seiya Suzuki. Notoriously an aggressive hitter, Suzuki possesses undeniable power that has been curtailed only by a string of consistent injuries since his arrival from Japan. With 61 RBI as of this writing, Suzuki will comically eclipse several of his figures from past seasons. He has jumped all over fastballs this season, checking in with an improbable .557 slugging percentage on four-seamers. Some of this is due to the fact that he has vastly reinforced protection in the lineup, but another large part of it is that this is just the type of player Suzuki has always been. He's healthier, unencumbered by the follies of his outfield play, and mentally freed from the fear of striking out. Out of nowhere, the North Siders have a juggernaut designated hitter. He's still not without his pitfalls. As dominant as Suzuki is with blasting fastballs, he's still confounded by offspeed pitches. In 2024, Suzuki had a sobering 40.7% whiff rate, which has decreased to 31.6% this year, but that's still far from ideal. I don't mean to sound idyllic, but this Chicago Cubs squad, even while figuring out some relative adversity, is a tough out. Seiya Suzuki and his powerhouse offense are making sure his team stays on the field well into October. Cubs fans are known for their knowledge of the game and giving out flowers when they're earned, now is the time they hand a few out to their designated hitter. He tends to move in silence, but his impact is louder than ever. View full article

Image courtesy of © David Banks-Imagn Images For years, as the wheels from my Brown Line "L" train gave off sparks, racing toward Harold Washington Library, I silently pined for the chance to write about Chicago Cubs baseball. Almost a year ago to this very date, once the passionate and devoted staff here welcomed me aboard, the pining stopped. My first piece? A proposition, nay, a plea for former Cub Christopher Morel to be installed as the club's leadoff hitter. I thought it was a heck of a fun read, and some of you went along with it, while others met it with much consternation. Fond memories to be sure. One year later, this team is positioned as one of the best in the game, relying much more on constants than hypotheticals or experimentation. Morel brought more theatrics than a performance of Hamilton, but this squad, led by certified superstar Pete Crow-Armstrong, brings award-worthy drama too; they're just a lot better at it than before. If you'd like to learn more about why I believe this club is special, please read some of my other articles. Short of a complete stranglehold on their division, the Cubbies are presenting as more of a lock for the postseason with each half inning of baseball logged. Games like the Brewers' first trip to Wrigley in 2025 proved as much, with the likes of Nico Hoerner galloping around the bases, while the outfield pulled off some of the most astonishing hustle plays you'll ever see. Good teams don't need to tinker around with different formulas to win consistently; they know who they are and stick to what works. A lot is working for the Chicago Cubs ball club right now, including at third base, one of Christopher Morel's previous haunts. By way of incomprehensible fortune, I get to frequent Wrigley Field in the same way residents of Andersonville get to frequent their local Jewel-Osco. One of those occasions was the debut of the North Side's favorite Maryland Terrapin, Matt Shaw. The 23-year-old third baseman, as the organization's top prospect and first-round draft pick, arrived with more weight on his shoulders than Atlas. Spoiler alert: he crumbled under it, blinded by the bright lights of big market baseball and forced to make his way back to Iowa. A metamorphosis in his attitude and visible maturation has Shaw up with the big club and playing third base at a very high level, snatching up difficult bounces and making laser-accurate throws. What, for a time, was a revolving door position for the Cubs, marked by devastating miscues and inconsistency, is now one of the squad's numerous strengths, with Shaw locking down the hot corner. By the way, in case you were wondering, Shaw bats in the nine spot most nights, building a steady resume of productivity, while Cub veteran Ian Happ is back and mostly thriving in the leadoff spot, setting the table for the human wrecking ball that is Kyle Tucker. Although this lineup has experienced an offensive slump lately, most nights, it's a foundation we can count on—a far cry from where the team stood at this time last year. What kind of times lie ahead for this electric Chicago Cubs baseball team? A year removed from deck-shuffling, throw stuff at the wall and see what sticks moves, Craig Counsell has his squad playing with its best hand yet. The North Siders, at the time of this writing, are the best show in town, but even despite that, it feels like we've barely scratched the surface of what they will be, and their next act might be even better. While we wish him well, the magic wasn't in Christopher Morel; it's in this Chicago Cubs team. View full article