The #1 source for #Cubs, #MLB, and #MiLB news and notes. The Cubs traveled to St Louis for a four-game series and dropped the first game as Ben Brown got shellacked.
The going is weird. Cub Tracks™ turned pro a long time ago. Cub Tracks™. Where the great ones run away.
Any MLB team can beat you. The good teams WILL beat you.
Jeimer Candelario has been DFA’d. Might be worth a thought. He’s been out since April with a back issue. Better bench piece than Brujan? or Berti? I’ve seen crazier ideas. But the remainder of 13 million? Hmm. Back trouble? Ouch. More below.
Finally, the Stinkin’ Redbirds. Ben Brown vs. Matthew Liberatore (no, not the dude what drew Ranxerox), with Brown’s rotation spot maybe on the line.
Both pitchers were effective early, with no runs crossing the plate until Lars Nootbaar hit a two-run bomb in the bottom of the fourth after Willson Contreras had doubled with two out. The Cubs got a couple afterward but the Cardinals added on. Not the best start to this trip. Arg.
Better luck today.
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- Jon Greenberg (The Athletic {$}): Which Chicago sports team will win a championship next? Cubs favored over Bears. “I think “win-now mode” is here…”
- Josh Jacobs (Redbird Rants*): Direction of Cardinals season will be determined by first meeting with Cubs this week. “Always a big series, Cardinals-Cubs feels like it has massive stakes for the Cardinals this time around.”
- Maddie Lee (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Cubs’ Shota Imanaga to start series finale Thursday vs. Cardinals. “Counsell said left-handed starter Matthew Boyd came out of his bullpen session well.”
- Chris Landers (Fansided*): Shota Imanaga’s return could unlock a Cubs bullpen monster. “Someone needs to get bumped from Chicago’s rotation, and the choice should be obvious.”
- Andy Martinez (Marquee Sports Network*): Ben Brown’s outing raises questions about state of Cubs’ rotation. “The outing ballooned his ERA to 6.13.” More from Maddie Lee* {$}.
- Vinnie Duber (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Cubs’ bullpen, full of perspective and at least one ‘monster,’ might make difference in October. “Guys such as Brad Keller, Drew Pomeranz and Chris Flexen might prove to be the difference in the playoffs.”
- Randy Holt (North Side Baseball*): Michael Busch is becoming a franchise first baseman, vs. no he isn’t. “Since the start of 2024, Michael Busch is one of the league’s best first basemen.”
- Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): Cubs’ Nico Hoerner can thrive on team full of talent by just being himself. “If you’re in the industry, you know the value he brings to the table,” Kelly said.
- Michael Cerami (Bleacher Nation*): Cubs reportedly checked in on Rafael Devers, which might tell us something important. “… Matt Shaw has been an issue offensively all season.” Cubbies Crib* has more.
- Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): Reds designate Jeimer Candelario for assignment. “… it really depends on Candelario’s health…”
- Tom Prizeman (Marquee Sports Network*): Pete Crow-Armstrong weighs in on potential long-term deal with Cubs. “That’s the goal,” Crow-Armstrong said.
- Thomas Domol (North Side Baseball*): Seiya Suzuki is the Cubs’ quiet juggernaut. “Uprooted from his shaky foundation in right field, Cubs’ designated hitter Seiya Suzuki is having a quietly elite season worthy of our attention.”
Food for thought:
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