The #1 source for #Cubs, #MLB, and #MiLB news and notes. The Cubs dropped the series to the Royals and rest before facing their crosstown rivals. About that additional starter? I should think the answer is yes, please.
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.
Kyle Tucker was given the day off, due to contusion from Tuesday’s foul ball misadventure. I bet that smarted. I’d be on crutches. In coach-speak, he has a ‘knee.’
This though I am in fact in the best shape of my life, not unlike player personnel. Round is a perfect shape.
Cubs stalwart Colin Rea took the ball in opposition to the oft-rumored Seth Lugo, in a matchup we all were keen to see. Old #53 has done well for the North Siders, especially since the All-Star break, and Lugo has done well in general. He’d be worth a flyer of some kind, eh?
The Royals have a lot of familiar faces. Adam Frazier, Jonathan India… Seiya Suzuki with an E9, allowing another ball to escape his grasp. Naturally Vinnie Pasquantino (16) had the big lumber out. 2-0 six pitches in. Rea stayed cool despite the heat and kept it at that, but that kind of high-wire act wears a pitcher down some.
No Bobby Witt, Jr., probably helped some. He has a ‘knee’ as well. But Salvador Perez had the lumber and extended the lead after the Cubs had chipped away for a single tally [VIDEO].
It was beginning to look a lot like Monday. Carson Kelly had other ideas and threw in another chip. But Pasquantino wasn’t done playing long ball. It didn’t get much better. Matt Shaw and PCA did go deep again [VIDEO][VIDEO].
The Royals retain possession of the meatloaf and move on to the next burg. The Cubs have Thursday off and then take on the White Sox at Comiskey Park Guaranteed Rate Field starting Friday.
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- Jeff Passan (ESPN*): 2025 MLB trade deadline preview: Passan’s intel on every team. “Best fit: MacKenzie Gore, SP” Marquee Sports Network has more. MLB.com has more.
- Matthew Trueblood (North Side Baseball*): The Corner Lockers: Cubs’ team leadership structure creates unique constraints, opportunities. “… an unusual clubhouse dynamic to navigate—for better and for worse.”
- Zoe Grossmanj (Marquee Sports Network*): Cubs takeaways: What we learned in rubber match, series loss to Royals. “The All-Star break did wonders for Matt Shaw.” MLB.com has more.
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- Andy Martinez (Marquee Sports Network*): How Cubs’ Justin Turner honors military members at Wrigley Field. “Turner has made it a point to give back to veterans.”
- Tony Andracki (Marquee Sports Network*): Cubs sign first-round draft pick Ethan Conrad, nine other 2025 selections. “The Chicago Cubs announced deals for their draft picks Wednesday, inking half of their 2025 class to contracts.”
- J. MIles Cary (Knoxville News*): Ryne Sandberg: Cubs Hall of Fame infielder, former Knoxville Smokies manager. Photo gallery.
Food for thought:
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RIP George Kooymans.