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The Rundown: Cubs, Brewers & Deadline Collide This Week, Assad Heading to Iowa, Clase Named in Gambling Investigation

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“Well they say it’s kind of frightening how this younger generation swings.” – And the Cradle Will Rock by Van Halen

The Cubs and Brewers start a three-game set at AmFam Field this evening, and the pitching matchups favor Milwaukee’s younger staff.

It’s also trade deadline week, so those matchups may help you understand why Jed Hoyer is looking for pitching. Milwaukee’s starters are so good that the Brewers are entertaining the thought of trading Peralta for a younger starter and are considered the favorites to land slugging third baseman Eugenio Suárez. The bait? Minor league pitchers Logan Henderson and Brett Wichrowski plus second baseman Josh Adamczewski. That’d be a done deal if Mike Ditka was running the Diamondbacks’ front office.

That’s a lot for a rental, but the Cubs and Brewers are heading toward a potential NLCS matchup that might be the most-watched series in MLB history. Unfortunately, one team will have to get there as a Wild Card, and it sure would be nice if it wasn’t Chicago.

Unlike Milwaukee, it appears the Cubs are focusing solely on cost-controlled starters. Mitch Keller is a good-but-not-great righty with three years of control at an easy-to-digest $15.4 million AAV. Lefty MacKenzie Gore has two years of remaining control after this season and is earning just $2.89 ahead of arbitration. Gore would fill one offseason need and give Hoyer the bankroll to extend or resign Kyle Tucker. Owen Caissie is likely the starting point in negotiations for either young starter, but both the Pirates and Nationals are seeking additional, premium prospects at various stages of development.

Hoyer is also interested in Marlins starters Edward Cabrera and Sandy Alcántara, plus Twins relievers Jhoan Durán and Griffin Jax, according to several reports. Royals starter Seth Lugo is no longer available after signing an extension on Sunday. One would assume that means Kris Bubic is no longer available, either.


That said, the matter at hand is taking at least two of three from the Brewers. The Cubs will have to be patient and get to Milwaukee’s bullpen as quickly as possible. Nico Hoerner saw 34 total pitches in Sunday’s win over the White Sox, and that type of self-restraint will be necessary in Brew City, especially against Misiorowski, who is on a pitch/innings count. Brewers’ manager Pat Murphy rarely extends the All-Star rookie past 5.1 innings, and Misiorowski has yet to go through a full batting order three times, averaging 20 batters faced per outing.

A strong possibility exists that trades by either team could be made before tonight’s game. Milwaukee will visit Chicago to close out their season series with a five-game set starting with a doubleheader on August 18.

Cubs News & Notes

Ball Four


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Cue the Benny Hill theme, Yakety Sax.

Central Intelligence

How About That!

Per ESPN’s Jeff Passan: Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase has been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave as part of MLB’s sports-betting investigation.

The Yankees placed Aaron Judge on the Injury List with a right flexor strain, opening a clear MVP path for slugging Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh.

Bryce Harper had a confrontation with commissioner Rob Manfred during a meeting with the team last week, according to a report by ESPN. Harper allegedly told Manfred to “get the f— out of our clubhouse” if the commissioner wanted to talk to Phillies players about the possibility of a salary cap.

Hall of Fame News

Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia, Billy Wagner, Dave Parker, and Dick Allen were officially inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday. That’s one of the best classes in recent memory.

Suzuki should have been a unanimous selection, and he threw some shade at the one writer who left him off the ballot.

Sabathia finished among the top five in Cy Young Award voting in five straight seasons. Only three active pitchers have had a streak that long: Clayton Kershaw, Max Scherzer, and Chris Sale. Sabathia also led both the American and National Leagues in shutouts in 2008. He is considered the greatest trade deadline pickup of all time.

Wagner learned to throw left-handed when he broke his arm as a kid and was more unhittable than Mariano Rivera.

Google Parker and you’ll find his two breathtaking outfield assists in the 1979 All-Star Game.

Allen’s 165 OPS+ during his 11-year peak (1964-74) topped Willie McCovey, Hank Aaron, and Frank Robinson. His .940 OPS stretch is second only to Aaron (.941). Among the biggest advocates for Allen’s induction was a group of students from Golda Meir HS in Milwaukee.

Let’s Make a Deal

The Royals and Diamondbacks agreed to a trade that sends outfielder Randal Grichuk to Kansas City for reliever Andrew Hoffman.

Seth Lugo is no longer available after agreeing to a two-year, $46 million extension with the Royals. The two sides are currently finalizing the deal.

Lugo’s absence among available starters might drive up the cost to acquire Gore, Cabrera, and/or Keller.

The Yankees acquired infielder Amed Rosario from the Nationals on Sunday. In exchange, Washington will receive right-handed pitcher Clayton Beeter (New York’s No. 20 prospect per MLB Pipeline) and outfielder Browm Martinez.

Isaac Paredes is hurt, so count the Astros among the potential suitors for Suárez (along with the Brewers, Mariners, Cubs, Reds, and Tigers)

Extra Innings 

I would have felt more comfortable with Cade Horton pitching this series instead of Rea. Horton will be an ace once he improves his strikeout rate, and that’s going to happen.

They Said It

  • “Look, it’s two teams that are playing really well, that have postseason aspirations. Obviously, it feels like we’re going to be battling for the division. It’s still July, but these are big games.” – Counsell
  • “[Wiggins] moved from what I consider ‘out-athleting the competition:’ He’s just a supreme athlete with big powerful pitches and stuff to becoming an actual refined professional pitcher. And that’s a great combination, that’s a great development for him. He’s not a thrower anymore. He’s a pitcher. And with his power stuff, that’s very exciting.” – Jason Kanzler

Monday Walk-Up Song

“If you want it, you’re gonna bleed, but that’s the price you pay.”


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