The Chicago Cubs currently hold a 36-34 record after moving two games over the .500 mark on Friday night. The club began its road series in San Francisco with a 5-1 victory over the Giants. The game featured a dominant starting pitching performance. It also included a historic home run into the bay.
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MLB Game Recap
The Cubs defeated the San Francisco Giants 5-1. They broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning. This happened when Seiya Suzuki hit an RBI double followed by a Nico Hoerner sacrifice fly. Starter Javier Assad (4-1) earned the win with a stellar line of 6.0 innings, three hits, zero earned runs, one walk, and five strikeouts on 85 pitches. Turning points included a three-run fifth-inning blast to extend the lead. Hoby Milner and Trent Thornton made a solid bullpen effort. They combined for three innings to secure the win despite a solo home run surrendered in the ninth.
Standout Performer
Michael Busch led the Cubs’ offensive attack. He finished the night 1-for-3. Busch hit a three-run shot. He also walked once and scored one run. In the fifth inning, Busch launched a 387-foot home run into McCovey Cove. It was a three-run hit off reliever Erik Miller that pushed the lead to 5-0. Busch was only the fifth Cubs player to achieve a “splash hit” at Oracle Park. His hit provided the definitive insurance runs to back Assad’s strong start.
Key News & Notes
The Cubs placed starting pitcher Jameson Taillon on the 15-day injured list with a moderate hamstring strain. Manager Craig Counsell expects this injury to sideline him for “more than a month.” He will be out beyond the All-Star break. In corresponding moves, the club activated Matt Shaw from the 10-day injured list and recalled reliever Ethan Roberts from Triple-A. Kevin Alcántara and Tyler Ferguson have been optioned to Triple-A Iowa. The front office added flame-throwing right-hander Eduarniel Núñez to the 40-man roster.
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Farm Report
- Triple-A Iowa: BJ Murray had an impressive game. He went 2-for-3 with a triple and a double. Murray contributed three RBIs and a walk in a 6-4 win over the Louisville Bats. Murray’s extra-base hits in a three-run sixth inning were the catalyst for the comeback victory.
- Double-A Knoxville: Alex Ramírez had an impressive performance, finishing 2-for-4 with two home runs. He drove in five RBIs and scored two runs in a 9-3 victory against the Montgomery Biscuits. Ramírez’s pair of blasts, including a decisive three-run shot in the eighth inning, powered the Smokies’ offensive explosion.
- High-A South Bend: Ty Southisene went 1-for-5 with a single in a 3-1 loss to the Peoria Chiefs. The Cubs offense missed chances to score. They left 10 runners on base. This happened despite a six-strikeout relief performance from pitcher Spears.
- Low-A Myrtle Beach: Poteet went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run. He drew a walk and scored a run in a 13-3 loss to the Augusta GreenJackets. Poteet provided the lone offensive highlight with his first-inning homer before the Pelicans’ pitching staff surrendered 15 hits.
- ACL Cubs: Joan Delgado finished 1-for-5. He hit a solo home run and an RBI in a 5-4 loss to the ACL Rockies. Delgado hit his eighth home run of the season. This kept the game close. However, the Rockies scored a run in the ninth to win.
Deep Dive: Chicago Cubs Trade Strategy for Veteran Starters
The trade deadline is approaching. Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer is reportedly exploring avenues to bolster a rotation. This rotation has been decimated by injuries to Justin Steele, Cade Horton, Matthew Boyd, and now Jameson Taillon. While Chicago remains in the Wild Card hunt, their starting pitchers have combined for a 4.83 ERA, one of the three worst marks in Major League Baseball. Analysts suggest the Cubs might pursue a rare “package deal”. This could involve the Kansas City Royals and veterans Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha.
Lugo, 36, currently holds a 3.91 ERA, while the 34-year-old Wacha has posted a 3.44 ERA and 1.6 WAR this season. Both pitchers are viewed as “stability” targets. They are not seen as high-priced rentals. They are signed through the 2027 season, with team options for 2028. Hoyer values this long-term control highly. He has hinted he will not “mortgage Chicago’s future” for short-term help. The contracts of Shota Imanaga and Taillon highlight the need for veteran starters. Both hit free agency after 2026. Starting pitchers with leadership are needed for the next several years. A potential trade could center around prospect Kevin Alcántara, whose recent baserunning mistakes reportedly accelerated his demotion to Triple-A Iowa.
Looking Ahead
The Cubs continue their three-game set against the Giants today with Ben Brown (2-2, 1.74 ERA) facing San Francisco’s Trevor McDonald (2-3, 4.15 ERA).
Getting Javier Assad back to his early-season form is vital. Adding veteran arms like Lugo or Wacha might be the only way to survive the “perfect storm” of rotation injuries. What do you think?
