The Chicago Cubs current record stands at 55-43 following a successful Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field. Over the last 24 hours, the organization celebrated the 10th anniversary of the 2016 World Series title. They unveiled a monument and achieved a convincing 6-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
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MLB Game Recap
Chicago secured the win with six sharp innings from Matthew Boyd. He allowed just one run and three hits. This marked his fourth consecutive victory. The offense struck early. Michael Busch hit a solo home run. Former Chicago Cub Anthony Rizzo recovered the ball in the right-field bleachers during his anniversary visit. There was a “quirky” 8-6-2-5-3 double play in the ninth inning. It involved Pete Crow-Armstrong and Dansby Swanson. This play quelled a potential Twins rally and sealed the game.
Standout Performer
Nico Hoerner tied a career high by going 4-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored. His perfect day at the plate provided the consistent contact needed for multiple runs. This helped Chicago win for the third time in four games.
Key News & Notes
The Chicago Cubs officially dedicated “Champions Gate,” a 31-foot-wide permanent archway monument. It is located at the western entrance to Gallagher Way. It celebrates the franchise’s three world titles. In roster moves, the team re-signed veteran pitcher Jake Woodford to a minor league contract. They also signed third-round draft pick Myles Bailey to a $1.9 million overslot deal. Additionally, the club reportedly acquired pitcher Aaron Civale from the Athletics in exchange for a minor league pitcher.
Farm Report
- Iowa Cubs (AAA): Jordan Wicks pitched 5.0 innings. He allowed 2 hits and 1 earned run. He had 6 strikeouts in a 5-4 extra-inning win over the Memphis Redbirds. Wicks looked dominant in his outing, providing a strong foundation before the game went to the tenth inning.
- Knoxville Smokies (AA): Jefferson Rojas went 2-for-4. He hit a double and had one RBI. The Smokies lost 2-1 to the Montgomery Biscuits. Rojas drove in the only run for the Smokies in a game dominated by Montgomery’s pitching.
- South Bend Cubs (High-A): Michael Hallquist had an impressive game. He finished 2-for-3 with a home run. He also had 3 RBIs and scored 2 runs. This performance contributed to a 10-4 victory over the Peoria Chiefs. Hallquist’s power display led an aggressive 12-hit offensive explosion.
- Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Single-A): Scarlyn Alcantara achieved 1-for-3, earning an RBI and a walk. This occurred in a 6-2 loss to the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers. The Pelicans’ offense was held to just five hits while Cannon Baller hitters capitalized on defensive errors.
- ACL Cubs (Rookie): Fernando Cruz went 1-for-2. He hit a home run and achieved 2 RBIs. The ACL Cubs lost 7-3 to the ACL D-backs. Cruz provided an early spark with a two-run blast, but the bullpen surrendered four runs in the middle innings.
Deep Dive: Injury Updates
Prior to Saturday’s game, manager Craig Counsell released updates on several key players on the Injured List. The updates were comprehensive. Jameson Taillon is the closest to a return. He is expected to be activated during the upcoming series against the Tigers. The series starts on Monday. Reliever Hoby Milner is also progressing well after his appendicitis. He is projected to return to the big league bullpen around August 1.
The outlook for the starting rotation’s depth is mixed. Edward Cabrera completed a successful mound session Thursday. He will throw live batting practice this Friday. He has a potential return in the second week of August. However, Daniel Palencia must wait longer for his return. His timeline has been pushed back to mid-August. His recovery from right elbow inflammation stalled during the All-Star break. Ben Brown is currently asymptomatic regarding his neck strain. The Chicago Cubs plan to be extremely cautious. They will likely transition him to a bullpen role for a September return.
Long-term recoveries remain a concern. Matt Shaw is still symptomatic with a left hand strain and has not yet resumed swinging a bat. Perhaps most significantly, Justin Steele is not expected to throw bullpens until the first week of August. This points toward a mid-September return. He would likely contribute from the bullpen rather than the rotation.
Looking Ahead
Shota Imanaga (5-8, 4.17 ERA) takes the mound Sunday afternoon as the Cubs look to secure the series win against Zebby Matthews (4-6, 4.57 ERA) and the Twins.
The 2016 celebration combined with a vintage “W” at Wrigley makes the postseason chase feel very real. What do you think?
