The Chicago Cubs head out of the All-Star break with a 47-51 record and sit in last place in the National League Central. They will start the second half off in Arizona against the Diamondbacks who are 49-48 on the year and have won six of their last ten games. After the three-game series with the Diamondbacks, the Cubs will head home to take on the Milwaukee Brewers who currently are in first place in the National League Central with a 55-42 record but have lost seven of their last 10 games. The Cubs have won seven of their last 10 games and will look to get home as we roll into the second half of the year. Today they announced three roster moves before game one of the series with the Diamondbacks.
LF – Mike Tauchman
The Cubs have activated Tauchman from the 10-day injured list today ahead of the first game back from the All-Star break. Tauchman has played in 66 games so far this year with 220 at-bats. He has 38 runs scored, ten doubles, one triple, five home runs, 19 RBIs, 33 walks, 52 strikeouts, and five stolen bases. He is slashing .259/.359/.382 with an OPS of.741 on the year.
LF – Alexander Canario
The Cubs have optioned Canario back to Triple-A to play with the Iowa Cubs. Canario has played 15 games for the Cubs this year with 25 at-bats. He scored four runs, one double, 11 hits total, one home run, two RBIs, two walks, 11 strikeouts, and one stolen base. While with the Cubs he has slashed .280/.357/.440 with a .797 OPS on the year.
RHP – Jesus Tinoco
The Cubs have selected Tinoco’s contract from the Iowa Cubs today ahead of their game. Tinoco was acquired via trade from the Kansas City Royals on July 16th. The Royals had signed the free agent after the Texas Rangers released him. While with the Rangers he pitched in nine games working in 10 innings. He allowed 11 hits, nine earned runs, walked seven, and struck out nine. He did not record a win or a loss but did have one hold with the Rangers. He finished his time with the Rangers with an 8.10 ERA and a 1.80 WHIP.
Overview
While the Cubs are currently in last place they are only three two and a half games out of third place in the central and are three and a half games back in the wild-card chase. So while the year has not gone as planned there is still a chance the Cubs can get hot and turn this into a playoff team over the next two months. Having Mike Tauchman return to the Cubs will be helpful while Cody Bellinger is on the injured list providing the Cubs another good defender to spell the likes of Pete Crow-Armstong, Seiya Suzuki, and Ian Happ when needed. Craig Counsell can also utilize his bat in the DH slot if needed or move him into the outfield and move one of them to the DH slot if needed. The next six games will be very important for the Cubs as the Diamondbacks are ahead of them in the wild-card standings and the Brewers are leading the division, but struggled leading into the break. If the Cubs can win the two series we could be setting ourselves up for a very exciting next two months, if they lose ground over the next six we could be sellers come the trade deadline unfortunately.
