These next 12 games are IMPORTANT for Chicago Cubs

These next 12 games are IMPORTANT for Chicago Cubs

And just like that, the second half is here. We preview Cubs, Red Sox, and more. Now you are Locked on Cubs, your daily Chicago Cubs podcast, part of the Locked On Network, your team every day. You are Locked On Cubs, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. Alongside Samber, I’m Matt Cozy. Sam and I are lifelong fans taking our passion into discussion with you on all things Cubs. Today’s episode is presented by FanDuel. Right now, new customers can get $150 in bonus bets when your first $5 bet wins. uh some MLB news and notes from the week, Cubs Red Sox preview, and keys and some math leading up until the trade deadline and more uh for the Cubs as there are 12 games between now and the trade deadline. The Cubs have an off day on the trade deadline on Thursday, July 31st. First is a six-game home stand, Red Sox Royals. Then a six-game road trip at the White Socks and Brewers. So, lots of home cooking right there, including the trip to the Southside. No flight miles trip to Milwaukee. Uh, you do have the two hottest teams in baseball in there, uh, with the with the Red Sox and Brewers, though. And Sam, how how important are these 12 games the rest of the month to you? Yeah, really important. Um, you know, I think I think one of the better things we’ve done this season, this this baseball season, was emphasizing how crucial those 21 games were against those bad teams where the Cubs ended up going 16 and five. And the reason why, and what I want to highlight here is just how those stretches really are what’s going to define and and what defines a season. and and so like you know when the Cubs went 16 and five the rest of the season do you know what the record is okay so aside from that 16 and five yeah take away the 16 and five oh no because I I can’t in the moment it’s 41 and 34 okay which is over yeah which is like a nice team but that 16 and5 stretch is what took them to another level right and and when you look up north to your division opponent, um what they’ve basically done is they’ve had two extreme hot streaks that, you know, they have a nine-game win streak, a sevename win streak. They they’ve won a bunch of games. And so I just think the point that I’m trying to make here is that for the Cubs to win this division, they are going to have to get hot again at some point. we are going to have to do a show that says, “Hey, the Cubs are the hottest team in baseball or one of the hottest teams in baseball at some point.” I I I just feel like that’s the necessity. And, you know, they’ve basically played, you know, pretty good baseball. I mean, they had an eight and four stretch before the break. That that’ll play, but I’m looking for one more Matt. I’m looking for one more 14 and five, 15 and five, 16 and five. Let me just do do the mathematics to you please. If you go 15 and five, let’s say you get hot in these next 12, okay? Say you get hot in these next 12. Let’s say you rattle off nine out of nine out of 12, 10 out of 12, and you end up going 15 and five in your first 20 in the second half. Just hypothetically, you get to 95 wins by just playing 500 ball the rest of the way after that. 95 wins the rest of the way. If you just if you go 15 out of 20 and then you’re just a 500 team. So they had a really really hot stretch there in in mid to late May. Uh they had a really hot in in early June. They had a pretty hot stretch against good teams in April. Kind of struggled a little bit in June. July’s been fine so far. One more stretch and I think the Cubs run away with this and then hopefully they get hot again in October. And what why can’t it be a stretch against a a six-game home stand against Boston and Kansas City who’s coming off uh or in the middle of being the hottest team in baseball which we’ll talk about Boston. But Kansas City you should handle I think White Socks of course the Brewer series will be huge. Baltimore is not a good team. Cincinnati at home this looks like it could be the stretch. Absolutely. And they’re eight and four so far this month. The difference to me for for just this next 12 to close the month of July out of eight and four or seven and five does seem large to me, huge. Which is why a nine and three plus would be major. It would be major news. We know they’ve limited their losing streaks this year to just three. Uh but their longest win streak is is five and and I really would like to see them win six plus games here sometime soon. Yeah, I I I I think I think they’ve done a really good job this season avoiding long sustained bad stretches. Uh probably as good of a job, if not if not a better job than anybody in baseball. I mean, they haven’t really had any seven out of tens. Uh they haven’t ever been swept uh uh at, you know, in a three-game series. The one thing you can nitpick at is that they haven’t had a long sustained win streak either. But that 16 and five stretch was that. I mean, it just it wasn’t all in a row, but but it was that. And I just think like you said, I think you said it, you know, I if they could get to one more like that, I think the division is ours. And I do feel for the next 12 especially, the schedule is favorable. Uh we’re going to preview the the Red Sox series next segment. They they have my attention with 10 10 wins in a row for sure. But then you get the fourth and fifth starters for the Royals Monday, Tuesday. That should be wins. And then the White Socks, Sam, are 33 games under 500. Say it again. We we posed the question a couple months ago, should they sweep the White Socks, and they did. I’m getting to a place where they should go 6-0 against the Southsiders. uh this season. And then you have the three-gamer before the deadline against the Brewers, which will be uh a lot of buzz with with that one. And hopefully they slow down a little bit against uh the Dodgers in LA this weekend. Um but but maybe it is the the two out of three against the Yankees, especially the Sunday win. But I I am feeling good right now going into Friday. And I like what you said uh on our on our last episode about the players who have stepped up so far. If they are going to win 95 plus games, for example, the Michael Bushes, the Seyas, PCA, you could throw in there, uh Matthew Boyd, uh Palencia, you know, the the bullpen that took a resurgence. That has to happen. And and the key for me really out of those that group, Sam, if I had to pick one, I think is Michael Bush. Uh is is there one that sticks out more than the others for you? My guess for you would be it would be Seiya, especially in clutch moments. But I I did want to ask you that. It’s a great question. Is there one that sticks? I think it’s I I I I think it’s all of them, but I think Pete just like staying at this level probably for me just the electricity what he brings. I was I looked at some stuff today on Savant just like you know he’s doing some really good things again this month. Like I wouldn’t I wouldn’t be surprised especially Friday Saturday getting getting two righties if he has just a really big couple of series you know that’ be great for his MVP case. Yeah, that that part of it just because Otani looks so good on the mound. I’m starting to come come to grips with a little bit. Uh and hopefully if I haven’t seen the Dodger starters, but hopefully Otani looks great on the mound this weekend if he if he uh pitches. I hope he’s pitching. Yeah, great call. But um yeah, I I don’t know. Bush is a great call, too. I mean, I can’t wait to see the I can’t wait about 11 o’clock tomorrow to see the lineup. Yes. I expect Bush to be leading off, don’t you? Yeah, I think it would be very similar to the Sunday lineup. Yeah, absolutely. And I expect Ian Hap to have a good series this weekend. Do you expect Matt Shaw to get demoted tomorrow? Yes. Okay. I’m kind of surprised. Who would get the promotion for that? I’m kind of surprised how quiet it’s been. You know, I I thought maybe wonder if Jonathan Long would come up. Sam, we don’t even have a starter announced for Sunday, which tells you pro most likely there’s going to be an opener or whatever. So, we’re still running out four starters. I I thought there’d be a little bit more action here Wednesday, Thursday as far as a Shaw announcement or It’s been quiet. Yeah, it’s been quiet. So, maybe maybe a big news day Friday uh morning. Yeah, the clubhouse opens usually about 10:00 a.m. Central. So, uh yeah, let’s let’s uh keep keep tabs on those updates before Cubs Red Sox, which we preview right after this. This episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Summer sports are in full swing. And whether you’re all about baseball under the lights, golf on the green, or high stakes soccer action, FanDuel is the best way to make every game even more exciting. You’re already following the action. Why not make it a little more thrilling? With FanDuel, you can get in on the game while your friends are getting sunburned at the beach. Folks, Milwaukee has done a heck of a job to make this a oneame lead for the Cubs heading into the second half of the season. But FanDuel is still very confident that our baseball team is going to win this division. The current odds for the division, the Cubs still sit at minus 290. I’m very interested to see how this weekend goes because my guess is the Brewers playing at the Dodgers play a really big part in those odds being like that. Hopefully the Cubs have a three-game lead the next time we have a program. If you’re new to FanDuel, new customers can bet just $5 and get $150 in bonus bets if your first bet wins. Open the FanDuel app today or visit fanuel.com to get started. All right, Cubs Red Sox this weekend. Two of the biggest franchises in all of American sports at Wrigley Field. 1:20 Friday, 6:15 Saturday on Fox, 1:20 Sunday. Colin Ray and Lucas Gita Gio, excuse me. Shota Imanaga, Brian Beao and TBD and Garrett Crochet. Uh, Sunday will be either Boyd Horton or Flexen. The Red Sox have won 10 games in a row, 53 and 45 overall. They’re in the second spot right now in the AL Wildcard race. Uh during this stretch, uh Raphaela Sam has five homers in nine games. All of their pitchers but one have allowed only three runs or less during this stretch. And Alex Bregman, a subject of much discussion in the winter, uh did return last weekend after missing significant time due to a quad injury. And as of this recording, the Cubs are a minus 122 favorite for Friday’s game on FanDuel. Two of the biggest franchises in American sports, Sam. It should be uh should be fun. What would the Cubs record be if they had Alex Bregman? Give us a call. 312 and have 60 wins, I think. I think so, too, Matthew. Uh look, this is uh this is a really good baseball team. This is a team that I would compare a lot going into the year to Arizona in the sense that a lot of sharps, you know, really like these two teams. I fell for that. Uh hopefully the Red Sox could take care of business because Arizona is not going to. Um Oh, wow. But what I mean is they just have a lot of different ways to beat you offensively. Durant’s a solid ball player. Uh you know, you mentioned Raphael’s been hot. uh a Brayu. They got a nice platoon with a Brayu and Ref Snider in the outfield. Uh you know, it’s no nobody’s gonna pop off the page like a Raphael Devers would, but they they could beat you up and down the lineup. They’re a pretty good uh uh team like that. And then, you know, pitching wise, you mentioned it. They’re they’re really hot right now. Crochet is a Sai Young candidate. What a job he’s done. another guy, another guy that just, you know, you know, another another former sock that is just thriving. Um, you know, in another uniform and, uh, you know, I mean, Andrew Vaughn, I mean, you name it. Uh, but, um, to me, when I look at this team, Matt, you want to know what sticks out? What’s that? Orus Chapman. Oh, has an ERA of 1.18. Wow. He struck out 58 guys in 38 innings. On believe on uh uh baseball reference, he’s he’s at a two war for a reliever. He’s what? He is now in his career 798 innings pitched. He has a career erra of 256. He has struck out 134 hitters. It’s really an illustrious career. Almost 15 guys per nine innings. I believe he has solidified himself as the most dominant reliever of our time. Wow. In our So, in our generation, he’s in the top step. I believe he has passed Kenley Jansen and I believe he has passed Craig Kimell with this season at this age. Yes. Yeah. Yes. I I believe so. Yes. All three of those guys were Red Sox. Yes. Wow. And two of those two of those three were Cubs. That’s right. Two of those three were Cubs. Wow. Seeing Chapman this week, I’d love to see Tucker and PCA against him. Yeah. Hopefully. Hopefully. Yeah, hopefully it’s game three and they just need to get Chapman some work in a loss. We got to get him some work. You’re right. You’re right. I had to be careful there. My guess is with the way he’s been used, you won’t see him unless they’re leading or tied late, especially because he pitched Tuesday in the All-Star game, right? He did. Yeah. With no no problems. Yeah, he was flawless. Yeah. So, um yeah, it’s a good team. I mean I mean 10game win streak. I mean, no, that’s serious business. I mean, we’ve never covered one of those. We have not. I believe the longest win streak we’ve covered is eight. Yep. For sure. Um would really like to cover that again. You know, I’d cover a 20game win streak if they Well, if we cover another eightgame win streak, you could we we we could get the champagne ready for a division title. Oh, wow. Yeah. Eightame win streak, I think, would be enough. Yeah. So, this next stretch really is important in your mind then. I think all I mean the to build a buffer. Yeah, I mean I think the Cubs the their their schedule the rest of the year isn’t very overwhelming. So you it’s not the easiest in the in the sport. You could pick any stretch that you want. Um but yeah, this first one why why not? Especially because Milwaukee, you know, we keep talking about how hard Milwaukee schedule is it a big reason why is these first six right here. So you know maybe they go you know they go three and three, you go five and one and now you know you’re feeling a lot better about yourself. takeathon basically has after this Red Sox series, it’s just the games against the Brewers they have in the the most difficult column. Yeah. Something tells me at the end of the year, I’m not going to be a huge fan of those six games against the Braves because they’re they’re so talented and if they don’t tr if they don’t truly sell, those won’t be easy games. They have a lot of sale strider Schwelenbach, you know what I mean? You see, which is why I don’t really get why they would sell, right? So, you’re gonna have to face those guys twice in a six-game stretch late in the year. I’m not looking forward to that. Uh, no, up and down the roster. They’re they’re still got a lot of talent, but yeah, for the most part, you know, looks like a pretty pretty favorable situation. So, all right, let’s take a look here at some Cubs Red Sox immaculate grid. Oh, sure. We could do it in trivia style. What I have is I I I just wrote down notable position players and notable pitchers. Okay. Uh what comes to mind for you with that who’s played on both both clubs? John Lester. Or I could list them and you could give memories. John Lester. John Lester is right is up there. Uh John who’s in the top spot. John Lackey. John Lackey. Sure. Um Cubs Red Sox is a weird one. Uh, I have memories of Marlon Bird I think played for both. Yeah, he played I think one season on each team. I just remember I remember being aware of the Nomar rumors for the deadline of course in ‘ 04 and then it was like right up to the deadline at a friend’s house playing waffle ball. We were kept going inside a check sports center to see if they they made a deal. Wow. And we were like, “Oh, we’ll just give it one more shot.” You know, 5 10 minutes after the deadline had passed, right? And sure enough, breaking news, they got Noar Garcia par. A huge trade, especially for the Red Sox, which was highlighted in that dock. I I never realized how beneficial that turned out to be for them. And they won the World Series. Well, I knew that, but I didn’t know that. I never put two and two together with Cabrera and the declining defense and and all that stuff. Um, let me see who what other notables am I missing? Um, did you know that the Hawkber Oh, yeah. Schwarber’s on there, right? Did you know that Andre Dawson was a Red Sox? No, I didn’t know that. I thought you meant I thought you meant Hawk Harelson. I knew that. No, no, it’s a Cub show. Kimell, Craig Kimbell, Dennis Eckersley. I had no clue Fergie Jenkins Sam was a Red Sox. Zero idea. How about this? Rich Hill. How about Rich Hill? We might see Rich Hill pitch for the Royals next week against the Cubs. I just read that. Oh, is that where you were going with that? He’s 47 years old. Wow. Wow. Rich was pretty good on the Red Sox. He’s 45. Excuse me. Uh man, I feel like I’m missing some big ones, man. Matt Clement, the the goatee beard. Matt Stairs. Speaking of Matts, I think I think he was a Red Sox. And that’s pretty much what I have. Lee Smith was a Red Sox. Oh, so it’s it’s really kind of those sneaky Hall of Fame guys that spend some time either here or there because otherwise it’s kind of a modest list. Bill Miller. Oh, Billy. Bill Miller was a quality baseball player. Go look at his baseball reference. That guy could hit. I believe, if I’m not mistaken, he was the one that got that RBI single off Rivera to drive in now Dodger Dodgers manager Dave Roberts in game game four. Amazing. Great hitter. Coming up next, we have some MLB notes from this week. I also want to ask Sam about how the All-Star game ended and uh maybe a final ounce of trivia or two as well. Stay tuned. Major League Baseball’s All-Star break this week and uh two two news and notes out of that that that we did want to cover. Uh, one, I didn’t know this until this week that uh, major league players are going to be participating in in in the Olympics in July of 2028. What? And this is Yeah. And Rob Manfred is all up in arms because uh, it’s right around the same time as the All-Star game that year. And so now there’s controversy about that. And then this week it solidified uh the the notions we’ve had about okay so this collective bargaining agreement strike strike strike yeah December 1st 2026 is when the contract is up and you know as we continue to talk trades I do feel like an angle for me yep is going to be and again the the all-in players have to be available But if they are, they should, the Cubs should do it because I don’t care if Owen Casey is the starting right fielder when baseball comes back in April 1st, 2028. Who cares? Well, I It doesn’t matter. Take advantage of this year and next year because there’s not going to be games in 27. I was just going to ask you, over under 100 and a half games in 27. under. That’s sad. It Sorry, Moises Bisteros, but like you think it’s gonna take a whole There’s so many quality players who are up after 26. It’s you really have to take advantage, especially knowing we might just be sitting around the next year. Well, talking about like ballpark foods and stuff. Gosh, I I it’s hard to Don’t think about it. Don’t Don’t think about it. It’ll get you you’ll get anxious, right? Also, don’t think about the fact that basically our whole team’s contract is up after 26. Well, I have and and I that’s why I really think to go in on the specialness this year is important. Who’s who what current players are on the Cubs after 27? Dansby. So, entering 28. Yeah. As of now, Dan, I think it’s just Swanson. Steals Steel’s up after 27. Up after 27, right? I think it’s one player. All right. Uh, go Cubs, man. Well, you know, allstar game in case Kyle Tucker leaves. Really? Hopefully I have more of a social. If you could get Suarez, Kelly, and Miller from the Diamondbacks, you’re gonna hang on to Owen Casey because Kyle Tucker might leave. Please. Hopefully I I I have like more things going on in my life by the time 28 rolls around. So if we do have to do a show in the lockout, I you know, I just, hey, you know, Matt, actually I can’t do tonight. You know, instead of just being like, hey, I know Sam’s going to be ready right at S. Oh, right at 7 o’clock. I know Sam will be right there. He hasn’t left the house since 2018. Well, I know we’re a writing show, but we could put out content during the lockout. For sure. For sure. Um, for sure Matthew Boyd had the lowest starter erra going into the All-Star break for a Cubs pitcher at 2.34. Oh. Since this pitcher, who also had a 234 erra at the break? Now, did this pitcher make the All-Star team? Uh, I don’t I don’t know that for sure because my first thought would be 2016 Kyle Hendris. That’s a good guess. Yeah, but it’s wrong. Okay. Uh because because he didn’t make the Allstar team. Uh it’s a little bit in the way back machine. Oh, okay. Not John Liieber. Oh, not Jake Aretta. No, I know it’s I know it’s not Arietta. Although I do have because of this question, I looked up his stretch. What? Prior. Oh, another great guess. But no. Carrie Wood. Nope. All right. So, I’m not close. Sorry. Let me Late 80s. Maddox. Greg Maddox. Wow. Great question. Greg Maddox. Great question that I got wrong again because you don’t get many questions wrong. I got four of them. I I went 0 for four because of this question. I just wanted to look up, well, what was Arietta’s ERA at the break in 15 because he ended with a 177. Yeah. I can I guess it? Yes, I have it. 3.04. Not that high. It was 265. Oh, I thought it was high because, you know, I mean, he literally didn’t give up a run the rest of the year. Dude, listen. Do I I want to just read his his line score from his last 12 starts of 15, please. First of all, the Cubs went 12-0. 88 and a third innings. Mhm. 41 hits, four runs, 14 walks, and 89 strikeouts. Four runs in 88 innings. Incredible, man. With a no hitter uh in Dodger Stadium. Just truly remarkable on Sunday Night Baseball when Dan Schulman did it. What is the most winnable game of this series? Is it is it is it Saturday with Imanaga against PO? I’m not sure. I really want them to get two out of three. Man, you wanted me to talk about the All-Star game, Homer? I was shocked. Oh, I I I guess shock is the that is maybe a little bit exaggerated. It’s a fine word. It’s fine. Well, I just I wasn’t informed really about that if the game was tied, they were going to do a swing off. Me neither. I thought it was okay. I I think it’s getting a little too much hype, but it was Yeah, it was fun in the moment. Thought it was fun in the moment. think it’s gotten a little too much hype, but I I just wish if you’re gonna have something like that, call back the starters. So, some of them weren’t even in the in the stadium. So, we could get Judge, Raleigh, Otani, Vlad, Guerrero versus Otani, Alonszo, and Schwarber. With all due respect, and I genuinely mean I mean no disrespect, should that have come down to Jonathan Aronda? No. No. Right. And that’s so the guy is an all-star, but how what does he have 12 homers? I mean, come on. That that I I I think that had an opportunity to be incredible. Yeah, it really did. If you have Judge and Otani and Raleigh and because you knew when Schwarber stepped up to the plate, you knew it was over. Love it. We will be back after Cubs Red Sox. Are you saying your last name? No, but people do spell it a lot. E R. Cubs Red Sox. We’ll be back after that on Sunday. This is Locked On Cubs, part of the Lockdown podcast network. Your team every day for your second listen. Check out the allnew Locked on MLB Game Night. Every game, every night, all season long. Get local analysis on a national scale. Find MLB game night on the Lockown MLB channel on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcast. He’s Sam Olber. I’m Matt Cozy. This is Locked on Cubs.

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