{"id":754123,"date":"2026-07-17T11:33:31","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T11:33:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/754123\/"},"modified":"2026-07-17T11:33:31","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T11:33:31","slug":"chicago-baseball-report-season-resumes-with-cubs-chasing-brewers-and-white-sox-exceeding-expectations-chicago-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/754123\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicago baseball report: Season resumes with Cubs chasing Brewers \u2014 and White Sox exceeding expectations \u2013 Chicago Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite all of their injuries, the Cubs open the second half in playoff position.<\/p>\n

Following a six-game homestand that begins Friday night against the Minnesota Twins, the Cubs begin a tough two-week stretch in which they face division opponents Pittsburgh and St. Louis on the road before the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers come to town.<\/p>\n

The White Sox are tied with the Cleveland Guardians for first place in the American League Central as they resume play following the All-Star break Friday with a trip to Toronto.<\/p>\n

Every Friday during the regular season, Tribune baseball writers will provide an update on what happened \u2014 and what\u2019s ahead \u2014 for the Cubs<\/a> and White Sox<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Want the latest baseball news? Subscribe to the Chicago Tribune<\/a> to read it all \u2014 and sign up for our Cubs Insider<\/a>\u00a0and White Sox Insider<\/a> newsletters.<\/p>\n

Cubs chasing the Brewers
\n\"MilwaukeeBrewers third baseman David Hamilton rounds second after hitting a triple against the Cubs on May 20, 2026, Wrigley Field. (Stacey Wescott\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

A strong finish heading into the All-Star break is giving the Cubs a chance to chase down the division.<\/p>\n

The Cubs won five of their last seven games to pull within 5 games of the first-place Milwaukee Brewers. They have four more games (Aug. 31-Sept. 3) at Wrigley against the Brewers in the rivals\u2019 final head-to-head matchup of the season. The Cubs, who kick off the second half Friday night versus the Twins at Wrigley Field, currently hold the top spot for the National League wild card, a half-game ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies. Importantly, they hold the tiebreaker over the Phillies after sweeping the season series.<\/p>\n

The Cubs haven\u2019t won the division since in a non-COVID season since 2017. Winning the NL Central and finishing with a top-two record in the league would come with the added bonus of their postseason beginning in the division series.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving a bit of a shorter path to the World Series is great,\u201d Crow-Armstrong said Tuesday. \u201cI think just making the playoffs, anything can happen if you get got at the right time. I don\u2019t think we\u2019re worried about our road really. It\u2019s just about getting there and then seeing what happens once you get there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aside from any updates to the roster the Cubs make before the Aug. 3 trade deadline, getting healthy would benefit a roster that has endured heavy injuries, namely to the pitching staff.<\/p>\n

Right-hander Jameson Taillon should come off the injured list to rejoin the rotation shortly after the second half resumes while Edward Cabrera\u2019s return could happen in the next four weeks, depending on how his hamstring responds as his throwing progression ramps up. Right-hander Ben Brown (neck) and closer Daniel Palencia (flexor tendon strain) have a less clear timeline. Utilityman Matt Shaw (left hand sprain) was scheduled to start swinging a bat to test for symptoms again heading into the break.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a team that\u2019s built to play in the playoffs, even with all the injuries and the lack of some of our starting pitching,\u201d Crow-Armstrong said. \u201cAnd if we\u2019ve got guys coming back in the second half, we\u2019ll be just fine.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe believe in our offense. The 10-game losing streak, you start to ask a lot of questions, but internally we decided to just keep pushing. And I\u2019m a part of a group that just shows up and does the work so confidence never wavered, I don\u2019t think, for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sox aim to build on \u2018awesome\u2019 first half
\n\"TristanWhite Sox center fielder Tristan Peters steps to the plate for an at-bat during the eighth inning of the MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park on July 14, 2026 in Philadelphia. (Emilee Chinn\/Getty)<\/p>\n

Center fielder Tristan Peters described the first half for the Sox as \u201cawesome.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSpecial team, a lot of special guys,\u201d Peters told the Tribune last week at Rate Field. \u201cJust a fun environment to be a part of. We\u2019re all friends. We\u2019re really close. All the energy, we feed off of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Sox (50-45) have been one of the biggest surprise teams in all of baseball, sharing first place in the AL Central with the Guardians (51-46).<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think going into this season people were expecting this,\u201d Peters said. \u201cTo exceed the expectations is fun, but we have our expectations of ourselves too. And we plan on playing even better is the goal in the second (half).\u201d<\/p>\n

Peters has played a role in that success, earning All-Star honors<\/a> while batting .301 with 20 doubles, three triples, six home runs and 36 RBIs in 91 games. He has contributed stellar defense in center field.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust the way he grinds, he\u2019s a guy that really consistently puts it out there,\u201d manager Will Venable said last week at Rate Field. \u201cHis practice, the way he prepares, he\u2019s always moving fast, running hard, practicing hard. He\u2019s been really committed to everything that he needs to do to be the best version of himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s obviously tapped into that pretty consistently, which has been really cool to see. Kind of came out of nowhere, right? We liked him enough to acquire him (from Tampa Bay during the offseason), but he\u2019s exceeding expectations and done it in a way that you really root for the guy because he\u2019s worked so hard.\u201d<\/p>\n

Peters wants to \u201cjust stay consistent\u201d after the break.<\/p>\n

\u201cTry not to get too low or too high,\u201d Peters, 26, said. \u201cBe a consistent player in the lineup and somebody they can trust. Be put in situations and just delivering for the team when they need it.\u201d<\/p>\n

2027 schedules released
\n\"CubsCubs shortstop Dansby Swanson hits a two-run home run against the Padres on June 30, 2026, at Wrigley Field. (Chris Sweda\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

Major League Baseball\u2019s 2027 season will start on March 24<\/a>, the earliest in history.<\/p>\n

Leaguewide opening day is scheduled for March 25, when the Cubs will play host to the Guardians at Wrigley Field. Of course, that is pending a resolution of the expected lockout and a new collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the players union.<\/p>\n

All-Star festivities come to Wrigley Field next year<\/a> with the Home Run Derby on July 12 and All-Star Game on July 13.<\/p>\n

The Cubs\u2019 first two trips of the season send them first from April 2-7 against the Angels in Anaheim, Calif., and the Athletics in Sacramento, then April 16-21 at the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks.<\/p>\n

One of the Cubs\u2019 toughest stretches features a three-city, 10-game trip in June to Colorado, San Diego and San Francisco. That includes a scheduled doubleheader in San Diego in anticipation of a venue event at Petco Park when the Padres head on the road after the series versus the Cubs.<\/p>\n

The Cubs end the season at the Phillies (Sept. 21-23) and New York Mets (Sept. 24-26).<\/p>\n

\"WhiteWhite Sox players stand during the national anthem before a game against the Guardians on June 22, 2026, at Rate Field. (Armando L. Sanchez\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

The Sox are slated to open 2027 on the road, visiting the Detroit Tigers on March 25 at Comerica Park. The team\u2019s home opener is April 1 against the Brewers at Rate Field.<\/p>\n

A unique portion of the schedule pops up in late April. First the Sox play the Los Angeles Angels on April 23-25 in Anaheim. Then they go to Dodger Stadium on April 26-28.<\/p>\n

The Sox have one three-city trip, playing at the Atlanta Braves (Sept. 10-12), Yankees (Sept. 14-16) and Washington Nationals (Sept. 17-19).<\/p>\n

Their regular season concludes Sept. 26 against the Padres at Rate Field.<\/p>\n

Number of the week: 50<\/p>\n

The Sox won their 50th game of the season Sunday, topping the Athletics 9-1 at Rate Field. Last year\u2019s 50th victory for the club came on Sept. 1. The Sox won 41 games during the entirety of the 2024 season.<\/p>\n

Week ahead: Cubs
\n\"CubsCubs starter Colin Rea waits for the next Blue Jays batter on June 20, 2026, at Wrigley Field. (John J. Kim\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

Friday: vs. Twins, 7:05 p.m., Marquee
\nSaturday: vs. Twins, 1:20 p.m., Marquee
\nSunday: vs. Twins, 1:20 p.m., Marquee
\nMonday: vs. Tigers, 7:05 p.m., Marquee
\nTuesday: vs. Tigers, 7:05 p.m., Marquee
\nWednesday: vs. Tigers, 7:10 p.m., ESPN
\nThursday: off<\/p>\n

The Cubs get a taste of the AL Central this homestand as the Twins and Tigers come to town.<\/p>\n

They set their rotation coming out of the break to roll with right-hander Colin Rea, left-hander Matthew Boyd and left-hander Shota Imanaga. The Cubs need more from their starting pitchers. Since June 1, the rotation ranks 23rd in innings pitched and 27th in fWAR (0.4) and has been heavily relying on the defense (third lowest strikeouts per nine innings). While the group\u2019s 4.18 ERA is 15th in MLB during that span, its Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) puts it 27th and its expected ERA (5.04) is second-worst.<\/p>\n

The vibes at Wrigley should be stellar this weekend as the Champions Gate at Gallagher Way will be unveiled before Saturday\u2019s game with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Former Cubs pitcher and World Series champion Kyle Hendricks will throw a ceremonial first pitch before Saturday\u2019s game, and members of the 2016 World Series championship team will sing during the seventh-inning stretch.<\/p>\n

Week ahead: White Sox
\n\"ChicagoWhite Sox starter Anthony Kay delivers against the Red Sox on July 9, 2026, at Rate Field. (Josh Boland\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

Friday: at Blue Jays, 6:15 p.m., Apple TV
\nSaturday: at Blue Jays, 2:07 p.m., CHSN
\nSunday: at Blue Jays, 11:15 a.m., Peacock\/NBCSN
\nMonday: at Rangers, 7:05 p.m., CHSN
\nTuesday: at Rangers, 7:05 p.m., CHSN
\nWednesday: at Rangers, 7:05 p.m., CHSN
\nThursday: off<\/p>\n

The Sox return from the All-Star break with Anthony Kay as the probable starter Friday against the Blue Jays.\u00a0The lefty is 6-4 with a 4.23 ERA in 19 outings (17 starts). He has 71 strikeouts and 35 walks in 89 1\/3 innings.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a lot of ups and downs, trying not to ride the roller coaster of the baseball season,\u201d Kay said of his first half. \u201cOverall I think it\u2019s been more positive than negative. We\u2019re just going to continue to keep getting better and try to find ways to improve.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for the team as a whole, Kay said, \u201cWe\u2019ve definitely exceeded everyone\u2019s expectations. We\u2019ve expected this, but I think as far as the media and the fans, we\u2019ve played better than what everyone expected.\u201d<\/p>\n

Davis Martin and Sean Burke are slated to start Saturday and Sunday against the Blue Jays.<\/p>\n

Burke has been on a roll as of late, with a 1.69 ERA over his last five starts. In that stretch, he has 42 strikeouts and five walks in 32 innings.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe made some adjustments and there\u2019s kind of one delivery thing I just felt clicked for me in the week between the (Los Angeles) Dodgers start (on June 13 when he gave up four runs in four innings) and the New York (Yankees) start (the beginning of the five-game stretch),\u201d Burke said July 10. \u201cMore so just trying to be simple and be back in the zone as much as I can and the velo ticked up from that. It\u2019s been good. Everything feels in sync, everything feels on time and stuff\u2019s been consistent.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I\u2019m able to show up and have that, the confidence just grows from there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erick Fedde and Noah Schultz are lined up to be on the mound in the first two games of the following series against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas.<\/p>\n

What we\u2019re reading today<\/p>\n

Quotable<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s just a really impressive hitter. He had me running all over the field (at Rate Field in May) so pretty impressive to show up and do what he\u2019s doing. Looks like there was very little adjustment that he had to make, so just pretty impressive and a very sweet guy. I\u2019ve enjoyed talking with him. But an incredibly impressive hitter. Put one too many balls out of reach when I was out there.\u201d \u2014 Crow-Armstrong on White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Despite all of their injuries, the Cubs open the second half in playoff position. Following a six-game homestand…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":754124,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2399],"tags":[5,138,24,49,4245,161,8483,853,4,185],"class_list":["post-754123","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-chicago-cubs","tag-baseball","tag-chicago","tag-chicago-cubs","tag-chicago-white-sox","tag-chicagocubs","tag-cubs","tag-keywee","tag-latest-headlines","tag-mlb","tag-sports"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@mlb\/116935105586025534","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/754123","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=754123"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/754123\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/754124"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=754123"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=754123"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=754123"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}