Alex Bregman is beginning to find his rhythm as the Chicago Cubs move deeper into the 2026 season, overcoming a slow start that has lingered through early July. On Sunday, Bregman delivered a timely double in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals, driving in Pete Crow-Armstrong, who had opened the game with a single and stolen second base. The sequence highlighted Bregman’s role as a key offensive contributor the Cubs envisioned when signing him to anchor their lineup.

Bregman, now in his 10th major league season, said recent improvements at the plate have boosted his confidence. “The last homestand has been really good,” he noted, citing mechanical adjustments that have helped him “swing from behind the baseball better.” He pointed to a performance against Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski as a turning point and expressed optimism about sustaining his progress through the remainder of the season.

Saturday marked a milestone for Bregman as he reached 10 years of major league service time, a significant benchmark shared this season by several Cubs players, including Jameson Taillon, Matthew Boyd, Dansby Swanson, and Michael Conforto.

Pete Crow-Armstrong, meanwhile, has shown resilience despite sustaining multiple hit-by-pitches in recent games. After being struck on the left forearm by a pitch from Cardinals starter Matthew Liberatore in Sunday’s game, Crow-Armstrong stayed in the lineup and continued to contribute offensively, stealing a second base. Cubs manager Craig Counsell indicated he planned to rest Crow-Armstrong, stating, “I’m giving him the day off tomorrow,” though the team’s upcoming schedule includes a day off before beginning a series in Baltimore.

Jameson Taillon is making steady progress in his comeback from a strained left hamstring suffered on June 8. In a recent rehab appearance for Class A South Bend, he pitched 3⅓ innings, allowing one run on four hits with two strikeouts while throwing 45 pitches, 35 for strikes. The Cubs are hopeful that Taillon’s continued rehabilitation will bolster the pitching staff that has faced ongoing injury challenges.

The pitching staff remains a concern for the Cubs organization. Despite some encouraging individual performances — including a scoreless 4⅔ innings from Javier Assad and positive signs from Edward Cabrera — manager Craig Counsell declined to declare confidence that the pitching rotation has fully stabilized. The Cubs have dealt with a steady stream of injuries throughout the season, prompting general manager Carter Hoyer to make a series of roster moves involving left-hander David Peterson, veteran reliever Drew Pomeranz, and other bullpen additions.

Scouting director Dan Kantrovitz acknowledged the importance of bolstering the organization’s pitching depth, particularly with the amateur draft approaching. However, he conceded that these efforts are long-term investments and do not immediately address the current pitching shortages.

Veteran reliever Colin Rea, who has pitched effectively in recent starts, expressed cautious optimism about the team’s outlook. He emphasized the value of players returning from injury around the All-Star break and praised teammates who have stepped up during the stretch of injuries. “Guys have kind of stepped up and filled those roles, and that’s going to help us down the road,” Rea said.

With key players like Bregman showing renewed form and others progressing in rehabilitation, the Cubs hope to navigate this critical midseason phase on a stronger footing.