The Chicago Cubs concluded a seven-game road trip with a 4-2, 10-inning victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday, improving their record to 5-2 on the trip. Despite dropping potential wins in Pittsburgh and St. Louis earlier in the series, the Cubs maintain a strong position in the National League wild-card race as they return to Wrigley Field for a homestand against playoff contenders. The Cubs hold the top National League wild-card spot and will face the Yankees and Dodgers in upcoming home games ahead of Monday’s 5 p.m. Major League Baseball trade deadline.
A standout moment during the series came with the MLB debut of Cubs prospect James Triantos on July 25 in Pittsburgh. Called up just the day before, Triantos entered as a pinch hitter and recorded his first major league hit on an opposite-field single off Pirates reliever Brandon Eisert. Triantos, 23, took over at second base for the final two innings of the game. He reflected on the surreal experience of his debut, emphasizing his focus and preparation despite the rapid transition to the big leagues. The 2021 second-round draft pick played sparingly during the series, grounding out in a pinch-hit appearance during Tuesday’s 10-2 win over the Cardinals. The Cubs view this call-up as a valuable developmental opportunity for him.
Meanwhile, the Chicago White Sox began a challenging stretch on Friday by opening a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, Florida. This marks the first in a rigorous 13-game run against teams at or above .500, which includes a subsequent three-game series in Boston against the Red Sox starting Tuesday and a home series in August against the Cleveland Guardians. The Sox started the stretch with a 2-2 split against the New York Yankees.
White Sox reliever Jordan Hicks delivered a notable performance Wednesday in the 12th inning against the Yankees. Hicks pitched in a high-pressure bases-loaded situation, striking out two batters with fastballs exceeding 100 mph and escaping without allowing a run. He earned the win as the Sox rallied to a 6-5 victory on Edgar Quero’s single in the bottom of the inning. This marked Hicks’ first win with the White Sox. After returning from a lat strain injury that sidelined him from May 21 to June 21, Hicks has extended his career-high scoreless streak to 14 games (13 1/3 innings) with a 3.19 ERA in 34 appearances. He attributed his improved command to adjusting his arm slot and focusing on strike-throwing.
The Cubs continue to contend with a significant number of injured players, with 14 currently on their injured list. However, manager Craig Counsell remains optimistic about upcoming reinforcements. Right-hander Edward Cabrera, recovering from a left hamstring strain, threw a bullpen session Wednesday and is set to begin a rehab assignment Friday with Triple-A Iowa, likely returning to the rotation by mid-August. Left-handed reliever Hoby Milner, recently recovering from an appendectomy, showed promise in his first rehab outing Wednesday and is scheduled for further appearances before reactivation. Closer Daniel Palencia is progressing toward live batting practice and rehab outings after a flexor tendon strain.
Other injured players, including infielder/outfielder Matt Shaw (left hand sprain), right-hander Ben Brown (stress reaction in neck), and left-hander Justin Steele (flexor strain), continue various stages of rehabilitation with no immediate return dates. Steele’s recovery remains the most extended, as he has not pitched since April 2023 due to elbow surgery and a recent setback.
Outfielder Braden Montgomery contributed to the Cubs’ offense in Tuesday’s series against the Yankees, delivering a two-hit game and scoring a crucial run in a late rally during a 3-2 loss. Montgomery has hit .313 with 15 hits, including five extra-base hits and 12 RBIs over his last 13 games, signaling growing confidence and readiness to contribute regularly.