Pulling off a combined no-hitter was a fun way to enter an off day for the Cubs.
While the feat doesn’t diminish an otherwise tough series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the vibes are high again as the New York Yankees come to town this weekend, featuring Anthony Rizzo returning to Wrigley Field for the first time since the Cubs traded him in 2021.
The White Sox snapped a 12-game losing streak Wednesday with an 8-1 victory against the Baltimore Orioles behind home runs from Nicky Lopez, Andrew Vaughn and Dominic Fletcher. The Sox had hit three home runs in their previous 17 games.
Despite the victory, the Sox are still on pace to shatter the modern-day major-league record for most losses in a season.
Every Friday during the regular season, Tribune baseball writers will provide an update on what happened — and what’s ahead — for the Cubs and White Sox. Want more? Sign up for our newsletters.
Shawn Armstrong embraces new opportunity with Cubs
Sometimes, even within chaos, things work out as they should.
That is the perspective reliever Shawn Armstrong maintained during a whirlwind few days during which the St. Louis Cardinals designated the veteran right-hander for assignment and the Cubs claimed him off waivers on Aug. 30. The timing allowed Armstrong, 33, to go to the ultrasound for his daughter, who is due in October.
“I think everything happens for a reason,” Armstrong said this week.
He comes to the Cubs with some familiarity within the organization. General manager Carter Hawkins was part of the Cleveland front office that drafted Armstrong in 2011. Armstrong predominately relies on a four-seam fastball, cutter and sinker combination while mixing in a sweeper/slider, though he doesn’t view one pitch as the key to his success. His cutter is such a meaningful pitch to Armstrong because of how it got him to the majors that “Cutter” is his son’s middle name.
“It’s just going in there and attacking with a plan, attacking hitters with four quality pitches, getting ahead and whenever you have the opportunity to put them away, put them away and rely on your defense,” Armstrong said. “Whatever part I can play here and trust my defense behind me. The ultimate goal here is to win so that’s what I want to do however I can help these guys do that.”
Familiarity with catcher Christian Bethancourt, with whom he played two seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays, has helped aid the transition to his third team in five weeks as he also gets to know catcher Miguel Amaya.
“I’m open book, I like to do anything in any count,” Armstrong said.
Gavin Sheets makes the most of his visit home
The Sox first baseman/designated hitter always circles the visit to Baltimore on the calendar. He lives in the area and is a native of Lutherville, Md., which is about 20 miles from Camden Yards.
“Getting in my own bed and staying at home and getting to play at a ballpark that I grew up in, that I have so great memories here, it’s definitely a jolt of energy,” Sheets said Monday. “I love playing here, I love playing in front of my family, I love having my parents in the stands and playing in a place that my dad (Larry) did a lot for the organization.
“I definitely never take it for granted.”
Sheets had two hits and an RBI on Monday against the Orioles, continuing an impressive stretch at the plate. He entered Thursday with the fourth-best batting average in the majors over the last 30 days, hitting .352.
“I think using the whole field,” Sheets said of some of his keys to success. “I saw (Monday), hitting the ball to left field off (Corbin) Burnes (for an RBI single in the first inning) and then hitting the ball to right field (for another hit in the third).
“Having good at-bats and trying to be aggressive, trying to finish strong. I think that’s the biggest thing, trying to put together a season that I can be proud of and finish as strong as possible.”
Sheets finished the series with two more hits Wednesday. He is batting .244 with eight home runs and 41 RBIs in a career-high 125 games this season.
He believes everyone will have something to take away from this trying year.
“I think it’s something to pull from going forward,” Sheets said. “I feel like everyone in this room is learning something from this season, how to handle failure, how to handle disappointment and still being able to show up every day and play and have success.”
Number of the week: 1993
The Cubs were within inches of ending the longest cycle drought in the National League on Wednesday when a ball Pete Crow-Armstrong pulled down the right-field line into the corner landed just foul for what would’ve been an easy triple to complete his cycle. Mark Grace’s cycle on May 9, 1993, remains the last by a Cub.
Tracking the White Sox’s record-setting losses
Record: 32-109
The 109 losses are the most in franchise history, surpassing the previous record of 106 by the 1970 club.
The Sox are on pace for 125 losses, which would eclipse the modern record of 120 set by the expansion New York Mets in 1962. They need to go 11-10 in their final 21 games to avoid tying the Mets’ mark.
The Sox went 4-22 in August, the fourth-lowest winning percentage (.154) in major-league history for the month behind the 1943 Philadelphia A’s (3-26, .103), 2021 Baltimore Orioles (4-24, .143) and 1936 Philadelphia Phillies (4-24, .143).
Week ahead: Cubs
- Friday: vs. Yankees, 1:20 p.m., Marquee
- Saturday: vs. Yankees, 1:20 p.m., Marquee
- Sunday: vs. Yankees, 1:20 p.m., Marquee
- Monday: at Dodgers, 9:10 p.m., Marquee
- Tuesday: at Dodgers, 9:10 p.m., Marquee
- Wednesday: at Dodgers, 9:10 p.m., Marquee
- Thursday: off
The Cubs Hall of Fame is welcoming its newest additions this weekend.
A three-day celebration begins Friday in honor of Kerry Wood and Aramis Ramírez, the 2024 inductees. The Cubs are dedicating Friday’s game to Ramírez and Saturday’s game to Wood, and both players will be honored at Sunday’s game. On Sunday, Wood and Ramírez will received their Cubs Hall of Fame jackets, throw out a ceremonial first pitch and sing during the seventh-inning stretch.
The Cubs have created a pop-up exhibit in the motorola razr room at Gallagher Way honoring Ramírez’s and Wood’s playing career. It will be on display beginning Friday through the end of the season on game days. Items in the exhibit will include jerseys, bats and more from the Cubs and Wrigley Field Archive.
Week ahead: White Sox
- Friday: at Red Sox, 6:10 p.m., NBCSCH
- Saturday: at Red Sox, 6:15 p.m., FOX-32
- Sunday: at Red Sox, 12:35 p.m., NBCSCH
- Monday: vs. Guardians, 6:40 p.m., NBCSCH
- Tuesday: vs. Guardians, 6:40 p.m., NBCSCH
- Wednesday: vs. Guardians, 1:10 p.m., NBCSCH
- Thursday: off
The White Sox are 8-38 against the American League Central this season.
Five of their victories are against the division-leading Cleveland Guardians, who come to Guaranteed Rate Field to begin a three-game series Monday. The Sox are 5-5 against the Guardians, including winning three of four May 9-12 at Guaranteed Rate Field.
The Sox were outscored 46-43 in the first 10 meetings.
For comparison with other AL Central foes, the Sox are 1-9 and have been outscored 58-29 against the Detroit Tigers. They have three games remaining Sept. 27-29 at Comerica Park.
The Sox went 1-12 in the completed season series against both the Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals. The Twins outscored the Sox 85-45. The Royals outscored the Sox 66-23.
What we’re reading this morning
- ‘A special game for a catcher to be a part of’: Miguel Amaya plays an important role in the Cubs’ combined no-hitter
- Shota Imanaga and 2 relievers throw a combined no-hitter for the Cubs in a 12-0 rout of the Pirates
- Column: The 2024 White Sox — while not as beloved as the 1962 Mets — have had as many ridiculous moments
- Cubs place starter Justin Steele on the 15-day injured list with left elbow tendinitis
- Eloy Jiménez faces White Sox for the 1st time since trade: ‘I’ve got a lot of memories. Good. Bad. OK.’
- Dusty Baker shares in his son Darren’s big-league ‘dream come true’ with call-up to the Nationals
- A collision, 2 ejections and loss No. 109 for the White Sox: ‘Today just wasn’t our best day’
- How developing a pregame routine and adding a leg kick has turned Pete Crow-Armstrong into a dynamic hitter for the Cubs
- Retired Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood sells Winnetka mansion for $8.5M, making it that suburb’s highest-priced sale this year
Quotable
“You’re just really hoping that if they put in play it happens to go to somebody, that’s usually the big thing. But yeah, you’re obviously hyperaware and focused.” — Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson on the feelings entering the ninth inning with a combined no-hitter intact
