The Cubs bounced back from a walk-off loss Monday to take the series against the Miami Marlins, heading into an off day that allows a tired bullpen to reset.
The Cubs (30-20) travel to Cincinnati to face the Reds for the first time this year, part of a stretch in which two of their next three series are against the division foe.
With Wednesday’s 6-5 loss to the Seattle Mariners, the White Sox are on par with last year’s team for the worst 50-game start in franchise history at 15-35. And the schedule doesn’t get any easier, with a home series against the Texas Rangers followed by three at Citi Field against the New York Mets.
Every Thursday during the regular season, Tribune baseball writers will provide an update on what happened — and what’s ahead — for the Cubs and White Sox.
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Cubs’ Kyle Tucker getting locked in again offensively
The last two weeks hadn’t seen Cubs slugger Kyle Tucker look consistent in the batter’s box.
Tucker entered Tuesday’s game against the Miami Marlins 6-for-41 in his last 11 games with a .271 on-base percentage. When he had made contact it often went for extra-base hits, tallying five in that span. But he appeared a tick off, until Tuesday.
Tucker went 3-for-4 with a home run in the Cubs’ blowout win over Miami and then slugged a home run in his first at-bat in Wednesday’s series finale as part of another three-hit day.
“I was just kind of searching for something that I could at least work with out there, and I felt better the last couple days, and tried to just carry that in at-bats going forward,” Tucker said before Wednesday’s finale. “I’m just out there trying to, in that kind of situation, find something that feels right and kind of at least lock into that. So when I do go out for the game, I can kind of just hopefully feel that in the box and just kind of stick with it and help me out.”
With Ian Happ’s return from the injured list Tuesday, manager Craig Counsell wanted Tucker to have an opportunity to give his body a break by using him as the designated hitter for a few consecutive games. Tucker was the DH in the last two games against the Marlins while Seiya Suzuki got the starts in right field. The 28-year-old has played in all 50 of the Cubs’ games this year.
Asked how he’s feeling physically, Tucker acknowledged his current state, saying, “everyone’s probably a little banged up, I don’t think you could really play this game and these amount of games in a row and not be banged up to an extent.” But Tucker added that, “as long as I’m good to go out there, I’ll be in the lineup.”
Chase Meidroth aims to “keep the line moving” at the top of the Sox lineup
The Matthew Boyd fastball was high and out of the zone.
Chase Meidroth still went after it and connected for a leadoff home run to left field Saturday against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
“It was good to get that one off my shoulders,” Meidroth said of the first home run of his major-league career.
Meidroth had three hits in the contest and has continued to be a steady force at the top of the Sox lineup. On Wednesday, he extended his hitting streak to nine with a first-inning double against the Seattle Mariners at Rate Field.
He said the goal is to “keep the line moving.”
“Just trying to put the bat on the ball and get to first base,” Meidroth said. “As many times as I can touch first base for other guys like Miguel (Vargas), (Andrew) Vaughn, Luis (Robert Jr.) and (Edgar) Quero — I’m trying to get on first base so we can score some runs.”
Wednesday marked the 20th time Meidroth has led off this season. Entering Wednesday, he had a .297 average (22-for-74) and a .366 on-base percentage when inserted at the top of the order.
“Fits in with his approach at the plate and kind of his mentality, so I think he takes pride in it,” manager Will Venable said. “He’s done a really nice job setting the tone for us.”
Number of the week: 62
The Cubs lead the majors with 62 RBIs on the first pitch of an at-bat and also own a league-best .421 batting average in that situation.
Week ahead: Cubs
- Thursday: off
- Friday: at Reds, 5:40 p.m., Marquee
- Saturday: at Reds, 3:10 p.m., Marquee
- Sunday: at Reds, 12:40 p.m., Marquee
- Monday: vs. Rockies, 1:20 p.m., Marquee
- Tuesday: vs. Rockies, 7:05 p.m., Marquee
- Wednesday: vs. Rockies, 7:05 p.m., Marquee
Immediate production is a good feeling for any player after a call-up to the majors.
Third baseman Matt Shaw recorded as many hits in his first three games back with the Cubs (five) as he did in his final 11 games and 38 plate appearances leading up to his demotion to Triple-A Iowa on April 15. The Cubs wanted to see Shaw harness a more aggressive approach than the stretches where he often looked overmatched and in survival mode, ultimately leading to his demotion.
His three doubles against the Marlins surpassed the total extra-base hits he recorded during his first stint with the Cubs this year, managing just two (a double and a home run) in his first 18 games. An already deep Cubs lineup will become even more dynamic if Shaw, who was slotted into the No. 9 spot, continues to hit the way he did against the Marlins.
“There’s no question he has the eyes and the hands to hit in the big leagues,” president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said Monday. “I think that the leg kick being so big, it’s a hard timing mechanism to control, so we’ve been working with him on lowering it a little bit, making that more in control. And I think that’s it’s had good results, and we feel like being able to do that in the big leagues is really important.
“He’s got a bright future. Those adjustments don’t stop now. He’s going to have to continue to make them as he goes.”
Week ahead: White Sox
- Thursday: off
- Friday: vs. Rangers, 6:40 p.m., CHSN
- Saturday: vs. Rangers, 3:10 p.m., CHSN
- Sunday: vs. Rangers, 1:10 p.m., CHSN
- Monday: at Mets, 3:10 p.m., CSHN
- Tuesday: at Mets, 6:10 p.m., CHSN
- Wednesday: at Mets, 6:10 p.m., CHSN
Adrian Houser was in Round Rock, Texas, when he secured a one-year deal with the Sox.
“Then I drove home to Tulsa to drop my truck off and flew out of there,” he said.
The Sox announced the terms of the contract ($1.35 million) on Tuesday and Houser pitched that evening against the Mariners, allowing two hits in six scoreless innings during a 1-0 victory.
It was his first big-league appearance since July 24, 2024, while with the Mets against the New York Yankees. He spent this season with Triple-A Round Rock in the Rangers organization before joining the Sox.
“It feels really good, being able to get back up here and help to contribute to the team,” Houser said. “So hopefully I can keep it going for the guys.”
If the schedule holds, his next start would come in the series against the Mets. He went 1-5 with a 5.84 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 23 appearances (seven starts) for the Mets last season.
What we’re reading
- Chicago White Sox’s Luis Robert Jr. not concentrating on trade chatter: ‘I just focus on trying to get better’
- How Jameson Taillon’s new grip has helped unlock the Chicago Cubs right-hander’s changeup
- Adjustments continue to pay off for Chicago White Sox 3B Miguel Vargas, who earned AL Player of the Week honors
- Chicago Cubs put reliever Porter Hodge on the IL, creating another challenge for the bullpen
- Chicago White Sox honor Pope Leo XIV with new Rate Field artwork
- For a trio of Cubs, the City Series represents the other side of the rivalry with the White Sox
- Column: Game takes back seat to summer vibes as City Series begins, while Cubs’ new star continues to blossom
Quotable
“I definitely feel like we’re in a better place in terms of how we’re approaching just the hitting department. I don’t feel like we’re where it needs to be quite yet. Some of that is the talent. We need to continue to focus on bringing in players that can help us on the offensive side. … We’ve improved, it’s not where it needs to be.” — Sox GM Chris Getz
