AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

The Rundown: Power Surge Propels Cubs Toward Potential Sweep, Nothing Imminent on Trade Front, Mets Expect to Make Sweeping Changes

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterJuly 1, 2026

“So many people have come and gone; their faces fade as the years go by. Yet I still recall as I wander on, as clear as the sun in the summer sky.” – More Than a Feeling by Boston

It’s July and the Cubs are flying high, and a tip of the cap to rhyme master Ernie Banks. Oh for those 4th of July doubleheaders. I’m feeling very proud and patriotic as we celebrate America’s 250th birthday, but then again I avoid FOX News, CNN, and MSNBC, and my Twitter feed is purposefully skewed to deliver mostly MLB and NFL news. I hear some folks would rather pass on this year’s semiquincentennial. It happens once in your lifetime, so fake it if you can’t make it.

The Cubs won 9-7 yesterday, falling a run shy of scoring 10 or more runs for the 10th time this season. Even better, Chicago’s North Side Baseballers have an opportunity to complete the sweep while simultaneously treating us to day baseball on what should be a beautiful summer afternoon. They’ll face Walker Buehler, a trade candidate that may interest the Cubs. His injury history is a little scary, especially when you see Chicago’s list of infirmed pitchers. When healthy, Buehler is a stabilizing arm for any rotation. That said, the Cubs will have to get to the Padres bullpen early if they have any hope of putting up a 10-spot.

Speaking of potential trade candidates that might interest the Cubs, Freddy Peralta is going for the Mets in Toronto today. Seth Lugo and Zac Gallen are also starting today for the Royals and Diamondbacks. It’s funny how scoreboard watching takes a backseat to player watching this time of year. Chicago is riding a streak of 14 wins in 18 games, a tribute to Craig Counsell, who has really had to earn his paycheck this season. I’m at the point where I check Cubs Insider for new injury posts before writing my daily piece. Counsell deserves Manager of the Year consideration, but guiding a team to its expected win total will garner nary a vote.

The prize of this year’s open market is Tarik Skubal. Many analysts believe the Brewers are the favorites to acquire the Tigers ace, especially if the Dodgers and Yankees pass, but don’t sleep on the Cubs. Believe it or not, Skubal may end up costing a suitor less than Joe Ryan or Reid Detmers. Both are controllable beyond this season, and Detmers is becoming a legitimate ace. The 26-year-old lefty has been especially dominant lately, recording a 2.42 ERA with 51 strikeouts, 12 walks, and a .150 batting average against over his past seven starts. His 3.03 xERA is tied for 11th best among pitchers who have faced at least 250 batters.

One pitcher who is probably no longer available is Sandy Alcántara. Why? The Marlins thrust themselves into the Wild Card race by going 20-6 in June. Alcántara is now 9-4 and is averaging 6.1 innings per start. Miami sits 4.5 games behind the slumping Braves in the NL East, and they’re tied with the Cardinals for the final Wild Card spot.

I’m firing up the grill for an afternoon of ribeyes, Old Style, and Cubs baseball. Better beers exist, but this holiday is always a tribute to my late father, so the craft beer will remain on ice for another time. The flag is up, and I officially start my 15-day staycation at noon. I’m going to try to make the Cubs-Cardinals game on Sunday if my finances cooperate, so let me know if you will also be in attendance. I’m also toying with the idea of driving to Baltimore to catch a Cubs-Orioles game next week. That’s a bucket list ballpark for me.

Cubs News & Notes

Ball Four

It’s Bobby Bonilla Day. Celebrate accordingly.

Central Intelligence

How About That!

Willson Contreras set a dubious Red Sox record yesterday, becoming the first player in team history to be ejected in back-to-back games. Contreras threw his helmet at Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli during a heated exchange that may have been racially charged.

Hall of Fame pitcher Pedro Martínez didn’t hold back when discussing the current state of the Mets.

Dave Roberts became the fastest manager to reach 1,000 wins in his career. Roberts is 1,000-606 lifetime, all with the Dodgers, except for one loss as an interim manager of the Padres.

Owner Steve Cohen said the Mets need to make several changes, but David Stearns isn’t going anywhere.

The argument that baseball owners want a salary cap to protect themselves from themselves is tiring. The owners are more interested in control than anything else.

Three from the Bill Chuck Files

  1. The Cubs, despite having all their starters injured, are 47-38. The White Sox, in one of the most amazing turnarounds, are 44-39. The last time both Chicago teams were over .500 after 83 games was in 2021, when the Cubs were 42-41, and the ChiSox were 50-35.
  2. The Dodgers are 25 games over .500, and the Athletics are five games under. Both teams have identical 14-11 records in one-run games, which shows how meaningless that stat is.
  3. Brewers reliever Aaron Ashby leads the majors with 11 victories. The record for most wins in a season by a reliever is held by Roy Face, who went 18–1 in 1959, all in relief appearances, with 57 games pitched and a 2.60 ERA. The American League mark is 17, shared by Bill Campbell (1976 Twins) and John Hiller (1974 Tigers).

Apropos of Nothing

I stumbled upon this article about George Bell while researching a brawl started by Dave Kingman against Lynn McGlothen. All three were notorious players who were considered some of the biggest jackasses in the history of the game. The Kingman-McGlothen brawl happened in 1976 while America celebrated its bicentennial, five days before Rick Monday saved an American flag from two Dodgers fans trying to burn it.

Extra Innings

PCA put a nice bow atop his spectacular June with Chicago’s fifth home run of yesterday’s game.

They Said It

  • “We’ve become a little more resilient. Nothing’s surprising us. At first, when guys go down, people are talking about it, huddled up. After a while, it’s literally next man up. It’s obviously helpful that we’ve been winning more lately, and that makes the next-man-up mentality a little more exciting.” – Taillon

Wednesday Walk-Up Song

This song makes the top of my list of favorite songs from 1976.

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterJuly 1, 2026
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