AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh

The Rundown: Cubs Dominate Dodgers in Series Sweep, Gausman Hoping for World Series Redemption, Trout Commends Mozeliak

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterAugust 6, 2026

“How do you think he does it? (I don’t know). What makes him so good?” – Pinball Wizard by Elton John with The Who (from the movie Tommy)

That’s a sweep, my friends and esteemed colleagues, and I love it.

The Cubs have looked like a pinball machine on permanent multi-ball play since Jed Hoyer threw caution to the wind and traded for Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes, Braxton Garrett, Tyrone Taylor, and Ryan Zeferjahn. Other than Gausman, none of those players were linked to the Cubs in any of the pre-deadline chatter. The existing roster rewarded Hoyer by bullying the Dodgers back to Los Angeles with a three-game sweep that never seemed in doubt, even when Chicago nearly surrendered a 7-1 lead.

The best part of the game wasn’t even the win. Pete Crow-Armstrong and Shohei Ohtani went toe-to-toe and suddenly this year’s race for league MVP is very similar to the one between Javier Báez and Christian Yelich in 2018. Yelich won that one, and the Brewers have been nearly unstoppable since. Ohtani probably has the edge because he is a Cy Young-caliber pitcher when healthy, but there is no hitter in baseball as exciting as PCA right now. Pass the popcorn, this battle is going to be fun to watch over the next eight weeks.

Speaking of the Brewers, they refuse to let the Cubs gain any significant ground on them. Chicago has been treading water in that race, floating somewhere between five and seven games out despite going 26-13 (.667) since beating the Blue Jays 16-2 on June 19. There are seven contests remaining between the two teams, and it looks like the Cubs are going to have to win them all to unseat Milwaukee. Incidentally, Chicago and Toronto will play the rubber game of that series today because their June 21 tilt was rained out.

Then it’s on to Kansas City, where Gausman and Holmes are expected to make their Cubs debuts. The goal from here on out is simple: Win every series and don’t let the Brewers cruise to the NL Central title. The Cubs showed the nation that they’re capable of manhandling the alleged best team in baseball (though Milwaukee has a better record than the Dodgers). That may not make Chicago’s North Side Baseballers the kings of the National League, but they can proudly wear that crown on an interim basis until the playoffs start.

Cubs News & Notes

  • Gausman would have faced the Cubs today had he not been traded to them by the Blue Jays. He said he had the date “circled on his calendar” as a revenge game. Chicago torched him for seven runs in two innings on June 19.
  • Gausman also said he’s relieved that his first game as a Cub will not be against his former team.
  • Ian Happ will platoon with Taylor, at least for now, according to Craig Counsell. Chicago’s manager said it won’t be a pure platoon, but Happ will yield playing time until he hits lefties better.
  • Happ’s struggles don’t bode well for any potential contract extension.
  • The MVP race between Crow-Armstrong and Ohtani is more like a heavyweight bout between two prizefighters.
  • Both players are neck-and-neck in the race according to most oddsmakers.
  • PCA is second in the latest power hitting rankings, just behind Yordan Álvarez of the Astros.
  • The Cubs hope to get another crack at the Dodgers, but based on current standings, they’d have to reach the NLCS.
  • Chicago sent nearly $5 million to the Blue Jays as cash considerations in the Jameson Taillon trade. Taillon had $5,390,374 remaining on his contract at the time of the trade.
  • The Dodgers have lost six straight and are in danger of falling back into the Wild Card round if they don’t turn things around. Their lead over the Braves for the No. 2 seed has shrunk to half a game. Atlanta has won seven straight.
  • That’s the Dodgers’ second-longest losing streak since 2019. Los Angeles lost seven straight last season but still won the World Series.

Ball Four

Gausman sounds like a guy who might not mind staying with the Cubs after this season. The 35-year-old is also sporting the North Side’s best flow since Jeff Samardzija pitched here.

Central Intelligence

How About That!

A projected and elongated work stoppage has the chance to do more damage to the game than anything in its long history.

Brewers starter Kyle Harrison was on a run of eight straight strikeouts when he was forced to leave his start against the Pirates due to leg cramps. The Major League record is 10, set by Hall of Famer Tom Seaver with the Mets in 1970, matched by the Phillies’ Aaron Nola in June 2021 and then matched again by the Brewers’ Corbin Burnes less than two months later against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Mets reliever Jefry Yan struck out the first major league batter he faced and celebrated, uh, accordingly.

Angels outfielder Mike Trout approved of the work by interim GM John Mozeliak at the trade deadline. Trout also commended the front office for its future vision of the organization. It could be that, or perhaps its a veiled shot at clueless owner Arte Moreno.

Mozeliak, by the way, chose Shelby Miller over Trout in the 2009 draft. Then again, 23 teams passed on Trout in total, though the Cubs did not. Their first pick was Brett Jackson at No. 31 overall.

William Contreras, Reid Detmers, Francisco Lindor, Mason Miller, and CJ Abrams top the list of offseason trade candidates. Joe Ryan also made the list, but he seems impervious to being traded. I’m not buying any Ryan rumor until it happens.

The Blue Jays and Mets are facing potential franchise-altering draft lottery odds if they continue to lose.

Apropos of Nothing

What would the postseason look like if the season ended today?

  1. In the National League, the Brewers and Dodgers both earn a first-round bye.
  2. The Braves would host the Diamondbacks with the winner playing Los Angeles.
  3. The Cubs would host the Phillies with the winner playing Milwaukee.
  4. In the American League, the White Sox and Rays both earn a first-round bye.
  5. The Astros would host the Guardians with the winner playing Tampa Bay.
  6. The Yankees would host the Red Sox with the winner playing Chicago.

In case you are unaware, the Cubs would be 7.5 games ahead of the White Sox if both teams played in the AL Central.

Son of Apropos

I’ll be at the Cubs-White Sox game on August 17. I hope to see you there. I’ll also be at Six Flags this Monday. No autographs, please.

Extra Innings

PCA-MVP

They Said It

  • “We’re playing good baseball. We played good baseball in all facets, I think. To beat them three times, it’s not one or the other. It’s gotta be everything.” – Counsell
  • “Simply put, having your name in the same conversation as someone as profound as [Ohtani] feels, it’s awesome and it’s a nice nod. Yeah, it’s cool!” – Crow-Armstrong
  • “I would be crazy to say I don’t want to win an MVP. But if we’re talking about having priorities straight, mine are pretty straight. It’s not on the forefront of my mind. It’s fun to joke about, it’s also fun to acknowledge and it’s absolutely OK to pay attention to. But it’s not following me up to the plate. But if you guys want to talk about all this back and forth, I really should go get in the lab and start pitching.” – Crow-Armstrong

Thursday Walk-Up Song

The Cubs may not catch the Brewers but I love Chicago’s chances in the postseason, especially if Cabrera, Ben Brown, and Justin Steele can pitch.

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterAugust 6, 2026
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