AP Photo/Melissa Tamez

The Rundown: Cubs Go for LA Sweep, Gausman and Holmes Added to Rotation, Zeferjahn’s Fastball in Elite Company

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterAugust 5, 2026

“My luck was so good, I could do no wrong. I just kept on rollin’ and controllin’ them bones. Finally, they just threw up their hands and said ‘When you hot, you hot,’ I said, ‘Yeah!'” – When You’re Hot You’re Hot by Jerry Reed

I haven’t had this much fun watching the Cubs beat the Dodgers since the 2016 NLCS. Chicago took Game 2 of the three-game set, though in full disclosure, I watched it in condensed form on replay. I was at the Brewers-Pirates game last night and I’m still confounded as to why Milwaukee is so good. Maybe they’re just average when I am in attendance.

I’ve probably mentioned this previously, but the Brewers were my go-to American League team back when Phil Garner scrapped with White Sox manager Terry Bevington. Milwaukee is the enemy now, so I do root for the opposition whenever I attend games at AmFam Field. I catch a lot of shit for repping the Cubs at Brewers games, but then again, Milwaukee’s run of success since 2017 is a great equalizer.

They often show highlights of other games between innings at AmFam Field, and it’s always nice to hear the vile hatred Milwaukeeans have for Pete Crow-Armstrong, similar to the way we used to feel about Ryan Braun. I’m also no fan of Andrew Vaughn, who uses the same walk-up song that Justin Steele does when he warms up. I hope Steele goes high and tight the next time the two battle each other. The Johnny Cash version of the classic tale of God’s inescapable wrath works better for pitchers anyway.

The Brewers won last night, keeping pace with the red-hot Cubs, who still trail in the NL Central by 5.5 games. Javier Assad bested Tarik Skubal, but it is the Dodgers’ flailing offense that is responsible for their current five-game losing streak. The Cubs have outscored Los Angeles 15-6 through two games, and they’ll go for the sweep behind Shōta Imanaga this afternoon. Imanaga has a 1.53 ERA in five starts since the 4th of July, and he’s got Dodgers hitters right where he wants them — pressing. Just keep the ball in the ballpark, please and thank you. Chicago will even the season series at three games apiece with a win this afternoon.

Next up, Cubs fans are excited to see the debuts of Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes. Ryan Zeferjahn had his first Wrigley Field outing last night and retired Tommy Edman, Alex Call, and Shohei Ohtani on nine pitches. That’s a much cleaner introduction than most expected given Zeferjahn’s walk rate. He’s had that under control since early June, however, and he’ll continue to get high-leverage opportunities from Craig Counsell.

Cubs News & Notes

Ball Four

Gausman sort of channeling John Lackey is the best thing I’ve heard this week.

Central Intelligence

  • Milwaukee (70-43): Christian Yelich is slumping badly, so manager Pat Murphy dropped him to seventh in the batting order.
  • Chicago (65-49): Zeferjahn might be, in baseball parlance, “a Guy,” according to MLB.com’s Mike Petriello. The righty could end up being the best addition Hoyer made. “Were you to know nothing else than, ‘hard-throwing 28-year-old reliever with bat-missing stuff who can’t be a free agent until 2031,’ you’d find it a worthy add.” His four-seamer ranks third in whiff rate behind Jacob Misiorowski and Mason Miller. That’s some pretty heady company.
  • Pittsburgh (57-58): Marcell Ozuna is having the worst season of his career, and the Pirates designated him for assignment.
  • St. Louis (56-58): The last holdouts of baseball’s “tarps off” trend are getting very lonely ($) and very sunburned.
  • Cincinnati (54-58): Sal Stewart and JJ Wetherholt are in a battle for Rookie of the Year, but the Reds first baseman is starting to separate himself from the St. Louis second baseman.

How About That!

Baseball owners are pumped up about the Skubal trade, but let’s be honest: A salary cap isn’t going to make it any easier to catch the Dodgers.

The Phillies made Alec Bohm available ahead of the deadline but found no takers.

I bet Keith Law of The Athletic knows why. Happy birthday, Alec!

The Red Sox were 10 games below .500 on July 4. They are 10 games above .500 after pummeling the White Sox last night.

Three from the Bill Chuck Files

  1. Sandy Alcantara is now the all-time Quality Starts leader in Marlins history, passing Ricky Nolasco. This year he also became the pitcher with the most strikeouts in the team’s history.
  2. There were 48 trades in the final 28 hours before the deadline.
  3. The Red Sox knew they needed a catcher, knew they needed to overpay to get him, and they did it anyway. Boston gave up Anthony Eyanson, Enddy Azocar, and Kyson Witherspoon, plus catcher Carlos Narváez and a player to be named later for Adley Rutschman.

Apropos of Nothing

I only go to Brewers games if I get free tickets, unless they’re hosting the Cubs, of course.

Extra Innings

Zeferjahn is nasty.

They Said It 

  • “I’m super excited. Obviously, there were a lot of things floating out there. You just look at this team, where they’re at, and for me, this defense is probably one of the best places I could have come.” – Holmes
  • “It was a little crazy, but really excited to be around these guys and watching the team play last two days, like, why wouldn’t you be excited?” – Gausman

Wednesday Walk-Up Song

A sweep over the Dodgers? We love it!

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterAugust 5, 2026
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