AP Photo/Paul Beaty

The Rundown: Trio of Heroes Lead Cubs to Exciting Walk-Off Win, Gausman Takes Mound Tonight, Red Sox Stay White Hot

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterAugust 7, 2026

“I’m holding out for a hero until the end of the night. He’s gotta be strong and he’s gotta be fast, and he’s gotta be fresh from the fight.” – Holding Out for a Hero by Bonnie Tyler

We’ve been waiting for Alex Bregman to have his signature moment, and the third baseman delivered yesterday. With the Cubs trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the 9th inning, Bregman was down to his last strike against all-star closer Louis Varland. And then this happened:

“Drilled left field, toward the corner. Gone! And we’re tied at two!”

Bregman entered yesterday’s game against the Blue Jays hitting .212/.320/.313 with four homers and 21 RBI at Wrigley Field. Varland was a perfect 24-for-24 in save situations with a 1.09 ERA in 52 appearances up until that moment. Success is what happens when opportunity meets preparation, right? I’ve been told that’s true, but Bregman has let us down so many times in similar situations that yesterday’s blast was completely unexpected. I suppose that’s the mother of all preparedness then. It was great for the team, and great for the fans, but I imagine it really made Bregman feel good about himself. The Cubs need that version of him once the playoffs arrive.

You can’t hand out accolades for yesterday’s win without mentioning David Peterson. He’s been nothing but exceptional for the Cubs except for one bad outing against the Cardinals, who really seem to have his number. The Redbirds also annihilated the lanky lefty in one of his final appearances for the Mets. Peterson allowed six runs in 3.2 innings of that game, including home runs to Nelson Velázquez and Jordan Walker. Since coming to Chicago, the 30-year-old is 3-1 with a 4.03 ERA that drops to 2.19 when you remove the St. Louis game.

Peterson held the Blue Jays in check for most of yesterday’s game, limiting them to one run in five innings despite seven hits and three walks. Kazuma Okamoto scored his team’s first run on a disengagement violation in the top of the 1st. Peterson was cited for too many pickoff attempts (three) without earning an out. The Blue Jays threatened in the 3rd, but that rally was killed when George Springer grounded into a double play.

Peterson won’t start in the playoffs, but he has had success as a reliever this year as long as he’s not facing the Cardinals. He’ll add length to the rotation and serve as a bridge to the bullpen in the postseason, if needed. Craig Counsell trusts him, and he’s been a fantastic addition. The Cubs were hurting for starters when he was acquired for Cole Mathis on June 25. It’s a credit to Hoyer that Chicago will not need Peterson to start in the Wild Card round or if the team can go on an extended run.

It’s also probably time to mention Pete Crow-Armstrong. He basically won yesterday’s game by himself. He can beat you with power, speed, defense, or by sheer intimidation, as was the case yesterday. Crow-Armstrong stole third base in the 11th inning of yesterday’s affair, then scored the winning run on an errant throw from catcher Brandon Valenzuela to third baseman Josh Smith.

Crow-Armstrong is in a neck-and-neck battle with Shohei Ohtani for league MVP. PCA is a true five-tool player and his fWAR sits at 7.8 with two months to go. He could challenge Mike Trout for the single-season record by a center fielder (10.5). The Cubs are 27-13 (.675) since June 19 and would be nowhere near that without PCA. That said, Ohtani may have an advantage because he also pitches at an elite level. I prefer PCA, and perhaps I’m biased, but nobody in baseball can change the outcome of a game on the dime like Crow-Armstrong, no matter the situation or what it calls for. That seems pretty valuable to me.

Kevin Gausman kicks off a six-game road trip tonight with his first start as a Cub. He’ll face the Royals, and should get a start next week against the Nationals. That lines him up for a start against the White Sox at Wrigley Field on August 18. The Federal Landmark will be packed, and hopefully the Cubs will still be as hot then as they are now. Both Chicago teams will be playing to improve their postseason chances. There might not be a better time to be a fan of Chicago’s baseball teams.

Cubs News & Notes

Ball Four

Yesterday’s walk-off was about as exciting as it gets, but nothing tops this 2001 win.

Central Intelligence

How About That!

The Tigers moved quickly to trade Tarik Skubal after it was rumored the Mariners were fielding calls for George Kirby. Detroit feared Skubal’s market would collapse if they didn’t strike first, fielded blind bids from several suitors, and eventually chose the Dodgers’ offer.

Skubal said he would seriously consider signing with Detroit in the offseason.

Former Silver Slugger Mitch Garver signed a minor league deal with the Yankees.

In their 13-12 win over the White Sox, the Red Sox became the only team to score runs in five separate innings in the 9th inning or later.

Ronald Acuña Jr. homered when two Marlins outfielders collided with each other in what might be the blooper of the year.

Three from the Bill Chuck Files

  1. The Cubs are tied for the MLB lead with the Dodgers in OBP at .339. They also lead the majors with 494 walks. Last season, through 115 games, they had 386 walks. I attribute the improvement in part to the addition of Bregman. No, he doesn’t have a hundred walks on his own, but he does work with the young players on the Cubs.
  2. PCA keeps bringing up Bregman in his newfound approach regarding thinking through first‑pitch breaking balls, game situations, and when not to chase even when something “looks good.” Perhaps Bregman deserves a big assist if Crow-Armstrong wins it.
  3. It took the Red Sox 73 games to get to 30 wins. It took them 35 games to win their next 30.

Apropos of Nothing

I cannot think of anything cooler than a potential Cubs-Red Sox World Series. Think Jed Hoyer vs. Craig Breslow with Theo Epstein throwing out the first pitch. Who do you think would win the hypothetical cerebral series?

Come to think of it, a Cubs-White Sox World Series would be even better. Who do you pick in that one and in how many games?

The Cubs have an 8.2% chance of winning the World Series per Baseball-Reference. Boston’s chances are 10.1% while the White Sox have a 7.3% chance of taking home the game’s ultimate trophy. The Dodgers sit at 12.5% while the Brewers, at a robust 18.9%, lead all of baseball.

Extra Innings

I can watch this a thousand times without getting bored. Check out third base coach Quintin Barry,

They Said It

  • “That’s who Bregman is, man. He’s shown people that he’s built for those moments. He just showed people again that that is where he belongs and where he thrives.” – Crow-Armstrong
  • “Winning teams take shape in a lot of different forms. I think it’s what the guys bring every single day. It’s the work ethic, it’s the competitiveness, it’s the will to win. We get down early and there’s no panic, there’s no pressure. We stick to our approach and know that we can fight our way out of it.” – Peterson
  • “I just want to focus on trying to win a game and pitching against them, I think I could do it, I know those hitters pretty well over there, their strengths, their weaknesses. But I think it would be a lot mentally. For them, too. Really close with all those guys. Wish them nothing but the best. Looking forward to watching us play them today and seeing those guys again, but definitely glad I’m not facing them.” – Gausman

Friday Walk-Up Song

We stick by the Cubs win or lose, but it’s a lot more fun when they’re winning.

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterAugust 7, 2026
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