Cubs sending a call for help ahead of trade deadline
MILWAUKEE — Well, what's the verdict?
After two ugly losses in Milwaukee, the Cubs clearly need more help. Or maybe they're sending a message to president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer not to go all-in at the trade deadline, because this team is not good enough to reach the World Series.
While the Cubs committed 3 errors, ex-White Sox first baseman Andrew Vaughn hit a grand slam to lead the Brewers to a 9-2 victory on Tuesday at American Family Field.
There's still one game left in this series and these teams will play five at Wrigley Field in August. So there's a long way to go in the season. But there’s just two days to make something happen before the trade deadline arrives.
“We couldn't make big pitches and we gave them some extra outs,” manager Craig Counsell said. “That's something we've been really good at not doing. You put that together and it's 9 runs. Offensively, we created opportunities and didn't cash in early in the game.”
Left fielder Ian Happ left the game late with a shin injury and went to have X-rays taken. According to multiple reports after the game, Happ will be placed on the injured list and Moises Ballesteros recalled from Triple-A Iowa.
This much is obvious, the Cubs pitching staff is getting shakier by the day, and needs help with both starters and relievers.
As great as the Cubs’ bullpen was during the first half of the season, staying power was always going to be dicey. The pitching staff in general has a number of older players and guys coming off injuries that may not be able to go the distance.
Chris Flexen was the first casualty, designated for assignment Tuesday. Drew Pomeranz could be next because he has a 13.50 ERA in five appearances since the break. Ryan Pressly is also struggling. He gave up two walks before getting tagged for the Vaughn slam.
There have been plenty of rumors about the Cubs possibly pursuing a front-line starter like Washington lefty Mackenzie Gore or Miami's Edward Cabrera. The only reason teams would make young pitchers with multiple years of team control remaining is to get a haul in return. The Cubs might not have a haul available to give.
On the offensive side, a valid argument can be made that the Cubs shouldn't give up any of their best prospects for someone like Arizona third baseman Eugenio Suarez, since Matt Shaw is playing well. But maybe they should upgrade the bat rack because other hitters need time off.
The majority of the Cubs’ lineup has been in slump-mode. Seiya Suzuki is hitting .146 since the all-star break and had a rally-killing double play early in Tuesday's game. Michael Busch, thriving in the leadoff spot not long ago, is at .162. Kyle Tucker, Happ and Dansby Swanson were all hitting .207 or below heading into Tuesday's action.
The only bright spot Tuesday was Nico Hoerner collecting 3 hits, including his fourth home run of the season. He also had one of the errors, a careless play where he dropped a line drive while looking at the runner on first base. Another error was on a deep fly ball to center, which most outfielders don't get to, but Pete Crow-Armstrong got in position and dropped.
One thing about the trade deadline, protecting a longer window to win it all could very well be the correct answer. Or maybe this is just a bump in the road. Slumping hitters can catch fire and a few good additions on the mound could make all the difference in a wide-open pennant chase.
Brewers manager Pat Murphy showed some faith in pitcher Quinn Priester. After giving up 3 hits in the sixth inning, Murphy let the Cary-Grove High School grad stay in and face Reese McGuire with two runners on. After a long blast that curved foul, Priester got the strikeout, then departed after 5 2/3 innings. Reliever Aaron Ashby coaxed a pop up from Shaw to end the threat.
Priester gave up 8 hits, but just 2 earned runs, and improved his record to 10-2 since joining the Brewers in an April trade from Boston.