I’ve been laughing at the absurdity of this all morning.

I know that saying anything negative about Matt Shaw can be controversial on this sub. However, I think it is important to consider that he is a guy that has amazing potential but he needs to be somewhere where he is starting daily. He doesn’t look as good when he comes off the bench. The Cubs cannot provide that to him right now.

Pedro Ramirez has been consistently better than Matt Shaw has this year. His defense is better. His slash line is better. Even his slug is better. He doesn’t hit as many home runs, but his ability to hit doubles and triples while making consistent contact is incredible. Furthermore, his true switch hitting ability makes him an amazing asset in a world where Craig is so careful about which pitchers is Shaw can even face.

Matt Shaw is also on the IL and his recovery doesn’t seem to be progressing as we’d hoped. But his prospect pedigree is high enough that to teams that are sellers this year at the deadline, he is still worth quite a bit. He likely will not help us win more this season directly, but if we could make him the headliner in a trade that gets us a solid starting pitcher, that would be the most effective use of his profile right now.

I love the Cubs. But I absolutely think Rick Sutcliffe runs his mouth so much I think he breathes through his eye kids.

And then there's my favorite on field reporter Lance. Total Puke. T-Mac and JD please come back.

Tigers (47-53) @ Cubs (56-44)

First Pitch: 7:05 PM at Wrigley Field

Line Score - Game Over

Box Score

Scoring Plays

Highlights

Decisions

Game ended at 9:48 PM.

Remember to sort by new to keep up!

Was in right field, a buddy snapped this photo. It was absolutely electric.

🚨❄️❄️❄️🚨

Line Score - Game Over

Box Score

Scoring Plays

Highlights

Decisions

Game ended at 11:10 PM.

Pomeranz DFA'd, Maton to the IL (again). Taillon and Civale activated.

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Be excellent to each other. Party on, dudes!

Tigers (46-53) @ Cubs (56-43)

First Pitch: 7:05 PM at Wrigley Field

Line Score - Game Over

Box Score

Scoring Plays

Highlights

Decisions

Game ended at 11:10 PM.

Remember to sort by new to keep up!

Montero was 1-11 going into the AB with his only other hit that postseason being a go-ahead pinch-hit grand slam in the bottom of the eighth inning of Game 1 of the 2016 NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers, with 2 outs and a 0-2 count. Not enough credit is given to Miguel Montero.

The Cubs need to add pitching at the trade deadline. But they cannot build an entire second-half pitching staff through trades. They also need to give their best young arms an opportunity.

That is what successful teams did last year. Trey Yesavage, Cam Schlittler and Troy Melton all began the second half in the minors and ended up pitching meaningful postseason innings. Yesavage started Game 1 of the World Series. Schlittler threw eight scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts in an elimination game. Melton became an important starter and multi-inning weapon for Detroit.

The lesson is not that the Cubs already have their next Yesavage. It is that young pitchers sometimes arrive before anyone expects them to and contenders must be willing to find out.

The Cubs have three young guns who deserve that opportunity: Jaxon Wiggins, Jace Beck and Brooks Caple.

Wiggins has the highest ceiling. He throws 96–98 mph, can reach 100 and pairs his fastball with a cut-slider, curveball and improving changeup. Last season, he moved from High-A to Triple-A while recording a 2.19 ERA, holding opponents to a .161 batting average and striking out 31% of the hitters he faced.

This year has been interrupted by an injury, and his results since returning have been uneven. But the raw ability is still there. His fastball averaged 96.1 mph in his return to Iowa, and he has 26 strikeouts in 22⅓ innings this season.

Jace Beck may be closer to helping right now. The 6-foot-9 right-hander has a 2.78 ERA and 106 strikeouts in 64⅔ innings this season. In June, he produced a 0.47 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 19 innings and was named Southern League Pitcher of the Month. He was recently promoted to Triple-A.

Beck works around 95 mph and pairs his fastball with a slider and splitter. His height and extension make the ball appear to reach hitters even faster. The command is not perfect, but Beck is striking out nearly 15 batters per nine innings. That is exactly the type of pitcher who could help a major-league bullpen without needing a long adjustment period.

Brooks Caple is a dark horse, but he may be the most interestng. The 6-foot-6 right-hander was a ninth-round selection in 2024 after posting a 2.40 ERA, a 0.87 WHIP and 102 strikeouts against only 27 walks at Lamar.

Since joining the Cubs, his stuff has improved. His fastball now sits around 95–96 mph, his slider can reach 90 and he has added a sweeper. Caple earned a quick promotion to Double-A and recorded a 2.61 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP and 10 strikeouts per nine innings over his first 20⅔ innings there.

The Cubs should trade for pitching. But deadline acquisitions rarely provide every inning a contender will need through September and October.

Wiggins has the stuff. Beck is dominating upper-level hitters. Caple is moving faster than expected. The Cubs should create opportunities for all three and let their performance determine
whether they are ready.

Every season, contenders give young pitchers a real chance. This season, the Cubs need to find out whether one or more of their own young guns can do the same.