Cubs Blockbuster Update: Suzuki News, Bregman Chase, Holmes Twist
Cubs Weekly Report Card: Who’s Hot, Who’s Not, and What Needs Fixing
The Big Picture: A .500 Week Leaves Work to Do
The Chicago Cubs played six games this past week and came away with a split decision—they won three and lost three. Here’s how it broke down:
- vs. Washington Nationals (away): Won 2 out of 3 games
- vs. St. Louis Cardinals (home at Wrigley): Lost 2 out of 3 games
The standings reality check: The Cubs are chasing the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central division. At this pace, catching them will be tough. The team needs to start stacking wins—and fast.
IMPORTANT POINT: In baseball, a "series" is usually 3-4 games against the same team. Winning the series means taking more games than you lose. The Cubs won their series in Washington but lost their series at home against their biggest rivals, the Cardinals.
The "Hot" List: Players Carrying the Team
1. Seiya Suzuki: The Model of Consistency
Suzuki didn’t just have a good week—he continued what he’s done all season long (and really, all 5 years with the Cubs).
His week by the numbers:
- Batting line: .333/.385/.750 (That’s Average / On-Base % / Slugging %)
- 8 hits in 24 at-bats
- 4 doubles (two-base hits)
- 2 home runs
- 7 RBI (runs batted in)
- 6 runs scored
ELI5 EXPLAINER: Those three numbers (.333/.385/.750) are the "triple slash" stats every baseball fan knows:
- .333 = He got a hit in 1/3 of his at-bats (excellent!)
- .385 = He reached base almost 40% of the time (walks + hits)
- .750 = He hit for serious power (lots of extra-base hits)
Why it matters: The article says the Cubs should make keeping Suzuki a "top priority for the next few seasons." He’s that reliable.
Watch his game-winning 3-run homer from Friday
2. Alex Bregman: The Explosion in D.C.
Bregman saved his best for the Nationals series—and then some.
His historic week:
- 4 home runs in just the first TWO games against Washington
- First 3-homer game of his entire career (Wednesday!)
- Weekly line: .300/.440/.900 (6-for-20)
- 8 RBI, 5 walks, 6 runs scored
- Leads ALL National League players with 557 plate appearances this year (he plays every day)
Watch all three Wednesday homers here
3. Clay Holmes: The Wrigley Debut We Hoped For
Holmes came over in a trade, had a rough first start in Kansas City, then silenced the Cardinals at Wrigley Field.
Friday’s masterpiece:
- 6.2 innings pitched (almost a complete game!)
- Only 1 hit allowed
- 11 ground-ball outs out of 20 total outs
WHY GROUND BALLS MATTER: Ground balls turn into outs more often than fly balls (which can become home runs). Holmes’ "sinker" and "sweeper" pitches are designed to make batters hit the ball into the ground.
The verdict: If this is the real Clay Holmes, the trade was a win—even if he’s only a "rental" (a player acquired for the rest of this season only).
Honorable Mention: Javier Assad
- 2.35 ERA (earned run average) and 1.043 WHIP (walks + hits per inning) since May 5
- 16 games, 61.1 innings of solid relief work
- 2 saves this year
- Reward? Sent down to Triple-A Iowa
AUTHOR’S NOTE: "Personally, I hope Assad is back soon." — Al Yellon
The "Not" List: Concerns That Need Fixing
1. Pete Crow-Armstrong (PCA): Stuck in a Funk
PCA is a talented young player, but this week was rough.
The ugly numbers:
- .107/.107/.357 (3-for-28)
- Only 1 hit that wasn’t a home run
- 2 home runs (the only bright spots)
- 0 walks
- 10 strikeouts
WHAT’S HAPPENING: PCA had become great at drawing walks (getting on base without a hit). The league adjusted—pitchers stopped throwing him strikes. Now he has to adjust back. The author believes he will, but "it might take a bit of time."
2. Michael Busch: The Power Outage
Busch got Sunday off from manager Craig Counsell—basically a "mental reset day."
The slump stats:
- This week (5 games): .200/.238/.200 (4-for-20), 0 extra-base hits, 6 strikeouts
- Since July 21 (25 games, 112 plate appearances): 1 home run total
- That stretch line: .243/.277/.295
The silver lining: He’s walked a career-high amount this year, and his .353 on-base percentage is good. But a first baseman needs power—and it’s gone missing.
3. Pitcher Cabrera: Blister Troubles Return
- Rough return from the Injured List on Sunday
- Post-game reveal: Blister issue caused command problems (3 walks in the 4th inning)
- History: Blisters have plagued him throughout his career
Author’s prescription: Skip his next turn in the rotation. Give the finger time to heal.
Quick Summary: The Week in 5 Bullet Points
- Record: 3-3 (won series vs. Nats, lost series vs. Cards)
- Stars: Suzuki (steady), Bregman (explosive), Holmes (dominant at Wrigley)
- Struggles: PCA (no walks, too many K’s), Busch (zero power), Cabrera (blisters)
- Roster move that puzzled fans: Assad sent down despite elite relief numbers
- Division race: Must accelerate to catch the Brewers
FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered
Q: What does "rental player" mean?
A: A player acquired via trade who is only under contract through the end of this season. The team "rents" them for a playoff push, but they can leave as a free agent in the offseason.
Q: Why does on-base percentage (OBP) matter more than batting average?
A: Batting average only counts hits. OBP counts hits PLUS walks PLUS hit-by-pitches. A player who walks a lot helps the team by not making outs—even if they don’t get a hit.
Q: What’s a "ground-ball pitcher" and why is that good?
A: A pitcher whose pitches (like sinkers) make batters hit the ball on the ground. Ground balls become outs ~75% of the time. Fly balls become outs ~80% of the time but can leave the park as home runs. Ground balls almost never become homers.
Q: Why would the Cubs send down a pitcher with a 2.35 ERA?
A: Roster mechanics. Sometimes teams have to send a player with "minor league options" down to make room for someone without options (who would be lost if sent down). It’s often a numbers game, not a talent judgment.
Q: How many games back are the Cubs from the Brewers?
A: The article doesn’t give the exact number, but the urgency ("pick up the pace," "retain hopes") suggests it’s a meaningful gap—likely 4+ games with limited time left.
Final Thoughts
This was a tale of two series: the Cubs feasted on the rebuilding Nationals, then got served by the rival Cardinals. The lineup has real thunder (Suzuki, Bregman) but concerning holes (PCA, Busch). The rotation got a shot in the arm from Holmes but a question mark with Cabrera.
Next up: White Sox and Mariners. The schedule doesn’t get easier. The Cubs need their "not" list to become "hot"—and fast.
Article based on Al Yellon’s weekly Cubs recap for Bleed Cubbie Blue.