ST. LOUIS — So what kind of odds do you suppose you could’ve gotten if you had strolled into the Cubby Bear a month ago and wagered that the White Sox would have a better record than the Cubs on June 1?
The Cubs began May with a 20-12 record, tied with the Reds for first place in the National League Central. The Sox were 15-17, their long-suffering fans pondering whether a .500 record might actually be within reach.
The Cubs already had a 10-game winning streak in their rearview mirror and were two victories into what would become another 10-game winning streak. The Sox were at least on the radar because of the emergence of their new slugger, Munetaka Murakami.
As they opened a series May 13 in Atlanta, the Cubs were alone in first place, 3½ games ahead of the field. The Sox were still under .500. And then things got messy for the Sons of Craig Counsell.
The Cubs lost 10 in a row. Their 5-1 loss to the Cardinals on Sunday night made it 12 losses in their last 15 games. They’re winless in their last seven series after dropping two of three to the Cards.
The Sox, despite losing Murakami to a hamstring injury, have won five straight. They’ve won their last two series, including a three-game sweep of the Tigers.
Check the standings. The Sox are 32-27. If the season ended today, they would be the second wild card. The Cubs are 32-28. If the season ended today, they would miss the playoffs.
If you’re a Cubs fan, you take your good news where you can get it. Alex Bregman hit a 404-foot home run in the sixth inning Sunday night, his third home run in 225 at-bats spanning 56 games. Bregman had promised the slug would come after he narrowly missed a home run Saturday. The Cubs can only hope.
June schedule filled with sub-.500 teams
With the Cubs’ messy May drawing to a close, the forecast for June couldn’t be more favorable.
Their next 22 games will be against teams with losing records — the Athletics, Giants, Rockies, Blue Jays and Mets. The A’s, who arrive at Wrigley Field on Tuesday for a three-game set, will be coming off a game in which they gave up 13 runs to the Yankees in the third inning, the Yanks’ biggest inning since 2005 and one shy of their record set in Babe Ruth’s first year as a Bomber. The five teams are a combined 41 games under .500.
The Cubs have home-and-home series against the Rockies and Giants, who follow the A’s into town this week, and play the Mets in New York later in the month, just before they face the division-leading Brewers in Milwaukee.
The Cubs’ rotation should soon be rejoined by left-hander Matthew Boyd, who made a strong rehab start Sunday for Triple-A Iowa in Indianapolis. Boyd, who has been out since May 4 with torn meniscus cartilage in his left knee, allowed only one run on Rafael Flores’ triple in the second inning before being lifted after allowing two ground-ball singles to open the fifth.
Boyd threw 63 pitches, 41 for strikes, walking one and striking out two. Assuming he checks out OK on Monday, Boyd could return to the rotation this weekend against the Giants. Manager Craig Counsell wasn’t prepared to go that far Sunday, saying he had yet to see a report on Boyd’s outing.
PCA call
Eric Collins’ day job is play-by-play broadcaster for the NBA’s Hornets. On Saturday night, he was in the Fox booth, doing play-by-play of the Cubs-Cardinals game, part of his summer gig for the network. Here’s his call of Pete Crow-Armstrong’s 444-foot home run:
“I think it’s bad intel, this ‘Overrated’ chant. He’s having a night. Look at this! P-C-A, right into the ‘Tarps Off’ row! Take that for ‘Overrated.’ Ha! That’s what talent does. It responds!’’
Brown keeps it in the yard
In the first game of the season, Ben Brown gave up a home run to the first batter he faced, Jacob Young of the Nationals. That was still when he was coming out of the bullpen for Counsell. That’s the only homer he has allowed. He has gone 51⅔ innings without allowing a homer in 16 appearances, including the five starts he has made since replacing Boyd in the Cubs’ rotation.
According to Cubs historian Ed Hartig, that’s the longest homerless streak by a Cubs pitcher since Marcus Stroman’s 52⅔ innings in 2023. Brown was the team’s best reliever in two-inning stints and has been their best starter, as well. Overall, he has a 1.92 ERA, with 53 strikeouts and 15 walks.
Wicks takes his licks
Lefty Jordan Wicks got the quick hook from Counsell on Sunday night, lifted after allowing a leadoff single to JJ Wetherholt in the third inning. The first three Cardinals batters singled safely off Wicks, and two came around to score.
Wicks has made two starts since being called up after Edward Cabrera went on the 15-day injured list, and the numbers aren’t pretty: 7⅓ innings, 13 hits, 11 runs, 13.50 ERA.
Shaw to Iowa
Third baseman Matt Shaw is expected to be sent out on a rehab assignment to Iowa beginning Tuesday. He has been out since May 20 with tightness in his back.