The Chicago Cubs enter Thursday’s off day after a series win in Atlanta, where they snapped a three-game losing streak with victories in the last two games of the three-game set.
They get a weekend home series versus the Tampa Bay Rays before hitting the road for their final trip of the regular season with visits to Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. Those games could affect their wild-card seeding if they end up tied with the San Diego Padres after splitting the season series — it could come down to each team’s intradivision record.
After a three-game weekend trip to Cleveland, the White Sox return to Rate Field to begin their final homestand of the season Monday with the first of three against the Baltimore Orioles.
Every Thursday during the regular season, Tribune baseball writers will provide an update on what happened — and what’s ahead — for the Cubs and White Sox.
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Anthony Rizzo’s former teammates reflect on his Cubs career
When former Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo is honored Saturday at Wrigley Field, retiring with the organization he helped lead to a World Series title in 2016, two of his former teammates will get to witness what should be a boisterous reception from fans.
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In conjunction with his retirement as a Cub, Rizzo is joining the franchise as a team ambassador.
Ian Happ, currently the longest-tenured Cub, expects Saturday to be a special day at Wrigley. When reflecting on their nearly five big-league seasons together, Happ pointed to how Rizzo took him under his wing.
“He was talking a lot today (on the radio) about (Alfonso) Soriano and (Starlin) Castro and the guys that made it important to him to play every day and to show up and to post, and that making it in this league was about being available and being out there every day,” Happ said. “He did that for me. He carried that on. … He’s kind of the perfect example of what a leader looks like.”
Nico Hoerner shared the infield with Rizzo for 3½ seasons and believes it’s valuable for team legends like Rizzo, Hall of Famer Billy Williams or the late Ryne Sandberg to be around the organization to highlight the impact and joy that can be created for fans. That Rizzo’s legacy was created through the rebuilding years as the Cubs turned into a contender isn’t lost on Hoerner either.
“Just that he was there for every bit of it is part of why I think fans really gravitated toward him, and why it was so meaningful for him too,” Hoerner said. “His ability to be significant in one place and a steady force throughout different parts of a team’s arc is incredibly cool.
“And the relationships that he built in the clubhouse and the friendships he had on the team and things like that, it’s just so hard to get that in sports where there’s so much turnover every year. So I always admired that about his career.”
Cubs manager Craig Counsell, who was at the helm in Milwaukee for seven seasons of Rizzo’s tenure in Chicago, enjoyed watching him play because of how well he did everything on the diamond.
“He was just crafty and great instincts, how he changed with the two-strike approach and the era of the shift,” Counsell said. “He played in the era where ‘three true outcomes’ kind of became popular, and he was kind of the opposite of that, I thought, or certainly tried to be. And that made him a really dangerous player and tough to play against.”
Column: Anthony Rizzo — ‘everybody’s go-to guy’ — returns to the Chicago Cubs family
Rizzo’s on-field success and the challenge Counsell and the Brewers faced anytime they played the Cubs during those years isn’t what sticks out the most to the longtime manager.
“Never a teammate of Anthony’s but aware of all the great things he did off the field,” Counsell said, “and that just speaks to how much he did and how important it was to him when you’re aware of that on the other team. He’s known for that. He’s done so many great things, both in the city of Chicago and in his hometown (Parkland, Fla.). I always admired that.”
White Sox draft picks take it all in at Rate Field
Shortstop Billy Carlson and outfielder Jaden Fauske had an active Tuesday at Rate Field.
The first- and second-round selections by the Sox in this year’s draft, Carlson and Fauske toured the facilities at the ballpark, met with players and threw first pitches before the game against the Rays.
“Super cool to be at the stadium, taking it all in,” Carlson said.
The Sox selected Carlson with the No. 10 pick out of Corona (Calif.) High School. They drafted local player Fauske from Nazareth with the No. 44 pick.
The two took a lot away from the conversations with players, including rookie Colson Montgomery.
“He said he remembered being in our shoes when he was doing this tour after he was drafted, so hopefully in a couple years we’re in the same spot, talking to the new guys who just got drafted,” Fauske said.
Carlson added: “He’s killing it, super-cool dude. He texted me right when I got drafted like, ‘I’m here when you need me.’ So that just speaks to his character and the kind of guy he is.”
The two also met with manager Will Venable in his office.
“I remember what that time in my career was like — it’s a really exciting time,” Venable said. “Happy to see them in person and happy for them to get going in their careers.”
Tuesday’s experience left the players hungry for more.
“Just want to be here as quickly as possible,” Fauske said.
Carlson added: “I just want to make an impact here as quick as I can and just be part of the squad.”
Number of the week: 100
With his fourth-inning single Sunday in Detroit, infielder Chase Meidroth became the first Sox rookie to reach 100 hits in a season since Eloy Jiménez in 2019. Meidroth entered Thursday with 103 hits.
Week ahead: Cubs
- Thursday: off
- Friday: vs. Rays, 1:20 p.m., Marquee
- Saturday: vs. Rays, 1:20 p.m., Marquee
- Sunday: vs. Rays, 1:20 p.m., Marquee
- Monday: at Pirates, 5:40 p.m., Marquee
- Tuesday: at Pirates, 5:40 p.m., Marquee
- Wednesday: at Pirates, 11:35 a.m., Marquee
While the Cubs got Jameson Taillon back from the injured list Wednesday — the veteran right-hander allowed two runs in 4 1/3 innings — Friday remains the important date to gain clarity on closer Daniel Palencia’s shoulder.
Counsell said Palencia feels better but won’t throw until Friday to give him four full days of recovery after landing on the 15-day IL on Monday with a right shoulder strain. Right-hander Michael Soroka (right shoulder strain) is expected to pitch at Triple-A Iowa on Thursday for his first rehab appearance.
Reliever Ryan Brasier (left groin strain), who has been out since Aug. 25, is back with the team after two rehab outings with Iowa on Friday and Sunday. Brasier is working on his mechanics with pitching coach Tommy Hottovy and assistant pitching coach Casey Jacobson after walking all three batters he faced Sunday.
The Cubs are targeting catcher Miguel Amaya (ankle sprain) to get in rehab games during the last week of Iowa’s season, which ends Sept. 21. His progression plateaued last week, and Counsell acknowledged the reality of the window of opportunity for Amaya to return this year.
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“Obviously running out of time, but see where it gets us,” Counsell said. “We’ve got 2½ weeks still, theoretically. Got to get some games under his belt.”
Week ahead: White Sox
- Thursday: vs. Rays, 1:10 p.m., CHSN
- Friday: at Guardians, 6:10 p.m., CHSN
- Saturday: at Guardians, 5:10 p.m., CHSN
- Sunday: at Guardians, 12:40 p.m., CHSN
- Monday: vs. Orioles, 6:40 p.m., CHSN
- Tuesday: vs. Orioles, 6:40 p.m., CHSN
- Wednesday: vs. Orioles, 1:10 p.m., CHSN
Grant Taylor recorded the final out of the seventh inning Sept. 3 at Minnesota and came back for the eighth, striking out two during a 1-2-3 inning.
When the Sox scored three in the ninth to go ahead, that put Taylor in line for the victory. They held on for a 4-3 win.
“It’s always exciting to get a new first,” Taylor told the Tribune the next day. “I didn’t realize until later it was actually my first professional win, not only my first big-league win. Definitely a cool thing to add.”
Taylor added a second victory Sunday in Detroit, striking out two in the seventh. The Sox broke a tie with two runs in the eighth and went on to a 6-4 win.
Taylor has been used largely in relief since being promoted from Double-A Birmingham (he has made two starts as an opener). He began the season as a starter with the Barons but was moved to the bullpen. After recovering from Tommy John surgery in 2023 and coming off a 2024 season affected by a lat injury, Taylor’s longest appearances this season at Double A were three innings.
He entered Thursday with a 5.68 ERA, four saves and 44 strikeouts in 31 appearances for the Sox since being called up June 10.
“All things considered, I don’t have a crazy amount of innings on the year (26 2/3 with Birmingham, 31 2/3 with the Sox),” Taylor said. “For me, it feels like the season just began because I got up to the big leagues late.”
Taylor left Wednesday’s game while facing his second batter in the ninth. The team described his issue as a right groin strain and said he would be further evaluated Thursday.
What we’re reading today
- Column: Anthony Rizzo — ‘everybody’s go-to guy’ — returns to the Cubs family
- White Sox minor-league report: After a hot August, top prospect Braden Montgomery slowed by an injury
- Column: Anything goes in the ‘Me First’ era, whether it’s spitting on opponents or taking souvenirs from kids
- ‘It’s been a long stretch, but it’s been good’: White Sox wrapping up run of 17 games in 17 days
- It’s been an incredible weekend’: Sammy Sosa and Derrek Lee inducted into the Cubs Hall of Fame
Quotable
“Seiya has done a really good job in the outfield lately. With Kyle Tucker’s injury, he’s going to get more opportunities out there and we’re going to need him out there a little bit more — and he’s ready to do it.” — Cubs manager Craig Counsell on designated hitter Seiya Suzuki playing in the outfield