Expect a tight duel early as Parker Messick and Edward Cabrera trade zeroes. Messick’s plus change-up neutralises Chicago’s right-handed core, and he cruises through four frames before a leadoff double by Nico Hoerner and a sac-fly plate the Cubs’ first run in the fifth. Cabrera flashes upper-90s life but lives on the edges; Cleveland strings together three straight quality at-bats in the third, capped by Steven Kwan’s RBI single for a 1-0 lead. The bullpens decide it. Chicago’s middle-relief depth has been stretched since Horton’s exit, and Phil Maton can’t escape the seventh: José Ramírez turns a 95-mph sinker into the right-field gap, Chase DeLauter walks, and Brayan Rocchio rifles a two-run double off the wall. Guardians add insurance in the eighth when DeLauter stays red-hot, sending a Caleb Thielbar cutter the opposite way for a run-scoring single. Connor Brogdon and Erik Sabrowski slam the door with 95/82 mph north-south combos, each striking out two in their respective frames. Messick exits after 6.1 innings of one-run ball (7 K, 0 BB). Cabrera’s final line: 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 6 K, but Chicago’s offence never fully solves Cleveland’s lefty-heavy bullpen mix. Guardians ride balanced contact and airtight pitching to a 4-2 victory, extending their division lead while the Cubs slip further under .500.

Probable Pitchers

S. Imanaga Cubs

4-6 4.37 ERA

69 K

P. Messick Guardians

--- - ERA

- K

Chicago Cubs — Roster

Player	Pos	AVG	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG
Nico Hoerner	2B	.276	0	3	.436	.448
Alex Bregman	3B	.167	2	3	.268	.333
Scott Kingery	PR	.000	0	0	.000	.000
Carson Kelly	C	.250	0	3	.357	.250
Michael Busch	1B	.188	0	1	.316	.250
Dansby Swanson	SS	.138	1	5	.257	.241
Matt Shaw	RF	.217	1	4	.240	.348
Pete Crow-Armstrong	CF	.235	0	3	.278	.265
Moisés Ballesteros	PH	.150	0	2	.227	.150

Cleveland Guardians — Roster

Player	Pos	AVG	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG
Steven Kwan	CF	.216	0	2	.310	.270
Angel Martínez	LF	.143	0	0	.308	.190
José Ramírez	3B	.154	1	5	.214	.282
CJ Kayfus	RF	.214	1	2	.353	.500
Chase DeLauter	DH	.313	5	9	.343	.781
Rhys Hoskins	1B	.250	0	1	.455	.375
Gabriel Arias	SS	.179	2	4	.233	.393
Austin Hedges	C	.500	0	1	.500	.750
Brayan Rocchio	2B	.185	0	3	.353	.222

Scoring Plays

▲ 3

Matt Shaw homers (1) on a fly ball to right field.

1-0

▲ 6

Dansby Swanson homers (1) on a fly ball to left center field. Carson Kelly scores.

3-0

▼ 6

CJ Kayfus singles on a line drive to right fielder Matt Shaw. Steven Kwan scores. Angel Martínez to 3rd.

3-1

▼ 6

Chase DeLauter out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. Angel Martínez scores.

3-2

▼ 6

Gabriel Arias singles on a ground ball to center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. CJ Kayfus scores. Rhys Hoskins to 3rd.

3-3

▲ 8

Ian Happ homers (4) on a line drive to right field.

4-3

▼ 8

CJ Kayfus homers (1) on a fly ball to right field.

4-4

▼ 8

Gabriel Arias singles on a sharp line drive to left fielder Dylan Carlson. Chase DeLauter scores. Rhys Hoskins to 2nd.

4-5

▼ 8

Austin Hedges singles on a ground ball to left fielder Dylan Carlson. Rhys Hoskins scores. Gabriel Arias to 2nd.

4-6

▲ 9

Ian Happ singles on a fly ball to center fielder Steven Kwan. Nico Hoerner scores. Alex Bregman to 3rd.

5-6

Chicago Cubs — Batting

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	HR	AVG	OPS
Nico Hoerner2B	3	1	1	0	2	0	0	.276	.884
Alex Bregman3B	4	0	0	0	1	1	0	.167	.601
Scott KingeryPR	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000
Carson KellyC	4	1	1	0	1	2	0	.250	.607
Michael Busch1B	3	0	0	0	1	1	0	.188	.566
Dansby SwansonSS	4	1	1	2	0	2	1	.138	.498
Matt ShawRF	3	1	1	1	1	1	1	.217	.588
Pete Crow-ArmstrongCF	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	.235	.543
Moisés BallesterosPH	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	.150	.377
Totals	34	5	7	5	6	12	3

BATTING

2B: Hoerner (5, Sabrowski).

HR: Shaw (1, 3rd inning off Messick, 0 on, 0 out); Swanson (1, 6th inning off Festa, M, 1 on, 2 out); Happ (4, 8th inning off Armstrong, 0 on, 0 out).

TB: Crow-Armstrong; Happ 5; Hoerner 2; Kelly, C; Shaw 4; Swanson 4.

RBI: Happ 2 (7); Shaw (4); Swanson 2 (5).

2-out RBI: Swanson 2; Happ.

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Kelly, C 2; Bregman 3.

Team RISP: 1-for-6.

Team LOB: 8.

BASERUNNING

SB: Kingery (1, 2nd base off Smith, C/Hedges).

a-Struck out for Carlson in the 9th.

1-Ran for Happ in the 9th.

Cleveland Guardians — Batting

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	HR	AVG	OPS
Steven KwanCF	5	1	1	0	0	1	0	.216	.580
Angel MartínezLF	3	1	0	0	1	0	0	.143	.498
José Ramírez3B	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	.154	.496
CJ KayfusRF	2	2	2	2	0	0	1	.214	.853
Chase DeLauterDH	3	1	1	1	0	1	0	.313	1.124
Rhys Hoskins1B	2	1	0	0	2	1	0	.250	.830
Gabriel AriasSS	4	0	2	2	0	0	0	.179	.626
Austin HedgesC	4	0	2	1	0	0	0	.500	1.250
Brayan Rocchio2B	4	0	0	0	0	1	0	.185	.575
Totals	32	6	9	6	4	4	1

BATTING

2B: Hedges (2, Imanaga); Kwan (2, Imanaga).

HR: Kayfus (1, 8th inning off Webb, J, 0 on, 1 out).

TB: Arias, G 2; DeLauter; Fry; Hedges 3; Kayfus 5; Kwan 2.

RBI: Arias, G 2 (4); DeLauter (9); Hedges (1); Kayfus 2 (2).

2-out RBI: Arias, G.

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Hedges; Rocchio; Kwan.

SF: DeLauter.

Team RISP: 4-for-9.

Team LOB: 7.

a-Singled for Fry in the 6th.

Chicago Cubs — Pitching

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	PC-ST	ERA
Shota Imanaga	5.0	3	1	1	1	4	0	92-62	4.50
Ben Brown(BS, 1)	2.0	2	2	2	2	0	0	42-22	4.15
Jacob Webb(L, 0-1)(BS, 1)	0.1	3	3	3	1	0	1	20-10	7.36
Ethan Roberts	0.2	1	0	0	0	0	0	13-10	0.00

Cleveland Guardians — Pitching

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	PC-ST	ERA
Parker Messick	5.0	2	1	1	3	6	1	91-51	0.82
Matt Festa	1.0	2	2	2	0	1	1	13-11	7.71
Erik Sabrowski	0.2	1	0	0	0	1	0	14-8	0.00
Shawn Armstrong(W, 1-0)	1.1	1	1	1	1	2	1	29-15	3.18
Cade Smith(S, 3)	1.0	1	1	1	2	2	0	33-20	7.50

Game Info

Umpires: Home Plate: Mark Ripperger; First Base: Shane Livensparger; Second Base: Dan Merzel; Third Base: John Bacon

Venue: Progressive Field, Cleveland

Weather: 44°F, Partly Cloudy

Wind: 16 mph, L To R

Chicago Cubs — News

Cubs collapse at home continues with third straight loss

Chicago has dropped 3 of last 10 after a 15-game home winning streak, now sitting 18-13 at Wrigley despite a +17 run differential. With Imanaga (4.37 ERA) and Taillon (5.13 ERA, 2-5) leading a struggling rotation, the Cubs face Oakland tonight needing immediate stabilization.

Chicago Cubs

MLB Mailbag: Royals, Cubs, Jordan Walker, Braves

Royals' 23-38 record and -53 run differential (233 RS, 286 RA) reflect offensive collapse despite Wacha's 3.23 ERA and Lugo's 3.55 ERA—rotation competence can't overcome league-worst away record (8-21). Jordan Walker (STL) at .372 xwOBA on 58 G represents legitimate extension candidate, though Cubs' pitching decay (Taillon 5.37 ERA, Rea 4.70 xwOBA .353) argues against deadline aggression at 32-29.

Jordan Walker

Atlanta Braves

Chicago Cubs

Kansas City Royals

Athletics lose Severino and Civale to shoulder injuries

Oakland's rotation loses its strikeout leader (Severino: 9.34 K/9, 65 SO) and one of its only two wins-column contributors (Civale: 5-2) simultaneously. With Springs carrying a 4.07 ERA and the team at 28-31 (-34 run diff), the Athletics lean heavily on Jump, who will start today against the Cubs.

Athletics

Chicago Cubs

Justin Steele (CHC) weeks away from throwing after ulnar surgery

Chicago's rotation is already depleted with Steele sidelined—Taillon (5.37 ERA, 1.28 WHIP) and Rea (4.83 ERA, 1.37 WHIP) are the weakest links in a staff anchored by Imanaga (4.04 ERA). Cubs sit 30-26 but are 1-9 in their last 10 games, making long-term depth critical.

Justin Steele

Chicago Cubs

Cubs Sign Aaron Bummer to Minor League Deal

Bummer carries a 7.63 ERA and 0.387 xwOBA after his Atlanta release, offering Chicago bullpen depth as the Cubs navigate a 0-10 skid. Cubs relievers have allowed 247 runs (3.58 RA/9), so marginal talent like Bummer suggests roster construction struggles rather than competitive repositioning.

Aaron Bummer

Chicago Cubs

Cleveland Guardians — News

Guardians defeat Yankees behind strong rotation play

CLE's win extends their streak to 5-5 over last 10 games behind Williams' 3.07 ERA and 8-3 record, while Yankees' 36-24 record masks rotation vulnerability—Weathers (3.52 ERA) is their primary starter with a modest 2-3 mark.

Kyle Harrison

San Francisco Giants

New York Yankees

Milwaukee Brewers

Rocchio: 1-for-2 with two steals, RBI in Guardians win

Rocchio continues limited offensive production (.293 AVG, .319 xwOBA) but contributed defensively in Cleveland's 9-4 victory over New York.

Brayan Rocchio

Cleveland Guardians

Goldschmidt: 4 RBI in Yankees loss to Guardians

Goldschmidt's 3-for-5 performance doesn't offset New York's run differential advantage (36-23, +98) against Cleveland (34-27, +1) in a division-relevant matchup.

Paul Goldschmidt

New York Yankees

Cleveland Guardians

Bibee winless through 12 starts as Cleveland loses to Boston

Bibee's 0-7 record with a 4.57 ERA and 1.32 WHIP stands in stark contrast to rotation-mate Williams (8-3, 3.07 ERA), exposing a critical weakness in Cleveland's rotation depth as the division-leading Guardians (34-26) lean heavily on their ace.

Tanner Bibee

Cleveland Guardians

Guardians Select Fairchild; Kwan to Bereavement List

Kwan's absence removes a 54-game contributor (.207 AVG, .297 OBP, 34 BB) from a first-place CLE lineup mid-stretch. Fairchild enters a roster spot with no 2026 stats available, while Arias moves to 60-day IL to create 40-man space.

Stuart Fairchild

Cleveland Guardians