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The Cleveland Guardians head to Wrigley Field for a highly anticipated interleague showdown with the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday at 8:05 PM ET. As we flip the calendar to July, every game becomes more meaningful, especially for teams sitting on the postseason bubble. This clash between two historic franchises offers plenty of intrigue, with one team surging in the AL Central and the other trying to stay afloat in the tight NL Wild Card race.
The Cleveland Guardians have stumbled into July with a 40–42 record, slipping below .500 after a tough June where they went 9–14. The biggest issue has been their offense, averaging just 2.87 runs per game last month, the lowest in MLB. Despite strong starting pitching from Tanner Bibee and Gavin Williams and solid bullpen performances from Cade Smith (8–3, 2.05 ERA) and Tim Herrin (10–4, 3.17 ERA), the bats haven’t delivered. José Ramírez continues to lead the team, though he’s battled minor arm issues. Steven Kwan has rested recently, and the team hopes for an offensive spark in the second half, possibly from top prospect Chase DeLauter. Manager Stephen Vogt remains focused on long-term consistency as Cleveland looks to bounce back and stay in the playoff mix.
The Chicago Cubs are 49–35 and currently lead the NL Central by two games. Their success has come from a balanced offense and an improving pitching staff. Offseason acquisition Kyle Tucker has been a game-changer, posting a .922 OPS with 16 home runs and 19 stolen bases. Rookie Pete Crow-Armstrong has delivered a breakout campaign, becoming one of the few players in the league to notch 20 homers and 20 steals so far. Offensive contributions from Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, and Michael Busch have helped keep the Cubs among the most consistent scoring teams in the National League. On the pitching side, Shōta Imanaga recently returned from injury and made an immediate impact with five scoreless innings in a key divisional game. The rotation, also featuring Cade Horton, Matthew Boyd, and Colin Rea, has been solid overall, though the team recently experienced some turbulence, allowing 54 runs over a six-game stretch against the Cardinals. Still, the Cubs are in a strong position heading into the second half of the season and are likely to be active at the trade deadline as they push for their first deep playoff run since 2017.
The Cleveland Guardians (40–42) traveled to Wrigley Field to take on the Chicago Cubs (49–35) on Tuesday, July 1, as both clubs looked to build momentum heading into the second half of the season. Cleveland entered on a four-game skid, while the Cubs remained atop the NL Central despite recent ups and downs. The Guardians handed the ball to Gavin Williams (5–3, 3.68 ERA), a talented young arm with strong strikeout potential, though he’s struggled with consistency. Chicago countered with Matthew Boyd (7–3, 2.65 ERA), who’s quietly become one of the more reliable starters in the league this season. One name to keep a close eye on in this matchup is Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker. A model of consistency, Tucker is slashing .291/.369/.537 with 17 home runs and 52 RBIs. He’s been particularly lethal against right-handed pitching, posting a .303 average and a .963 OPS in those matchups, making him a tough assignment for Williams. The Cubs’ offense has been one of the most potent in baseball this season, ranking second in both runs scored and RBIs. With Tucker leading the charge, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Chicago’s bats stay hot in this key midseason showdown.
Ian is a lifelong sports fan and Temple University graduate who specializes in the NFL, NBA, MLB and European Soccer and is a diehard Philly sports fan.