The Cubs wasted an opportunity to try to threaten the Milwaukee Brewers and their division-title hopes by dropping back-to-back games following a series-opening win Monday.
With the Phillies Phillies passing them for the top National League wild-card spot, the Cubs will need to take care of business this weekend in Miami before another series against the Brewers, this time three games in Milwaukee, to finish their head-to-head meetings in the regular season.
The American League Central-leading White Sox begin a six-game homestand Friday with the first of three against the Minnesota Twins . The Sox won two of three against the third-place Twins last weekend at Target Field in Minneapolis.
Every Friday during the regular season, Tribune baseball writers will provide an update on what happened — and what's ahead — for the Cubs and White Sox .
Want the latest baseball news? Subscribe to the Chicago Tribune to read it all — and sign up for our Cubs Insider and White Sox Insider newsletters.
As the Sept. 1 expanded rosters loomed, infielder BJ Murray Jr. had no idea the Cubs viewed him as their choice for the extra position player.
When he learned over the weekend that he was getting his first big-league call-up, Murray called his parents in the Bahamas. He spent Monday getting acclimated to Wrigley Field, taking batting practice pregame for the first time, and was added to the Cubs roster Tuesday. His bat earned him the promotion after hitting .294 with a .395 on-base percentage and .895 OPS at Triple-A Iowa this year.
Murray didn't have to wait long to debut, either, getting the start in Tuesday's loss in the designated hitter spot and even collected his first major-league hit on an infield single.
"It was a long journey," Murray said. "It was fun, though. I just like playing baseball. Obviously I wanted to be here in the big leagues, but I like playing baseball. So, as long as I had that opportunity, I was going to be trying to make the most out of it."
Murray plans to give his first-hit baseball to his parents, who were in the crowd for his debut.
"My dad was just as excited as I was, like, everybody was making a lot of noise on the phone," Murray said. "It was sick. They've been with me this whole time, so it's cool to have them experience this with me."
A 15th-round pick of the Cubs in 2021, Murray didn't really start getting into baseball until moving from the Bahamas to the States as a teen. With his debut Tuesday, Murray became just the 10th Bahamian to reach the majors and the second with the Cubs, joining infielder André Rodgers (1961-64).
"It's pretty cool, I honestly I didn't know that for sure," Murray said. "But I know everybody in the Bahamas is rooting for me, so it's like they here with me and I'm going to try to make the most out of it and do this for the kids coming behind me."
When Tristan Peters homered in the third inning of an Aug. 22 game against the New York Mets , it was the start of a record-tying streak.
The outfielder hit home runs in five straight games from Aug. 22-26, matching the franchise record. That power display was one of the reasons Peters was named American League Rookie of the Month for August, Major League Baseball announced Thursday.
"It's really cool," Peters said of the recognition.
Peters slashed .320/.414/.640 with six doubles, six home runs, 14 RBIs, 14 runs and 10 walks in 27 August games. He led AL rookies in homers, slugging percentage and OPS (1.054) and ranked second in on-base percentage, third in average and tied for third in RBIs.
"Just getting back to sitting on my back side a little more, seeing the ball a little better," Peters said when asked what were keys to the success. "It helped a lot, just working with hitting coaches. I feel like I, too, found a power stroke. Pulling the ball a little more."
Peters became the 14th rookie in major-league history to homer in five straight contests and the third Sox rookie to accomplish the feat, joining Munetaka Murakami (this season) and Ron Kittle (1983).
According to Elias, Peters and Murakami (April 17-22) also are the only pair of rookie teammates since at least 1901 to hit home runs in five-plus straight games in the same season.
Peters shares the franchise record with Murakami, A.J. Pierzynski (2012), Paul Konerko (2011), Carlos Lee (2003), Frank Thomas (twice in 1994), Kittle and Greg Luzinski (1983).
"I never hit that many home runs in that span before," Peters said. "It was crazy."
It's part of a season in which he has hit for the cycle and was named an All-Star.
"Obviously the story of Tristan this year has been incredible," manager Will Venable said. "And you feel like in every one of these things that he accomplishes and has been recognized for what he does, he just continues to one-up himself. And the honors just continue to roll in here.
"I'm just so proud of him, he's such a good guy. He works so hard, he's getting all the recognition he deserves and this honor is just another one in a long list of things he's been able to accomplish this year."
The Cubs have shown a knack for delivering late in games this season. They have six wins when trailing after the eighth inning, third-most in the majors, trailing the Cincinnati Reds ' and Philadelphia Phillies ' seven. The Cubs' 13 walk-off wins lead MLB, and in late-and-close situations, the their .727 OPS ranks sixth.
Friday: Cubs at Marlins, 6:10 p.m., Marquee
Saturday: Cubs at Marlins, 3:10 p.m., Marquee
Sunday: Cubs at Marlins, 12:40 p.m., Marquee
Monday: Cubs at Brewers, 1:10 p.m., Marquee
Tuesday: Cubs at Brewers, 6:40 p.m., Marquee
Wednesday: Cubs at Brewers, 6:40 p.m., Marquee
Thursday: off
Pete Crow-Armstrong has earned another honor.
The Cubs center fielder was named National League Player of the Month for August on Tuesday. Crow-Armstrong, who also received the honor in June, is the first Cubs player to win the award multiple times in a season since its inception in 1973.
This is the first season the Cubs have had multiple winners since 1990, when Hall of Famers Andre Dawson and Ryne Sandberg won the award in May and June, respectively. Crow-Armstrong hit .280 with 14 home runs, 28 RBIs, six doubles, a triple, 16 walks, 29 runs scored, six stolen bases, a .703 slugging percentage and a .366 on-base percentage in 28 games.
"I think the intent and the conviction that I've gotten out of my swings the first two days (of September) were pretty crap, so if anything just moving past that," Crow-Armstrong said Thursday. "I've been pretty good this year when I've decided that I'm going to hit home runs before I step into the box and whatever outcome happens, obviously.
"I got to get that back, and it just wasn't really there the first two days. It was a pretty disappointing showing at the plate, but (Wednesday) was better. I ultimately walked more when I was ready to hit better, if that makes sense. Just day by day, keep going."
The 24-year-old NL MVP front-runner led MLB in home runs, slugging, extra-base hits (21), total bases (83) and runs scored in August, was tied for second in OPS (1.069) and was third in RBIs.
Friday: vs. Twins, 6:40 p.m., CHSN
Saturday: vs. Twins, 6:10 p.m., CHSN
Sunday: vs. Twins, 5:20 p.m., Peacock/NBCSN
Monday: off
Tuesday: vs. Pirates, 6:40 p.m., CHSN
Wednesday: vs. Pirates, 6:40 p.m., CHSN
Thursday: vs. Pirates, 6:40 p.m., CHSN
Mike Vasil never envisioned a scenario like what is scheduled to take place Friday at Rate Field.
"When I was talking to my mom (Tuesday), I was like, 'I didn't think you would ever be throwing out a first pitch to me while I'm not active on a giveaway day for a wand,'" the pitcher said Wednesday. "Really didn't see that one coming. It's like a Seinfeld episode."
Those scenes will play out in real life Friday as the Sox hold their "magic wand" promotion, a nod to the wand Vasil has popularized from the dugout for most of this season.
"It's cool," Vasil said. "I take pride in trying to provide anything for the team. Did not picture it was going to be all this now."
Vasil has made an impact despite being out this season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in the spring. He received positive news Tuesday about his next steps after a meeting with Dr. Keith Meister in Dallas.
"He's really liking where I'm at and Sept. 18 will be the day — that has been decided between his team, our team — Sept. 18, officially will be throwing a baseball outside," Vasil said.
"It's nothing crazy, I think it's like 45 feet for a certain amount of throws. To me, that's like game day again. It's big."
"I'm grateful for it. Just the opportunity this team has given me, too. Just want to make the most of it." — Peters on his 2026 .
