The Cubs enjoyed a two-game sweep of the Southsidees on their way to a 50-51 record. That puts them a game within .500 and 6 games behind the Brewers in the Nl Central. They visit the Cardinals for a four-game weekend series ending just short of the trade deadline. The Cards would surely like to spoil the Cubs' hopes for 2023 as a consolation for their own disappointing season. Matchups for this pivotal series await below.

Game 102, Thursday, July 27, 6:45 pm central
CHC: LHP Justin Steele (10-3, 2.95 ERA)
STL: RHP Miles Mikolas (6-5, 4.33 ERA)

The Cubs have won the last three games to improve to 48-51, clinging to third in the division and pushing the Cardinals further back in fourth place. They enter this series seven games out of first and with only seven games between them and the trade deadline. Hot streaks and cold streaks would have to coincide for Bellinger and Stroman to remain Cubs in August--but that remains with the realm of the possible for now. See below for matchups against the White Sox.

The Cubs stand at 45-50 as the Cardinals come to Chicago for a four-game series. This one will close on July 23, roughly one week prior to the trade deadline, and could either seal the Cubs' position as sellers or put them into another precarious week as they attempt to convince a reticent sounding front office and ownership. See below for the daily matchups as they stand now.

Game 96, Thursday, July 20, 7:05 pm central
STL: LHP Steven Matz (0-7, 4.86 ERA)
CHC: RHP Marcus Stroman (10-6, 2.88 ERA)

The Cubs dropped the rubber match to the Red Sox despite a scoreless inning from tucker Barnhart , who showed off nearly 40 mph separation between his heater and his changeup. They're joined by the basement-dwelling Nationals for three games next. See below for daily matchups.

Game 93, Monday, July 17, 7:05 pm central
WSH: LHP MacKenzie Gore (4-7, 4.42 ERA)
CHC: LHP Drew Smyly (7-6, 4.31 ERA)

Game 94, Tuesday, July 18, 7:05 pm central
WSH: RHP Trevor Williams (5-5, 4.42 ERA)
CHC: RHP Jameson Taillon (3-6, 6.15 ERA)

The Cubs return from the All-Star break and begin a homestand against the 48-43 Red Sox. This ten-game homestand may determine the Cubs' approach to the trade deadline, despite featuring no NL Central contenders--the last place Cardinals not withstanding. See below for daily matchups.

Game 90, Friday, July 14, 7:40 pm central
BOS: RHP Brayan Bello (6-5, 3.04 ERA)
CHC: RHP Kyle Hendricks (3-3, 3.04 ERA)

Game 91, Saturday, July 15, 1:20 pm central
BOS: LHP James Paxton (5-1, 2.73 ERA)
CHC: RHP Marcus Stroman (9-6, 2.96 ERA)

CUBS 2023 MLB FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT PICKS 

DAY ONE (7/9)

1st ROUND (13) 
Matt Shaw, SS 
R/R, 5'11 185, age 21
U. of Maryland 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: 2023 Big Ten Player of the Year... was also named a First-Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball, and won the Brooks Wallace Award as the top shortstop in college baseball (previous winners include Dansby Swanson, Trea Turner, and Alex Bregman)... broke the Terrapins career HR record in just three seasons... average exit velo was 107 (albeit with a metal bat)... hit 341/445/697 with 24 HR & 69 RBI, 20 doubles, and 80 runs scored in 62 games (317 PA), with more walks than strikeouts (43 BB and 42 K), plus eight HBP... 14% walk-rate and 14% K-rate... has above-average speed... 18 stolen bases (only one CS) in 2023... began college career as a second-baseman before moving to shortstop as a sophomore... has a below-average arm and so he projects to be a second-baseman or possibly a left-fielder in pro ball... played for Bourne Braves in Cape Cod League (top summer collegiate summer wood bat league) in 2022, hit 333/421/485, and was named Cape Cod League Player of the Year...    
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $4,848,500

2nd ROUND (N/A) 
NOTE: Cubs 2023 2nd ROUND pick was forfeited after signing Qualified Player Dansby Swanson   

2nd ROUND / COMPENSATION PICK (68) 
Jaxon Wiggins, RHP 
R/R, 6'6 225, age 21
U. of Arkansas 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: Missed 2023 season after undergoing right elbow UCL transplant (TJS) in May... repertoire includes FB 94-95 T-97, a mid-80's SL, a CH, and a 12-6 CV... touched triple digits with his FB as a reliever (part-time closer) as a freshman at Arkansas in 2021 and again later that year with Team USA... was the Saturday (#2) starter behind Cubs 2022 9th round pick RHP Connor Noland in his sophomore year (2022) at Arkansas, but had a disappointing season, going 6-3 with a 6.55 ERA and 1.64 WHIP, allowing 65 hits (including 11 HR), .253 OppBA, with 43/82 BB/K, seven HBP, and 12 WP, in 66.0 IP... however, he was projected to be the Razorbacks #1 SP in 2023 after showing improved command & control in fall practice... played baseball and basketball in HS (Roland, OK)...  
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $1,101,000
NOTE: Compensation Draft pick was awarded after St. Louis Cardinals signed Qualified Player Willson Contreras
 

DAY TWO (7/10)

3rd ROUND (81)
Josh Rivera, SS
R/R, 6'2 215, age 22 
U. of Florida 
COLLEGE SR 
COMMENT: 1st Team All-SEC... one of the top-rated college seniors in the draft... was a finalist for the Brooks Wallace Award (top college shortstop)...  hit only 254/351/429 with nine HR in 2022 and was not drafted as a junior, but then hit 348/447/617 with 19 HR & 72 RBI, 18 SB (4 CS), and more walks than strikeouts (46 BB and 35 K - 15% BB-rate and 11% K-rate) for Gators in 2023... is an above-average defensive SS... has only average speed, but he is an above-average baserunner with a high baseball IQ... played for Chatham in the Cape Cod League (the top summer collegiate wood bat league) after sophomore season in 2021 and hit 248/318/325... was drafted by Padres out of IMG Academy in 22nd round in 2019 but did not sign...  
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $872,400

4th ROUND (113)
Will Sanders, RHP 
L/R, 6'6 230, age 21 
U. of South Carolina
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: Was the Gamecocks #1 (Friday) starter in 2022 when he went 7-3 with a 3.43 ERA and 1.29 WHIP, allowing 84 hits (14 HR), with 31/91 BB/K, in 89.1 IP... was projected as a potential top half of 1st round pick coming into 2023 season, but stock dropped after disappointing season that ended with a season-ending foot injury... went 4-4 with a 5.46 ERA and 1.34 WHIP, allowing 54 hits (11 HR), with 26/77 BB/K in 62.2 IP in 2023 before season ended early... throws from a 3/4 arm slot and features a 92-94 MPH T-98 FB that was battered by college hitters in 2023 (opponent OPS over 1.000), but he gets swing & miss with his CV... CH is his best pitch... was named to SEC All-Freshmen Team and Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American Team in 2021.. was a reliever and teammate of Cubs 2nd round (compensation) pick Jaxon Wiggins with Team USA after freshman season in 2021... was named an Under Armour All-American at Woodward Academy senior year in HS... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $591,800

5th ROUND (149)
Michael Carico, C
L/R, 6'0 190, age 20 
Davidson 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: Was rated the consensus #2 college catching prospect coming into the 2023 season, but season was cut-short after 21 games after he suffered a season-ending broken wrist in March... was hitting 350/514/688 with seven HR and six doubles at the time of his injury... led NCAA D-1 in OBP and HBP in 2022 when he hit 406/559/843 with 21 HR & 57 RBI, 21 doubles, 46 BB and 35 K, and 26 (!) HBP in 54 games (272 PA)... won an ABCA / Rawlings Gold Glove and was named an ABCA / Rawlings and Collegiate Baseball Second Team All-American and Baseball America Third Team All-American in 2022... hit 263/482/447 for Rochester in Northwoods League (summer collegiate wood bat league) in 2022... was invited to Team USA training site in 2022 but did not make the final roster after too much swing & miss versus high-velo FB while facing quality "live" pitching... has a high-angle uppercut swing, and an average arm from behind the plate... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $416,900

6th ROUND (176)
Alfonsin Rosario, OF 
R/R, 6'2 210, age 19 
P27 Academy (Lexington, SC) 
HIGH SCHOOL 
COLLEGE COMMIT: Chipola JC 
COMMENT: Native of Dominican Republic... has above average speed, a plus-plus arm, plus bat speed, raw HR power, and lots of swing & miss... throw from outfield was clocked at 101 MPH at Perfect Game National Showcase in 2022... brother Eguy is an infielder in Padres organization... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $325,600

7th ROUND (206)
Yahil Melendez, SS 
L/R, 6'3 165, age 17 
B You Academy (Caguas, PR)  
HIGH SCHOOL  
COLLEGE COMMIT: Rice 
COMMENT: Rated the second best SS prospect and the sixth best prospect overall out of Puerto Rico in 2023 draft by Perfect Game... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $254,500

8th ROUND (236)
Brett Bateman, CF 
L/L, 5'10 170, age 21  
U. of Minnesota 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: Was named Golden Gophers MVP in 2023... high-contact "singles hitter," lead-off man, and centerfielder... has above-average speed but absolutely no HR power... hit 320/404/373 with no HR, 22 doubles, 61 BB & 58 K, 42 SB (12 CS) in 127 games (556 PA) over the course of three seasons at Minnesota... hit 332/412/386, 29 BB & 18 K, with 26 SB (2 CS) in 58 games (234 PA) in two seasons (2021-22) playing for Willmar in Northwoods League (summer collegiate wood bat league)... is presently hitting 500/519/587 in 13 games (53 PA) for Cotuit in Cape Cod League... was named 2nd Team All Big Ten in 2023... Academic All Big Ten in 2022... father is a college baseball coach...   
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $203,600

9th ROUND (266)
Jonathon Long, 1B 
R/R, 6'0 210, age 21 
Long Beach State 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: 2nd Team All Big West in 2023... hit 317/408/543 with 26 HR & 105 RBI, 32 doubles, and 65 BB and 117 K in 132 games (576 PA) over the course of three seasons at The Beach... has below-average speed... hit a disappointing 197/296/239 with no HR, one double, and one triple, with 18 K in 32 games (83 PA) for Cotuit in Cape Cod League (summer collegiate wood bat league) in 2022... played 3B at Orange HS... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $179,400

10th ROUND (296) 
Luis Martinez-Gomez, RHP 
R/R, 6'2 170, age 20
Temple CC  
JC SOPH 
FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE COMMIT (TRANSFER): Angelo State (D-2) 
COMMENT: Went 7-4 with a 2.87 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP, allowing 46 hits (three HR), with 29/56 BB/K, in 63.2 IP (15 G - 13 GS -3 CG) for Leopards in 2023... features a 92-97 FB, a 79-83 SLURVE, and a low-80's SPLIT... was 3-2 with a 2.25 ERA, allowing 30 hits (one HR), with 20/76 BB/K in 56 IP (14 G - 5 GS) for Fort McMurray in WCBL (summer collegiate wood bat league) in 2022...  spent freshman year at San Bernardino Valley JC, going 5-4 with a 6.90 ERA, allowing 55 hits (two HR) in 45.2 IP for the Wolverines, but despite the high ERA he was named to ACMD All Conference 2nd team... will transfer to Angelo State if he does not sign with Cubs...  
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $168,300
 

DAY THREE (7/11)

NOTE: A signing bonus in excess of $150,000 for any player selected in Rounds 11-20 as well as for any player eligible for selection in the draft who is not selected and who is subsequently signed as a Non-Drafted Free-Agent (NDFA) count against a club's Rule 4 Draft Signing Bonus Pool (SBP). 

11th ROUND (326)
Zyhir Hope, CF 
L/L, 6'0 193, age 18 
Colonial Forge HS (Stafford, VA) 
HIGH SCHOOL
COLLEGE COMMIT: U. of North Carolina 
COMMENT: One of the fastest players in the draft... also has a plus-arm... lefty hitter with a line drive-stroke... lots of swing & miss in his game right now...  has indicated a strong desire to play college ball and he will enroll at the University of North Carolina if he does not sign with Cubs, so Cubs will probably have to offer a bonus well in excess of $150,000 to sign him away from UNC. 

12th ROUND (356)
Carter Trice, 2B-OF 
R/R, 6'0 200, age 20 
North Carolina State 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT:  Spent first two years at Old Dominion before transferring to NC State... played 2B, RF, and LF (mostly RF) at ODU.. was named Conference USA Freshman of the Year, a 2nd team All-American by Collegiate Baseball, and a first-team Freshman All-American by both Collegiate Baseball and Perfect Game in 2021 and helped lead the Monarchs to the Conference USA Championship by hitting 358/431/642 with 14 HR & 54 RBI, 17 doubles, and 28/59 BB/K in 57 games (261 PA) ... played for Team USA in 2021 but hit only .056 with one HR and a 39% K-rate... transferred to NC State after his sophomore year, hitting a disappointing 248/348/479 with only six HR in 41 games as a part-time LF for the Wolf Pack in 2023... makes hard contact but also has a lot of swing & miss in his game... played two summers (2021-22) for Cotuit in Cape Cod League (collegiate summer wood bat league) and hit only 218/280/324 with just one HR in 84 PA combined over the two seasons...  

13th ROUND (386)
Sam Armstrong, RHP 
R/R, 6'2 245, age 22
Old Dominion 
COLLEGE SR 
COMMENT: Friday night (#1) starter at ODU in 2023... went 9-4 with a 3.51 ERA and 1.26 WHIP, allowing 69 hits (seven HR), with 28/72 BB/K in 77.0 IP (15 G - 15 GS) for the Monarchs in 2023... is currently pitching for Harwich in Cape Cod League (summer collegiate wood bat league) and has allowed only one hit & one run in 10 IP with 13 K...  spent freshman and sophomore years at County College of Morris (JC) in New Jersey...  
 
14th ROUND (416)
Grayson Moore, RHP 
B/R, 6'3 215, age 22 
Vanderbilt 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: Bullpen guy (mostly) for Commodores... went 2-1 with a 4.58 ERA and 1.36 WHIP, allowed 51 hits (9 HR), with 29/81 BB/K in 59.0 IP (33 games - only 3 GS) over the course of three seasons at Vandy... also has played some outfield in his college career... pitched for Wareham in Cape Cod League (summer collegiate wood bat league) in 2022, threw 19.1 IP and allowed only 12 hits (no HR), while walking six and striking out 25, and was named to the Cape Cod League All-Star team... speaks fluent Spanish and is a member of the National Honor Society...  

15th ROUND (446)
Ty Johnson, RHP 
R/R, 6'6 205, age 21 
Ball State 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: Valuable swing-man workhorse (47 games - 28 GS) for the past three seasons... went 15-8 with a 5.39 ERA and 1.31 WHIP, allowing 135 hits (20 HR), with 70/179 BB/K (11.4 K/9), in 157.0 IP for the Cardinals 2021-23 (combined)... pitched for Cotuit in Cape Cod League (summer collegiate wood bat league) in 2022, and went 0-3 with a 4.98 ERA, allowing 15 hits (two HR), with 15/19 BB/K in 21.2 IP...     

16th ROUND (476)
Daniel Brown, LHP 
L/L, 6'3 200, age 20 
Campbell 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: Converted outfielder... Hasn't pitched much at Campbell (four games), but when he has pitched he has displayed a 100+ MPH FB and has been literally unhittable... struck out the side 1-2-3 for the only three outs he recorded this season, but unfortunately he has also walked nine with four WP (albeit no hits allowed) in his other three outings...   

17th ROUND (506)
Ethan Flanagan, LHP 
L/L, 6'3 205, age 21 
UCLA 
COLLEGE SOPH
COMMENT: Draft-eligible sophomore... was named to Freshman All-American and PAC-12 All-Conference teams in 2022 when he went 3-0 with a 3.28 ERA & 1.28 WHIP, allowing 49 hits (six HR), with 28/76 BB/K (11.3 K/9) in 25 games (60.1 IP),.. attended Team USA training camp after his freshman season... missed start of the 2023 season with unspecified injury, then went 2-1 with a 5.12 ERA & 1.39 WHIP, allowing 28 hits (three HR) with 16/;31 BB/K in nine games (6 GS)... had TJS as a senior in high school which postponed his college entry by one year (which is why he is a draft-eligible sophomore)... features a 89-91 MPH T-94 FB with tremendous movement, a plus-CH, a SL, and a CV...       

18th ROUND (536)
Brian Kalmer, 3B 
R/R, 6'2 215, age 22 
Gonzaga 
COLLEGE SR (REDSHIRT JR) 
COMMENT: Began his career at hometown Arizona State but didn't play much, so he transferred to Wabash Valley JC in Mt. Carmel, Illinois... he was named NJCAA National Player of the Year in his one year playing JC ball, as he led the Warriors to the NJCAA World Series... then he transferred to Gonzaga as a junior redshirt, and hit 358/454/682, with 15 HR & 51 RBI, 16 doubles, and 36 walks and 56 strikeouts, in 52 games (240 PA) for the Zags in 2023... he has plus-power to all fields, but he also has lots of swing & miss in his game (23% K-rate in 2023)... a below-average defender at 3B, Kalmer projects as a first-baseman in pro ball...    

19th ROUND (566)
Nick Dean, RHP 
R/R, 6'3 180, age 22 
U. of Maryland 
COLLEGE SR 
COMMENT: College teammate of Cubs 1st round pick Matt Shaw... a reliable hurler who made all of his scheduled starts, Dean pitched in 43 games (all 43 as a SP) in his college career... was the Terrapins #3 (Sunday) starter in both 2021 and 2022 before getting promoted to the #2 (Saturday) slot in 2023... went 3-2 with a 5.54 ERA & 1.47 WHIP in 2023, while allowing 78 hits (13 HR), with 32/77 BB/K in 74.2 IP (15 games - 15 GS)... the 2023 ERA and WHIP were the highest (worst) of his career (his best season was 2021), as his performance has declined steadily each season... features a 90-93 MPH FB, a swing & miss CH, a slurvy SL and a slow CV...   

20th ROUND (596)
Drew Bowser, 3B 
R/R, 6'4 225, age 21
Stanford 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: High school teammate of Cubs top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong at Harvard-Westlake HS in L. A... played SS, was a three-time team captain, won the Perfect Game High School All American Classic Home Run Challenge at Petco Field in San Diego in 2018, was named a Perfect Game High School All-American in 2019, and played for Team USA 18-U in 2019 and helped lead his team to a silver medal at the WBCA World Cup in South Korea... he was projected to be a potential Top 5 round pick coming out of HS in 2020 (the same year buddy PCA was drafted in the 1st round by the Mets), but he wasn't selected in the shortened (five round) CoViD draft, and so he honored his commitment to Stanford... he played both 2B and 3B at Stanford 2021-23, and hit 287/350/526 with 39 HR & 139 RBI, 38 doubles, and 64/196 BB/K in 175 games (754 PA) over the course of three seasons in Palo Alto... he also played two summers for Yarmouth in the Cape Cod League (2021 and 2022), but he hit only 181/278/234 with one HR and 36 K in 108 PA (33% K-rate) with a wood bat... he is a below-average runner with a plus arm and plus raw power, but the "hit tool" is well below average, and he has difficulty making contact...  

The Cubs broke even in Milwaukee and prepare for the All-Star break with three games in New York. See below for matchups with the Yanks.

Game 87, Friday, July 7, 6:05 pm central
CHC: THP Jameson Taillon (2-6, 6.93 ERA)
NYY: LHP Carlos Rodon (0-0, -.-- ERA)

Game 88, Saturday, July 8, 12:05 pm central
CHC: LHP Drew Smyly (7-5, 4.10 ERA)
NYY: RHP Gerrit Cole (8-2, 2.79 ERA)

The Cubs dropped the rubber match to the Guardians in the 10th to lose the series 1-2. They enter a three-game four-game road series against the Brewers 38-44, six games back in the division and only 3.5 in front of the last place Cardinals. The Brewers begin 45-39 and ties for the NL Central lead with the Reds. See below for your holiday series matchups.

Game 83, Monday, July 3, 1:10 pm central
CHC: LHP Drew Smyly (7-5, 3.96 ERA)
MIL: RHP Julio Teheran (2-3, 2.85 ERA)

The suffered a sweep at the hands of Kyle Schwarber and thr Phillies. They'll pass the regular season's halfway mark in a weekend series against the Guardians. See below for matchups.

Game 80, Friday, June 30, 1:20 pm central
CHC: LHP Justin Steele (8-2, 2.62 ERA)
CLE: RHP Cal Quantrill (2-4, 5.61 ERA)

Game 81, Saturday, July 1, 6:15 pm central
CHC: RHP Marcus Stroman (9-4, 2.47 ERA)
CLE: RHP Tanner Bibee (4-2, 3.79 ERA)

Game 82, Sunday, July 2, 1:20 pm central
CHC: RHP Jameson Taillon (2-6, 6.90 ERA)

The Cubs return from the UK to take on the Phillies at Wrigley. They'll enter the series 37-39, within striking distance of .500 and only a few games back in an NL Central that appears available to whichever team is hot at the time. The 40-37 Phillies, however, have a much tougher environment and find themselves 10.5 back in the NL East and near the back end of the Wild Card pack. See below for daily matchups.

Game 77, Tuesday, June 27, 7:05 pm central
CHC: TBD
PHL: LHP Ranger Suarez (1-2, 3.50 ERA)

Game 78, Wednesday, June 28, 7:05 pm central