Ian Happ's game-tying solo home run (5)
Cubs 2025 Surge: Kyle Tucker Contract Rumors, Pitching Plans & Division Domination
Dive into the Chicago Cubs' electrifying 2025 season with ESPN's Jesse Rogers on Big League Buzz! From Kyle Tucker's superstar impact to Craig Counsell's game-changing strategies, we unpack why the Cubs are poised to dominate the NL Central. Will they go all-in at the trade deadline for Zach Gallen or Merrill Kelly? Can Pete Crow-Armstrong become a top-tier hitter? Plus, get the inside scoop on the Cubs' playoff potential and long-term plans. Don't miss this deep dive into Chicago's hottest MLB storylines! Subscribe, like, and comment—are you a believer in the Cubs' 2025 run?
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Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Luzardo returns to form with 10 strikeouts and Phillies bats come alive to end prolonged slumps
Philadelphia Phillies' Jesús Luzardo pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) Philadelphia Phillies' Jesús Luzardo pitches during the third inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) Philadelphia Phillies' Jesús Luzardo pitches during the third inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) Philadelphia Phillies' Jesús Luzardo pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) Philadelphia Phillies' Jesús Luzardo pitches during the third inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Ricky Stenhouse Jr. admired Kyle Schwarber's shot deep into the right-field seats —'that's a bomb!' — and got a thrill when Nick Castellanos came inches away from his own solo homer. Castellanos settled for a triple, showing that in baseball — unlike in Stenhouse's day job in NASCAR — good things happen when a long drive ends with a smack off the wall. Alec Bohm also went deep and teamed with Schwarber and Castellanos to contribute three of the Phillies' five extra-base hits in a win the team can only hope revived an offense that's been punchless this month. Advertisement Another encouraging sign? Jesús Luzardo put two disastrous starts behind him and struck out 10 in six innings to lead the Phillies past the Chicago Cubs 7-2 on Wednesday. The Phillies had lost nine of 10 games overall headed into the Cubs' series and suffered the double whammy of losing first baseman Bryce Harper to wrist soreness and starter Aaron Nola adding a stress reaction in one of his right ribs. They returned home and split the first two games of the three-game set against the Cubs in underwhelming fashion: Of their 26 hits in two games, 23 were singles. Schwarber hit his 21st homer a Monster Mile — Stenhouse attended to promote the July 20 NASCAR race at Dover Motor Speedway — and Bohm added four RBIs to help the Phillies win the series. Advertisement Schwarber is averaging one home run for every 10.94 at-bats during June in his career, which ranks third in MLB history with at least 600 at-bats behind Babe Ruth (10.64 AB/HR) and Mark McGwire (10.80 AB/HR). Luzardo handled the rest. The left-hander was an early season success story in his first season since he was acquired from Miami in what looked like the heist of the winter. He struck out 11 in his Phillies' debut and followed in his second start with seven scoreless innings. Luzardo struck out a combined 20 batters in consecutive starts in late May as the Phillies surged to the lead in the NL. Luzardo's next two starts were somehow about as bad as it gets — he was rocked for 12 runs in 3 1/3 innings that skyrocketed his ERA from 2.15 to 3.58 and he gave up eight runs in 2 1/3 innings in his last outing in Toronto. Advertisement Luzardo insisted he was healthy and still hit the high 90s with his fastball, forcing him to study game film with a bit of a detective's eye to find out why his season soured. He came to the conclusion that he must have been tipping his pitches. How about a tip of the cap from Phillies fans instead? 'There's a lot of things we tinkered with,' Luzardo said. 'The biggest thing was attention to detail, attention to where we want to go, pitch selection that comes from me.' Luzardo fanned two batters in the first inning to get the gem of a start going. He didn't walk a batter in six innings and allowed his only run with the Phillies up 4-0. Luzardo gave up consecutive singles to open the second inning before he struck out the side. Advertisement 'He studies himself and he wants to address what he's doing wrong,' Schwarber said. 'That's the impressive thing about him. We were all excited to watch him get out there on the mound today and see what was going to happen. Never a third time.' Max Lazar worked two innings of relief and Michael Mercado tossed a scoreless ninth for the Phillies. Luzardo recorded his fourth double-digit strikeout game in his 15th start of the season, the first Phillies pitcher with four or more double-digit strikeout games in their first 15 starts with the team since Steve Carlton had five in 1972. Yes, the Hall of Famer with the 10-foot statue outside Citizens Bank Park. Advertisement Not all stats, of course, are usually measured against Hall of Famers. Luzardo was the first Phillies left-hander with at least 10 strikeouts and no walks in a game since Drew Smyly struck out 10 in 2019 at Washington. Up next, an off day and a home weekend series against a Blue Jays team that outscored the Phillies 11-2 in consecutive losses last weekend. Schwarber was willing to bet the past two weeks were just a blip in a long season for a playoff-tested team rather than the start of a summer swoon. 'We know what we have,' Schwarber said. 'We've been in a little rut and we're finding our way out of it. We know that if we do what we need to do, we're know that we're not going to be losing many games overall.' ___ AP MLB:
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Pope Leo XIV rocks White Sox hat at the Vatican in new photos
Pope Leo XIV brought his White Sox fandom to the Vatican on Wednesday. While holding a general audience in St. Peter's Square, the Chicago-bred pontiff was photographed wearing a black White Sox cap as he greeted onlookers, including a bride and groom who appeared to be fellow fans of the AL Central club. Pope Leo XIV's sports allegiances were thrust into the spotlight in May when he made history after being elected the first American pope. He succeeded Pope Francis, who died in April at the age of 88 after a lengthy battle with double pneumonia. 6 Pope Leo XIV was seen wearing a Chicago White Sox hat at the Vatican on June 11, 2025. AFP via Getty Images 6 The American-born pope greeted newlyweds in his White Sox hat. REUTERS The pope's brother, John Prevost, quickly set the record straight over which Chicago baseball team his sibling preferred amid Cubs chatter. 'He was never ever a Cubs fan, so I don't know where that came from,' Prevost told local Chicago station WGN TV. 'He was always a Sox fan. Our mother was a Cubs fan. I don't know, maybe that clued in there and our dad was a Cardinals fan, so I don't know where all that came from. 'And all the aunts, our mom's family was from the north side, so that's why they were Cubs fans.' 6 Pope Leo XIV waved to onlookers in St. Peter's Square on June 11, 2025. Getty Images 6 The pope's sports allegiances were thrust into the spotlight after he was elected. REUTERS Born Robert Francis Prevost, the Windy City native has a publicized history of supporting the White Sox, as resurfaced video showed him wearing team gear during Game 1 of the 2005 World Series against the Astros. Chicago swept Houston in four games. 6 Pope Leo XIV was elected the first American pope in May 2025. REUTERS 6 The White Sox commemorated Pope Leo XIV with a graphic at Rate Field in May 2025. AP Last month, the White Sox installed a Pope Leo XIV graphic at Rate Field in honor of their most famous fan. Beyond the White Sox, who lost a record 121 games last season, Pope Leo XIV is also a Villanova Wildcat, having graduated from the university in 1977. Knicks fans were hopeful Pope Leo's Villanova ties would fuel a championship berth with former Wildcats Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges. The Knicks ultimately lost to the Pacers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals.
CBS News
2 hours ago
- CBS News
Schwarber and Bohm homer, Luzardo strikes out 10 to lead Philadelphia Phillies past Chicago Cubs 7-2
Kyle Schwarber homered, Alec Bohm hit a solo shot and had four RBIs, and Jesús Luzardo struck out 10 in six innings to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a 7-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. The Phillies rebounded from a 1-5 road trip (and losers of nine of 10 games overall) to take two of three at home from the Cubs. The offense that's been punchless this month perked up against the Cubs with five extra-base hits. Nick Castellanos also knocked his first triple of the year, and Max Kepler and Trea Turner both doubled. The slugging returned to Philadelphia. So did a dazzling outing from Luzardo. The left-hander who posted 20 strikeouts in consecutive starts in late May and had a 2.15 ERA was rocked in his last two starts. Luzardo (6-2) gave up 21 runs in 5 2/3 innings over his last two outings and his ERA ballooned to 4.46. Luzardo didn't walk a batter in this one, allowed only one run and recorded his fourth double-digit strikeout game in his 15th start. Max Lazar worked two innings of relief and Michael Mercado tossed a scoreless ninth for the Phillies. The Phillies scored three runs in the first off Cubs starter Ben Brown (3-5) and Schwarber hit his 21st homer of the season in the third. Bohm added a two-RBI single in the fourth and a solo shot in the eighth for a 7-1 lead. Key moment Luzardo gave up consecutive singles to open the second inning before he struck out the side. Key stat Luzardo is the first Phillies pitcher with four or more double-digit strikeout games in their first 15 starts with the team since Steve Carlton had five in 1972. Up next The Cubs return home Thursday to open a four-game series against Pittsburgh. They send RHP Jameson Taillon (6-3, 3.54 ERA) to the mound against Pirates LHP Andrew Heaney (3-4, 3.24 ERA). The Phillies are off Thursday. LHP Ranger Suárez (4-1, 2.70 ERA) gets the start Friday when the Phillies host Toronto in the opener of a three-game set. The Blue Jays did not name a starter.
