Cubs lose 7-5 to Cardinals on June 25, extending their skid to four games. Despite big nights from Nico Hoerner & Pete Crow-Armstrong, the bullpen faltered.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Another day, another gut-wrenching, too-close-for-comfort loss. The Cubs dropped their fourth straight game on Wednesday, falling 7-5 to the rival St. Louis Cardinals at a roaring Busch Stadium. While the loss stings and tightens the Cubs' grip on first place in the NL Central, it wasn't without its bright spots. Nico Hoerner and Pete Crow-Armstrong put on an offensive show, reminding fans that the talent is there, even if the wins aren't at the moment.
Boyd gave us a chance to win, but we need to be better in the late innings.
Starter Matthew Boyd did his job, delivering a quality start over six innings. He battled, striking out five and keeping the Cubs in the game despite allowing four runs. But the theme of this losing streak continued as the Cardinals' offense, sparked by key hits from Brendan Donovan and Alec Burleson, did just enough against Boyd before the bullpen let the game slip away. A two-run homer from Pete Crow-Armstrong in the 4th provided a temporary lead and a jolt of energy, but the Cardinals' relief corps shut the door, leaving the Cubs' late rally to fall short.
If you're looking for positives, look no further than Nico Hoerner and Pete Crow-Armstrong. Hoerner was a machine at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double and a swipe of second base. His blend of contact and aggressive baserunning is the engine of this offense. Meanwhile, PCA's two-run shot was a thing of beauty, a glimpse of the game-changing power he possesses. These two are core pieces, and their strong performances even in a loss are a crucial sign that the offense isn't the primary problem.
It's easy to hit the panic button during a four-game slide, especially when it involves a rival. But let's take a breath. The front office remains confident, and for good reason. The Cubs still sit at 46-33, hold first place, and boast an 88% chance of making the postseason, according to projections. As management noted, the key is cleaning up the small mental mistakes that turn close games like this into losses. The talent is there; it's about execution in the crucial late innings.
When the bullpen struggles, eyes naturally turn to the farm system. And the Cubs' system is a major source of hope. Despite trading a top prospect earlier this year, the organization still has seven players on the Top 100 list. Farm director Jason Kanzler confirmed that the depth, particularly at Double-A and Triple-A, is strong. 'Our system is well-positioned to support the big league club this season,' he said. Whether that support comes via a much-needed bullpen call-up or as assets in a trade deadline deal, it's a significant advantage to have.
This four-game skid is a test of the Cubs' resilience. The loss in St. Louis hurts, but the foundation remains solid. The offense has life, the starting pitching is generally reliable, and the front office has the assets to make improvements. As players like Hoerner and Crow-Armstrong showed on social media post-game, the team's spirit isn't broken. Now, they just need to translate that focus into a win and stop the bleeding. The series, and the division lead, hang in the balance.
