Rookie Cade Horton spins another gem as the Chicago Cubs blank the Baltimore Orioles 1-0 on August 1, 2025. Read how the new-look roster started the playoff push.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Welcome to the final two months of the season. After a flurry of trade deadline activity, the message from manager Craig Counsell was clear: 'This is our group.' And in their first test, that group delivered a nail-biting, playoff-atmosphere 1-0 victory over the formidable Baltimore Orioles at a buzzing Wrigley Field, proving that the push for the postseason starts now.
'I love this day, because this is our group. This is the group we're going forward with... We've got a great three months ahead of us. It starts today.' - Manager Craig Counsell
The story of the day, and increasingly the story of the second half, is Cade Horton. The rookie right-hander was simply masterful once again, spinning five shutout innings against a potent Orioles lineup. He allowed just two hits, and with that performance, extended his personal scoreless streak to a staggering 17 2/3 innings. Over his last five starts, his ERA has plummeted to an absurd 1.26. He's no longer just a promising rookie; he's a legitimate stopper and a critical piece of the Cubs' rotation for this pennant race.
Manager Craig Counsell's pre-game speech set the tone, and the new faces on the roster immediately showed why they were brought to Chicago. Willi Castro, acquired from the Twins, slotted right in at shortstop. But the real story was the bullpen reinforcement. Andrew Kittredge, making his Cubs debut against the very team that traded him, looked electric, striking out two in a perfect seventh inning. Fellow newcomer Taylor Rogers also made his first appearance. The Cubs activated all three deadline additions today, optioning pitcher Gavin Hollowell and top catching prospect Moises Ballesteros to Triple-A Iowa. While it's tough to see a future piece like Ballesteros go down, the message is clear: the front office has built a roster to win right now.
In a game dominated by pitching, the Cubs' offense did just enough. The game's lone run came in the second inning when Carson Kelly led off with a single and later scampered home on a sacrifice fly by Ian Happ. From there, it was a masterclass in run prevention. After Horton's brilliant start, the newly fortified bullpen slammed the door. Kittredge's stellar debut and an appearance from Rogers bridged the gap before handing the ball to closer Daniel Palencia in the ninth. Palencia was cool under pressure, inducing a flyout from Tyler O'Neill to lock down his 15th save and secure the 1-0 win, moving the Cubs to a stellar 64-45 on the season.
This was more than just one of 162. It was a statement. With a clear identity, a unified clubhouse, and an injection of new talent, the Cubs showed they can win the tight, one-run games that define a playoff push. Every game from here on out matters in the tight NL Central race, and Friday's victory was the perfect first step for the group that will carry the team's hopes through August and September.
