The Royals routed the Cubs 12-4 on July 22, 2025, as Salvador Perez's two homers exposed Chicago's pitching needs ahead of the fast-approaching trade deadline.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was one of those nights at Wrigley Field where the early optimism evaporated as quickly as a summer storm. Despite a couple of early long balls, the Cubs were thoroughly dismantled by the Kansas City Royals 12-4, a loss that felt bigger than just a single game. With the July 31 trade deadline looming, the glaring holes on the pitching staff were on full display, putting the pressure squarely on Jed Hoyer's front office to act.
It’s just a fun time to be a Cub... [I] just got to start helping out a little bit better.
For a moment, it looked like the bats might carry the day. Rookie Matt Shaw and catcher Carson Kelly both went deep in the second inning off Royals starter Noah Cameron, giving the home crowd a jolt. But that was it. The offense went silent from there, with the top of the order—Nico Hoerner, Kyle Tucker, and Seiya Suzuki—posting a brutal 0-for-11 combined. The absence of All-Star Pete Crow-Armstrong, resting a sore knee as a precaution, was certainly felt. Meanwhile, Royals catcher Salvador Perez treated the Wrigley bleachers like his personal batting practice, launching two homers and driving in four runs to lead the charge for KC.
The plan was for righty Ben Brown, recalled from Triple-A Iowa earlier in the day, to provide some bulk innings behind opener Ryan Brasier. Instead, he became the focal point of the Cubs' pitching woes. Brown was tagged for six earned runs over four innings, a performance that does little to solve the team's rotation puzzle. Manager Craig Counsell now has to decide if Brown gets another look, possibly against the White Sox, or if his role needs to be re-evaluated entirely. Brown's own words reflected the frustrating night: 'It’s encouraging to be a part of it, and [I] just got to start helping out a little bit better.'
Tuesday's loss served as a giant, flashing billboard advertising the Cubs' need for pitching. While Jed Hoyer is known for his patience, often waiting until the final hours before the deadline to strike, the needs are becoming more urgent with each passing game. The good news? The Cubs have the assets to make a splash. Even after dealing Cam Smith for Kyle Tucker, the farm system remains one of baseball's best, with seven prospects in MLB's Top 100. That's a deep well of talent to pull from, whether for a top-of-the-rotation arm or a high-leverage reliever. The market is heating up, and the Cubs are expected to be right in the middle of it.
This two-game skid hurts, but the season is far from lost. The next nine days will define the 2025 Chicago Cubs. Will the team get healthy? Will the bats wake up? And the biggest question of all: Will Jed Hoyer deliver the pitching reinforcements needed to make a serious postseason run? Buckle up, Cubs fans. It's going to be a wild ride to the deadline.
