The Cubs fell 12-4 to the Royals on July 22 as Jameson Taillon struggled. Vinnie Pasquantino's homer highlighted a pitching collapse, raising trade deadline questions.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was one of those nights at the Friendly Confines where the vibes were anything but friendly. A lopsided 12-4 drubbing at the hands of the Kansas City Royals left a sour taste, but more importantly, it threw the Cubs' biggest vulnerability into the spotlight: a pitching staff that's starting to show cracks at the worst possible time. With the trade deadline just days away, last night’s meltdown felt less like a single bad game and more like a final, glaring piece of evidence for the front office.
We have to execute better on the mound. Giving up big innings like that puts us in a tough spot.
The trouble started early and snowballed quickly. Starter Jameson Taillon just didn't have it, getting rocked for seven runs (six earned) on nine hits in just 3.2 innings. The game completely unraveled in a disastrous five-run fourth inning for the Royals, punctuated by a back-breaking three-run homer from Vinnie Pasquantino. By the time Taillon exited, the hole was too deep to climb out of, setting a grim tone for the rest of the evening.
Any hope for a miraculous comeback was quickly extinguished by the bullpen. Daniel Palencia, tasked with stopping the bleeding, instead poured gasoline on the fire, surrendering four more runs in his 1.1 innings of work. His ERA ballooned to 4.85, symbolizing a broader issue for a relief corps that has now coughed up 13 runs in the last three games. 'We need more consistency from our relievers,' a frustrated Craig Counsell said postgame. It’s a sentiment echoed by every Cubs fan watching the late innings with their hands over their eyes.
Amidst the wreckage, Seiya Suzuki continued his torrid July. He launched his 18th home run of the season, a solo shot that served as one of the few bright spots for the North Siders. Suzuki now has an OPS of .950 for the month and is a force in the middle of the order. While individual heroics from Suzuki and a two-hit night from Cody Bellinger are encouraging, they can't patch the holes on the mound. The front office knows it. Reports are swirling that the Cubs are actively hunting for bullpen arms, with names like the Rockies' Justin Lawrence and the Tigers' Alex Lange being floated. With a farm system still boasting seven Top 100 prospects, the Cubs have the ammunition to make a deal. The question is no longer 'if' they should, but 'who' they will get.
Despite the ugly loss, the Cubs still sit at a solid 58-41. But games like this are a stark reminder that a strong record can be deceiving if a team's fatal flaw isn't addressed. All eyes now turn to the front office. With the bullpen faltering and the trade deadline looming, the next few days will define whether the 2025 Cubs are simply a good team or a true championship contender. The clock is ticking.
