Royals beat Cubs 8-4 on July 23, 2025, as Vinnie Pasquantino's homers spoil Colin Rea's start. The loss highlights Chicago's pitching needs at the deadline.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a tough pill to swallow at the Friendly Confines on Wednesday. Four separate two-run home runs from the Kansas City Royals powered them to an 8-4 victory, snapping Colin Rea's winning streak and, more painfully, knocking the Cubs out of their first-place tie in the NL Central. The loss served as a stark reminder that while the offense has its bright spots, the path to a division title might run directly through the upcoming trade deadline.
Always fighting. We’ll bounce back.
The Royals simply had the Cubs' number. Vinnie Pasquantino was a one-man wrecking crew, going 3-for-4 with two homers and four RBI. Salvador Perez and rookie Tyler Tolbert joined the home run parade, turning every Kansas City rally into a multi-run event. For the Cubs, the power came in solo bursts from Matt Shaw and Pete Crow-Armstrong, but it wasn't enough to keep pace. Starter Colin Rea, who had been brilliant over his last four starts, came back to earth, surrendering six runs (five earned) in five innings. The loss ended his personal four-game winning streak and bloated an ERA that was a stellar 1.90 over his previous 23 2/3 innings.
Rea's tough outing couldn't have come at a more telling time. With the trade deadline just days away, the Cubs' front office is reportedly zeroed in on acquiring starting pitching—specifically, arms with multiple years of team control. Names like Miami's Edward Cabrera, Pittsburgh's Mitch Keller, and Minnesota's Joe Ryan are being floated as potential targets. The strategy is clear: Jed Hoyer wants to avoid short-term rentals and build a sustainable winner. However, acquiring that kind of talent will be costly, and the front office is said to be hesitant to include top prospect Owen Caissie in any deal, signaling just how high the asking price might be.
Despite the loss, there were glimmers of the team's exciting young core. Matt Shaw and Pete Crow-Armstrong both went deep, with PCA's blast being his 10th of the season. His optimistic social media post after the game captured the clubhouse mentality. Furthermore, the Cubs' ability to even consider a major trade is thanks to a farm system that remains one of baseball's best. Even after dealing Cam Smith, the organization boasts seven Top 100 prospects, many of whom are knocking on the door of the majors. This depth gives Hoyer the flexibility to either make a significant trade or call up reinforcements from within.
All eyes now turn to the South Side for the Crosstown series. Ace Shota Imanaga takes the mound Friday in what feels like a crucial start to get the team back on track. It's a chance to wash away the taste of Wednesday's loss, reclaim the division lead, and build momentum as the front office works the phones. The Cubs will need to prove they can bounce back, just as PCA promised, because the race for the NL Central is only heating up.
