Chicago Cubs vs. Baltimore Orioles preview, Friday 8/1, 1:20 CT

Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Today’s roster moves: Here

Friday notes...

• NOT WALKING MEN: Wednesday’s game at Milwaukee was the 11th of the season in which Cubs pitchers did not walk a batter, tying them with the Phillies for the fourth most among all teams. The Cardinals have done it 13 times; the Pirates and Rays, 12. From 2021-24, through 108 games, the Cubs had four, six, nine and two no-walk games. This year, the Cubs have walked only one batter in 24 games and two in 20 games, for a total of 55 with no more than two — more than half of all games. Their 55 are the third most, behind the Cardinals and Twins, both with 59. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
• RUN DIFFERENTIAL: The Cubs begin the final third of their season leading all teams in run differential, at +113 to the Yankees’ second-best +99. The Cubs also lead in total runs scored (570 to the Dodgers’ 568) and runs scored per game (5.28 to the Dodgers’ 5.21). They are third in total hits (951, to 991 by the Blue Jays and 959 by the Red Sox), second in hits per game (8.81 to the Blue Jays’ 9.01), third in home runs (158 to the Yankees’ 174 and Dodgers’ 163) and tied for third with the Brewers in stolen bases (121 to the Rays’ 143). (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
• STREAKING: Kyle Tucker has a 19-game on-base streak. In the 19 games his BA is just .238 (15-for-63) but he has a .410 OBP because he’s drawn 19 walks. He also has three doubles, a home run, nine RBI and 12 runs scored during the streak.
• THE BREAK DID HIM GOOD: Matt Shaw, 12 games since the All-Star break: .359/.375/.744 (14-for-39) with three doubles, four home runs, 10 RBI and seven runs scored.

Here are today’s particulars.

Cubs lineup:

Back home at @ofcwrigleyfield.

Watch today's game against the Orioles on the Marquee Sports Network App. pic.twitter.com/CtyMR7dAGg

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 1, 2025

Orioles lineup:

Friday in Chi-Town. pic.twitter.com/xllKxfTNvP

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) August 1, 2025

Cade Horton, RHP vs. Trevor Rogers, LHP

Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Cade Horton has always had talent — first-round pick and all — and that’s finally begun to show itself with some consistency. He is currently riding a 14⅔-inning scoreless streak in which he’s allowed just seven hits.

The K rate

isn’t quite what it was in the minor leagues but I suspect that’s coming.

He’s obviously never faced the Orioles or anyone on their active roster.

Trevor Rogers missed the early part of this year with a knee injury but since his return has been quite good. He’s gone at least six innings in seven of his eight starts and in his last outing, he held the Rockies to one hit over seven.

Despite being in the league for six years with the Marlins and Orioles, he has never faced the Cubs. Dansby Swanson has had good luck against him: 6-for-12 with three doubles and a home run.

Rogers is no relation to new Cubs reliever Taylor Rogers.

Baseball Savant

Baseball Savant

Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network. You can find out if Marquee is available via a provider in your area here.

Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Orioles site Camden Chat. If you do go there to interact with Orioles fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.

The 2025 Game Thread procedure will be identical to last year’s.

You’ll find the game preview posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).

At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game, including the First Pitch Thread and the overflow thread, as well as the recap when it’s published. The recap will also live on the front page as a separate post.

You will also be able to find the preview, First Pitch Thread and the overflow thread in the box marked “Chicago Cubs Game Threads” at the bottom of the front page (you can also find them in this section link). The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.

The First Pitch thread will post at five minutes before game time, then an overflow thread at 90 minutes after the scheduled game time.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

More from bleedcubbieblue.com:

• Cubs acquire Andrew Kittredge from Orioles
• 2025 MLB Trade Deadline open thread
• Cubs acquire Taylor Rogers from Pirates
• Cubs acquire Willi Castro from Twins
• Cubs roster moves: Ryan Pressly designated for assignment, Miguel Amaya to 60-day IL
• Cub Tracks’ 5 p.m. deadline
• BCB After Dark: The Cubs acquire Michael Soroka