Today’s roster move: The Cubs have optioned Javier Assad back to Triple-A Iowa and recalled Jordan Wicks. This would indicate to me that the team thinks Cade Horton is 100 percent, and the rotation thus is Horton, Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, Shōta Imanaga and Colin Rea — for now, at least. Wicks likely works out of the bullpen — for now, at least.
Saturday notes:
- BREAKING TIES: Last night’s game was the ninth of the season that the Cubs have won after the score was tied through seven innings. They have won three more in which they trailed through seven. They have lost five games each in which they led or were tied going to the eighth. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
- CLIMBING THE LADDER: A win tonight will put the Cubs 20 games above .500, matching their season high, set on July 19, when they were 59-39 after winning their fourth consecutive game. They have won as many as three in a row just once since then: their wins over the Brewers on Tuesday and Wednesday. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
- SOMETHING THAT HADN’T HAPPENED IN A WHILE, UNTIL LAST NIGHT: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki and Kyle Tucker each drove home a run last night. It was the eighth game of the season in which they have done that, but the first in 38 games, since July 6. Two of the three have produced RBI in 27 games, but not in 21 games, since July 30. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
- STARTING PITCHING: In their last 35 games dating to July 12, the Cubs’ starting rotation has posted a 2.83 ERA (59 earned runs in 187.2 innings), lowest mark in the major leagues over that span. uring that stretch the rotation has allowed three runs or fewer in 24 of those games.
Cubs lineup:
Angels lineup:
Cade Horton, RHP vs. Victor Mederos, RHP
Cade Horton left his last start with a blister, but after the game pronounced himself good to go for this one, so here we are.
Even with that shortened outing, Horton has an ERA of 0.58 and a WHIP of 0.806 over his last six starts, with 27 strikeouts and only one home run allowed in 31 innings. That’s really good!
Hopefully he’s 100 percent tonight. Horton has obviously never faced the Angels or anyone on their active roster.
Victor Mederos has made 11 appearances (two starts) in several stints with the Angels over the last three seasons. This year he made one relief appearance in April, one in July and then was recalled this month from Triple-A and has made two starts, allowing three runs and a home run in each of them.
He’s never faced the Cubs, but Carson Kelly and Justin Turner each have one plate appearance against him, for whatever that’s worth.
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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.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
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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).
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Discuss amongst yourselves.
