The Rundown: Turner Blasts Cubs Past Orioles, Soroka Takes Mound Tonight, Bristol Game No Classic
“Hear the trumpets hear the pipers. One hundred million angels singing. Multitudes are marching to the big kettledrum. Voices calling, voices crying.” – The Man Comes Around by Johnny Cash
Attention! Attention please! We have entered the 50-game sprint to the end of the regular season two games behind the Brewers in the NL Central and also for the best record in baseball. That said, if you spent a few hours perusing social media without looking at the standings, you might think the Cubs are positioning themselves for a lottery pick in next year’s draft. A walk-off win on a home run from an unexpected source used to be the topic of conversation at the water cooler. Most folks are still upset, however, that Jed Hoyer didn’t blow up his roster and farm system to get MacKenzie Gore.
If you’re keeping score at home, Gore has allowed 15 earned runs in his last three outings (covering 12.2 innings) with 10 walks and eight strikeouts. That’s bad enough to make Ben Brown feel good about himself. Or Ryan Pressly. Too soon?
The jury is still out on Michael Soroka, who starts tonight, but the other three deadline additions had a smashing debut weekend.
- Willi Castro was 3-for-8 with a triple and three runs scored.
- Andrew Kittredge struck out three of the six batters he faced in two hitless innings.
- Taylor Rogers also held the Orioles hitless in his only inning of work.
The Cubs-Orioles series was a little too close for comfort for many fans. Two pitches were the difference: A game-winning three-run homer that Caleb Thielbar gave up to Gunnar Henderson on Saturday, and Sunday’s walk-off blast by Justin Turner off of Keegan Akin. The Cubs got great starting efforts from Cade Horton, Matthew Boyd, and Colin Rea and should have swept Baltimore. Back at it tonight in a big series with the Reds starting with Soroka’s Cubs debut.
There are a few things to watch for in tonight’s game, mainly that Soroka has pitched better than his stats indicate. His 25.4% strikeout rate and 1.13 WHIP are career bests. The 28-year-old (as of today) entered his last start with the best slurve in baseball, per Baseball Savant, with a 43.9 percent strikeout rate, 38.6 percent whiff rate, and .117 opponents’ batting average against.
Soroka also averaged 94-95 mph on his fastball up until June 28. In his last three starts, however, he’s averaged 91.7, 90.9, and 91.4. That’s a considerable drop that may only need a mechanical tweak, but keep an eye on it going forward.
Cubs News & Notes
- Soroka said he’s ready to be relentless inside the strike zone in his first start with the Cubs.
- The 6-foot-5 righty wasn’t the splashy addition most Cub fans were hoping for, but he’s ready to do his part to help get Chicago to the World Series.
- Soroka is considered one of five change-of-scenery players expected to outperform with their new teams. The others are Taj Bradley, Dustin May, JP Sears, and Ke’Bryan Hayes.
- Castro is also expected to play a key role in the team’s title chase.
- His best positions are second base and left field, but Castro can offer depth at every infield and outfield spot.
- Turner is a consummate teammate who fully understands his role. He was pinch-hitting for Michael Busch when he hit his game-ending jack.
- Turner has fared well against lefties all season, which is why he continues to get meaningful at-bats in high-leverage situations.
- Thielbar and Daniel Palencia suffered through some slight hiccups over the weekend, though it’s premature to sound any alarms.
- Owen Caissie was prepared to be dealt, but remained uneasy until Thursday’s 5pm deadline passed.
- Kyle Tucker will test free agency this winter, but returning to the Cubs may make the most sense for the team and the outfielder, according to Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report.
- The Cubs honored Ryne Sandberg on Saturday, with the entire roster and coaching staff wearing blue No. 23 jerseys with white pinstripe trousers.
- Nico Hoerner wore the late Cubs legend’s iconic flip-down sunglasses during warmups and the game.
- ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel ranked all 97 prospects that were traded in last week’s Festival of the Flesh. Christian Franklin was 23rd and Ronny Cruz placed 52nd. Infielder Wilfri De La Cruz may be the best once all is said and done, but McDaniel slotted him at No. 59.
- The Brewers and Cubs are first and second in the latest MLB power rankings.
- Just for fun: Carson Kelly was thrown out at home in yesterday’s game on a Jackson-to-Jackson-to-Jackson relay play.
Ball Four
José Ramírez jersey day plus $2 pregame beers? Your move, Mr. Ricketts. I’d be happy if Wrigley Field went to canned products only just to end those annoying cup snakes.
Guardians fans seemed to enjoy $2 pregame beer day
(via @grant_puskar_) pic.twitter.com/jqK3srQ2D4
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) August 3, 2025
Central Intelligence
- Milwaukee (67-44): All-Star rookie Jacob Misiorowski was placed on the injured list with a left tibia contusion. The Brewers said Misiorowski is expected to miss at least two starts. The right-hander took a liner to the shin off the bat of Seiya Suzuki in the first inning of his last start on Monday.
- Cincinnati (58-54): The Bristol Speedway Classic backfired on the Reds in a big way. The team lost the game, an off day, and burned through their bullpen in Sunday’s loss. The event wasn’t much fun for the fans, either. The stadium had no buns for the hot dogs, and no cheese for the nachos.
- St. Louis (56-57): John Mozeliak is on his way out, Chaim Bloom is ready to succeed, and the Cardinals’ rebuild is about to commence. Wait until Chaim tries to trade Nolan Arenado and Willson Contreras.
- Pittsburgh (44-67): The Pirates will move Dennis Santana into the closer’s role to replace David Bednar.
How About That!
MLB listed the official attendance at 91,032 for the Bristol Speedway Classic, a new league record.
Sunday’s special game likely proved that Tennesseans will support baseball if Nashville is given an expansion franchise.
The Marlins are one of baseball’s hottest teams right now, and sit just six games out in the NL Wild Card race.
The Marlins swept the Yankees over the weekend and are now the only team with a winning record all-time against the Bronx Bombers.
Speaking of hot teams, the White Sox are starting to look a little like the 1927 Yankees in terms of offensive production.
ChiSox rookie Colson Montgomery has seven home runs in 11 games since the All-Star break.
Extra Innings
Turner (40) is the oldest Cub to hit a walk-off homer since Davey Lopes (41) on July 2, 1986.
Justin Turner’s pinch-hit walk-off home run is the first by a Cub since David Bote in 2018 🤯 pic.twitter.com/kwURoqHngG
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) August 3, 2025
They Said It
- “Justin’s just so engaged in the game despite limited opportunities. “He’s so engaged in other people’s success. So when that player has success, it just means a little bit more. That’s probably what you saw [with the home plate celebration].” – Craig Counsell
- “It’s tough for everyone in [bench] roles around the league. That’s no excuse. You gotta put your work in every day and be prepared. When they call your name, be ready to go. So many guys had an impact on me and took me under their wing and helped me become who I am today. That’s what I want to do for the guys in here. Help them become as good as they can possibly be and go win championships.” – Turner
- “This is an organization that I’ve always wanted to play for. I appreciate the confidence that they showed in me. I think that’s a good way to move forward and just hit the ground running.” – Soroka
Monday Walk-Up Song
Justin-Turner Overdrive for the win!
