JULY 15•KANSASCITY.COM
Cubs enter the All-Star break on a high note after beating the Cardinals, plus 3 takeaways from the first halfST. LOUIS - The Chicago Cubs head into the All-Star break on a high note. A sweep by the St. Louis C...
Mars Area graduate JJ Wetherholt selected by Cardinals at No. 7 overall in MLB draftFORT WORTH, Texas — The heralded local kid had to wait a bit, but not terribly long to learn which club most desired his services. Infielder...
JULY 14•POST-GAZETTE.COM
Drew Smyly - Earns hold SundaySmyly tossed 1.1 scoreless innings of relief in Sunday's 8-3 win over the Cardinals.
ImpactSmyly picked things up after Chicago starter Jameson Taillon covered 5.2 innings, and the former was effective across his 16 pitches, earning his third hold of the season in the process. Smyly had a solid first half of the season, posting a 3.09 ERA across 35 innings of relief. While the veteran lefty has plenty of starting experience in his career, he's worked exclusively out of the bullpen so far in 2024, and he'll likely stick in that role after the All-Star break.
JULY 14•ROTOWIRE
Jorge López - Tosses two scoreless innings SundayLopez tossed two scoreless innings of relief in Sunday's 8-3 win over the Cardinals. He allowed a hit and walk, while striking out two.
ImpactDespite getting released by the Mets in unceremonious fashion earlier this season, Lopez had a solid first half, as he finished with a 3.18 ERA across 34 innings. He's been even better since joining the Cubs at the end of June, posting a 1.17 ERA across 7.2 innings. Lopez may be able to seize a higher-leverage role after the All-Star break if he continues to pitch well out of the Chicago bullpen.
JULY 14•ROTOWIRE
Brendan Donovan - Three hits, steal in lossDonovan went 3-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and one run scored in Sunday's 8-3 loss to the Cubs.
ImpactDonovan has six multi-hit efforts over 13 games in July, going 18-for-52 (.346) in that span. The steal was his first since June 26 and his third of the campaign. The 27-year-old is up to a .276/.345/.411 slash line with eight home runs, 45 RBI, 43 runs scored, 22 doubles and one triple over 91 contests this season. Donovan has primarily played in left field, though he occasionally spells Nolan Gorman at second base or Nolan Arenado at third.
JULY 14•ROTOWIRE
Alec Burleson - Goes deep again SundayBurleson went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a double in Sunday's 8-3 loss to the Cubs.
ImpactBurleson heads into the All-Star break on a tear with four homers and 11 RBI across his last seven games. The outfielder is up to a .288/.320/.494 slash line, 17 long balls, 53 RBI, 41 runs scored, 14 doubles and seven stolen bases across 89 contests. Burleson still doesn't have one set position, but he's able to maintain a near-everyday role between the corner outfield spots, first base and designated hitter.
JULY 14•ROTOWIRE
Miles Mikolas - Struggles with long ballMikolas (7-8) allowed six runs on eight hits and struck out two without walking a batter over 5.1 innings to take the loss Sunday versus the Cubs.
ImpactFour of the eight hits Mikolas allowed were homers, including two by Pete Crow-Armstrong. Prior to Sunday, Mikolas had allowed just one homer over his last six starts, though this was the fourth time this season he's given up multiple long balls. The veteran right-hander concludes the first half with a 5.13 ERA, which would be his worst in six seasons as a Cardinal, while adding a 1.22 WHIP and 77:18 K:BB through 112.1 innings through 20 starts.
JULY 14•ROTOWIRE
