Chicago Cubs' Pitching Struggles Spotlighted in Cardinals Series Sweep

In early July 2026 the Chicago Cubs' depleted rotation was on display against the St. Louis Cardinals. Injuries left the Cubs relying on versatile arms such as Javier Assad, who posted a 2.78 ERA over seven appearances, but the staff’s depth remained thin. The situation prompted General Manager Jed Hoyer to hint at aggressive moves before the August trade deadline.

The series featured two stark outcomes. On Friday the Cardinals routed the Cubs 17–1 at Wrigley Field, a historic blowout that moved St. Louis to within a half‑game of the NL Central lead. The game highlighted the Cardinals’ offensive firepower, with three‑run homers from Nathan Church and Masyn Winn, while Cubs starter David Peterson surrendered ten earned runs.

Three days later the Cardinals again defeated Chicago, 3–0, on a fog‑laden night. Rookie JJ Wetherholt led the attack with a leadoff homer and two hits, and pitcher Kyle Leahy threw five scoreless innings for St. Louis. Cubs starter Shota Imanaga allowed two runs in 4 2/3 innings.

Ahead of the series finale the Cubs announced a lineup change, moving Dansby Swanson to the eighth spot and naming Javier Assad as the designated starter. The club’s ongoing pitching crisis and the recent losses kept them embroiled in the NL Central race as the trade deadline approached.