👋 Good morning!
It’s officially Week 1! I’m giddy.
We’re all going to be totally cool about things regardless of the outcome of next Monday night’s game, right? Right?!
I’m just excited for real football — unlike whatever you’d call Bill Belichick’s debut at North Carolina last night. Yeesh.
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See you at Wabash & Cermak.
The Carson Kelly Game
Carson Kelly played the role of savior for the Cubs on Monday as they mounted a five-run comeback — tied for their largest of the season (May 25 vs. Reds).
Kelly hit a two-run game-tying home run in the eighth inning — his first homer since July 21st. In the 10th, he roped a single down the third-base line to score Seiya Suzuki from second for the game-winning run.
Kelly, a Chicago native, said after the game: “It was a special moment. As a player, you always dream for a moment like that, and to be able to come through for the guys is great.”
Aaron Civale, who was traded to the White Sox from the Brewers in exchange for Andrew Vaughn back in June, made his debut for the Cubs on Monday after being claimed off waivers on Sunday.
Civale tossed three scoreless innings of one-hit ball in relief of Colin Rea and Taylor Rogers, keeping the Cubs within striking distance. Brad Keller picked up the win after a scoreless ninth inning, but the Cubs don’t storm back without Civale’s efforts.
The Cubs also signed 39-year-old left-handed slugger Carlos Santana for the rest of the season. Infielder Ben Cowles and pitcher Tom Cosgrove were designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Santana and Civale, who were added to the MLB roster as September call-ups.
Santana pinch-hit for Justin Turner in the ninth inning and struck out on three pitches.
The team also recalled outfielder Kevin Alcantara from Triple-A Iowa and optioned Owen Caissie.
To make the holiday even better for the Cubs, the Phillies came back from a 5-1 deficit to defeat the Brewers, 10-8, bringing the Cubs within 5.5 games of the NL Central lead.
So, how close can the Cubs get?
Well, it probably helps that their next 14 games come against teams currently below .500 (Braves, Nationals, Braves again and Pirates).
Cubs 7, Braves 6 -- F/10
ADAM DUNN…BUT MUCH BETTER: Colson Montgomery clubbed his 16th home run of the year (all post-All-Star break) in Monday’s series-opening win against the Twins. It was also his sixth in his last eight games. Not too shabby for the rookie.
He’s also struck out in 35 of his 47 games in the majors for a rather large 27.7% K-rate. That and his .229/.284/.553 slash line reminds me of somebody else: 2012 Adam Dunn.
Fans largely loathed Dunn in his time with the White Sox, but his 41-home-run season in 2012 still hasn’t been replicated by a Sox batter since. Todd Frazier is the only other player since Dunn to hit 40 in a season on the South Side, doing so in 2016.
Despite Dunn’s power stroke in 2012, he still slashed just .204/.333/.468 with a 34.2% strikeout rate.
When actually comparing the numbers, it makes what Montgomery is doing even more impressive, especially considering how his season began in the minor leagues — oh, and the fact that he’s still a rookie.
The strikeout rate should eventually come down, and it’d be a nice bump for the Sox’s lineup in the future for the on-base percentage to tick up. But most importantly, Montgomery’s power is legit, and even as pitchers have adjusted to his bat, he’s adjusted right back.
Say it with me: Not too shabby for the rookie.
SEPTEMBER CALL-UPS: As rosters expanded to 28 on Monday, the White Sox recalled 3B Bryan Ramos and LHP Fraser Ellard.
Ellard started Monday’s game in Minnesota, providing 1.2 innings of scoreless baseball despite allowing three walks. Ramos pinch-ran for Chase Meidroth in the eighth inning and scored the tying run.
White Sox 6, Twins 5
ROSTER MOVES: The Bears signed linebacker Carl Jones Jr. to the practice squad, taking rookie linebacker Power Echols’ spot. The team also re-signed long snapper Scott Daly and receiver Devin Duvernay to the active roster over the weekend.
@AdamHoge @CHGO_Bears Love this hat, it'll be hitting golf courses all over the Vancouver, BC area! 🐻⬇️
— #🇨🇦Sports_Outsider🇨🇦 (#@sports_outsider)
12:26 AM • Sep 2, 2025
Hoge & Jahns. Branded Bills. Costco golf clubs.
Match made in heaven.
🐻 Hoge & Jahns
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