👋 Good morning!
Nothing quite like a fielder’s interference to bring home the deciding run in a crosstown weekend series.
Despite the odd ending yesterday, it was a thoroughly entertaining weekend on the South Side.
The White Sox’s youngsters absolutely teed off on Shota Imanaga on Friday, and Adrian Houser looked decent in what might’ve been his final start in a Sox uniform.
Then, Cade Horton returned the favor for the Cubs on Saturday, setting up Sunday’s wacky rubber match.
The Sox had their chances yesterday, but Lenyn Sosa’s TOOTBLAN and Colson Montgomery’s interference were too much to overcome.
TOOTBLAN (tüt•blan): an acronym that stands for Thrown Out on the Bases Like a Nincompoop.
Hoge. Jahns. CHGO.
CHGO is the new home for Adam Jahns and the Hoge & Jahns podcast. And it can be your home for premium Diehard content all season long for $36 for the first year, too.
Become a Diehard for access to Limited Edition Hoge & Jahns merch, merch discounts, exclusive events, and top-tier written content!
Act fast — This deal ends July 31st!
Caution: Stove May Be Hot
It’s officially Trade Deadline Week, and we’re less than 85 hours from Thursday’s 5 p.m. cutoff.
Here’s the latest on what’s expected to be a busy week for the Cubs & White Sox.
BIDDING WAR: What’s the plan at third base for the Cubs? The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney reported last night that Matt Shaw’s post-break resurgence won’t deter the Cubs’ pursuit of Arizona Diamondbacks 3B Eugenio Suarez.
Shaw, since July 18, has hits in nine-straight games, including two doubles and four no-doubt home runs. Suarez, who’s on an expiring contract, is on pace for the best offensive season of his 12-year career, slashing .247/.319/.579 with 36 home runs.If the Cubs are hesitant to meet the Diamondbacks’ asking price, the Milwaukee Brewers are reportedly expressing strong interest in Suarez, as well as the Seattle Mariners.
ACES HIGH: According to Bob Nightengale, the Cubs are hellbent on adding a starting pitcher, possibly targeting Mitch Keller from the Pittsburgh Pirates, and would be willing to part with prized prospect Owen Caissie to get the deal done.
And while the Cubs have expressed interest in Washington Nationals ace MacKenzie Gore, it looks like the Nats will keep their core intact past the deadline, including Gore.
Mooney also mentioned that Adrian Houser (pictured above) is another option the Cubs are keeping tabs on as the deadline nears. Houser, 32, spent parts of seven seasons with Craig Counsell in Milwaukee.
BOBBING FOR BIG APPLES: The New York Mets are one of several teams interested in acquiring Luis Robert Jr. Per Nightengale, the White Sox would seek Mets 3B Mark Vientos in a trade package.
Robert’s 2025 struggles have been well documented, but before Sunday’s 0-4 performance, the White Sox’s centerfielder had hits in nine consecutive games, with two home runs and four stolen bases over that span.
Robert hadn’t played since Wednesday due to adductor soreness, and on Sunday, he wore a 101-mph fastball from Cubs closer Daniel Palencia on his right forearm in the ninth inning. Luckily, precautionary X-rays after the game came back negative.
Vientos, 25, has struggled in his second full season with the Mets, slashing just .226/.280/.358 through 73 games. But he’s still just one year removed from clubbing 27 home runs and a 2.9 fWAR season in 2024.
OTHER NUGGETS:
For the Cubs, catcher Miguel Amaya and pitcher Javier Assad will head to Iowa to begin rehab assignments with the Triple-A club later this week.
As for the Sox, they’re promoting Braden Montgomery (MLB’s No. 26 & White Sox’s No. 2 prospect) to Double-A Birmingham. In 69 games with High-A Winston-Salem, Montgomery hit eight home runs and slashed a decent .260/.348/.445.
The Kickoff Classic ⛳️
FORE! Join your favorite friends and Diehards from CHGO at 9 a.m. on August 22nd when we kick off the NFL season with our third annual Kickoff Classic at Cog Hill #2 — The Ravines!
You can sign up as an individual, twosome or a foursome, and your entry fee includes 18 Holes with a cart, limited-edition CHGO tee gifts, contests, giveaways, and lunch during a post-round ceremony.
EXTENSION: The Bulls have agreed to a multi-year contract extension with head coach Billy Donovan, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. In five seasons with the Bulls, Donovan has compiled a 195-205 record, securing one playoff berth, one playoff win, and three consecutive Play-In eliminations.
Is it Donovan’s fault that the Bulls are stuck in perpetual mediocrity? Not really. But is ten games under .500 over five years worthy of a multi-year extension? It’s just a tough one to justify, but par for the course from an aggravatingly complacent organization.
BIG WEEK: The pads finally go on at Halas Hall this week! Is this the week we see second-round pick Luther Burden III for the first time since rookie minicamp? The wide receiver is supposedly nearing a return after suffering a soft-tissue leg injury, which has lingered for weeks.
When asked on Saturday when Burden might see the field again, Ben Johnson said: “Hopefully soon.”
1-0 in 2025.
Got paired up with a Packers fan today. Gave him a gift.
— #Greg Braggs Jr. (#@GBraggsJr23)
4:14 PM • Jul 27, 2025
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