The Cubs’ offense remains a fluctuating theme as they drop another 4-1 decision to Atlanta. Elder kept Chicago blanked for the second time in a week, while Imanaga labored early but steadied into six innings. Nico Hoerner provided Chicago’s lone extra-base hit with a double, and Matt Shaw added a seventh-inning sac fly, but the Cubs’ bats didn’t sustain pressure. With 18 games left, the Cubs must bolt their lineup back to consistent scoring to chase the playoffs. Atlanta, leaning on a sharp first inning and a resilient bullpen, holds serve as the schedule tightens.

Imanaga’s adjustments after the first helped limit damage, but the Braves’ early onslaught set the tone. Hoerner stressed the need for a unified, high-intensity approach, while the Cubs look to rebound with offensive stability. The Braves’ aggression in the opening frame underscored the gap the Cubs must close, especially as the postseason picture nears.

The Cubs pounded Washington 11-5 at Wrigley, riding a four-homer attack with Dansby Swanson, Reese McGuire, Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ all going deep. Hoerner’s shot gave him his sixth of the year and his first at Wrigley since 2024, as Sosa watched from the stands during the Hall of Fame weekend. Jake Irvin struggled early, while Pete Crow-Armstrong used a day off to reset and finish 2-for-3 with two sacrifice flies. For fantasy, Chicago’s home-hitting power remains a prime target as Washington deals with a rough starter turnover and big innings.

Cade Horton dazzled in Anaheim, fortifying Chicago’s rookie-upside angle as he carved through the Angels with a crisp mix and a favorable zone. Kyle Tucker resurfaced with power, while Reese McGuire supplied timely pop behind the plate. The Cubs leaned on Shōta Imanaga and Kyle Hendricks in a rotation that thrives on depth and control, with Colin Rea and Suzuki contributing to a growing lineup that could fuel a late-season push.

McGuire’s bat, Horton’s command, and Tucker’s return spark a fantasy angle: Horton as a potential multi-start asset, Tucker as a power-driven core, and McGuire as a catcher streamer in a Cubs lineup that may ride its depth to win counts and run production. The buzz around Crow-Armstrong and Shaw hints at breakout potential as Chicago gears for September.

Amaya returned from the 60-day IL after a left oblique strain and started at catcher for the Cubs in Toronto, only to leave the game with an ankle sprain. X-rays were negative, but the initial diagnosis is an IL stint and a harsh setback for a club that sat atop the NL wild-card race. The Cubs quickly recalled Owen Caissie, Chicago's No. 2 prospect, as they weather the injury and push toward the final six weeks.

Kelly and McGuire split catching duties during Amaya's absence, leaving the door open for Caissie to debut soon in a roster-starved stretch. The Cubs finish the Jays series before a homestand against Pittsburgh and Milwaukee, a crucial period for fantasy managers monitoring backstops and the lineup’s depth behind the plate.

Amaya's late setback adds volatility to Chicago's catching depth and lineup construction, forcing a closer watch on IL timelines and how Caissie (and the backup catchers) will impact playing time, run production, and ownership in fantasy formats as the Cubs navigate a tight wild-card chase.