The Chicago Cubs have had an impressive run, holding a share of first place in the NL Central for 108 days, thanks to their strong offensive consistency despite facing injuries in their pitching rotation. However, their recent 12-4 defeat to the Kansas City Royals, coupled with the Milwaukee Brewers' 11-game winning streak, has knocked them off the top spot.

Fans voiced their frustrations during the loss at Wrigley Field, particularly during a challenging fifth inning that saw the Royals capitalize on defensive errors by the Cubs. Despite a promising start, the Cubs fell apart, leading to their current standing of 59-41.

Ben Brown, who was called up from Triple-A, struggled in his outing, allowing seven runs over four innings, raising concerns about his reliability as the Cubs approach the critical October stretch. Manager Craig Counsell indicated that Brown's role may need to change if the Cubs make additional acquisitions before the trade deadline.