Brewers 7, Cubs 0 in a rain-soaked makeup at Wrigley. Chicago could muster only two hits and three walks while the pitching staff labored, with Cade Horton exiting early with a blister and the bullpen splintering after Luke Little’s sixth-inning appearance (even a pitch timer violation). Seiya Suzuki celebrated his 31st birthday with a patient at-bat, but Owen Caissie supplied the Cubs’ lone bright moment with his first big-league hit as Chicago failed to find offense in a lopsided day.

What looms now is a Tuesday doubleheader that could reshape the Cubs’ immediate plans. Jameson Taillon was listed to start the day game, with Jordan Wicks likely serving as the 27th man for the nightcap, while the weather forecast promises better conditions. The Brewers, meanwhile, used a steady attack and a weather-delayed rhythm to cruise to the win, leaving Chicago to reset during a pivotal late-season stretch.

Seiya Suzuki delivered the go-ahead RBI single in the eighth, lifting the Chicago Cubs to a 3-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Kyle Tucker kicked off the scoring sequence by singling and swiping second base before Suzuki’s grounder to center plated him. Nico Hoerner added a two-out RBI double after an intentional pass to Ian Happ. Shota Imanaga spun seven strong innings for the Cubs, and Brad Keller closed it out to seal the win.

The Cubs finally snapped a skid, getting three runs from a lineup that has often been held in check this month. Pittsburgh’s offense was limited to a Tommy Pham homer and a handful of opportunities, with rookie Mike Burrows going five innings and Evan Sisk exiting after one, leaving the Pirates to rue missed chances in a tight ballgame. The series concludes with Cubs ace-in-waiting Javier Assad taking the ball for Chicago and Carmen Mlodzinski opening for Pittsburgh, signaling more bullpen depth will be tested in game three.

Fantasy angles center on Suzuki’s late-game power and Tucker’s baserunning pace in a run-heavy back-end of the lineup, while Imanaga’s seven-inning gem underscores Chicago’s ongoing confidence in the lefty. For Pittsburgh, Pham’s homer provides a spark, but the offense will need more sustained production from the top of the order as the Pirates lean on Burrows’ five innings and a deeper bullpen to cover the rest of the series.

The Pirates visit the Chicago Cubs for a three‑game set on Friday as a mid‑August pivot in a crowded NL race. Pittsburgh sits 51-71 and has yet to name a starter, while Chicago hands the ball to Colin Rea (4.09 era) in a matchup that could swing leverage for both clubs. The Pirates just endured a brutal Brewers series where pitching allowed 33 runs and the offense managed six. Chicago wrapped a series with Toronto with a 2-1 loss, as Matthew Boyd labored for seven innings but Max Scherzer shut the door. The Cubs sit eight games back in the NL Central but 4.5 games up for a Wild Card spot. NBC Sports’ page lays out odds: Pirates +162, Cubs -196, with Cubs -1.5 and a 9.0 total. The projected pitching duel is TBD vs Rea, with Rea bringing a steady, attackable profile. Nightly lineups and live updates are essential for fantasy players enjoying this clash.

Expect Rea to attack hitters with a mix of fastball and change, while the Cubs lean on their home‑field edge and depth in the lineup. In fantasy terms, Nico Hoerner and Kyle Tucker emerge as players to watch for value against a Pirates bullpen that’s been stressed, while Colin Rea’s ability to work around danger will determine early momentum. The NBC model’s edge lines up Cubs on the moneyline, but a Pirates upset remains a plausible path if Chicago drifts late in the game. The best route for bettors and fantasy players is to track the in‑game moves and the first few innings for clues on who steps up when it matters most.

Toronto blew past Chicago 5-1 at Rogers Centre behind a gritty Jose Berríos start, where the right-hander navigated four walks while yielding two hits across 5 1/3 innings to move to 9-4. Ernie Clement supplied the power with a season-high three-run homer in the fourth, and Daulton Varsho added a solo shot in the eighth to cushion the victory. Jeff Hoffman closed it with a perfect ninth. The defensive highlight reel included Giménez and Bichette on key plays, and Nathan Lukes’ daring snag in the gap. The Jays benefited from a robust crowd (43,003) and leaned on timely offense and bullpen depth to seal a comfortable win over the Cubs.

Fantasy angles rise from the American League’s depth chart. Berríos continued to pile up wins despite volatility in his command; Clement’s power surge across five games signals a potential mini-breakout, especially with his four homers in his last 25 plate appearances. Varsho’s steady power pace (12th homer in 32 games) keeps him in the mixed-league conversation as Toronto builds around a multi-faceted lineup. The win reinforces Toronto’s positional flexibility and depth, which could unlock favorable matchups and stacking potential as the season presses on.

The Chicago Cubs secured a decisive 6-1 victory against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field, showcasing a standout performance from Nico Hoerner. Hoerner went 2 for 4 with a walk, contributing an RBI and scoring a run in the process. One of the highlights of the game occurred in the 8th inning when Hoerner delivered an RBI via a check swing, a moment captured delightfully by the broadcast. Another memorable instance involved Hoerner hitting a foul ball aimed at a young fan who was unprepared to catch it, but fortunately, a neighboring fan was ready with a hat; the catch sparked excitement from both kids and their mom.