Shaw was scratched late but later appeared as a pinch hitter in the eighth and played in the field in the ninth; his absence from the lineup pregame was noted.

Shaw contributed the Cubs’ seventh-inning sac fly to plate their lone run, highlighting the team’s limited offensive production in a tough night. His ability to drive in runs in key moments places him among the players the Cubs will lean on as they chase consistency in the final stretch.

Shaw has flipped neutral to positive for the Cubs, posting high-contact, elevated barrel rates, and delivering clutch hits while playing solid defense at third. His recent OPS spikes and multi-week consistency have elevated expectations for 2025, with a clear path to becoming a core offensive catalyst alongside Suzuki and Tucker.

Shaw has been the Cubs’ most dependable bat lately, delivering consistency in a lineup plagued by uneven performances. Yet he’s routinely slotted low in the order, limiting RBI opportunities. Restoring Shaw to a higher spot could unlock significant fantasy upside by increasing plate appearances and run production.

Shaw represented the go-ahead run but was doubled off second on a liner by Michael Busch, ending the eighth. His baserunning miscue directly swung the late rally and the momentum of the game, illustrating how critical every base-run decision remains in a tight race.