The Chicago Cubs are trying to get rolling as they return home for a stretch that features their final five regular-season games versus the soaring Milwaukee Brewers.
Top prospect Owen Caissie earned his first big-league call-up in his home country Thursday in Toronto, with catcher Miguel Amaya going back on the injured list with a left ankle sprain he sustained in his first game off the 60-day IL.
The Chicago White Sox just completed a 2-4 homestand against the Cleveland Guardians and Detroit Tigers. They’ll continue working through the American League Central this weekend with three games against the Royals in Kansas City, Mo.
Every week during the regular season, Tribune baseball writers will provide an update on what happened — and what’s ahead — for the Cubs and White Sox.
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Cubs’ Willi Castro showing why he’s so valuable
When Willi Castro is on a road trip, the utilityman typically brings three mitts with him.
Two are for playing the infield and a third for the outfield. Castro estimates he has five or six gloves back at the Cubs clubhouse at Wrigley Field with another 25 at his home.
“Just in case, I’ve got some backups,” he said.
Life as a versatile defender means constant preparation for multiple positions. Since joining the Cubs on July 31 in a deadline deal with the Minnesota Twins, Castro has started at five positions: second base, third base and all three outfield spots.
“I know a lot of teams wanted me at the trade deadline,” Castro said. “That was a good fit over here, come here to help the team. I feel every time they put me in a different position every day, I feel natural at it. It is part of the work that I got through the years.”
Cubs outfielder Willi Castro makes a sliding catch in the sixth inning Aug. 6, 2025, at Wrigley Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Castro’s pregame routine can vary depending on whether he’s starting or on the bench. If he’s in the lineup, he makes sure to get reps at that position. Otherwise, he takes ground balls at his three infield positions before moving to the outfield to shag flies.
Castro’s presence allows manager Craig Counsell to find more rest for his regulars and be creative with in-game moves.
“That job is mostly about (embracing) playing the different positions,” Counsell said, “because you can’t overcomplicate that. You understand that it’s going to be hard going into a game at a different position and having a tough chance and just letting that be: ‘Hey, that was a tough chance and I’ve got to make the next one, or I might have to make the next one tomorrow at a different position.’
“That’s a mindset that you have to play with when you’re asked to do what we’re going to ask Willi to do, and that’s something he’s proven that he’s good at.”
White Sox’s Miguel Vargas makes quick recovery
White Sox infielders, from left, Curtis Mead, Colson Montgomery, Lenyn Sosa and Miguel Vargas look on during the ninth inning against the Tigers on Aug. 13, 2025, at Rate Field. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Miguel Vargas was a late scratch before an Aug. 2 game against the Los Angeles Angels because of a left oblique strain. The corner infielder landed on the 10-day injured list the next day.
Vargas made a quick recovery and returned to the Sox lineup Tuesday against the Tigers.
“Means a lot,” Vargas said of returning. “Was a little sad the last couple days, trying to come back here, trying to play with the guys and help them. Very glad to get back here.”
Vargas went 0-for-3 with two walks and a run in a 9-6 victory at Rate Field, then went 0-for-3 in Wednesday’s 1-0 loss.
“I thought it was better each at-bat,” manager Will Venable said Wednesday of Vargas’ return the night before. “He’s been grinding off the Trajek (machine) and he put himself in a really good spot to be prepared. There’s nothing like game action.
“I thought every pitch, every at-bat, we saw the timing better, the swing decisions better — drawing the walk later in the game was nice. It was a great day for him, and (I) expect to see him hitting the ball around the ballpark here pretty soon.”
Vargas said after Tuesday’s game that the oblique “felt good.”
“I don’t feel anything there today, so I’m happy,” he said.
He felt positive throughout that it wouldn’t be a lengthy absence, saying he “was crushing the rehab thing.” He played first base Tuesday and Wednesday with trade-deadline addition Curtis Mead at third.
“Right now as we’re set up, he’s our guy over there at first base,” Venable said of Vargas. “We’ve talked about Mead and the potential of them flipping; there may be days where that happens. But for today, he’s over at first base. But we know that can change quickly.”
Vargas has a .226/.304/.396 slash line with 25 doubles, 13 homers, 44 RBIs and 58 runs in 108 games this season.
“No matter how he’s been doing — and we’ve seen the highs and lows of the performance this year — he’s just been extremely consistent on a day-to-day basis,” Venable said. “He works extremely hard, gives our group energy and is positive every single day.”
Number of the week: 7
The Sox lead the majors with seven catcher pickoffs this season. Edgar Quero leads the big leagues with four.
Week ahead: Cubs
- Friday: vs. Pirates, 1:20 p.m., Marquee
- Saturday: vs. Pirates, 1:20 p.m., Marquee, FS1
- Sunday: vs. Pirates, 1:20 p.m., Marquee
- Monday: vs. Brewers, 1:20 and 7:05 p.m., Marquee
- Tuesday: vs. Brewers, 7:05 p.m., Marquee
- Wednesday: vs. Brewers, 7:05 p.m., Marquee
- Thursday: vs. Brewers, 1:20 p.m., Marquee
Cubs starter Michael Soroka pitches during the first inning against the Reds on Aug. 4, 2025, at Wrigley Field. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
Right-hander Michael Soroka checked one of the first boxes as he works back from a right shoulder strain he sustained two innings into his first start for the Cubs on Aug. 4.
Soroka threw plyo balls Wednesday and was expected to begin light catch Thursday. An MRI showed the shoulder strain will keep him on the IL long enough to require some level of building back up. But Soroka said Wednesday his shoulder feels really good and he’s making progress.
It helps that this isn’t Soroka’s first experience with a shoulder injury — most recently last year with the White Sox — so he understands how things should feel as he recovers.
Part of that process has included pitching coach Tommy Hottovy and special assistant Tyler Zombro identifying things within his delivery that changed over the last few months and may have contributed to taking a certain load in that spot of his shoulder, leading to the injury.
“It’s making sure that once we start throwing again that those habits that I created are tossed to the side and we go in the right direction,” Soroka said. “It’s the chicken or the egg, really. Did you start throwing differently because something was acting up, or did it happen because you were throwing differently? So there’s always little things.”
Week ahead: White Sox
- Friday: at Royals, 7:10 p.m., CHSN
- Saturday: at Royals, 6:10 p.m., CHSN
- Sunday: at Royals, 1:10 p.m., CHSN
- Monday: at Braves, 6:15 p.m., CHSN
- Tuesday: at Braves, 6:15 p.m., CHSN
- Wednesday: at Braves, 6:15 p.m., CHSN
- Thursday: off
White Sox pitcher Tyler Alexander waits for the plate umpire to allow him to warm up in the third inning against the Phillies on July 30, 2025, at Rate Field. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
The Sox had to turn to their bullpen early on Aug. 8 after falling behind by seven runs against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park.
Tyler Alexander responded with 4 1/3 scoreless innings. The lefty allowed one hit and struck out five as the Sox fought back before falling 8-6.
Alexander pitched another 4 1/3 scoreless relief innings Monday against the Tigers at Rate Field.
“Starters will pick you up. There will be weeks, maybe a month, where we don’t throw that much, which is normally a good thing,” Alexander said Tuesday. “Then we’ll have weeks or months where we pick up the starters and eat bulk innings and guys are going back to back, three out of four, four out of five. And those stretches are tough, but it’s part of the job.
“And guys like (Mike) Vasil and I, we’re length and we come in and we try to throw as many ups as we can, and it definitely feels good being able to pick the guys up.”
Alexander has a 2.59 ERA in 17 outings (one start) since signing with the Sox on June 8.
“I’ve been working a lot, trying to find a consistent sweeper,” he said. “I don’t know if I’ll ever quite get there, but that, combined with the changeup that I’ve been working on a lot, is a lot better this year. I’m not really asking why.
“Since I came here, it’s been a pitch I’ve thrown a lot more and it’s been a big part of my success. That and just throwing every fastball as fast as I can.”
What we’re reading today
Quotable
“He’s throwing a lot of strikes right now. The hitter recognizes they’re strikes, they recognize it’s good stuff, but his stuff is good in the strike zone. And that’s a great trait to have.” — Counsell on rookie right-hander Cade Horton