Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell was stumped.
He couldn’t come up with an answer Saturday afternoon when asked if the 2025 version of the team had the best defense of any he has been a part of as a player or manager.
He said he couldn’t remember much about when he was a player and guessed that it was some of his later Milwaukee Brewers teams when he was their manager.
“That hard to answer,” he said. “But I think we have a very good defense, and I think we have gotten better as the season has gone on.
“When you have a good defense, you start to realize how important it is and how valuable it is. We’ve seen it countless times. It helps your pitchers and it helps with run prevention. Run prevention is everybody’s job and it’s a big part of baseball.”
Sure, there are going to be occasions when the team is going to throw the ball away or drop a fly and look bad in the field.
But heading into Saturday night’s game against the Boston Red Sox at Wrigley Field, the overall body of work for the Cubs defense this season has been strong. And it’s no coincidence that they entered Saturday with the best record in the National League at 58-39.
According to Baseball Reference, the Cubs were tied for fifth in the majors with the Seattle Mariners in fielding percentage at .989. The Texas Rangers were first at .991. The league average is .986.
The Cubs were fifth in MLB in the fewest-error category with 38 in 821 chances. The Rangers were first with 31 in 876 chances.
Individually, All-Star Pete Crow-Armstrong was one of 12 regular major-league players still perfect with a 1.000 fielding percentage and was the major-league leader among center fielders with 289 putouts.
Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson jumps over Red Sox right fielder Roman Anthony on a fielder’s choice in the fourth inning on July 19, 2025, at Wrigley Field. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Catcher Carson Kelly was at .998, second baseman Nico Hoerner was at .995, left fielder Ian Happ and first baseman Michael Busch were both at .994, right fielder Kyle Tucker was at .989 and shortstop Dansby Swanson was at .986.
Much to Counsell’s delight, the Cubs are saving runs. According to the Fielding Bible, the Cubs were tied for second in the majors with the Atlanta Braves with 52 runs saved behind the Rangers’ 56.
In Friday’s 4-1 victory over the Red Sox to snap the visitors’ 10-game winning streak, Tucker had a sliding catch in right, rookie third baseman Matt Shaw stopped a hot grounder and Crow-Armstrong was a part of an unusual double play in which he caught a liner and doubled up Red Sox runner Abraham Toro at second base.
“It’s so much fun,” Crow-Armstrong said of the team’s defense. “You saw plays from Matty and Kyle. Ian held (Ceddanne) Rafaela to a single. The middle turned a couple of double plays and whatnot.
“Individually, when you have defensive abilities to rely on, that’s huge in itself. But when you have a whole squad who can go out there and know that you are capable of taking hits away, that makes the team better.”
Crow-Armstrong’s double play came in the top of the fifth with runners at first and second and no one out. Toro was heading toward third when Crow-Armstrong caught Alex Bergman’s liner.
“I just made my decision too quick,” Toro told reporters after the game. I’ve got to put the blame on me.”
Crow-Armstrong said he didn’t try to deke Toro. He said it was just a routine play, and Horner tagged Toto out.
“I was surprised to see it, but I have two middle infielders who I have a pretty big margin for error with in terms of throws,” Crow-Armstrong said. “It was just catch-and-throw, and I had Nico at the bag to pick me up.”
Cubs starter Colin Rea was thankful for the heads-up play by his center fielder.
“It was an unfortunate mental error on their part, but Pete stepped up and made a great throw, so that was huge,” Rea said. “You don’t know how the inning is going to go after that. If he stays at second, there is only one out. That was a big play.”
Added Counsell: “They had a good inning working and then you stopped the inning completely. That’s what defense does and that’s what quietly helps your pitchers just be better.”
Rotation update
The Cubs had listed their starter for Sunday as TBA, but Counsell said rookie Cade Horton (3-3, 4.45 ERA) will take the mound for the series finale and face former White Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet (10-4, 2.23)
The starter for Monday’s series opener against the Kansas City Royals has not been decided. The Cubs could go with an opener.
All-Star Matthew Boyd (10-3, 2.34) is scheduled to start against the Royals. He was named an All-Star but elected not to pitch in the game. His last appearance was July 12 in a 5-2 road win over the New York Yankees.
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
Originally Published: July 19, 2025 at 6:54 PM CDT