The Cubs continue to take care of business on the road — despite their one-hit hiccup Thursday.
After taking two of three in the series in Kansas City, Mo., the Cubs won their three-game set against the Washington Nationals, led by Alex Bregman’s big performance — four home runs and eight RBIs — in the first two games. The Cubs have won nine consecutive road series, matching the 1912 team for the longest such streak in franchise history, according to team historian Ed Hartig. They return home for three games each against the St. Louis Cardinals and White Sox as they try to catch the Milwaukee Brewers at the top of the division.
The White Sox begin another big division matchup Friday, starting a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. The first-place Sox have a 2½-game lead over the Tigers in the American League Central.
The Sox will continue a stretch of 16 games in 16 days with the City Series beginning Monday at Wrigley Field.
Every Friday 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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Late-season bullpen help for Cubs?
Diamondbacks pitcher Shelby Miller, right, celebrates with catcher Jose Herrera after sealing a victory against the White Sox on June 24, 2025, at Rate Field. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
When veteran right-hander Shelby Miller signed a two-year deal with Cubs in February, the 35-year-old wasn’t content with taking the full season to recover from Tommy John surgery.
Miller told the Tribune in March that he wanted to get back to the majors in September, which would be less than 12 months since undergoing the procedure for the second time in his career. That aggressive goal is on track to be achieved.
“Shelby’s rehab and return to play at this point has gone as well as it possibly could, and he’s done a heck of a job, and the staff in Arizona has done a heck of a job with Shelby,” manager Craig Counsell said. “So we’ve got to a place that we probably didn’t anticipate getting to in March when we signed him. Having said that, we’ve got steps to go here still, so I wouldn’t consider this, like, yeah Shelby Miller’s back. This is coming back from a serious injury. His rehab’s going to be a little longer, and we have to be a little safer with his rehab as well.”
Miller started a rehab assignment Sunday and has appeared in two games. He allowed one run on two hits with two strikeouts in his first outing and then, on Wednesday at Double-A Knoxville, struck out all three batters he faced.
“This is a credit to Shelby,” Counsell said. “He’s worked his tail off. I mean, he’s been maybe a model for how you try to return from this injury, really. And so we’re all rooting for him, and we’ll see what happens.”
One of the most important parts of Miller’s comeback process is how he feels after pitching and how he recovers between appearances. So far there haven’t been any issues, but the Cubs are going to be careful as he progresses. Miller, whom the Cubs want to be built up to at most two innings, also has to get to a point at which he can show he’s capable of pitching back-to-back days.
“You have to be able to handle a major-league workload, yeah,” Counsell said. “We’ve got weeks to go.”
Making a smooth transition to Sox
White Sox center fielder Brenton Doyle wears a pope hat in the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the first inning against the Reds on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, at Rate Field. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Brenton Doyle didn’t waste any time making an impact for the Sox on Tuesday, jumping on the first pitch of the bottom of the first for a leadoff home run.
“I think the leadoff spot is a great position to be put in to get some early momentum for the game, and I wanted to be aggressive early on in that at-bat,” Doyle told the Tribune on Wednesday. “And I got the first pitch to put a good swing on, and put my ‘A’ swing on it.”
When Doyle returned to the dugout, teammate Chase Meidroth placed a pope hat on his head. Doyle got a kick out of including the highly anticipated promotion in the celebration.
“It was definitely appropriate for the night,” Doyle said. “That was a fun crowd and a good celebration. I’m glad that one of the hats made its way into the dugout for the home run celebration.”
The outfielder has contributed offensively and defensively since being traded from the Colorado Rockies on Aug. 3. He is 7-for-25 (.280) with one home run, one RBI, two stolen bases and three runs in his first nine games with the Sox.
“I’ve been comfortable,” Doyle said. “I give a lot of credit to the coaching staff and the hitting staff here and definitely my teammates. They’ve made the transition super easy for me, and it’s helped me be comfortable.”
Doyle said overall the transition has been “going great.”
“The energy, the vibes here are awesome,” Doyle said. “I really enjoy coming to the clubhouse every single day and ready to get after it with this group of guys.
“We’re always in the game, no matter if we get down early or not. … We’ve got some dogs on this team that are always wanting to fight, no matter what score.”
Number of the week: 3
According to STATS, only three teams in Major League Baseball history have reached the playoffs the season after losing 100 games: the Kansas City Royals in 2024, Miami Marlins in 2020 and Minnesota Twins in 2017. The Sox, who went 60-102 in 2025, are attempting to join that list this season.
Week ahead: Cubs
Cubs closer Daniel Palencia heads back to the dugout during a game against the Brewers on May 20, 2026, at Wrigley Field. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
- Friday: vs. Cardinals, 1:20 p.m., Apple TV
- Saturday: vs. Cardinals, 1:20 p.m., Marquee
- Sunday: vs. Cardinals, 1:20 p.m., Marquee
- Monday: vs. White Sox, 7:05 p.m., Marquee, CHSN, The U
- Tuesday: vs. White Sox, 7:05 p.m., Marquee, CHSN, The U
- Wednesday: vs. White Sox, 1:20 p.m., Marquee, CHSN, The U
- Thursday: off
Daniel Palencia’s rehab assignment is not off to a smooth start.
Palencia, out since June 16 because of a flexor strain, has made three appearances, and the results haven’t been great for the Cubs closer. Poor command has led to five runs in 2 1/3 innings despite just one hit. He ha walked six batters, hit one and struck out three.
“We’ve just got to keep Danny out there, that’s the most important thing,” Counsell said. “He has not been sharp the last couple times out, so we’re just going to keep getting him out there.”
Palencia has been limited to only 16 2/3 innings for the Cubs because of his current injury and an oblique strain earlier in the season that landed him on the injured list for three weeks. The Cubs will need Palencia down the stretch, but the 26-year-old must be sharper and work through the command problems before they can activate him.
Left-hander Hoby Milner could soon be rejoining the bullpen after making another rehab appearance Wednesday for Triple-A Iowa. The Cubs don’t appear to be in a rush to figure out who Milner would replace in a pen that has limited optionable relievers.
Week ahead: White Sox
White Sox starter Sean Burke has a laugh as he walks to the dugout during a game against the Reds on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, at Rate Field. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
- Friday: at Tigers, 5:40 p.m., CHSN
- Saturday: at Tigers, 12:10 p.m., CHSN
- Sunday: at Tigers, 12:40 p.m., CHSN
- Monday: at Cubs, 7:05 p.m., CHSN, The U, Marquee
- Tuesday: at Cubs, 7:05 p.m., CHSN, The U, Marquee
- Wednesday: at Cubs, 1:20 p.m., CHSN, The U, Marquee
- Thursday: vs. Braves, 1:10 p.m., CHSN
Starter Sean Burke lowered his ERA to 2.99 after allowing one run on three hits with eight strikeouts and no walks in seven innings Tuesday against the Reds. The right-hander has been on a roll in his last 10 appearances (nine starts) since June 18, going 4-2 with a 1.60 ERA, 11 walks and 79 strikeouts in 62 innings.
“I think most of my growth has been more mental than physical,” Burke said after Tuesday’s start. “Obviously the stuff has been a little bit better too. But I think just the ability to recognize what’s working and what zones I have to attack. And just getting on the same page. This is kind of year two with me working with (catcher Edgar Quero), and really year like two and a half just because we threw together in the minors too.
“I think more and more I throw with (Quero) and more and more with (catcher Drew) Romo, just getting on the same page and learning together has been helpful.”
Burke ranked seventh in the American League in ERA and fifth in strikeouts (152) coming into Thursday.
“He’s pitching with extreme confidence,” manager Will Venable said. “He’s in control of everything that he wants to do. I think the cool part is that as he gets through the beginning of the games, he understands where he’s at with what pitches are working. (Tuesday is) a great example with the slider, really leaned on it. Sometimes it’s the fastball, sometimes it’s the cutter, curveball or whatever. So just a really good feel for his strengths.”
Burke is slated to pitch Sunday’s series finale against the Tigers at Comerica Park.
What we’re reading today
Quotable
“We’ll make those decisions when we absolutely have to.” — Counsell on Thursday on whether right-hander Edward Cabrera will make another rehab outing or be activated from the injured list