Happy Monday, friends!

When does a slump stop being a slump?

The Cubs finished April with an 18-12 record. Since then? 16-26 with one of the worst scoring offenses in baseball.

So is this just one massively unlucky stretch or is this par for the course?

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— Patrick Norton

Who’s to blame for Cubs’ slow start?

This year was supposed to feel closer to a culmination than a collapse. Instead, the Cubs sit at the bottom of the NL Central nearing the halfway point of the season.

Replacing David Ross with Craig Counsell in the offseason and possessing the 8th largest payroll in baseball simply wasn’t enough to get the job done.

What else does Jed Hoyer need to build a contender?

• Hoyer spoke with The Athletic earlier this month about the upcoming trade deadline, saying “You need to be able to homer at the right times. And you need to be able to score in bunches.” The Cubs are 13-16 in one-run games thanks to its power deficiency.
  
• But just about any external addition to the roster would put the payroll above the luxury tax, and it’s unclear if that’s in the cards for a team slipping further from legitimate contention. Is it still possible for Hoyer to acquire impact bats to catapult the Cubs back into contention? Despite his lacking track record of midseason swings, his job might depend on it.
  

📖 READ | CHGO’s Ryan Herrera and Brendan Miller spoke with Justin Steele and Tommy Hottovy about the ace’s renewed utilization of his changeup.

⚾ TONIGHT | Cubs vs. Giants — 7:05 on Marquee Sports Network

$99 Trip to Milwaukee!

We’re heading up to Wrigley North! Join us on a bus ride up to MKE from Almost Home in Chicago or the Circa Sportsbook in Waukegan for just $99! Ticket includes a game ticket, bus ride, and other special perks!

White Sox on pace with ‘Motor City Kitties’

2003 Detroit Tigers, you have company.

That Tigers team finished 43-119. This year’s White Sox team is on pace to finish 42-120. There’s plenty of time for the Southsiders to hit a run and exit historic territory, but a 4-25 record over the last month certainly doesn’t help.

• Despite this historically awful year, baseball’s latest rule changes to the draft lottery will prevent the Sox from selecting earlier than with the No. 10 overall pick in next year’s MLB Draft.
  
• That leaves Chris Getz in a sticky situation where trading the team’s young, elite talent like Luis Robert Jr. and Garrett Crochet might be the only way to get the franchise’s latest rebuild attempt off of the ground. But saying goodbye to Crochet, Robert, and vets like Tommy Pham and Erick Fedde could mean an even harsher finish to the season.
  

📖 READ | CHGO’s Jared Wyllys spoke with Fedde about the role the White Sox starter’s stint in the KBO played in his MLB resurgence.

⚾ NEXT | White Sox vs. Astros — Tuesday, 7:10 on NBC Sports Chicago

Roundup: Clark vs. Reese No. 2, Last Red Line doubleheader of 2024

• Whether the two acknowledge it or not, the rivalry between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark is rapidly growing. Reese’s controversial flagrant-1 after inadvertently making contact with Clark’s head overshadowed Reese’s sixth consecutive double-double. Clark vs. Reese comes to Chicago for the first time next Sunday!
  
• Wednesday marks the last opportunity for Chicago baseball fans to catch a game at Wrigley Field and Guaranteed Rate Field on the same day in 2024! It’s the third and final chance this season to (likely) watch the entirety of the action at each park. The Cubs face the Giants at 1:20 before the White Sox host the Astros at 7:10!
  

“Hey Dad…”

Join us for an upcoming CHGO event!

⚾️ 6/21: Friday 1:20 Club at Wrigley Field – vs. New York Mets
⚾️ 6/24: White Sox Takeover at Guaranteed Rate – vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
🏀 6/26: Bulls Draft Party at PB&J
⛳️ 7/22: Cookout Classic Golf Outing at St. Andrews!

Check out our full calendar here!