Cubs Enter Second Half With Championship Aspirations and Sense of Urgency

The Chicago Cubs are shifting into high gear as they embark on the final stretch of the regular season. With two and a half months remaining before October, the team is intent on transforming a first half marred by pitching injuries and an extended offensive drought into a championship run.

Shortstop Dansby Swanson captured the team’s mindset heading into the second half on Friday. “Now starts kind of a new journey,” Swanson said. “There’s some sense of urgency of going out there and playing your best ball right off the bat.”

The Cubs made no secret of their ultimate objective before the season began: a World Series title. The organization has set championship-level expectations from the outset.

However, the Cubs have not been overwhelmingly dominant through the first half. Despite securing a playoff position heading into the second half, they trail the Milwaukee Brewers by five games in the National League Central division race.

To close the gap with their divisional rivals, Chicago believes it must execute consistently over the remainder of the season. “That’s all that really matters at the end of the day: if we perform well,” Swanson emphasized. “What matters is this group stepping up and playing ball that it’s capable of doing.”

Reliever Phil Maton reflected on the team’s trajectory entering the critical final months. “We’re starting to average out and become the team we’re supposed to be,” he said. “But I think there’s a ton of room to grow.”

Maton stressed the importance of building momentum as the calendar approaches September. “The most important thing is being very hot in September. We’re really starting to show glimpses of it, and it’s starting to show what kind of team we can be.”

Right-handed pitcher Jameson Taillon will rejoin the rotation next week after an extended absence. The veteran has not appeared since June 7, when he departed with a hamstring strain.

Taillon will make his return during the Tigers series, in a game to be announced. His addition should provide relief to a pitching staff that struggled through the first half.

Relief pitcher Edward Cabrera is ramping up his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury of his own. He will throw live batting practice as the Cubs depart on a road trip next week, with manager Craig Counsell indicating Cabrera could become available around mid-August.

Closer Daniel Palencia’s recovery from elbow inflammation has encountered a setback. Counsell noted the team has needed to “repeat some steps” in Palencia’s rehab plan, pushing his expected return into mid-August.

Utility infielder Matt Shaw continues to battle a hand sprain that surfaced in late June. “That’s definitely going to be longer,” Counsell said regarding Shaw’s continued absence from the lineup.

Left-handed reliever Hoby Milner could return from the injured list around August 1 following an appendectomy in recent weeks.

Center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong provided insight into the team’s clubhouse personality when asked about third baseman Alex Bregman’s sense of humor. “I don’t know who told you that,” the All-Star said. “Not true.”

Crow-Armstrong offered his own assessment of who brings the most laughs to the dugout. “Breggy’s probably not even top three, man,” he said, citing pitcher Jameson Taillon, pitcher Shota Imanaga, and outfielder Seiya Suzuki as funnier.

“Seiya is probably the sneakiest funny guy we have,” Crow-Armstrong explained. “I love Breggy. And he is funny. He’s got good timing. But I don’t think he’s quite earned it yet.”