chicago_suntimes
With the trade deadline looming on Monday, the Cubs are expected to bolster their pitching staff, but their current starters are making a strong case to stay put. The rotation, which struggled with injuries earlier this season, has been on a tear recently.
Left-handers Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga have been particularly impressive. Boyd, returning from knee surgery, has a 1.93 ERA over his last seven starts, going at least six innings in each of his five July outings. Imanaga has posted a 1.19 ERA in four starts this month. David Peterson, acquired via trade, has allowed just five runs in four starts, and Colin Rea has a 3.35 ERA in his last seven appearances.
Despite the strong performances, the Cubs are expected to add arms, potentially including a top-tier name like Tarik Skubal. Jed Hoyer's front office will focus on depth and upgrades to avoid a repeat of last year's playoff pitching issues.
Key Analysis
The Cubs' rotation depth has been tested, with injuries sidelining key arms like Edward Cabrera and Ben Brown in June. But the current group has stabilized the staff, according to manager Craig Counsell. 'There was a time when we were like, Who is going to start games for us? This group has stabilized things,' Counsell said. While the rotation is performing well, the team will still seek improvements at the deadline to ensure they have enough pitching for a deep playoff run.
Originally reported by chicago_suntimes.