Cub Tracks makes hay

Ride out the heat wave as long as possible! Refer to the recap if you want game details. Here, we’re gonna party!

The sun shines, everybody’s dancin’, let’s keep it going! Six in a row!

I love day baseball. Let’s do it again today!

And now for the news — as always * means autoplay on, or annoying ads, or both (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome).

Cubs News and Notes:

The Cubs have scored 5 or more runs in 8 straight games for the first time since 2010. They’ll get a chance at scoring 5+ in 9 straight games for the first time since 1970, on Friday, when they host the Reds. The Cubs have won 6 straight, all after the opponent has scored first. They’re 22-22 when that happens this year, best win pct in baseball. — Jesse Rogers.

• Jesse Rogers (ESPN*): Scoring second not a problem in Cubs’ string of snappy comebacks. “It’s just so fun watching those guys and their approach right now,” Kyle Hendricks said.
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): Everything is still up in the air on Bryant and Darvish. “The news is not explicitly bad on these guys, but it certainly doesn’t offer you any kind of encouragement about the proximity of their returns.”
• Tony Andracki (NBC Sports Chicago*): Analyzing the All-Star chances for each Cubs player. “...the only Cub with a chance of being voted in (was) catcher Willson Contreras.”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cubs’ rotation alignment keeps Jon Lester in line to pitch in All-Star Game. “That was a big thing, to not push Jonny around,” manager Joe Maddon said.
• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): What’s wrong with Kyle Hendricks? Let him explain. “When​ Hendricks struggles, it almost always can​ be traced back​​ to a mechanics problem...”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Journeyman righty Anthony Bass has hooked with Cubs by avoiding walks. “...a 0.00 BB/9 rate...”
• Carrie Muskat (MLB.com*): Willson Contreras’ 3 RBIs push Cubs to 6th straight win. “Each of the six wins have required a rally, and the Cubs lead the Major Leagues with 26 comeback wins.”
• Tony Andracki (NBC Sports Chicago*): Victor Caratini may finally be in the majors to stay. “I got a lot of playing time down in Iowa, and I’m ready to go and I feel good.” he said.
• Chris Cwik (Yahoo sports*): Anthony Rizzo narrates MLB Network feature on Stoneman Douglas baseball team. “Rizzo graduated from Stoneman Douglas in 2007. His baseball jersey was retired by the school in 2016.”
• Carrie Muskat (MLB.com*):Javier Baez swipes home on amazing slide. “...the fourth time in his career and third time in the regular season he’s done so.”
• ESPN: Javier Baez talks about stealing home [VIDEO].
• Adrian Garro (Cut Four): Kyle Schwarber showed up to work on the Fourth of July in a bright red, white and blue beard. “...red, white and blue logo, pinstripe jerseys, it’s a great look.”
• Steve Greenberg (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Jason Heyward, Dexter Fowler signings: one more way Cubs are beating Cardinals. “We just believe the game is not over until it’s over, up or down,” Heyward said. “We’ve been on both sides.”
• Gordon Wittenmyer (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Cubs’ Joe Maddon: Mozeliak’s comments ripping Dexter Fowler ‘really unfortunate’. “I don’t have any idea what’s going on there in St. Louis,” he said.
• Todd Johnson (Cubs Insider): Cubs prospect update: Jake Stinnett adapting quickly to closer role with Smokies. “Mick Gillispie often comments on how quickly Stinnett works as a closer.”
• Todd Johnson (Wrigleyville-Baseball Prospectus): Nico Hoerner looks impressive in his first week as a Cub. “He plays like a veteran already.”

Food For Thought:

Thanks for reading.