Chicago Cubs at Baltimore Orioles

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
CHC	0	0	1	0	2	0	1	1	0	5	10	1
BAL	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	2	6	0

Matthew Boyd (3-1, 4.62 ERA) got the ball for Chicago, still working his way back up to full strength after a meniscus issue cost him time earlier this season. His last time out he ground through 5.0 innings against the Padres for the win despite giving up 8 hits. Shane Baz (4-8, 4.11) countered for Baltimore at 6:35 PM ET, coming off a genuinely sharp turn against the White Sox where he went 7.0 innings and allowed just 2 earned runs, even if the results didn't show up in the decision column.

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FINAL

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ML

Total

Cubs(50-40)

WLLWW

5

-1.5+150-106o9.5+115

Orioles(42-49)

LWWWL

2

+1.5-153+104u9.5-113

Best BetCubs -121

Postgame

Hit — the Cubs' deeper roster showed up exactly as expected in a 5-2 win.

Pregame

Chicago's deeper, healthier lineup was the right side to lean on against an Orioles team whose bullpen keeps losing effective arms. Baltimore's price implied a near coin flip, but the roster gap between these two clubs is real right now. The Cubs' offense doesn't need to be at its best to win this one outright.

Both bullpens are running thin. The Cubs are without Jameson Taillon and Edward Cabrera in the rotation, and relievers Ben Brown, Phil Maton and Hoby Milner are all shelved too. Baltimore's situation is arguably worse — Ryan Helsley and Keegan Akin, two of their higher-leverage arms, both landed on the IL with elbow trouble this week and are each seeking second opinions. That's the kind of attrition that turns a tight game into a track meet in a hurry.

Matthew Boyd

(6-1)·4.15 ERA

Jun 30 vs Padres

W

5.0IP

3ER

2K

0BB

76P

07/07 Lineup

Shane Baz

(4-9)·4.13 ERA

Jun 29 vs White Sox

ND

7.0IP

2ER

6K

4BB

109P

07/07 Lineup

None of that stopped Chicago from doing what a healthier, deeper roster is supposed to do against a club that's spent the last month bleeding bullpen depth. The Orioles came in having won 3 of their last 5, but the injuries up and down that pitching staff have made every outing feel like it's held together with tape.

Chicago Cubs

(50-40)

Jul 5Wvs Cardinals6-4

Jul 5Lvs Cardinals0-3

Jul 3Lvs Cardinals1-17

Jul 1Wvs Padres23-3

Jul 1Wvs Padres9-7

Baltimore Orioles

(42-49)

Jul 5L@ Reds2-3

Jul 4W@ Reds8-5

Jul 3W@ Reds3-0

Jul 1Wvs White Sox6-1

Jun 30Lvs White Sox3-9

Chicago scratched across a run in the 3rd, then broke it open with a 2-run 5th before tacking on insurance in the 7th and 8th to build the 5-2 final. Baltimore's only real answer came in a 2-run 7th — a brief window where the Orioles actually got to the Cubs' bullpen — but it wasn't nearly enough offense to make up the difference against a lineup that had 10 hits on the night.

Chicago Cubs

(15)

• 10-Day-ILMatt Shaw (RF) — Shaw (hand) won't be activated from the injured list until after the All-Star break, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.07/04
• 15-Day-ILJameson Taillon (SP) — Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday that Taillon (hamstring) is expected to make another rehab start before returning from the 15-day injured list, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.07/07
• 15-Day-ILEdward Cabrera (SP) — Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that Cabrera (hamstring) resumed a throwing program this weekend, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.07/06
• 15-Day-ILEthan Roberts (RP) — The Cubs placed Roberts on the 15-day injured list Monday due to right forearm inflammation.06/29
• 15-Day-ILDaniel Palencia (RP) — Palencia (elbow) is progressing in his rehab from elbow tendinitis, but he won't be activated from the injured list until after the All-Star break, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.06/28
• 15-Day-ILHoby Milner (RP) — Milner (abdomen) will be sidelined 4-to-6 weeks after undergoing emergency appendectomy surgery on Friday, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.06/27
• 15-Day-ILPhil Maton (RP) — The Cubs placed Maton (knee) on the 15-day injured list Friday with a right knee injury, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.06/26
• 15-Day-ILBen Brown (RP) — Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Thursday that Brown has been diagnosed with a stress reaction in his neck and will have limited activity for the next month, 104.3 The Score reports.06/25
• 15-Day-ILRiley Martin (RP) — The Cubs announced June 10 that Martin (elbow) has resumed playing catch, MLB.com reports.06/22
• 60-Day-ILJustin Steele (SP) — Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said Tuesday in a radio appearance that he doesn't expect Steele (elbow) to rejoin the major-league rotation this season, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.06/23
• 60-Day-ILHunter Harvey (RP) — The Cubs moved Harvey (triceps) from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL on Sunday.05/17
• 60-Day-ILPorter Hodge (RP) — The Cubs transferred Hodge (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.05/08
• 60-Day-ILShelby Miller (RP) — The Cubs placed Miller (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Sunday.05/08
• 60-Day-ILCade Horton (SP) — The Cubs transferred Horton (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Saturday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.05/08
• 60-Day-ILTyler Austin (1B) — The Cubs placed Austin (knee) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.05/08

Baltimore Orioles

(9)

• 15-Day-ILKeegan Akin (RP) — Akin will receive a second opinion on his injured left elbow from Dr. Keith Meister next week, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.07/07
• 15-Day-ILRyan Helsley (RP) — Helsley will solicit a second opinion on his injured right elbow, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.07/07
• 15-Day-ILChris Bassitt (SP) — Bassitt (back) underwent a minor procedure to have bone spurs removed from his back, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.06/27
• 60-Day-ILYaramil Hiraldo (RP) — Hiraldo (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment Tuesday at High-A Frederick, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.06/29
• 60-Day-ILFelix Bautista (RP) — Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias said Saturday that Bautista (shoulder) has been "throwing really, really well" in his bullpen sessions, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.06/29
• 60-Day-ILColin Selby (RP) — Selby plans to receive a second opinion on his right shoulder before continuing his rehab program, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.06/29
• 60-Day-ILRyan Mountcastle (1B) — Mountcastle (foot) did some running Saturday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.06/13
• 60-Day-ILJordan Westburg (3B) — Westburg (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Andrew Golden of TheBanner.com reports.05/15
• 60-Day-ILZach Eflin (SP) — Eflin underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow Wednesday, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.05/08

The win comes just days after Chicago's offense went ice-cold in a 1-17 blowout loss to the Cardinals, a reminder that this Cubs team can look unstoppable one night and unwatchable the next. Baltimore, meanwhile, is stuck in the middle of its own identity crisis — front office still talking about buying at the deadline while the roster keeps losing effective arms to injury.

For a team with playoff aspirations, Chicago's ability to answer a brutal loss with a clean road win against a fading AL East club is exactly the kind of resilience Craig Counsell needs from this group in July. For Baltimore, it's one more data point pointing toward a quiet trade deadline rather than a loud one.