The Chicago Cubs dominated another game on Friday as they defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 4-0 in front of 32,880 fans at Wrigley Field. The Cubs are 17-10 and riding a three-game winning streak that has them 3.5 games up on the Cincinnati Reds for first place in the NL Central.
Chicago has been looking within the organization to find band-aids for the starting pitcher rotation after losing Justin Steele for the remainder of the season after he sustained an elbow injury that needed Tommy John surgery.
On Friday, the Cubs had bad news for Javier Assad’s recovery after he exited a Triple-A game on Tuesday night due to pain.
Per 670 The Score‘s Bruce Levine, the Cubs have several options to trade for on their radar. Miami Marlins SP Sandy Alcantara would be the top option, but his price point might keep Chicago from pulling off a trade.
A “more attainable” SP option emerges for the Chicago Cubs
Levine thinks Pablo Lopez of the Minnesota Twins is “more attainable” for the Cubs. At 29, the 2023 All-Star nominee is pitching for an organization in crisis mode, given their uncertainty with ownership and a surprising struggle to begin the season.
“Another pitcher that is more attainable… is getting Pablo Lopez from the Minnesota Twins,” Levine said on the Marquee Sports Network. “The Twins’ situation is really up in the air, as far as ownership. The record is nothing close to what it thought there would be.
“And Lopez might be the guy for them to get some money back. He has a contract for $21 million a year, the next three years.”
The Twins are in fourth place in the AL Central at 10-16, 5.5 games back from the first-place Detroit Tigers.
Lopez has a career ERA of 3.86 with 941 strikeouts and a win-loss record of 56-50. He’s 2-1 in 2025 through four starts. He has an ERA of 2.08 with 20 strikeouts through 21.2 innings pitched.
