Chicago Cubs encouraged to trade for 1x All-Star starting pitcher to bolster rotation

The Chicago Cubs are 52-42 on the season following their 4-0 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night. Now with two games remaining before the MLB All-Star break, they are 7.5 games out of first place in the National League Central Division.

Of course, they still hold one of the three Wild Card spots in the National League, which means that they have a clear path to the postseason. In order to get there, though, they will need to avoid the valleys that have plagued them at time in the first half of the year.

And to do that, they will need more/better pitching.

Chicago Cubs encouraged to add Casey Mize ahead of the MLB trade deadline

Renowned ESPN baseball analyst and insider Jeff Passan recently published an article in which he identified the dream target for each contending team in Major League Baseball. When it came to Chicago, he suggested that they try to acquire Detroit Tigers starter Casey Mize:

“While Mize and [Sonny] Gray, even at their best, are more like No. 2s, they are cut from the same high-strikeout, low-walk, limited-homer cloth and feature ERAs a point-and-a-half lower than any of the Cubs’ regular rotation players.

“Mize’s availability depends on the Tigers’ viability. If they keep winning and believe they’re legitimate playoff contenders, he could stay.”

The Tigers, after a very slow start to the season, suddenly have found themselves just 4.5 games out of a Wild Card spot. If the are able to gain even more ground, Mize will stay put (as will two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal).

Mize is just 4-5 this year, but boasts a 2.64 ERA and 0.98 WHIP. If he is made available via trade by Detroit, the Cubs should certainly push to get him before the Milwaukee Brewers do.

It is worth noting, though, that Mize will be a free agent at the end of the year.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

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• Former Cubs reliever Bryse Wilson signs with hated division rival
• Cubs trade deadline update will have fans beside themselves

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