Cubs Pitching Problem Could Be Solved With Royals All-Star Starter
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Hunter Mulholland is a Newsweek contributor based in St. Louis, Missouri. His focus is MLB Content. Hunter has been with Newsweek since April 2025 and previously worked at Fansided and STL Sports Central. He is a graduate of Westminster College (MO). You can get in touch with Hunter by emailing h.mulholland@newsweek.com.
Hunter Mulholland
Contributing Sports Writer
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Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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The Chicago Cubs are fending off the Milwaukee Brewers and the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central, but the gap isn’t comfortable just yet. ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan listed the Cubs as a potential fit for Kansas City Royals starter Seth Lugo.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 22: Seth Lugo #67 of the Kansas City Royals pitches against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at Petco Park on June 22, 2025 in San Diego, California. SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 22: Seth Lugo #67 of the Kansas City Royals pitches against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at Petco Park on June 22, 2025 in San Diego, California. Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images
Lugo, a reliever turned starter, signed with the Royals in the offseason before last year and would go on to earn the first All-Star selection of his career. Lugo has a 2.93 ERA entering Saturday, which has Passan and McDaniel slot him as the No. 6 candidate leading up to the trade deadline.
Lugo would slot in nicely to the Cubs’ rotation, giving them another strong option behind Shota Imanga, who returned in Thursday’s contest against the Cardinals. Cubs starting pitchers are 23rd in baseball in ERA, and their high-octane offense has kept them in the division lead thus far, but they could run out of gas at any point.
The Royals made the playoffs last season and had expectations to return this year but have struggled to produce offensively this season, resulting in their sub-.500 record. If the Royals sell at the trade deadline, the Cubs would benefit by at least considering the option of adding Lugo to their ranks.
Lugo’s fate could be sealed in a few weeks if the Royals fail to get the ship back on course, and the Cubs should be at the top of the list to call upon leading up to the deadline.
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