‘We’ve got tired players’ at close of 17 games in 17 days, but Cubs have thrived during challenging stretch
<p>KANSAS CITY – <b>Pete Crow-Armstrong</b> is perhaps baseball’s best defender.</p><p>But for the second time in four games, the <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs" >Cubs</a>’ <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/08/05/cubs-pete-crow-armstrong-shohei-ohtani-nl-mvp-race-dodgers-playoffs-craig-counsell-shota-imanaga" >MVP candidate</a> was not in his usual spot center field but DH’ing, off his feet once more as the team comes to the end of a stretch of 17 games in 17 days.</p><p>“We’ve got tired players, for sure,” manager <b>Craig Counsell</b> said before Saturday’s game, a 6-3 loss to the Royals.</p><p>It’s a daunting stretch for any team, but in the face of such a physical challenge, the Cubs have thrived, going 11-5 with one game remaining before Monday’s off day.</p><p>The Cubs came into Saturday tops in the NL with a .770 OPS, 144 hits and 81 runs scored since the stretch began July 24.</p><p>Their <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/07/30/cubs-mlb-trade-deadline-pitching-starting-rotation-matthew-boyd-shota-imanaga-colin-rea-david-peterson-javier-assad-tarik-skubal" >starting pitching was particularly impressive</a>, with a 2.65 ERA that ranked second in the NL. Remove <b>Jameson Taillon</b>’s seven-run clunker in his final game with the Cubs, and that number was down to 2.03, second best in baseball.</p><p>In the thick of it all, the Cubs went through an eventful trade deadline, which saw <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/08/03/cubs-mlb-trade-deadline-jed-hoyer-top-prospects-trades-kevin-gausman-clay-holmes-ryan-zeferjahn-braxton-garrett-tyrone-taylor" >an aggressive front office</a> try to best position them for a deep October run, and <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/08/04/cubs-dodgers-three-peat-world-series-favorites-tarik-skubal-dansby-swanson" >a raucous sweep of the juggernaut Dodgers</a>.</p><p>“This was 17 in a row.
Reported by 1 outlet — Chicago Sun-Times. See all sources ↓
<p>KANSAS CITY – <b>Pete Crow-Armstrong</b> is perhaps baseball’s best defender.</p><p>But for the second time in four games, the <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs" >Cubs</a>’ <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/08/05/cubs-pete-crow-armstrong-shohei-ohtani-nl-mvp-race-dodgers-playoffs-craig-counsell-shota-imanaga" >MVP candidate</a> was not in his usual spot center field but DH’ing, off his feet once more as the team comes to the end of a stretch of 17 games in 17 days.</p><p>“We’ve got tired players, for sure,” manager <b>Craig Counsell</b> said before Saturday’s game, a 6-3 loss to the Royals.</p><p>It’s a daunting stretch for any team, but in the face of such a physical challenge, the Cubs have thrived, going 11-5 with one game remaining before Monday’s off day.</p><p>The Cubs came into Saturday tops in the NL with a .770 OPS, 144 hits and 81 runs scored since the stretch began July 24.</p><p>Their <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/07/30/cubs-mlb-trade-deadline-pitching-starting-rotation-matthew-boyd-shota-imanaga-colin-rea-david-peterson-javier-assad-tarik-skubal" >starting pitching was particularly impressive</a>, with a 2.65 ERA that ranked second in the NL. Remove <b>Jameson Taillon</b>’s seven-run clunker in his final game with the Cubs, and that number was down to 2.03, second best in baseball.</p><p>In the thick of it all, the Cubs went through an eventful trade deadline, which saw <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/08/03/cubs-mlb-trade-deadline-jed-hoyer-top-prospects-trades-kevin-gausman-clay-holmes-ryan-zeferjahn-braxton-garrett-tyrone-taylor" >an aggressive front office</a> try to best position them for a deep October run, and <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/08/04/cubs-dodgers-three-peat-world-series-favorites-tarik-skubal-dansby-swanson" >a raucous sweep of the juggernaut Dodgers</a>.</p><p>“This was 17 in a row. For most teams, that’s their longest stretch of the season,” Counsell said. “It happened at a time in the season where the trade deadline’s around it, which creates a lot around the team.
Read the full report at Chicago Sun-Times ↗
Why it matters
A world story we're tracking; its significance and source trust firm up as more outlets confirm it.
- What's the story?
- <p>KANSAS CITY – <b>Pete Crow-Armstrong</b> is perhaps baseball’s best defender.</p><p>But for the second time in four games, the <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs" >Cubs</a>’ <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/08/05/cubs-pete-crow-armstrong-shohei-ohtani-nl-mvp-race-dodgers-playoffs-craig-counsell-shota-imanaga" >MVP candidate</a> was not in his usual spot center field but DH’ing, off his feet once more as the team comes to the end of a stretch of 17 games in 17 days.</p><p>“We’ve got tired players, for sure,” manager <b>Craig Counsell</b> said before Saturday’s game, a 6-3 loss to the Royals.</p><p>It’s a daunting stretch for any team, but in the face of such a physical challenge, the Cubs have thrived, going 11-5 with one game remaining before Monday’s off day.</p><p>The Cubs came into Saturday tops in the NL with a .770 OPS, 144 hits and 81 runs scored since the stretch began July 24.</p><p>Their <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/07/30/cubs-mlb-trade-deadline-pitching-starting-rotation-matthew-boyd-shota-imanaga-colin-rea-david-peterson-javier-assad-tarik-skubal" >starting pitching was particularly impressive</a>, with a 2.65 ERA that ranked second in the NL. Remove <b>Jameson Taillon</b>’s seven-run clunker in his final game with the Cubs, and that number was down to 2.03, second best in baseball.</p><p>In the thick of it all, the Cubs went through an eventful trade deadline, which saw <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/08/03/cubs-mlb-trade-deadline-jed-hoyer-top-prospects-trades-kevin-gausman-clay-holmes-ryan-zeferjahn-braxton-garrett-tyrone-taylor" >an aggressive front office</a> try to best position them for a deep October run, and <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/08/04/cubs-dodgers-three-peat-world-series-favorites-tarik-skubal-dansby-swanson" >a raucous sweep of the juggernaut Dodgers</a>.</p><p>“This was 17 in a row.
- How widely is it covered?
- 1 outlet, average source rating 6.0/10.
- When was it last updated?
- 3m ago.
How outlets are framing the same story
Here's how each outlet is covering the story — compare their headlines and timing at a glance.
- Coverage card1 outlet1CoverageScouting report
‘We’ve got tired players’ at close of 17 games in 17 days, but Cubs have thrived during challenging stretch
Sources1TypeCoverageChicago Sun-Times