Just Keep Chuggin': Cubs vs Royals Series Preview

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Cubs vs Royals — Later tonight, the Chicago Cubs, who are tied with the Brewers for the best record in the National League, will head right back out to begin a three-game set against the Royals at Wrigley Field. This will be the final three games of the six-game homestand that began just after the All-Star Break.

After this series, and following a scheduled day off, the Cubs will head south across town for three games against the White Sox, before ending July with a three-game series against the Brewers (… think that’ll be a stressful one?).

But let’s focus on tonight and the start of the interleague matchup against Kansas City.

The Royals have lost two out of three against Miami after the All-Star break and currently sit fourth in the AL Central, trailing in the Wild Card race by 5.5 games. Noah Cameron and Seth Lugo are slotted to pitch in this series, and both have had great seasons in the rotation. But the real (pitching) story of the week will be the return of a very VERY old friend, Rich Hill.

Yes, that Rich Hill.

Welcome back Rich Hill, who will be starting Tuesday for the Kansas City Royals against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 21, 2025

Hill, 45, was drafted by the Cubs with the 10th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2002 MLB Draft and has pitched in the big leagues in every season from 2005-2024, his first four with the Cubs. Seeing him back out on the mound again is going to be wild. He’s the Jamie Moyer of this generation. I hope the Cubs faithful give him a very warm reception … and I hope the Cubs hitters give him a very rude welcome back to the big leagues.

The Cubs will counter with Ryan Brasier (as an opener) tonight, Matthew Boyd (against Hill) on Tuesday, and Colin Rea (against Seth Lugo) on Wednesday.

Offensively, Nico Hoerner has been leading off against lefties, so we should see more of him this week against the two left-handed Royals starters. I do suspect we’ll see Michael Busch start at least one of those games. And while we’re on that topic, how about a little love for the progress made by both PCA and Busch versus left-handed pitchers.

vsLHP since June 1:

PCA: 106 wRC+

Busch: 106 wRC+

If either of those guys can be average or slightly better versus lefties, their offensive numbers versus righties (among other skills) are going to make them EXTREMELY valuable players.

***

I know it’s going to be tough to avoid scoreboard watching the Brewers-Mariners series, but the Cubs can’t control those teams. What they can control, however, is the very winnable six games ahead of them against the Royals and White Sox before facing the Brewers in Milwaukee. Win enough games and the rest will sort itself out. Cubs vs Royals. Wrigley Field. Let’s go.

Game 1: Monday, July 21 at 7:05 pm CT at Wrigley Field

Broadcast Info: Marquee Sports Network, MLBN, 670 The Score