Start each day with the Chicago Tribune's top sports stories, delivered to your inbox
Sports Thursday, August 13, 2026 | | |
| | | | | Good morning, Chicago. The adjusted alignment of Alex Bregman's shoulder and hips have helped everything click through the Cubs' first two games against the Nationals. After hitting a home run in Tuesday's win, he one-upped his performance Wednesday in a big way. Bregman slugged three home runs for the first time in his career and finished with seven RBIs in a 12-6 win against the Nationals to pull the Cubs within 3 games of the division-leading Brewers. The seven RBIs also represented a career high for the 10-year veteran. Cubs' Alex Bregman celebrates while rounding the bases after hitting a 2-run home run against the Nationals in the sixth inning on Aug. 12, 2026, in Washington. (Scott Taetsch/Getty) The Cubs are only the third team since RBIs became an official stat in 1920 to have two players with a three-home-run, seven-RBI game in a season, joining the Yankees' Paul O'Neill and Mike Stanley in 1995, the Yankees' Aaron Judge and Jasson Domínguez in 2025 and now Dansby Swanson and Bregman this year. "Every year you get reminded, and you kind of have to slap yourself in the face, it's 162 games,
" manager Craig Counsell said. "It's a 162-game season, and you can't fake it through 162 games. Players come to play over 162 games, and that's what Alex is doing, and it's a credit to how he works every single day and is just relentless with his search to be himself and to be the best version of himself. He will never give you an inch on that." The Cubs (71-50) — a season-high 21 games over .500 — lead the majors with 17 games in which they scored 10 runs or more and are averaging 7.1 runs in their last nine games, eight of which have been victories. | | | | Luis Castillo allowed one hit and struck out 10 in seven innings for the Chicago White Sox in a 5-0 victory against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday at Rate Field. | | | | | Gervon Dexter Sr. and his Chicago Bears coaches say he has gotten better at striking at the line of scrimmage as he enters the final year of his rookie contract. | | | | | Despite the rabid fixation upon the concept of trans women in sports, those who beat the drum the loudest for exclusive policies rarely seem to care about trans people themselves. | | | | | Chicago White Sox right-hander Davis Martin jokingly pointed the finger at pitching coach Zach Bove for the downpour that caused a lengthy delay and ended his start against the Cleveland Guardians after one inning Sunday at Rate Field. “I looked at Bove in the bottom of the first and I said, ‘It looks pretty ominous […] | | | | | The Chicago Cubs have a looming decision on what to do with Edward Cabrera and the rest of the rotation as the right-hander works to return from the injured list. | | | | | Washington Nationals pitcher Jackson Kent, a Lake Park High School grad from Hanover Park, made his MLB debut Wednesday against the Chicago Cubs, allowing three runs in four-plus innings. | | | | | The Chicago Stars have dismissed coach Martin Sjögren after less than a season with the National Women’s Soccer League club, the team said Wednesday. | | | | | From early-season heavyweight clashes to conference rivalry games, the road to the College Football Playoff could come down to a handful of marquee matchups. | | | | | Rogan O’Neil is back at full strength for Kaneland, which comes in at No. 6 in the Beacon-News/Courier-News preseason rankings. | | | | | NIU recruit Lucas Matykiewicz returns to lead Sandburg, which comes in at No. 6 in the Daily Southtown preseason rankings. | | | |
| |
