The Chicago Cubs will welcome the Kansas City Royals to Wrigley Field on July 23, 2025, riding the momentum of a strong homestand and looking to capitalize on a favorable matchup against a struggling Royals squad. With playoff aspirations still alive, the Cubs are in the thick of the National League race and have been playing inspired baseball lately, especially at home where their pitching staff has settled into a productive rhythm and the offense has begun to produce more consistently. Javier Assad is projected to take the mound for Chicago, and his recent outings have been encouraging, highlighted by improved command and a growing ability to pitch deep into games, something the Cubs’ rotation sorely needed earlier this season. Assad’s ability to neutralize left-handed hitters and manage traffic on the basepaths has been crucial, especially given the workload of the bullpen, which manager Craig Counsell has managed carefully throughout July. At the plate, Chicago has found stability in the top half of the lineup, with Seiya Suzuki leading the charge and Cody Bellinger regaining some of his 2023 form, delivering timely extra-base hits and playing Gold Glove-caliber defense in center. Nico Hoerner continues to be an unsung hero in the infield with consistent contact hitting, baserunning awareness, and excellent range at second base, providing a critical spark that helps lengthen the order.

Dansby Swanson has shown signs of heating up after a cold June, which bodes well for the Cubs as they try to pile up wins against weaker opponents like Kansas City. Chicago’s defense, one of its strongest assets all season, has been particularly reliable at Wrigley, where the infield dirt and familiar outfield conditions have helped avoid the miscues that plague visiting teams. The Cubs are also benefiting from the emergence of young talent such as Pete Crow-Armstrong and Alexander Canario, who are injecting youthful energy into the lineup and providing valuable rest days for veterans. One area of concern remains the bullpen’s depth, especially in high-leverage situations, but the addition of a second setup man alongside Mark Leiter Jr. has reduced strain on closer Adbert Alzolay, whose ninth-inning poise has been critical to recent one-run victories. Chicago’s approach to games like this one—against a sub-.500 AL opponent—is methodical and aggressive early, often scoring in the first three innings and letting their pitching and defense take over. Given the Royals’ vulnerable bullpen and inconsistency on the road, the Cubs will look to press advantages in situational hitting and capitalize on any extra-base opportunities, particularly with the wind favoring right-handed hitters at Wrigley this week. With their current form and postseason hopes alive, this is the kind of matchup the Cubs must dominate, and if they continue to execute the fundamentals as they’ve done through most of July, they should be well positioned to secure a key interleague win.