Cubs Face Struggling Orioles as Chicago Battles Historic Series-Opening Slump

The Chicago Cubs travel to Camden Yards to face the Baltimore Orioles in a matchup pitting two underperforming teams against each other. The Cubs are stuck in a 10-game streak of losing the first game of each series dating back to mid-June, while the Orioles have been unable to exceed three consecutive wins all season and remain on pace to repeat last year's disappointing 75-87 record.

Cubs Struggling at Series Start

Chicago's struggles have taken a particular form this season: an inability to win opening games. Since winning the opener of their first 11 series to begin the year, the Cubs have now lost the first game in 10 consecutive series stretches. The pattern emerged on June 12 at Pittsburgh and has persisted through their current road trip. The Cubs hold a 13-16 record in these pivotal first games, yet show more balance elsewhere—posting 15-14 in second games and an impressive 18-10 in third games. This inconsistency has forced them to play from behind early in each series.

The Cubs' offensive production has also dried up considerably. After tying their team record with eight home runs against San Diego in a 45-plate-appearance span, they have now gone 109 consecutive at-bats without a home run. Their power drought now spans three consecutive games, marking their second-longest stretch of the season. Against American League teams overall, the Cubs carry a 9-14 record heading into this Baltimore series.

Orioles Battle Multiple Issues

The Orioles present a team fractured by internal struggles. First-year manager Craig Albernaz and baseball operations president Mike Elias have both drawn criticism as the organization fails to improve beyond last season's record. A critical weakness has emerged against left-handed pitching—problematic given that two of the Cubs' three scheduled starters are left-handers. Shortstop Gunnar Henderson, positioned as a superstar returnee, has underperformed significantly with an on-base percentage below .300 and below-average overall hitting production.

The rotation has become a particular disappointment. Shane Baz, acquired via trade from the Rays and given a contract extension before the season began, has failed to deliver the expected ace-caliber performance, posting a 4.19 earned run average with 0.8 wins above replacement. Other veteran starting pitcher signings have similarly underdelivered. Despite these difficulties, a quirky American League structure keeps Baltimore just 3.5 games from a wild card spot, though their 6-14 record in one-run games underscores their inability to capitalize on close situations.

Starting Pitching Matchup

Matthew Boyd takes the mound for Chicago in his second start since returning from the injured list, allowing just three runs on 12 hits across 9.2 innings in his recent appearance. Boyd last faced the Orioles in 2023, giving current Baltimore batters limited familiarity with his stuff—they manage just a .212 average across 33 at-bats against him historically. For the Orioles, Trevor Rogers will look to recapture early-season form after a difficult stretch, though he has shown improvement in recent outings.