Following a sweep against division rivals Pittsburgh Pirates, their first since they did it in Baltimore on July 11th, the Cubs find themselves within reach of a wildcard spot with the most manageable remaining schedule in the NL. The Cubs are getting red-hot when needed, racking up a league-high 41 runs in their three-game series in Pittsburgh and 7-2 since the team DFA’d RHP Hector Neris.
Here are three players that the Cubs can call up in their playoff push.
3. Jack Neely, RHP, Triple-A
The 24-year-old 6’8″ right-hander was dealt to the North side on deadline day in exchange for RHP Mark Leiter Jr. Though Neely struggled in his Major League debut, surrendering four earned runs in one inning, he found his grove in his subsequent three appearances, conceding two in three cumulative innings pitched before being optioned back to Iowa on Tuesday. Leiter Jr. has been impressive in Iowa as in 6.2. innings, he has yet to give up a run and bolsters a 0.75 WHIP. Neely has impressed at the minor league level equipped with a strong 1-2 fastball slider combo and low walk rate. While Neely won’t be put into exact pressure situations, he will improve a Cubs bullpen that has been one of the league’s best since the all-star break.
Every team in the playoff picture holds a strong bullpen, and Neely can put Nate Pearson in the setup once he settles in the big leagues. Neely would also be put into a similar role to 24-year-old RHP Ethan Roberts who is quietly putting together a nice season for the Cubs maintaining a 2.08 ERA and 1.7 WHIP.
2. Cam Smith, 3B, A+
If you’re a Cubs fan who isn’t living under a rock, you’d know that Cam Smith has taken Single-A Myrtle Beach by storm, hitting a home run in 6 straight games, warranting him a call-up to South Bend, where he went 2-4 in his debut. The 21-year-old made massive strides in his final year at Florida State University, cutting his strikeout rate from 29 to 15 perfect, and has notably barreled up a lot more balls.
However, the idea of calling up Smith seems far-fetched, especially since the Cubs made the trade for Tampa Bay’s Isaac Paredes near the conclusion of the window and still have Patrick Wisdom as a platoon. However, it would be fun to give Smith a chance at the significant league level and see if he can stay hot.
1. Cade Horton, RHP, Triple-A
This doesn’t come as a surprise to anyone. Horton sits at the top of the Cubs farm system and is closer than ever to making his major league debut. Regardless if the Cubs are in contention for a playoff spot, his arrival is inevitable. After another lackluster Kyle Hendricks performance in Pittsburgh, the Cubs need a fifth starter now more than ever. Though the 31st prospect in Major League Baseball has cooled down in Iowa, he has been dominant in every other level of the minor leagues, possessing an impressive 1.1 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in Tennessee this year.
Even if Horton struggles, he will be an essential piece of the 2025 team; with Hendrick’s departure seeming imminent, some experience this year would be nice to get him to become a starter. A rotating next year consisting of Imanaga, Steele, Assad, Brown, and Horton has the potential to be one of the league’s finest and, barring a couple of signings this winter for the offense could make the Cubs a serious contender for the Pennant.
