The trade deadline is up, and we’re looking at another deadline coming up at the end of August with some inklings that the Chicago Cubs may pursue Philadelphia Phillies legend-in-decline Chase Utley. They’ve got a full month to figure this out, but in the meantime, games must be played, and so they shall.
Take Saturday night’s game, for example. The Cubs have a chance to sweep the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday before doing battle against their closest competition in the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. The Texas Rangers blew their cushy lead against the Giants so the Cubs unfortunately remain just a game behind San Francisco for the second wild card, but they also pulled to within four of the Pirates, who lost to the Cincinnati Reds.