The Chicago Cubs will look to secure another road series victory on Wednesday evening when they wrap up their three-game set against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Riding one of their strongest stretches of the season, Chicago enters the matchup with momentum and an opportunity to continue strengthening its position in the National League playoff race.
The Cubs have been one of baseball’s hottest teams over the past month, posting an impressive 17-6 record since June 11. During that stretch, they have consistently bounced back from setbacks, suffering consecutive losses only once while putting together multiple winning streaks that have fueled their climb in the standings.
Wednesday has also been a favorable day for Chicago throughout the 2026 campaign. The Cubs own an outstanding 11-4 record on Wednesdays, including 6-2 in road games, highlighting their ability to perform well during the middle game of the week. They have also enjoyed success in the second contest of series, entering the matchup with a 15-14 record in those games after finishing last season with one of the league’s best marks in that category.
Much of the Cubs’ success this season has come in bunches. Of their 51 victories, an overwhelming 40 have come as part of winning streaks, while 29 of their 40 defeats have occurred during losing streaks. That trend demonstrates how quickly Chicago can build momentum when its offense and pitching begin clicking at the same time.
One of the season’s most memorable moments came just last week when the Cubs overwhelmed the Baltimore Orioles in a stunning 23-3 victory, launching a franchise-record-tying eight home runs. The offensive explosion placed Chicago among a select group of Major League teams to hit at least eight home runs in a single game since 1901.
Interestingly, however, the Cubs’ power bats have gone quiet since that historic performance. Chicago has failed to hit a home run in each of its four games following the outburst, an unusual drought considering that nearly every previous team to record eight or more home runs in a game quickly returned to hitting long balls in subsequent contests.
Despite the recent lack of home-run production, the Cubs continue to receive strong contributions from their pitching staff, particularly veteran right-hander Colin Rea, who will start Wednesday’s contest.
After enduring a difficult stretch in late May and early June, Rea has rediscovered his rhythm on the mound. Over his last three starts, the veteran has compiled an impressive 1.76 ERA, providing much-needed stability to Chicago’s rotation while limiting opposing offenses and consistently working deep into games.
Rea has limited experience facing the Orioles’ current lineup, which has collectively produced only nine hits in 35 at-bats (.257) against him. Baltimore hitters have managed just one home run—hit by Tyler O’Neill—while striking out 12 times, giving Rea confidence entering another important outing.
Baltimore will counter with right-hander Dean Kremer, who recently returned from a lengthy absence caused by a right quadriceps strain. Kremer made his first start since the injury on July 1, delivering an encouraging performance against the Chicago White Sox, allowing only one run on four hits over six innings.
Having thrown 79 pitches in his return, Kremer is expected to work without significant restrictions as he continues rebuilding his workload.
The Cubs have enjoyed success against Kremer in previous meetings. During his last appearance against Chicago in July 2024, the Cubs generated plenty of offense, including home runs from Michael Busch and Ian Happ. Veteran outfielder Michael Conforto has also performed well against the Orioles starter, collecting three hits in four career at-bats, including a home run.
Beyond the current matchup, July 8 also holds special significance in Cubs history. On this date in 1947, Wrigley Field hosted its first Major League Baseball All-Star Game, with the American League defeating the National League 2-1 before more than 41,000 fans. Cubs stars Phil Cavarretta and Andy Pafko represented the National League, with Pafko recording one of the team’s five hits in the historic contest.
As Chicago looks to continue its recent surge, another strong performance from Rea and timely offense could allow the Cubs to capture the series in Baltimore while extending one of the club’s most productive stretches of the 2026 season.
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