BOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Cubs host the Kansas City Royals to begin a three-game series. Chicago has a 59-40 record overall and a 32-17 record in home games. The Cubs are third in MLB play with 148 total home runs, averaging 1.5 per game.

After posting a series win to begin the second half of the regular season, the Chicago Cubs take a share of the National League's best record into an interleague series with the visiting Kansas City Royals on Monday.

The Chicago Cubs defeated the Boston Red Sox Saturday at Wrigley Field for the second straight day, and the win landed the team in a remarkable spot.

The Chicago Cubs are neck and neck with Milwaukee in the NL Central race and they have to be active at the MLB trade deadline if they want to separate.

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Interestingly, the Brock-less Strat-O-Cardinals rebounded to advance to the NLCS in 1973, losing to Cincy. The following season, they took down the Los Angeles Dodgers in the LCS before bowing to the Oakland A’s in a epic seven-game World Series.

All eyes were on Red Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet ahead of Sunday’s finale, but Cade Horton outdueled the American League Cy Young candidate as the Cubs’ rookie tossed 5 2/3 innings of scoreless ball.

The Milwaukee Brewers have won nine straight games, pushing the rival Chicago Cubs to the brink. Much of that has come thanks to hodgepodge starting rotation le