What happened: Chicago is being connected to Angels left-hander the same Reid Detmers who has drawn deadline interest since early July as a fit for their rotation. Detmers is 3-6 with a 4.16 ERA over 20 starts, with 130 strikeouts and 35 walks in 114.2 innings, and carries two years of club control beyond 2026. Angels teammate Jose Soriano, 8-6 with a 3.43 ERA, has also come up in the same Cubs conversations.

Why it matters: Chicago ranks 14th in MLB in runs allowed and has been canvassing a wide field of starting pitchers with the Aug. 3 deadline approaching. Detmers' strikeout and walk numbers stand out among the names in that search, and his affordability fits how the Cubs front office has operated. David Peterson, already in Chicago's rotation, recorded eight ground-ball outs against the Tigers this week after early fly balls that the wind at Wrigley Field kept in the park.

What to watch: Watch whether Chicago's catching depth with Carson Kelly and Miguel Amaya shapes what it's willing to include in trade talks before the Aug. 3 deadline.