Cubs Minor League News: Birdsell, Kalmer, Murray Jr. lead big night for Cubs system

Patrick Gorski - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese · Senior Writer · 3 hours ago

Now that the trade deadline has come and gone, it's time for baseball to return to normalcy. However, given the trades the Cubs made, things are going to look different across their minor league system as several prospects across all levels have moved on to different organizations.

In their first night with what you could call new-look teams, the Cubs couldn't have asked for a better showing as they posted a 5-1 mark on the diamond. That included a 4-0 showing from the full season squads, as these are the rosters that will be set in stone the rest of the way, barring any promotions.

IOWA CUBS 6 - INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS 2

It has been a long time since Brandon Birdsell looked like the organizational pitcher of the year he was in 2024. You started to see signs of that last night as the Cubs used a pair of three-run innings to back Birdsell for the 6-2 win. The right-hander was about as good as you can be, tossing six scoreless frames and allowing two hits while finishing with six punchouts.

It didn't take the Cubs long to grab the lead as a Hayden Cantrelle single mixed with an error led to two runs and put the Cubs on top for good in the second 2-0. Greg Allen would drop down a perfect bunt shortly after, pushing home another run as that was the game-winning run for the Cubs. Tale that inning away, and Drake Fellows was otherwise pretty good as those were the only runs he would allow in his four innings.

Once the fifth inning rolled around, it was the Cubs offense coming back to life as Cantrelle got things rolling with a solo shot that pushed the lead to 4-0. Jonathon Long would add a two-run double later in the inning to make things 6-0 as those were the final runs of the game for the Cubs. Indianapolis would pick up a pair of late runs with an RBI groundout leading to their first run in the seventh and a Cam Devanney single closing out the scoring in the ninth.

Cantrelle was one of three Cubs to record multiple hits, joining Owen Caissie and Miguel Amaya. Speaking of Amaya, the catcher was recently transferred from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL as the Cubs now have a few more weeks to figure out what to do with him.

KNOXVILLE SMOKIES 11 - CHATTANOOGA LOOKOUTS 3

Backed by a pair of big innings, including a six-run fifth, it was the Smokies' offense setting the tone as they took care of the Lookouts 11-3. Grant Kipp benefited from the offensive outburst as he improved to 6-3 on the season and now has a 3.38 ERA.

Kipp has been a steady force in the middle of the Smokies rotation for two months, and with six strikeouts across five innings of one-run ball, that run continued. Facing off against left-hander TJ Sikkema, this was a scoreless game entering the fourth until BJ Murray Jr connected for a three-run shot that put the Smokies on top for good, 3-0. Murray Jr. now has 70 RBIs on the season as he leads the entire Cubs organization in that category.

Speaking of homers, Jay Allen got the best of Kipp in the bottom of the fourth with a solo blast to keep things close, but that was all they could get off him as the Smokies tacked on six more runs in the fifth to make this a 9-1 game. Parker Chavers and Pedro Ramirez got things started with a pair of RBI hits, while two bases-loaded walks led to two more runs.

Following a sacrifice fly from Jordan Nwogu to make this an 8-1 game, Casey Opitz closed out the massive inning with a single to push the lead to 9-1. That score would hold until the later innings as a pair of eighth-inning RBIs from Allen and Balcazar pulled the Lookouts within 9-3 late. That was as close as they would get as Murray Jr capped off a four-RBI day with a double in the ninth before coming home on the Corey Joyce single.

Opitz has had a big series for the Smokies, and with three hits, he led the way again. Murray Jr added two hits, but drove in a game-high four as his fantastic season continues.

SOUTH BEND CUBS 5 - QUAD CITIES RIVER BANDITS 1

After learning that Ivan Brethowr will no longer be part of the Cubs organization following a trade, the Cubs knew they would be missing a massive piece of their starting lineup the rest of the way. That didn't seem to bother them last night as strong pitching paired with some timely offense paved the way for a 5-1 win.

Kevin Valdez has been impressive since getting a promotion to High-A and is currently sporting a 0.82 ERA. Despite some command issues with five walks in six innings, Valdez was able to limit the damage as he allowed just one run on two hits to secure the win. They needed that type of effort from him, as Felix Arronde was equally as good, allowing just two runs in five innings.

The lone run of the game for Quad Cities came in the first, as that is when Valdez was at his worst command-wise and walked in a run to put the River Bandits up 1-0. Outside that, it was all South Bend as they tied things up in the second on a Brian Kalmer double before taking the lead for good later in the inning on a double play ball.

Those would be the only runs until the eighth when Kalmer cleared the bases with one swing as his bases-loaded double broke the game open and gave the Cubs a 5-1 win. Kalmer was responsible for two of the Cubs' five hits and had four RBIs in the win.

MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS 3 - CHARLESTON RIVERDOGS 0

If the Pelicans continue to get pitching like this, they are going to be a tough out in the playoffs, as they blanked the Riverdogs on Thursday, 3-0. This time, it was Walker Powell carving up hitters as he walked two and struck out two across five innings.

All Powell needed to get the win was one run, which came on an Angel Cepeda single in the second to make this a 1-0 lead. Eli Lovich would add a single in the fourth to stretch the lead to 2-0, which are the only runs Ryan Andrade would give up on the mound, striking out three across six innings.

The Pelicans capped off the scoring by adding a run in the seventh on a bases-loaded walk to Christian Olivo and picked up another win, 3-0. Lovich had the hot hand, picking up a team-high three hits to go with his RBI single.