Kansas City summons 45-year-old Rich Hill for Royals vs Cubs matchup. Discover his historic return, Cubs’ standings slide, and what this means for both teams next.
⚾ Veteran Returns & Cubs’ Woes
Baseball’s 2025 second half kicked off with a 12–4 rout of the Cubs by the Royals at Wrigley Field on July 21. Chicago took an early 4–1 lead before collapsing under a barrage of homers and errors . The defeat dropped them a game behind the Brewers in the NL Central, ending their five-month stay atop the division .
Meanwhile, the 45-year-old Rich Hill received the call-up from Triple-A, set to start against his debut team, the Cubs—making Kansas City his 14th franchise and marking his 21st MLB season . Hill’s rise epitomizes baseball longevity, as he ties the record for most teams played for and becomes MLB’s oldest active player .
🧠 Rich Hill’s Historic Return
At 45 years and 133 days, Hill becomes:
- MLB’s oldest active player, surpassing Justin Verlander
- Co-holder of most franchises played for (14), tying Edwin Jackson
- A career 90–74 with a 4.01 ERA across 1,409 innings and 1,428 K
Despite recent struggles—posting a 5.36 ERA at Triple-A Omaha—he impressed Royals skipper Quatraro, who praised his athleticism, mound savvy, and vintage change-of-angle cutter .
Career arc: After debuting with Cubs in 2005, Hill blossomed with Dodgers between 2015–2019, earning sub-3.00 ERAs . Frequent injuries since 2021 have resulted in shorter stints, notably a 4.76 ERA with Pirates (2023) and brief relief roles with Red Sox (2024).
📉 Cubs’ Standings
The 12–4 loss exemplified Chicago’s crack under pressure:
- Squandered a 4–1 early lead after three Royals homers and errors in the 5th inning
- Rookie Carson Kelly and Matt Shaw provided offense but couldn’t offset bullpen breakdowns from Ben Brown and Chris Flexen
- Cubs surrendered top NL Central spot for the first time since April as the Brewers achieved their 11th straight win
Still Cub’s remains on Lead for over 95 wins and also Proud All-Stars like Kyle Tucker and Pete Crow Armstrong. However bullpen inconsistencies and recent blown leads may create problem on their division hopes.
📅 Tuesday’s Starter Matchup
- Royals: Rich Hill makes his first start of the season at Wrigley—returning to the site of his MLB debut 20 years ago
- Cubs: Will counter with All-Star lefty Matthew Boyd (10–3, 2.34 ERA), one of the National League’s top pitchers
Game time is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT on Marquee Sports Network .
FINAL: Royals 12, Cubs 4#HEYHEYHEYHEY pic.twitter.com/9LSZAjv2P4
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) July 22, 2025
🌟 Importance
For the Royals & Hill:
- Hill’s start embodies franchise innovation and veteran leadership—a feel-good story that could spark clubhouse energy and media attention.
- Kansas City sits 12 games behind in AL Central; a strong return could energize their playoff push.
For the Cubs:
- This is a crossroads moment. A loss with a journeyman starter vs their ace would highlight bullpen vulnerability and deepen division woes.
- They’ll seek redemption to halt Milwaukee’s momentum and reclaim their dominance.