Assad and Taillon, who is scheduled to throw live batting practice in Milwaukee next week before starting his minor-league rehab assignment, are both on track to return sometime around mid-August. And the Cubs are exploring trade options to add outside pitching before the July 31 deadline.

The Chicago White Sox boast a major-league-best 61 runs since the All-Star break and have gone 6-1 over that span. It's certainly a feel-good run for a team that toiled during much of the first half,

The Chicago Cubs need to add a starting pitcher. They could look to buy low on a former Cy Young candidate from the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Chicago Cubs are in a position to make the postseason, but they will need to make some additions to the starting rotation if they want to win the division and make a deep run.