Cubs’ Matt Shaw has epic game after Mets announcers criticize him for attending Charlie Kirk memorial

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Chicago Cubs rookie Matt Shaw let his bat do the talking on Wednesday after he faced criticism from New York Mets broadcasters for attending Charlie Kirk’s memorial service.

Shaw was 3-for-4 with a solo home run and scored three times in Chicago’s 10-3 rout of New York. He helped put the Mets into a perilous position in the National League Wildcard standings as well. New York only holds a one-game lead over the Cincinnati Reds for the final spot with only four games remaining in the regular season.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Cubs' Matt Shaw has epic game after Mets announcers criticize him for attending Charlie Kirk memorial

Chicago Cubs’ Michael Busch (29) and Matt Shaw, back, celebrate after defeating the New York Mets in a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, in Chicago.  (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

The third baseman didn’t appear to talk to reporters after the game. The Cubs-Mets matchup was broadcast on ESPN, which meant Gary Cohen and Todd Zeile, who work for SNY, had the night off.

Cohen called Shaw’s decision to leave the team to attend Kirk’s funeral at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday “weird.”

“I don’t want to talk about any of the politics of it, but the thought of leaving your team in the middle of a race for any reason other than a family emergency, really strikes me as weird,” Cohen said.

Fellow Mets broadcaster Todd Zeile called Shaw’s absence “unprecedented.”

“It’s unusual, I think it’s unprecedented at least from my experience as a player, and I think it made it a little more unusual that it was not revealed until after it came to issue because he was thought to be in the dugout and maybe available, and was not, and that’s how it was revealed,” Zeile said.

Cubs' Matt Shaw has epic game after Mets announcers criticize him for attending Charlie Kirk memorial

Chicago Cubs third baseman Matt Shaw (6) singles against the New York Mets during the third inning at Wrigley Field on Sept. 24, 2025. (Matt Marton/Imagn Images)

NYC RADIO HOSTS BLAST METS ANNOUNCER OVER COMMENTS ON CUBS PLAYER ATTENDING CHARLIE KIRK MEMORIAL SERVICE

Shaw and Kirk were friends and the 31-year-old conservative influencer, who was assassinated at a Utah Valley University event earlier this month, was a Cubs fan.

Shaw explained Tuesday why he made it a point to attend the memorial despite his team’s schedule.

“My connection with Charlie was through our [Christian] faith,” Shaw said before the Cubs opened a new series with the New York Mets on Tuesday, per the Chicago Sun-Times. “And that’s something that drives me every day, the reason why I’m able to do what I do every day, and that’s something I’m extremely thankful for.

“I know without my faith and without the many blessings I’ve been given in my life, that I wouldn’t be here, be able to talk to you guys, able to help this team eventually go and win championships.

“That’s something I feel really, really blessed about, so whatever backlash comes is OK. I feel strong about my faith and that what was meant to be happened.”

Cubs' Matt Shaw has epic game after Mets announcers criticize him for attending Charlie Kirk memorial

Kyle Rittenhouse, right, is introduced to a cheering crowd by Charlie Kirk, middle, founder of Turning Point USA, as Jack Posobiec, left, host of Once America News Network, joins them on stage at a panel discussion at the Turning Point USA America Fest 2021 event, Monday, Dec. 20, 2021, in Phoenix. (Ross D. Franklin/The Associated Press)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The Cubs clinched a spot in the postseason already and moved to 89-69 with the win.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

Related Posts

🚨BREAKING: White Sox receive much-needed good news just before spring training opens — and it quietly changes the mood around the team. After weeks of uncertainty, this development gives Chicago a boost at exactly the right time, leaving fans wondering how big the ripple effect could be 👇👇👇

Encouraging Signs Emerge as Prelander Berroa Begins Throwing Ahead of White Sox Spring Training Even before pitchers and catchers officially report to spring training, the Chicago White…

🚨 YANKEES DROP A BOMBSHELL: New York announce 2026 Spring Training non-roster list featuring elite prospects ready to shake up the organization! Fans are buzzing as the Bronx announces a wave of exciting young talent in the mix — and some could be surprise contributors sooner than anyone expected..ll 👇👇👇

The email lands late on a quiet Thursday afternoon, that unmistakable New York Yankees logo sitting in your inbox like a familiar heartbeat of the offseason. You…

🚨BREAKING: Freddie Freeman isn’t shying away from Braves heartbreak — and he’s using it to fuel what comes next. Instead of burying the pain, the veteran star is openly embracing it, hinting that the lessons from Atlanta could shape the strongest chapter of his career yet. This mindset is turning heads across the league and changing how fans view his future 👇👇👇

Freddie Freeman Isn’t Shying Away From Braves Heartbreak — He’s Using It to Shape His Future Nearly five years have passed since Freddie Freeman made one of…

🚨BREAKING: Red Sox top prospect named breakout candidate heading into 2026 season! Baseball insiders are buzzing that this young star could explode onto the big-league stage and change the trajectory of Boston’s lineup. Could this be the next fan-favorite phenom who goes from prospect chatter to franchise centerpiece faster than anyone expected? 👇👇👇

Red Sox Top Prospect Marcelo Mayer Poised for Breakout Season as 2026 Campaign Approaches The Boston Red Sox enter the 2026 season with a sense of cautious…

🚨BREAKING: Red Sox–Cubs trade update shows Boston means business! Recent chatter isn’t just smoke — Boston has reportedly escalated talks in a way that’s forcing Chicago to respond. Could this be one of the boldest moves of the offseason, and is the Sox front office quietly reshaping the AL East before anyone notices? 👇👇👇

Red Sox–Cubs Trade Update Shows Boston Means Business If there was any doubt that the Boston Red Sox were finished reshaping their roster this offseason, the latest…

🚨BREAKING: Yankees just landed a pitcher with ace-level upside — and the early whispers are turning heads across the league. Scouts see flashes of something special, front offices are quietly taking notice, and fans are starting to wonder if this move was bigger than it first appeared. The real question is how soon this arm could change everything in the Bronx 👇👇👇

Yankees Landed a New Pitcher With Legitimate Ace Potential The New York Yankees entered the offseason knowing that starting pitching depth would be one of their most…