This page may contain affiliate links. If you click and sign up, make a deposit, or place a wager, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Conforto is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Brewers.
After starting in each of the Cubs' last four games, the left-handed-hitting Conforto will retreat to the bench Monday while the Brewers send southpaw Robert Gasser to the hill. With Conforto taking a seat, Seiya Suzuki will serve as the Cubs' designated hitter, and Matt Shaw will pick up a start in right field.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Michael Busch: Taking seat for series opener
Rotowire
Busch is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Brewers.
Busch will head to the bench as the Cubs roll out a right-handed-heavy lineup to counter Brewers southpaw Robert Gasser. BJ Murray will get the nod at first base in place of Busch.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Ian Happ: Taking seat Monday
Rotowire
Happ (knee) is out of the lineup for Monday's game in Milwaukee.
Happ is dealing with left knee discomfort and is considered day-to-day, but even if he was fully healthy, he might have sat anyway since the Brewers are sending a lefty (Robert Gasser) to the hill. Tyrone Taylor will get another start in left field in place of the switch-hitting Happ, who has produced a 43 wRC+ over 138 plate appearances versus left-handed pitching this season.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong: Reaches 40-homer plateau
Rotowire
Crow-Armstrong went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and two total RBI in Sunday's 10-3 loss to the Marlins.
Crow-Armstrong's fifth inning home run was one of the few bright spots for Chicago in an ugly loss, as it got the star outfielder to 40 home runs for the first time in his MLB career, and he also set a new career high with 96 RBI. Additionally, the 24-year-old is sitting at 33 stolen bases, and if he gets particularly active on the basepaths over the next few weeks, he could record the first 40-40 campaign in Cubs' team history and just the seventh in MLB history. Crow-Armstrong ultimately has his sights set on a possible NL MVP award in what's been a masterful fantasy performance to date.
Holmes (6-7) took the loss against the Marlins on Sunday, allowing eight runs on six hits and three walks in 4.1 innings. He struck out two.
It was perhaps a season-worst outing by Holmes, who got the hook after 80 pitches (46 strikes). The right-hander has given up one run or fewer in four of his six starts for the Cubs, but he's tallied two strikeouts or fewer three times since coming over from the Mets. He'll carry a 3.51 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 20:12 K:BB over 33.1 innings for Chicago into his next scheduled appearance versus Pittsburgh.
Happ was scratched from the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins due to left knee discomfort, Vinnie Duber of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
It's unclear when exactly the injury surfaced for Happ, who started the past four games and went 2-for-4 with a walk and two RBI in Saturday's contest. Tyrone Taylor will instead start in left field in the series finale at Miami.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Jacob Webb: Should be available Sunday
Rotowire
Manager Craig Counsell said he "fully expects" Webb (forearm) to be available to pitch Sunday against the Marlins, Vinnie Duber of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
The right-hander hasn't taken the mound since being struck by a 102.5-mph comebacker Wednesday against the Brewers, but he avoided a fracture and appears good to go after taking it easy for a few days. Webb has surrendered seven runs across his past four appearances but is still in the mix at closer for the Cubs, having recorded nine saves with a 3.15 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 65:21 K:BB over 60 innings this year.
Hoerner went 3-for-5 with an RBI in Saturday's 6-5 win over the Marlins.
The infielder produced his second straight three-hit effort and his third in the last nine games. Hoerner has shifted over to shortstop while Dansby Swanson (oblique) is on the shelf, but the change in defensive responsibilities hasn't caused him to lose focus at the plate. Over 18 games since Swanson landed on the IL, Hoerner boasts a .310/.320/.366 slash line with one homer, two steals, four runs and eight RBI.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Javier Assad: Can't find plate Saturday
Rotowire
Assad didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 6-5 win over the Marlins, giving up three runs on three hits and five walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out three.
Called up earlier in the day for a spot start, Assad held Miami off the scoreboard for three innings before his control issues caught up to him. The right-hander exited after 88 pitches (51 strikes) with the Cubs ahead 5-2, as he missed a chance to record his seventh win of the season and tie his career high. It's not yet clear if Chicago will keep Assad around as a sixth starter or long reliever, or option him back to Triple-A Iowa in exchange for a fresh arm, but over five appearances and 18.1 big-league innings since the beginning of August he's delivered a 2.95 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 10:8 K:BB.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Ryan Zeferjahn: Records first save with Cubs
Rotowire
Zeferjahn tossed 1.2 scoreless innings of relief to earn the save in Saturday's 6-5 win over the Marlins. He walked one and struck out one.
With regular closer Jacob Webb (forearm) remaining out of action, Zeferjahn recorded his fifth save of the season and first since Aug. 2, when he was still a member of the Angels before getting traded to Chicago a day later. The righty reliever hasn't been particularly sharp with the Cubs yet, as he's recorded a 5.68 ERA across 12.2 innings with his new team. Zeferjahn still misses plenty of bats, and he should be given chances to turn things around down the stretch as a key member of Chicago's bullpen.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Michael Conforto: Hits 14th home run Saturday
Rotowire
Conforto went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Saturday's 6-5 win over the Marlins.
Conforto provided an offensive lift before getting pulled for pinch hitter Matt Shaw in the seventh inning, as he connected for his 14th home run of the season in the third. The veteran outfielder has posted a solid .821 OPS across 97 games, and he continues to see most of his playing time in matchups against right-handed pitchers, recording only seven at-bats versus lefties this year. Conforto can have some fantasy value when he's in the lineup, though his sporadic role makes him hard to rely on as a regular option.
Kelly isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Miami.
Kelly will move to the bench Saturday after going 1-for-11 with an RBI and a run scored in three games to begin September. Miguel Amaya will handle catching duties and bat ninth.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Javier Assad: Recalled for start
Rotowire
The Cubs recalled Assad from Triple-A Iowa ahead of his start Saturday against Miami, Vinnie Duber of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Assad has put up a 3.46 ERA and 1.10 WHIP across 83.1 innings in the big leagues this season and has given up four runs in nine innings since being sent down to Triple-A in late August. He'll now return to the majors to pitch against a Marlins offense that's put up a .677 OPS in the last two weeks, and he could stick around in the Cubs' rotation if he delivers another strong performance. Tyler Ferguson was optioned to Iowa in a corresponding move.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Tyler Ferguson: Sent back to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Cubs optioned Ferguson to Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Vinnie Duber of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Ferguson gave up one run in 1.2 innings during his lone appearance after coming up from Iowa on Tuesday. He'll now head back to the minors to make room for Javier Assad, who was recalled to start Saturday's game against the Marlins.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Alex Bregman: Extends hitting streak Friday
Rotowire
Bregman went 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored in Friday's 6-1 win over the Marlins.
The veteran third baseman extended his hitting streak to eight games and continued a torrid stretch of baseball that dates back farther. Since the beginning of August, Bregman is slashing .308/.372/.662 with 13 home runs and 34 RBI across 32 games. With the hot stretch, Bregman now has his fifth career season with at least 20 homers and 80 RBI, and his first such campaign since he was with the Astros in 2023.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Aaron Civale: Earns second save Friday
Rotowire
Civale tossed three scoreless innings to earn the save in Friday's 6-1 win over the Marlins. He allowed a hit and two walks while striking out three.
After six innings from starter Shota Imanaga, Civale picked up the baton and carried it to the finish line for his second save of the season. The long-relief outing gave Chicago's bullpen a much-needed break after a tough series with Milwaukee, particularly with closer Jacob Webb (forearm) a bit banged up. Civale now has a new career high in saves, as he came into the year with just one save to his name across seven MLB seasons.
