Pearson (2-2) allowed two runs on four hits across 1.1 innings of relief to take the loss Wednesday against the Athletics. He struck out one.
Pearson continued his recent struggles, as he gave up runs for the third straight outing, and this was the worst appearance of the bunch. The righty has seen his ERA creep up to 4.76, and he's simply been too volatile to be trusted in most fantasy formats. Pearson will continue to have a role for the Cubs out of the bullpen as the regular season wraps up, though he should mostly see low-leverage work.
Merryweather (knee) made his second rehab appearance at Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, striking out one and giving up no hits and one walk over a scoreless inning.
Merryweather was placed on the 15-day injured list Aug. 27 with right knee tendinitis but was cleared to begin a rehab assignment last weekend. Assuming he checked out fine coming out of his second outing Tuesday, Merryweather could rejoin the Chicago bullpen for the team's four-game series with the Nationals that begins Thursday.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Justin Steele: Limited workload in return
Rotowire
Steele came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 5-3 loss to the A's, allowing two hits and three walks over 2.2 scoreless innings. He struck out one.
Activated from the IL earlier in the day after completing his recovery from elbow tendinitis, Steele wasn't fully stretched out and tossed 57 pitches (37 strikes) before being lifted. The 29-year-old lefty has had trouble staying healthy this season, but through 130.2 innings he's delivered a strong 3.03 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 132:37 K:BB. With the Cubs teetering on the verge of being eliminated from the playoffs, they could shuffle their rotation as their focus turns to 2025, but Steele is currently scheduled to make his next start on the road early next week against the Phillies.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Nearing activation
Rotowire
Wesneski (forearm) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Sept. 6 and has given up three earned runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out seven across five innings over his four appearances.
After throwing two scoreless innings for Iowa on Tuesday, Wesneski could be on the cusp of activation from the 15-day injured list. According to Ryan Herrera of AllCHGO.com, Wesneski was spotted in the Cubs' clubhouse Wednesday, which suggests his rehab assignment has come to an end. Once he's formally reinstated, Wesneski will likely serve as a multi-inning option out of the bullpen.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Jorge Lopez: Returns from IL
Rotowire
The Cubs activated Lopez (groin) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Lopez spent the minimum 15 days on the IL with a strained right groin. The veteran reliever had been in the closer mix before getting hurt and should regain a high-leverage role, although Porter Hodge still looks like the better bet for saves in the Cubs' bullpen.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Daniel Palencia: Heads back to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Cubs optioned Palencia to Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Just one day after being called up from Triple-A, Palencia will return to Iowa with the Cubs needing to open up a spot on the 28-man active roster for lefty Justin Steele (elbow), who will return from the 15-day injured list to start Wednesday's game against the Athletics. Palencia struck out two over two perfect innings out of the bullpen in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to Oakland.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Jack Neely: Sent back to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Cubs optioned Neely to Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Neely will give up his spot in the Chicago bullpen to right-hander Jorge Lopez (groin), who was reinstated from the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move. Through six appearances at the big-league level this season, Neely has given up six earned runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out seven over six innings.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Justin Steele: Activated ahead of start
Rotowire
The Cubs activated Steele (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Steele will rejoin the rotation Wednesday against the Athletics after missing the last three weeks of action with left elbow tendinitis. The southpaw didn't make a rehab start, so he could be working with a limited pitch count Wednesday.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Jordan Wicks: Done in by long balls again
Rotowire
Wicks (2-4) took the loss Tuesday, giving up four runs on seven hits -- including three home runs -- and two walks over five innings as the Cubs fell 4-3 to the A's. He struck out four.
The southpaw got taken deep by Shea Langeliers in the first and fifth innings, with a Lawrence Butler third-inning solo shot sandwiched in between. Wicks has served up a brutal seven homers over his last two starts, but with the Cubs' playoff hopes on life support, the team has little reason to remove the 25-year-old from the rotation despite his 5.48 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 42:20 K:BB through 46 innings on the season.
Happ went 3-for-5 with two solo home runs in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Athletics.
Happ did his part to keep Chicago in the game, including blasting his second home run of the game and 25th of the season in the ninth inning to get the Cubs a little closer, but it wasn't quite enough to secure a much-needed win. The veteran has now matched his career high of 25 long balls, which he last recorded back in 2021. He also set a new career high with his 85th RBI of the year on Tuesday, surpassing his 2023 total of 84. Happ has 11 team games remaining to try to set a new long-ball benchmark.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Justin Steele: Rejoining rotation Wednesday
Rotowire
Cubs manager Craig Counsell announced Tuesday that Steele (elbow) will be reinstated from the 15-day injured list to start Wednesday against the Athletics, Ryan Herrera of AllCHGO.com reports.
The left-hander landed on the shelf after experiencing elbow tendinitis following his last start Aug. 27 in Pittsburgh, and he'll be back with the Cubs for the final week and a half of the campaign. If Chicago sticks to a five-man rotation, Steele tentatively lines up for three starts before the end of the regular season. The 29-year-old has a 3.09 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 131:34 K:BB across 128 innings this season.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Daniel Palencia: Recalled from Triple-A
Rotowire
The Cubs recalled Palencia from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Palencia has collected a 7.11 ERA over nine appearances out of the Cubs' bullpen this season. The hard-throwing right-hander will give the club a fresh relief arm.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Trey Wingenter: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Cubs optioned Wingenter to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Wingenter threw 34 pitches over two scoreless innings in Monday's win over the Athletics, so he probably wasn't going to be available for a day or two. Daniel Palencia is taking his spot on the roster and in the bullpen.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Cristian Hernandez: Reaches High-A
Rotowire
Hernandez hit .229 with zero home runs, seven steals and a 19:15 K:BB in 23 games for High-A South Bend.
A high-pedigree international signee from the Cubs' 2020 international signing class that had to wait to sign until Jan. 15, 2021 due to the pandemic, Hernandez has failed to meet very high expectations. Known now more for his defense and speed than his bat, Hernandez has been a passive hitter who struggles to lift the ball (groundball rates over 50 percent) against full-season pitching. He slashed .269/.382/.406 with five home runs, 37 steals and a 22.9 percent strikeout rate in 95 games for Single-A Myrtle Beach and will turn 21 this winter.
