MAY 23•MLB.COM
Atlanta Braves at Chicago Cubs Preview - 05/23/2024This browser does not support the video element.
AJ Smith-Shawver - Starting ThursdaySmith-Shawver will be recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett to start Thursday's game against the Cubs, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
ImpactSmith-Shawver will be making his first big-league start of 2024 on Thursday after logging a 6.10 ERA and 1.52 WHIP through 31 innings across eight starts in Triple-A. He appeared in six games for Atlanta last season with mixed results, though he could find some success against a Cubs offense that ranks 10th in the National League with a .683 OPS.
MAY 23•ROTOWIRE
Fried teases perfection AGAIN with CG gem as big bats mashCHICAGO -- Max Fried has spent these past few weeks regularly flirting with no-hitters and reminding the baseball world why he will be one o...
MAY 23•MLB.COM
Fried pitches a 3-hitter and Ozuna homers to help the Braves beat the Cubs 9-2
Max Fried struck out nine while throwing a three-hitter for his second complete game of the season, and the Atlanta Braves beat Justin Steele and the Chicago Cubs 9-2MAY 23•ASSOCIATED PRESS
Atlanta Braves at Chicago Cubs Game Story, Scores/Highlights - 05/22/2024This browser does not support the video element.
MAY 23•MLB.COM
Drew Smyly - Shines in rehab startSmyly (hip) struck out five over three perfect innings in his rehab start Tuesday with High-A South Bend.
ImpactPitching in a game for the first time in a month after landing on the 15-day injured list April 23 with a right hip impingement, Smyly looked about as good as possible while tossing 40 pitches. The lefty had been working exclusively as a reliever prior to landing on the shelf, but with the Cubs moving the struggling Kyle Hendricks to the bullpen earlier this week, Smyly could be under consideration to step in as the team's No. 5 starter if he makes it back from the IL before Jordan Wicks (forearm). If the Cubs intend to bring Smyly back in a starting role, he'll still need to get stretched out a bit further, so it wouldn't be surprising if he stuck around at South Bend or joined a higher-level affiliate for another rehab outing. Regardless of whether Smyly serves as a starter or reliever upon his return to the Cubs, manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday that he expects the 34-year-old to be activated at some point next week, per MLB.com.
MAY 23•ROTOWIRE
Ethan Roberts - Makes 2024 Triple-A debutRoberts (elbow) was reinstated from Triple-A Iowa's 7-day injured list Friday and debuted for the club Sunday, striking out one over a perfect inning of relief.
ImpactRoberts, who re-signed with the Cubs on a minor-league deal in December, missed the entire 2023 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in July 2022. Though he was expected to be fully cleared in advance of spring training, Roberts opened the season on the 7-day injured list, though it's unclear if he was deactivated due to complications with his surgically repaired elbow or because of another issue. Whatever the case, Roberts was cleared to make his 2024 debut at the Triple-A level over the weekend after he made rehab appearances for the Cubs' rookie-level Arizona Complex League affiliate as well as Double-A Tennessee.
MAY 23•ROTOWIRE
