CHICAGO CUBS NEWS

Cubs close to elimination as they face Nationals The Chicago Cubs will look to keep their flickering postseason aspirations alive on Friday afternoon when they continue their four-game seri...

SEPTEMBER 20 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

'We didn't win winning moments': Counsell candid about Cubs' season CHICAGO -- The Cubs hired Craig Counsell away from the rival Brewers last winter with the goal of returning to the top of the National Leagu...

SEPTEMBER 20 • MLB.COM

Dansby Swanson leads Cubs to narrow win vs. Nats Dansby Swanson collected three hits and four runs and Cody Bellinger had three RBIs to lift the host Chicago Cubs to a 7-6 victory over the...

SEPTEMBER 20 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Cody Bellinger - Drives in three Thursday Bellinger went 2-for-4 with three RBI in Thursday's 7-6 win over the Nationals.

Impact Bellinger was one of four Chicago hitters with multiple hits, and he paced the team with the three RBI. While the 29-year-old has taken a step back from last season, when he recorded 23 home runs and 97 RBI to go with an .881 OPS, he's still been fairly effective in 2024. Bellinger has 18 long balls this year, and he's now up to 73 RBI and a .767 OPS. His fantasy stock may be slightly reduced heading into 2025, but he's still a talented offensive player with plenty of upside.

SEPTEMBER 20 • ROTOWIRE

Cody Bellinger knocks in 3 as Cubs beat Nationals 7-6 to stave off postseason elimination

Seiya Suzuki homered, Cody Bellinger drove in three runs and the Chicago Cubs topped the Washington Nationals 7-6 on Thursday night to stave off elimination from the postseason

SEPTEMBER 20 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Seiya Suzuki - Goes deep in win Suzuki went 2-for-3 with a walk and a two-run home run in Thursday's 7-6 win over the Nationals.

Impact Suzuki blasted his 21st home run of the season in the third inning, which pushed him past his previous career high of 20 that he set last year. The outfielder needs five more RBI and runs scored to set new career highs in those categories as well, making it a productive fantasy campaign overall for the 30-year-old.

SEPTEMBER 20 • ROTOWIRE

Dansby Swanson - Big effort in Thursday's win Swanson went 3-for-4 with four runs scored in Thursday's 7-6 win over the Nationals.

Impact The four runs in a game are easily a season high for Swanson, as his previous best was two runs, which he did on several occasions. The shortstop has been solid this month with a .319 batting average, three home runs, 10 RBI and 19 runs scored through 17 games. Swanson should continue to see regular playing time as the Cubs try to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

SEPTEMBER 20 • ROTOWIRE

Ian Happ - Collects three more hits Thursday Happ went 3-for-5 with two runs scored in Thursday's 7-6 win over the Nationals.

Impact Happ went 0-for-4 in Wednesday's game, but before that he had hits in six straight contests, and he got back into a groove on Thursday. The veteran outfielder has already set career highs with 25 home runs and 85 RBI this season, and his OPS is sitting above .800 for the first time since 2020.

SEPTEMBER 20 • ROTOWIRE

Porter Hodge - Bounces back to secure save Hodge worked around a hit and walk to pitch a clean ninth inning and record the save in Thursday's 7-6 win over the Nationals.

Impact Hodge made things interesting by putting the two runners on, but unlike his last appearance on Saturday when he blew a save, the righty shut the door this time around. While Hodge is only 6-for-9 in save opportunities, the rookie has been mostly excellent overall with a 2.03 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 48 strikeouts across 40 innings this year. The 23-year-old should remain Chicago's closer for the final nine games of the regular season, and his outlook is bright for 2025 and beyond.

SEPTEMBER 20 • ROTOWIRE

How to Watch Cubs vs. Nationals: TV Channel & Live Stream - September 20

Preview the Sept. 20 matchup between the Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals with recent trends, how to watch, livestream info, and more.

SEPTEMBER 20 • DATA SKRIVE

Cubs vs. Nationals Prediction, Odds, Picks - September 20

Preview the Sept. 20 matchup between the Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals with odds over/under, game spread, betting lines and more.

SEPTEMBER 20 • DATA SKRIVE

Julian Merryweather - Surgery scheduled Merryweather will undergo surgery on his right knee Friday, Mike McGraw of the Chicago Daily Herald reports.

Impact Merryweather has been on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa since last Friday, during which he's thrown two scoreless innings while striking out three batters and walking one. However, his attempt at a return this season will be put to an abrupt end, as he's elected to undergo surgery to address the tendinitis in his knee. A recovery timeline will likely emerge after the 32-year-old goes under the knife.

SEPTEMBER 19 • ROTOWIRE

Michael Busch - Sitting down Thursday Busch isn't in the Cubs' lineup for Thursday's game against the Nationals.

Impact After going 1-for-10 with an RBI and four strikeouts during Chicago's previous series against Oakland, Busch will take a seat to begin the Cubs' four-game set with Washington. Patrick Wisdom will cover first base in his stead and bat sixth.

SEPTEMBER 19 • ROTOWIRE

Cubs, on brink of wild-card elimination, open series with Nationals Unable to derail the New York Mets’ playoff charge, the Washington Nationals will get an opportunity to eliminate the Chicago Cubs from the...

SEPTEMBER 19 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Cubs, on brink of wild-card elimination, open series with Nationals Unable to derail the New York Mets’ playoff charge, the Washington Nationals will get an opportunity to eliminate the Chicago Cubs from the...

SEPTEMBER 19 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Nationals aim to end 3-game slide, take on the Cubs

The Washington Nationals come into the matchup against the Chicago Cubs as losers of three games in a row

SEPTEMBER 19 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jake Bauers hits game-ending single to lift NL Central-clinching Brewers to 2-1 win over Phillies

Jake Bauers hit an RBI single in the ninth inning and the Milwaukee Brewers, who had clinched the NL Central earlier in the day, beat Philadelphia 2-1 to prevent the Phillies from...

SEPTEMBER 19 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nate Pearson - Takes loss Wednesday 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.

Impact 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 as the regular season wraps up, though he should mostly see low-leverage work.

SEPTEMBER 19 • ROTOWIRE

How to Watch Cubs vs. Nationals: TV Channel & Live Stream - September 19

Preview the Sept. 19 matchup between the Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals with recent trends, how to watch, livestream info, and more.

SEPTEMBER 19 • DATA SKRIVE

Cubs vs. Nationals Prediction, Odds, Picks - September 19

Preview the Sept. 19 matchup between the Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals with odds over/under, game spread, betting lines and more.

SEPTEMBER 19 • DATA SKRIVE

Julian Merryweather - Rehabbing at Triple-A 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.

Impact 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.

SEPTEMBER 19 • ROTOWIRE

Justin Steele - Limited workload in return 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.

Impact 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.

SEPTEMBER 19 • ROTOWIRE

Steele's return a silver lining as Cubs' postseason hopes fade CHICAGO -- In an ideal world, Justin Steele would have been stepping into the final push of a true playoff race when he came off the injured...

SEPTEMBER 18 • MLB.COM

Steele returns from injury, but Cubs suffer another loss Tyler Soderstrom homered and was 2 for 4 and Zack Gelof hit a double to take the lead in the eighth as the Athletics beat the Cubs 5-3, lead...

SEPTEMBER 18 • DAILYHERALD.COM

Athletics rally past Cubs, finish interleague slate with winning record Zack Gelof doubled home the go-ahead run and scored another in a two-run eighth inning, and the visiting Oakland Athletics sent the Chicago...

SEPTEMBER 18 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM