CHICAGO CUBS NEWS

Soderstrom and Gelof lead A's past Cubs 5-3, clinching NL Central crown for Brewers

Tyler Soderstrom homered and Zack Gelof hit a tiebreaking double in the eighth inning as the Oakland Athletics beat the Chicago Cubs 5-3, putting the Milwaukee Brewers in the playo...

SEPTEMBER 18 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Brewers clinch third NL Central title in four years after Cubs lose to A's

The Milwaukee Brewers became the first major league team to clinch a division championship when they sealed their third NL Central title in...

SEPTEMBER 18

Brewers outperform preseason expectations again to win 3rd NL Central title in 4 years

The Milwaukee Brewers became the first major league team to clinch a playoff spot when they sealed their third NL Central title in the last four years

SEPTEMBER 18 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tigers News: Detroit Signs Catcher Tomas Nido The Tigers have signed catcher Tomás Nido, aiming to enhance depth in a challenging season.

SEPTEMBER 18 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Hayden Wesneski - Nearing activation 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 inning...

Impact After throwing two scoreless innings for Iowa on Tuesday, Wesneski could be on the cusp of an 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.

SEPTEMBER 18 • ROTOWIRE

Jorge López - Returns from IL The Cubs activated Lopez (groin) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Impact 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.

SEPTEMBER 18 • ROTOWIRE

Daniel Palencia - Heads back to Triple-A The Cubs optioned Palencia to Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Impact 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.

SEPTEMBER 18 • ROTOWIRE

Jack Neely - Sent back to Triple-A The Cubs optioned Neely to Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Impact 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.

SEPTEMBER 18 • ROTOWIRE

Justin Steele - Activated ahead of start The Cubs activated Steele (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Impact 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.

SEPTEMBER 18 • ROTOWIRE

Ian Happ Homered Off an Absurdly Fast Pitch from Mason Miller During Cubs-Athletics It was the fastest pitch hit for a home run in MLB’s pitch-tracking era, which began in 2008.

SEPTEMBER 18 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Jordan Wicks - Done in by long balls again 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...

Impact 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.

SEPTEMBER 18 • ROTOWIRE

Cubs and Athletics meet in series rubber match

Both the Chicago Cubs and the Oakland Athletics are looking for a series win with a victory on Wednesday

SEPTEMBER 18 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cubs, A's bring strong interleague records into series finale The host Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics get one last chance to improve on impressive interleague records when they close out a three-gam...

SEPTEMBER 18 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Cubs, A's bring strong interleague records into series finale The host Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics get one last chance to improve on impressive interleague records when they close out a three-gam...

SEPTEMBER 18 • SUNHERALD.COM

Happ makes history with HR off 103.2 mph pitch CHICAGO -- Ian Happ had just fouled off a slider from A’s closer Mason Miller that ran low and inside. The Cubs outfielder was five pitches...

SEPTEMBER 18 • MLB.COM

Ian Happ - Powers offense in loss Happ went 3-for-5 with two solo home runs in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Athletics.

Impact 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 the 84 RBI he recorded in 2024. Happ has 11 team games remaining to try to set a new long ball benchmark.

SEPTEMBER 18 • ROTOWIRE

Shea Langeliers homers twice as the Oakland A's edge the Chicago Cubs 4-3

Shea Langeliers homered twice, including a towering solo drive that cleared the Wrigley Field bleachers in left, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Chicago Cubs 4-3

SEPTEMBER 18 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Harper and Wheeler lead Phillies to 5-1 victory over Brewers

Bryce Harper hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the sixth inning to back up the strong pitching of Zack Wheeler as the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 5-1 in a...

SEPTEMBER 18 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

How to Watch Cubs vs. Athletics: TV Channel & Live Stream - September 18

Preview the Sept. 18 matchup between the Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics with recent trends, how to watch, livestream info, and more.

SEPTEMBER 18 • DATA SKRIVE

Cubs vs. Athletics Prediction, Odds, Picks - September 18

Preview the Sept. 18 matchup between the Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics with odds over/under, game spread, betting lines and more.

SEPTEMBER 18 • DATA SKRIVE

Justin Steele to return to the Cubs rotation for Wednesday's game against the A's

Justin Steele is going to rejoin the rotation for the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday against Oakland

SEPTEMBER 17 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cubs left-hander Justin Steele set to return from IL Wednesday, start series finale against the A's Manager Craig Counsell revealed the adjusted plan for the rotation.

SEPTEMBER 17 • SUNTIMES.COM

Justin Steele - Rejoining rotation Wednesday 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....

Impact 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.

SEPTEMBER 17 • ROTOWIRE

Daniel Palencia - Recalled from Triple-A The Cubs recalled Palencia from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Impact 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.

SEPTEMBER 17 • ROTOWIRE

Trey Wingenter - Optioned to Triple-A The Cubs optioned Wingenter to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Impact 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.

SEPTEMBER 17 • ROTOWIRE