MARCH 21, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM
CHICAGO CUBS 83-79 · 3RD IN NL CENTRAL
83-79 · 3RD IN NL CENTRAL
Nazier Mulé, 2-way prospect Cubs drafted last year, will undergo Tommy John surgery MESA, Ariz. — Chicago Cubs two-way prospect Nazier Mulé's professional baseball debut will be delayed.
Nazier Mulé, 2-way prospect Cubs drafted last year, will undergo Tommy John surgery MESA, Ariz. — Chicago Cubs two-way prospect Nazier Mulé's professional baseball debut will be delayed.
MARCH 21, 2023 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM
Sports on TV for Wednesday, March 22
Sports on TV for Wednesday, March 22MARCH 21, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Horton, Wesneski lead new wave of Cubs pitching MESA, Ariz. -- After ending a 108-year World Series title drought in 2016, the Cubs seemed positioned to stack multiple championships. But t...
MARCH 21, 2023 • MLB.COM
Nazier Mulé, a 2-way prospect the Chicago Cubs drafted last year, will undergo Tommy John surgery Chicago Cubs 2022 fourth-round pick Nazier Mulé will miss the season because of impending Tommy John surgery, delaying the right-hander's pr...
MARCH 21, 2023 • CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM
Cubs mailbag: Hayden Wesneski in the rotation? Ian Happ's trade probability? The Cubs coaches and front office members aren't blind. They see what we're all watching. Wesneski looks the part and is getting results.
MARCH 21, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Braves option Vaughn Grissom, tab Orlando Arcia as Opening Day SS
The Atlanta Braves sent Vaughn Grissom to Triple-A to begin the season, clearing the way for Orlando Arcia to start at shortstop in a surpri...MARCH 21, 2023
Justin Steele - Struggles with control Monday Steele allowed one run on four hits across three innings in Monday's Cactus League game against the Padres. He walked five and struck out three.
Impact Steele is somewhat lucky he only allowed one run after letting nine players reach base in his three innings of work. The lefty had a nice 2022 campaign with a 3.18 ERA and 126 strikeouts across 119 innings, though control remains a bit of an issue. Steele posted a 4.3 BB/9 in 2021 and was only marginally better last year with a 3.8 BB/9. If the 27-year-old can improve in that area this season, he could be primed for another step forward.
MARCH 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Yan Gomes - Having solid spring Gomes is batting .286 in Cactus League action with three home runs across 12 games.
Impact Gomes is having a productive spring, while fellow catcher Tucker Barnhart has gone just 2-for-21 to date. The veteran backstops figure to split catching duties this season with Willson Contreras now in St. Louis, though Gomes may be pulling ahead slightly with his superior performance at the plate. He won't be the most exciting fantasy option, but Gomes has had his moments in the past when he's seen consistent playing time, including hitting 14 home runs as recently as 2021.
MARCH 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Edwin Ríos - Working on new approach Rios has altered his approach at the plate this spring, which has included reducing his leg kick, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Impact Rios is aiming to simplify his swing and unlock more power in the process. The infielder is just 6-for-31 in Cactus League action, though three of those hits have left the park. Rios displayed some pop the last four seasons with the Dodgers. but he never saw consistent enough playing time to truly become a fantasy asset. If he has a bigger role with the Cubs, he could be someone worth keeping an eye on.
MARCH 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Braves make apparent SS decision; Díaz focusing on Reds role
The Atlanta Braves have apparently decided who will replace the departed Dansby Swanson as their starting shortstopMARCH 20, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Why the Cubs are 'not worried' about Dansby Swanson's spring slump Still working to find his timing, Swanson is 2-for-28 this spring training.
MARCH 20, 2023 • SUNTIMES.COM
Submit a question for our Cubs mailbag Got a question about the Cubs as Opening Day looms a few weeks away? Submit it below and Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma could answer it i...
MARCH 20, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Inside Ríos' swing changes that could unlock 'big power numbers' MESA, Ariz. -- There was a day earlier this spring when boredom got the best of Edwin Ríos. The Cubs had a night game, Ríos' family was not...
MARCH 19, 2023 • MLB.COM
Seiya Suzuki - Making progress in hitting program Suzuki (oblique) will add front-flips in his hitting program Sunday and has been taking non-contact swings in the past few days, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Impact Suzuki continues to make progress in his attempt to come back from the oblique strain that has sidelined him since late February. The outfielder is all but assured to open the season on the injured list, but the current belief is that without a setback he stands a good chance of rejoining the Cubs by the middle of April.
MARCH 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Javier Assad - Impressing this spring Across 9.2 innings this spring split between the Cactus League and the World Baseball Classic, Assad has tossed 9.2 scoreless innings with eight strikeouts.
Impact Assad has turned into a valuable weapon for Team Mexico, which faces Japan in the tournament semifinals Monday. The righty is battling for the Cubs' fifth rotation spot as well, though it seems like Hayden Wesneski has the inside track there. That could push Assad into a long-relief role, but he's a candidate to start down the road. The 25-year-old could become a fantasy factor if that happens and he continues to pitch like he has this spring.
MARCH 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Adrian Sampson - Looks better Saturday Sampson allowed two runs (one earned) across 4.1 innings in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Giants. He gave up two hits and a walk while striking out six.
Impact Sampson entered the game with a 14.04 ERA across 8.1 innings this spring, so Saturday's start was a step in the right direction. The righty seems destined for a long-relief role with Hayden Wesneski having the inside track for the fifth spot in the rotation, but Sampson did make 19 starts a season ago, so he'll remain a candidate to make spot starts in 2023.
MARCH 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
With Cubs' rotation starting to crystallize, where do the odd men out fit on the roster? The Cubs will have some difficult roster decisions to make on the pitching side, and they don't mind one bit.
MARCH 19, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Sampson's bounce-back outing adds layer to rotation picture SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Much more goes into a team's Opening Day roster decision-making than looking at statistics compiled in Spring Training...
MARCH 19, 2023 • MLB.COM
How Javier Assad's offseason velocity program and WBC performance has him in contention for Chicago Cubs roster spot As right-hander Javier Assad continues to toss shutout innings this spring, his offseason workout routine has helped him increase his veloci...
MARCH 19, 2023 • CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM
Christopher Morel - Slow spring continues Morel went 0-for-2 with a walk while striking out twice Saturday in a Cactus League game against the Giants.
Impact Morel has gotten off to a rough start in Arizona, as the hitless game now has him slashing .216/.293/.418. The 23-year-old showed flashes of brilliance in his rookie campaign with 16 home runs and a .741 OPS over 379 at-bats, but he is likely to serve in a utility role for the 2023 campaign and isn't expected to provide fantasy significance to begin the year.
MARCH 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Cody Bellinger News: Dave Roberts Wishes Dodgers Could Have Done More to Help Outfielder LA skipper wishes they could’ve done more for the former MVP.
MARCH 18, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM
Hayden Wesneski - Has first poor spring start Wesneski allowed four runs on four hits across 3.1 innings in Friday's Cactus League game against the Dodgers. He walked two and struck out six.
Impact Wesneski entered the game with a 0.00 ERA this spring but endured his first Cactus League rough patch. The six strikeouts are still promising, giving the righty 17 of them across 12 innings. Wesneski has emerged as the top candidate to be the Cubs' fifth starter, and he could be a sneaky fantasy option if he secures the job and continues to pitch well.
MARCH 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Dansby Swanson - Struggling this spring Swanson is just 2-for-25 so far in Cactus League action with 11 strikeouts.
Impact It's been a rough spring for Swanson, who joined the Cubs in the offseason on a seven-year, $177 million deal. Swanson batted .277 for Atlanta last year with 25 home runs, so he should be fine in the long run, though these struggles could carry over into the early part of the regular season as the shortstop gets acclimated to his new surroundings.
MARCH 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Mike Tauchman - Could make roster Tauchman stands a decent chance of making the Cubs' roster out of spring training, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Impact Tauchman is a non-roster invitee but has impressed this spring, which leaves the veteran in a position to possibly earn a reserve outfield role. The 32-year-old spent 2022 in Korea, with his last MLB experience coming in 2021 with the Yankees and Giants. Tauchman did flash some upside back in 2019 with New York, hitting 13 home runs and posting an .865 OPS across 87 games, though he's unlikely to earn enough playing time this year to be a fantasy factor.
MARCH 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
