CHICAGO CUBS NEWS

Brailyn Marquez - Not throwing yet Marquez (shoulder) has yet to begin a throwing program, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Impact He underwent a debridement procedure on his left shoulder last June and, upon reporting to camp in February, doctors determined the shoulder was still too tight to allow the southpaw to resume throwing. Marquez has been on a stretching program for the last three weeks and still needs to build up more strength in the shoulder before he's cleared to throw. It sounds like it's going to be quite a while before the former top prospect might be game-ready again. Marquez was non-tendered by the Cubs over the winter before being re-signed to a minor-league deal.

MARCH 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Patrick Wisdom - Back in lineup Monday Wisdom (groin) is starting at first base and batting third Monday versus the Mariners, Al Yellon of SB Nation reports.

Impact Wisdom has been nursing a sore left groin recently, but the issue appears to be minor and he is back in the lineup Monday. The 31-year-old will likely see most of his work at the corner infield spots this season and will look to improve upon his disappointing .206/.298/.426 slash line from last year.

MARCH 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Michael Fulmer - Pitching well this spring Fulmer has yet to allow a run across three Cactus League appearances. He's struck out three.

Impact Fulmer has been steady so far in spring training action, and he should be able to carry that over into the regular season after posting strong numbers out of the bullpen in 2021 and 2022. The veteran righty should have a high-leverage role with the Cubs, possibly even closing out games, though Brandon Hughes and Brad Boxberger are also in the mix at the end of games. Fulmer's fantasy value would obviously increase if he's seeing regular save opportunities.

MARCH 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Trey Mancini - Hits first spring home run Mancini went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and two runs scored in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Rockies.

Impact Notably, Mancini started this game in right field, where he could play some in the early going with Seiya Suzuki (oblique) unlikely to be ready for the start of the regular season. Mancini has a strong .538 batting average so far this spring, and he could have decent fantasy appeal as an everyday player for the Cubs this year, with his playing time coming in right, as well as at first base and DH.

MARCH 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Drew Smyly - Off to slow start Smyly has an 11.25 ERA across four innings in two Cactus League starts.

Impact Smyly has been hurt by the long ball so far, as he's allowed three home runs in his two short starts. The lefty posted a 1.4 HR/9 last year and has a 1.5 mark for his career, so home runs have always been a bit of an issue. Smyly still managed a strong 3.47 ERA across 106.1 innings for the Cubs in 2022, and he should slot in near the back of the team's rotation this year. The veteran could have some fantasy value in the right matchups, though his propensity to allow homers along with his injury history remain red flags.

MARCH 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Cactus League report: Miguel Amaya working his way back for Cubs, and remembering White Sox broadcaster Dave Wills Tampa Bay Rays broadcaster Dave Wills, who worked on the Chicago White Sox radio network for 11 seasons as a pregame and postgame host, died...

MARCH 6, 2023 • CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM

State of the Cubs with Nico Hoerner, who links their past to a brighter future Hoerner knows it's important to learn from the past and remember what worked during the last rebuild.

MARCH 6, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Stolen base risers: MJ Melendez, Ian Happ and more beneficiaries of MLB's new rules Michael Salfino identifies five hitters who, thanks to the new MLB rule changes, could see a sneaky uptick in stolen bases.

MARCH 6, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Barnhart embracing role as Cubs' backstop psych SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Tucker Barnhart can remember the precise moment when he realized he needed to grow as a catcher. It was 2015, his secon...

MARCH 5, 2023 • MLB.COM

Cubs' Ben Brown, Ryan Jensen showing developmental leaps in first major-league camp Jensen revamped his deliver last season, and Brown is adding two new pitches to his arsenal.

MARCH 5, 2023 • SUNTIMES.COM

Keegan Thompson - Building up slowly The Cubs are building up Thompson slowly this spring as he adjusts to a new role as a reliever, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Impact Thompson made his Cactus League debut Saturday and logged a scoreless inning with a strikeout. The team wanted to see how the righty responded to throwing bullpen sessions more frequently to begin spring training as they transition him into a relief role. Thompson made 17 starts and 12 relief appearances last season, recording a strong 3.76 ERA across 115 total innings. He figures to be a multi-inning bullpen option in 2023, though he's capable of making spot starts when needed.

MARCH 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Brandon Hughes - Easing into spring work The Cubs are easing Hughes into Cactus League action after the lefty set a career high in innings pitched last season, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Impact Hughes has yet to appear in a spring contest, which is by design after he logged 57.2 innings in relief last season. That's not a particularly high number, but the converted outfielder only tossed 17 innings in the minors the year before, which was his first time on the mound as a professional. The lefty should once again be a key bullpen weapon for the Cubs, possibly closing out games, though Rowan Wick along with newcomers Michael Fulmer and Brad Boxberger could factor into the mix as well.

MARCH 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Jameson Taillon - Looks good Saturday Taillon tossed three scoreless innings in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Angels. He allowed one hit and struck out four.

Impact This was an improvement from Taillon's spring debut, when he allowed two runs on three hits across 1.2 innings of work. The Cactus League stats aren't particularly important for the righty, as he should be locked in as the Cubs' No. 2 starter after signing a four-year, $68 million contract in the offseason. Taillon will just want to get himself ready for the regular season, where he'll look to follow up the strong 3.91 ERA and 1.13 WHIP he posted across 177.1 innings with the Yankees in 2022.

MARCH 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Justin Steele - Sharp in spring debut Steele (arm) tossed two scoreless innings in Friday's Cactus League game against the Angels. He allowed no hits or walks, and did not record a strikeout.

Impact Steele was scratched from an earlier spring start due to arm fatigue, but he looked good in his Cactus League debut. The lefty didn't have any strikeouts, though he recorded 126 of them across 119 innings last season, so he should start to pick up more strikeouts as he gets rolling. Steele will be looking to build on his 2022 breakout as Chicago's No. 3 starter this year behind Marcus Stroman and Jameson Taillon.

MARCH 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

New pitch-clock rules remain a chore for the Chicago Cubs and White Sox one week into Cactus League games One week into Cactus League games, the Chicago Cubs and White Sox weigh in on the implementation of the pitch clock and its affect on games.

MARCH 5, 2023 • CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM

At peace with his big decision, Dansby Swanson is implementing his vision for the Cubs Swanson hasn't regretted leaving Atlanta and is seeking every advantage for the Cubs. "He's always thinking about how to get an edge."

MARCH 5, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

How the Chicago Cubs are handling the spring workloads for pitchers Brandon Hughes and Keegan Thompson The Chicago Cubs have been deliberate in how they have used Brandon Hughes and Keegan Thompson early in game action this spring.

MARCH 4, 2023 • CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM

Steele will be 'pretty darn valuable' for Cubs in '23 MESA, Ariz. -- Cubs left-hander Justin Steele was scratched from his first Cactus League start with arm fatigue. If there was any concern on...

MARCH 4, 2023 • MLB.COM

Patrick Mooney: Friday night marked the Cubs' first-ever... - The Athletic Friday night marked the Cubs’ first-ever no-hitter in spring training. Cubs historian David Ross: “The last combined no-hitter we had didn’t...

MARCH 4, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Cubs blank Manny Machado, Padres in first Spring Training no-hitter since 2017

The Cubs no-hit the Padres in a Spring Training game Friday. The game only took two hours and 14 minutes thanks in part to MLB's new pitch c...

MARCH 4, 2023

7 Cubs pitchers combine for no-hitter vs Machado, Padres

Manny Machado, Nelson Cruz and the San Diego Padres expect to be big bashers in the batter’s box this season

MARCH 4, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Justin Steele and 6 Chicago Cubs relievers combine for the 1st spring training no-hitter in franchise history Chicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele and six other pitchers combined to throw the first spring training no-hitter in franchise history Fri...

MARCH 4, 2023 • CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM

Cubs' Justin Steele back on track after efficient first spring training start Steele retired all six Padres batters he faced and then headed to the bullpen to throw 25 more pitches.

MARCH 4, 2023 • SUNTIMES.COM

Nick Madrigal - May hit leadoff on occasion Madrigal likely won't have an everyday role in 2023, though he could hit leadoff when he does play, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Impact Madrigal's path to an everyday role has become clouded with Dansby Swanson now in the fold and Nico Hoerner still around, though Madrigal should still rotate in at several positions. Chicago manager David Ross may choose to use Madrigal in the leadoff role from time to time, which would boost his fantasy value when he does find his way onto the lineup card.

MARCH 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ian Happ - Could hit leadoff on occasion Happ may bat leadoff on occasion in 2023, though Nico Hoerner looks like the primary option for the role, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Impact Hoerner has batted leadoff most frequently so far in Cactus League action, and manager David Ross seems to like the infielder as his tablesetter. However, Happ does have experience batting first during his tenure with the Cubs. Last year, he spent most of his time in the No. 3 spot, which set Happ up to record a career-high 72 RBI.

MARCH 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE