CHICAGO CUBS NEWS

Marcus Stroman - In line for Opening Day start Stroman should be in line to start for the Cubs on Opening Day after pitching in the World Baseball Classic, though Chicago manager David Ross hasn't set his rotation in stone, Ton...

Impact With Kyle Hendricks (shoulder) on the shelf, Stroman is the natural candidate to lead Chicago's rotation to begin the season. The righty will pitch for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic before returning to the Cubs. He registered a solid 3.50 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 2022, though he only struck out 119 batters across 138.2 innings. That's in line with his career norms, as Stroman has never been a huge source of strikeouts.

MARCH 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Hoerner on board with leadoff duty: 'All for it' PEORIA, Ariz. -- It has been seven years since the Cubs have had a regular leadoff hitter. Nico Hoerner might be the one to end that drought...

MARCH 4, 2023 • MLB.COM

Sports on TV for March 4-5

Sports on TV for March 4-5

MARCH 3, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Scherzer tests pitch clock limits, gets quick-pitch balk

Max Scherzer has theorized that baseball’s new pitch clock will allow pitchers to dictate the pace of games

MARCH 3, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Marcus Stroman hires ex-Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen as agent, looks forward to new year with Cubs The Chicago Cubs pitcher has switched agencies and signed on with Roc Nation Sports.

MARCH 3, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Dodgers News: Cody Bellinger's Agent Feels LA Made a Mistake with Non-Tender Cody Bellinger’s agent, Scott Boras, said “the marketplace was very different” for Bellinger than the value the Dodgers had placed on him.

MARCH 3, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Nico Hoerner - Likely to bat leadoff Cubs manager David Ross indicated Thursday that Hoerner will be the primary leadoff man to begin the 2023 season, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Impact Hoerner has already led off four times through less than a week of Cactus League games, and it sounds like that theme is going to carry over into the regular season. The 25-year-old middle infielder enjoyed a mini breakout in 2022, tallying 10 homers and 20 stolen bases across 135 games. He did that with a .327 on-base percentage, which can perhaps improve and elevate his full range of counting stats as Chicago's likely tablesetter.

MARCH 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Eflin makes good 1st impression with Rays after big deal

Zach Eflin made a good first impression with the Tampa Bay Rays

MARCH 2, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Swanson signing a signal Cubs are back in business of winning games The Cubs signed a slew of new players over the winter, headed by shortstop Dansby Swanson. After making four straight trips to the playoffs...

MARCH 2, 2023 • DAILYHERALD.COM

With Opening Day in doubt, Cubs won't rush Suzuki MESA, Ariz. -- The Cubs would be thrilled to see Seiya Suzuki in their Opening Day lineup on March 30 against the Brewers, but don’t expect...

MARCH 2, 2023 • MLB.COM

World Baseball Classic 2023 odds: Dominican Republic favorite to win it all

With a key player opting out for Team USA, the Dominican Republic is the new WBC pretournament betting favorite at FOX Bet.

MARCH 2, 2023

Trey Mancini - May play some in right Mancini is an option to play some in right field with Seiya Suzuki (oblique) questionable for the start of the regular season, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Impact The veteran slugger is primarily a first baseman and will likely get some starts at DH, but the Cubs could try him in right field, especially with Seiya Suzuki (oblique) set to miss the start of the season. Mancini logged 86 innings in right last season and was a plus defender there. No matter where he plays, he should get plenty of at-bats in 2023 for a Chicago team looking to boost its offense.

MARCH 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Julian Merryweather - May have inside track on MLB role Merryweather stands a decent chance of securing an Opening Day bullpen role with the Cubs, particularly because he's out of minor-league options, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Impact Merryweather was claimed off waivers back in January, and he's now competing for a role with the Cubs in spring training. The righty struggled last season with a 6.75 ERA and 1.43 WHIP across 26 games with the Blue Jays, so he'd likely slot in as a low-leverage option if he makes the team, putting him off the fantasy radar for the time being.

MARCH 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ben Deluzio - Could nab reserve role DeLuzio could earn an Opening Day bench spot with the Cubs, possibly as a right-handed alternative to Cody Bellinger in center field, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Impact With Seiya Suzuki (oblique) potentially set to miss the beginning of the regular season, the Cubs may need an extra outfield option. DeLuzio, who appeared in 22 games with St. Louis last year and recorded a .492 OPS, has a chance to grab a spot. However, he likely won't be on the fantasy radar as more of a defense-first player with limited offensive ability.

MARCH 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Patrick Mooney: The Cubs are still evaluating free agents in... - The Athletic The Cubs are still evaluating free agents in the middle of spring training and looking to add a left-handed reliever to their bullpen mix. P...

MARCH 2, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Seiya Suzuki - Opening Day in jeopardy Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said Thursday that Suzuki (oblique) is in "strong jeopardy" of missing the start of the regular season, Tony Andracki of Marquee Spo...

Impact Suzuki suffered a moderate left oblique strain last week, and it's an injury that often requires around a full month of rest and rehab work. "We're not gonna put any firm timetables on it but I think there's a general expectation of what a moderate oblique injury is," said Hoyer. "That certainly would put Opening Day in strong jeopardy. We just want to make sure we get him completely healthy." Christopher Morel is the most obvious fill-in candidate for right field, though the Cubs have a number of options to fill the position. Suzuki will hopefully be ready to take over by mid-April.

MARCH 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Patrick Mooney: The Cubs have not announced an Opening Day... - The Athletic The Cubs have not announced an Opening Day starter yet, but Marcus Stroman would be in line to start Game 1 vs. the Brewers at Wrigley Field...

MARCH 2, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Dodgers News: Center Field Battle Getting More Clear, May Be Down to Three Players Dodgers manager Dave Roberts talked about LA’s center-field situation and named Jason Heyward, Trayce Thompson, and James Outman as candidat...

MARCH 2, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Justin Steele - Set for Cactus debut Friday Steele (arm) is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut Friday against the Padres, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Impact Steele got the go-ahead after throwing another successful bullpen session Tuesday in Cubs camp. The 27-year-old left-hander came down with a bit of arm soreness last week, but all is well now as he readies himself for a spot in Chicago's season-opening starting rotation. He posted an impressive 3.18 ERA with 126 strikeouts over 119 innings in 2022.

MARCH 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Dodgers 'believe' in Jason Heyward; can swing change revive his career?

Thanks to Freddie Freeman, former star Jason Heyward is getting a second chance in baseball, and the early returns at Dodgers camp have been...

MARCH 2, 2023

Cubs prospect notes: Ben Brown's arsenal, Hayden Wesneski's chances and more Cubs prospect updates on Ben Brown, Hayden Wesneski and Alexander Canario's health.

MARCH 2, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Ranking the best 18 DHs of 2023 in the MLB

Who are baseball's best designated hitters? Ben Verlander breaks down his tiers.

MARCH 1, 2023

Jordan Holloway - Nursing oblique injury Cubs manager David Ross said Holloway suffered a moderate right oblique strain in Monday's 3-0 loss to the Diamondbacks, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Impact The right-hander, who is attending camp as a non-roster invitee, failed to retire a batter and was charged with two runs on two hits prior to departing. Ross didn't provide a timeline for Holloway, but given the nature of the injury, the right-hander is likely to miss enough Cactus League action to take him out of contention for a spot in the Cubs' Opening Day bullpen.

MARCH 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Patrick Wisdom - Day-to-day with groin soreness Cubs manager David Ross said Wednesday that Wisdom is day-to-day with left groin soreness, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports. "He feels like if the season was starti...

Impact Ross said that because it's early in the spring season, the team will take a cautious approach with Wisdom. The 31-year-old corner infielder still seems likely to be ready for the start of the regular season, barring a setback.

MARCH 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Dodgers News: OF Roles Laid Out for David Peralta and Jason Heyward Dave Roberts sets up version one of what the post Gavin Lux world will look like for the Dodgers.

MARCH 1, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM