FEBRUARY 27, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM
CHICAGO CUBS 83-79 · 3RD IN NL CENTRAL
83-79 · 3RD IN NL CENTRAL
Cubs hoping they can get the right numbers from Cody Bellinger The next chapter in Cody Bellinger's professional baseball career began Saturday with a mistake as he walked to the plate for his first at-b...
Justin Steele - Bullpen session coming Tuesday Steele (arm) said he's scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Impact The Cubs scratched Steele from his planned Cactus League debut this past Saturday against the Giants, citing general arm fatigue. Fortunately for Steele, the issue doesn't appear to be anything more significant, as he'll likely get the green light to make his first spring start later this week if the bullpen session goes according to plan. The southpaw already says that he feels like he can cover 2-to-3 innings, despite missing his first turn through the spring rotation.
FEBRUARY 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Max Scherzer loves pitch clock, which debuts to mixed reactions
Max Scherzer believes MLB's new pitch clock will help pitchers out. Some star hitters agree with him.FEBRUARY 27, 2023
Patrick Mooney: While the Cubs are still assessing Seiya... - The Athletic While the Cubs are still assessing Seiya Suzuki’s oblique issue and waiting to outline next steps, Patrick Wisdom has been scratched from to...
FEBRUARY 27, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Patrick Wisdom - Scratched due to groin soreness Wisdom was scratched from Monday's split-squad Cactus League game against the Diamondbacks due to left groin soreness, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Impact The Cubs are characterizing Wisdom's removal from the lineup as precautionary, so he can be viewed as day-to-day until another update is provided. Jake Slaughter will start at third base in Wisdom's place versus Arizona.
FEBRUARY 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
3 takeaways from Chicago Cubs camp, including Nick Madrigal's 1st Cactus League test at 3rd base Nick Madrigal admitted he felt some jitters before his first start at third base, but once he handled the first ball hit to him, he settled...
FEBRUARY 27, 2023 • CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM
Dansby Swanson - Hitless in team debut Swanson went 0-for-2 in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Giants.
Impact Swanson was playing in his first spring training game with the Cubs after agreeing to a seven-year, $177 million deal in the offseason. His exhibition stats won't matter much, as the team simply wants to get him to the regular season healthy and comfortable with his new teammates. Swanson should be Chicago's everyday shortstop, with Nico Hoerner shifting over to second base.
FEBRUARY 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
David Bote - Goes deep Saturday Bote went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Giants.
Impact Bote got his spring training schedule off to a strong start with the long ball. The veteran utility player may not be in the Cubs' plans this year as he's no longer on the 40-man roster. The additions of Dansby Swanson, Cody Bellinger, Eric Hosmer and Trey Mancini in the offseason have crowded the picture. Bote would likely need injuries ahead of him to see any meaningful playing time this season.
FEBRUARY 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Trey Mancini - Two hits in team debut Mancini went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Giants.
Impact Mancini looked good in his first game with the Cubs. The veteran was brought over in the offseason to likely fill the DH role most days, though he could also see some time at first base. Mancini had a down year with a career-worst .710 OPS in 2022, but he still hit 18 home runs to go along with 63 RBI.
FEBRUARY 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Adrian Sampson - Struggles in spring debut Sampson allowed four runs on three hits across 1.2 innings in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Giants. He walked one and struck out one.
Impact All three hits allowed by Sampson left the yard, giving the righty a rough line in his spring debut. Sampson is in contention for the Cubs' fifth starter spot along with the likes of Hayden Wesneski and Javier Assad, so he'll need better performances moving forward to stick in the rotation to begin the season.
FEBRUARY 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Nick Neidert - Pitching Sunday Neidert (knee) is scheduled to pitch during Sunday's spring game against the Dodgers, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Impact Neidert signed a minor-league deal with Chicago in November after being outrighted off the Marlins' 40-man roster, and he's now fully recovered from the knee procedure he underwent in September. The 26-year-old made only one appearance in the big leagues last season and had a 1.96 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 48:9 K:BB over 46 innings at Triple-A.
FEBRUARY 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Justin Steele - Scratched with arm fatigue Steele was scratched from Sunday's spring start against the Dodgers due to general arm fatigue, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Impact The left-hander hasn't been shut down from throwing and is scheduled for a bullpen session within the next couple days, but it's still a concerning development early in spring training. If Steele's bullpen goes well, he could take the mound in Chicago's next turn through the rotation.
FEBRUARY 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Seiya Suzuki - Set for medical imaging Suzuki (oblique) will undergo medical imaging Sunday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Impact The 28-year-old was scratched from Saturday's Cactus League game due to left oblique tightness, and the medical testing should provide clarity on the severity of the injury. Suzuki shouldn't be expected to see game action for at least a few days, regardless of the imaging results.
FEBRUARY 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Joe Goddard, a former sports reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times and The Doings newspapers, who covered the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs, died Feb. 17 Joe Goddard, a former sports reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times and The Doings newspapers, who covered the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cub...
FEBRUARY 26, 2023 • DENVERPOST.COM
Cubs' Trey Mancini in a good place mentally and physically: 'It's just about thinking less' After fighting through leg fatigue in 2021 and overanalyzing his swing in 2022, Mancini is ready to let his athleticism take over.
FEBRUARY 26, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM
In the Aftermath of a Would-Be Dynasty, the Cubs Begin to Build After their World Series curse was lifted, the Cubs faded away and jettisoned their stars. The brutal process of starting over took a turn t...
FEBRUARY 26, 2023 • NYTIMES.COM
Chicago Cubs get their first taste of the pitch clock in their Cactus League win against the San Francisco Giants Within minutes of completing his first spring start, Marcus Stroman already was plotting how his athleticism can give him an edge against Ma...
FEBRUARY 26, 2023 • TWINCITIES.COM
Dansby Swanson wasn't easily sold on Cubs Dansby Swanson reminds you a bit of Derek Jeter. He’s uber-focused on the bottom line, which is to him wins and losses.
FEBRUARY 26, 2023 • NYPOST.COM
Cubs get first taste of pitch clock in spring training opener vs. Giants The Cubs’ first with the pitch clock, which they won 10-8, lasted three hours and six minutes.
FEBRUARY 26, 2023 • SUNTIMES.COM
'Sanker gonna be sankin': The origin story of Marcus Stroman's defining pitch Stroman got the start in the Cubs’ spring training opener Satruday against the Giants.
FEBRUARY 26, 2023 • SUNTIMES.COM
Swanson, Hoerner show off budding chemistry in Cubs' infield MESA, Ariz. -- It did not take long for the Cubs' new double-play partnership to show off its potential. Five batters into the club's spring...
FEBRUARY 26, 2023 • MLB.COM
Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki scratched from Cactus League opener because of left oblique tightness CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs are dealing with their first injury issue.
FEBRUARY 25, 2023 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM
Chicago Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki scratched from Cactus League opener because of left oblique tightness Right fielder Seiya Suzuki was scratched from the Chicago Cubs lineup in their Cactus League opener Saturday because of left oblique tightne...
FEBRUARY 25, 2023 • CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM
Seiya Suzuki - Scratched with tight oblique Suzuki was scratched from the lineup for Saturday's Cactus League contest against the Giants due to left oblique tightness, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Impact Whether Suzuki is dealing with a strain or nothing worse than standard early-spring soreness should become clear following further tests. Injuries limited Suzuki to 111 games last season, but his finger issues as a rookie aren't related to his current oblique problem.
FEBRUARY 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Jameson Taillon - Tweaks slider in offseason Taillon changed the grip on his slider over the offseason, making the pitch more of a "sweeper," Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Impact Last season, Taillon used his slider just under 19 percent of the time, making it his second-most popular pitch behind the fastball. The righty also mixed in a curve, a cutter, a sinker and a changeup, giving him a fairly deep arsenal. The Cubs liked what they saw, inking Taillon to a four-year, $68 million contract back in December. He figures to slot in as the No. 2 pitcher behind Marcus Stroman once the regular season gets underway.
FEBRUARY 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
