CHICAGO CUBS NEWS

Contreras hits 2-run HR in 8th as Cubs beat Marlins 2-1

Willson Contreras hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning, Justin Steele matched a career high with 10 strikeouts and the Chicago Cubs beat the Miami Marlins 2-1

AUGUST 5, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Paul Sullivan: Back to the future sequel begins for rebuilding Cubs as they hold auditions to see who sticks around CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs fans were supposed to get their first glimpse of the post-Willson Contreras era Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field.

AUGUST 5, 2022 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Ross lays out Cubs' plan for final two months As the Cubs returned to Wrigley Field on Friday to face Miami, manager David Ross talked about the plan ahead, which includes testing the ve...

AUGUST 5, 2022 • DAILYHERALD.COM

Column: Back to the future sequel begins for the rebuilding Chicago Cubs as they hold auditions to see who sticks around The Chicago Cubs returned to Wrigley Field with Willson Contreras in tow and a desire by management to audition players for the future.

AUGUST 5, 2022 • CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM

MLB odds: Bookmaker says Cubs won't win World Series again in his life

One bookmaker explains to Sammy P why the Chicago Cubs will not win another World Series, at least in his lifetime.

AUGUST 5, 2022

Nico Hoerner - Takes seat Friday Hoerner is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Marlins, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Impact Hoerner started the past 27 games and will take a seat Friday for the first time in over a month. The 25-year-old posted a .697 OPS during that stretch, and Christopher Morel will receive a look at shortstop in the series opener versus Miami.

AUGUST 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Frank Schwindel - Takes seat Friday Schwindel isn't starting Friday against Miami.

Impact Schwindel went 0-for-3 with a strikeout during Thursday's nightcap against the Cardinals and will retreat to the bench for the second time in the last three games. Patrick Wisdom will shift to first base while Zach McKinstry starts at the hot corner.

AUGUST 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Seiya Suzuki - Day off Friday Suzuki isn't starting Friday against the Marlins.

Impact Suzuki is getting a breather after he hit just .107 with a double, two RBI, a run and a stolen base over the last seven games. Nelson Velazquez will take his place in right field and bat fifth.

AUGUST 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Kervin Castro - Takes loss in team debut Castro (0-1) allowed three runs on two hits and two walks across an inning of relief to take the loss in Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Cardinals. He struck out one.

Impact Making his team debut after being claimed off waivers Tuesday, Castro worked the seventh inning and ran into some trouble. After allowing a single and a walk to start the frame, he induced a Nolan Arenado double play ground out. However, Castro followed that with another walk, then allowed a three-run home run to Tyler O'Neill. With the Cubs trading David Robertson, Mychal Givens and Scott Effross before Tuesday's deadline, Castro should be able to carve out a bullpen role in Chicago, though he's unlikely to have much fantasy value.

AUGUST 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Patrick Wisdom - Reaches 20 home runs Wisdom went 1-for-5 with two walks, a home run, two RBI and two runs scored across both games of Thursday's doubleheader against the Cardinals.

Impact Wisdom did most of his damage in the second game, when he launched his 20th home run of the season and scored twice. The 30-year-old has now reached the 20-homer plateau in consecutive seasons after coming into last year with just four career long balls at the MLB level. He hit 28 home runs in 2021 and has a decent chance to surpass that in 2022 if he stays healthy.

AUGUST 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Willson Contreras - Hits 15th home run Contreras went 2-for-8 with a walk, a double, a solo home run and two runs scored across both games of Thursday's doubleheader against the Cardinals.

Impact Contreras did his damage early in the matinee, taking St. Louis starter Miles Mikolas deep in the first inning. The catcher, who perhaps surprisingly didn't leave Chicago before the trade deadline, now has 15 home runs and an .835 OPS this season. He should be primed for a strong finish to the year in a familiar environment, though the 41-63 Cubs may opt to mix in some rest days.

AUGUST 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

As losses pile up, Cubs get looks at players they hope help them win in the future The one luxury the Cubs have at this moment is getting to see what certain players like Zach McKinstry can do.

AUGUST 5, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Chicago Cubs vs Miami Marlins Box Score - August 05, 2022 - The Athletic Get real-time MLB coverage and scores as the Chicago Cubs take on the Miami Marlins at 6:20pm UTC on August 05, 2022. The Athletic brings you the latest stats, scores, and analysis...

AUGUST 5, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Cubs aim to stop 5-game skid, take on the Marlins

The Chicago Cubs aim to end a five-game losing streak when they take on the Miami Marlins

AUGUST 5, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Marcus Stroman - Logs quality start Thursday Stroman allowed three runs on five hits across 6.2 innings and did not factor into the decision in Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Cardinals. He struck out six and di...

Impact Stroman pitched well outside of the two home runs he allowed, continuing his solid run since returning from the injured list in early July. Over his past five starts, the righty has logged 27 innings while allowing just five earned runs. Stroman had a slow start to the season before missing a month with right shoulder inflammation, but he's now been able to whittle his ERA down to an even 4.00. He'll look to keep it up in his next scheduled start Tuesday against a Nationals squad that is now without sluggers Juan Soto and Josh Bell.

AUGUST 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Sean Newcomb - Goes three innings in spot-start Newcomb didn't factor into the decision during a 7-2 loss to St. Louis in Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader, allowing two runs on five hits with one strikeout in three innings.

Impact Making his first start since 2020, Newcomb surrendered a Nolan Arenado two-run home run in the first inning while letting runners reach second base in each of his ensuing frames but was able to escape the jams. The 56 pitches eclipsed the 44 he tossed in his most recent outing June 12, and the two runs surrendered actually dropped the 29-year-old's ERA to 10.22 across 12.1 innings. It appears unlikely Newcomb will remain with the big-league club barring injury.

AUGUST 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Contreras finding peace of mind with Deadline in rear-view ST. LOUIS -- Marcus Stroman has already seen a difference in the demeanor of Cubs catcher Willson Contreras now that the Trade Deadline is b...

AUGUST 5, 2022 • MLB.COM

With an infield logjam and an eye on future, the Chicago Cubs option David Bote to Iowa and aim to prioritize younger players The Chicago Cubs’ deficiency of infield options, further strained by the lack of position-player trades leading up to Tuesday’ s deadline, l...

AUGUST 5, 2022 • MERCURYNEWS.COM

Chicago Cubs vs St. Louis Cardinals Box Score - August 04, 2022 - The Athletic Get real-time MLB coverage and scores as the Chicago Cubs take on the St. Louis Cardinals at 11:45pm UTC on August 04, 2022. The Athletic brings you the latest stats, scores, and a...

AUGUST 4, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Jason Heyward - No timeline to return Heyward is still experiencing inflammation in his right knee and has no timeline for a return, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Impact Heyward began light baseball activity July 10, though his knee apparently didn't respond well. He's been on the injured list since June 30 and likely won't be able to return until at least late August.

AUGUST 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Stroman keeps rolling, but Cubs flub finish in St. Louis Cubs pitcher Marcus Stroman delivered his third straight quality start. Unfortunately, he gave up 3 runs in the seventh inning after the Cub...

AUGUST 4, 2022 • DAILYHERALD.COM

Zach McKinstry - Not starting Game 2 McKinstry is out of the lineup for Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Cardinals.

Impact McKinstry started the past two contests and went 0-for-4 during Chicago's Game 1 loss, and he'll take a seat for the nightcap. Nick Madrigal will man the keystone for the Cubs in the second game of the twin bill.

AUGUST 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Rafael Ortega - Not starting Game 2 Ortega isn't starting the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Cardinals.

Impact Ortega went 3-for-5 with a double during the first game of Thursday's doubleheader but will head to the bench since left-hander Jose Quintana is on the mound for the nightcap. Willson Contreras is serving as the designated hitter while P.J. Higgins starts behind the plate.

AUGUST 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Ian Happ - On bench for nightcap Happ isn't starting the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Cardinals.

Impact Happ started the first game of the doubleheader and went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. He'll get a breather for the nightcap while Nelson Velazquez takes over in left field and bats sixth.

AUGUST 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Yan Gomes - Remains on bench for nightcap Gomes isn't starting the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Cardinals.

Impact Gomes didn't take the field during the first game of Thursday's twin bill, and he'll remain on the bench for the nightcap. P.J. Higgins is starting behind the plate while Willson Contreras serves as the designated hitter.

AUGUST 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE