CHICAGO CUBS NEWS

Yan Gomes - Sitting out series finale Gomes is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants.

Impact Gomes had caught three of the Cubs' last four games, but he'll take a seat in the series finale while Willson Contreras checks in behind the plate after having previously seen more opportunities at designated hitter coming out of the All-Star break. Contreras is a prime candidate to get moved ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline, so Gomes could soon have the No. 1 catcher's role all to himself.

JULY 31, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Frank Schwindel - Takes seat Sunday Schwindel is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants.

Impact The 30-year-old reached base three times Friday but finds himself on the bench for the second straight game Sunday with lefty Carlos Rodon pitching for San Francisco. Schwindel should continue to see regular playing time between first base and designated hitter, especially with Alfonso Rivas optioned to the minors.

JULY 31, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Raynel Espinal - Traded to North Siders Espinal was acquired by the Cubs from the Giants on Sunday in exchange for Dixon Machado.

Impact Espinal joined San Francisco on a minor-league deal in February and will likely now report to Triple-A Iowa with his new organization. The right-hander has a 5.29 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 102:38 K:BB across 83.1 innings this year and is unlikely to be much of a factor for the Cubs.

JULY 31, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Chicago Cubs at San Francisco Giants Free Live Stream (7/31/22): How to watch Sunday Night Baseball, channel, live stream, odds The Cubs are heavy underdogs in San Francisco Sunday

JULY 31, 2022 • PENNLIVE.COM

Patrick Mooney: The Cubs traded Triple-A shortstop Dixon... - The Athletic The Cubs traded Triple-A shortstop Dixon Machado to the Giants for minor-league pitcher Raynel Espinal. Machado will be activated for tonigh...

JULY 31, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Patrick Mooney: The Cubs added Zach McKinstry, the utility... - The Athletic The Cubs added Zach McKinstry, the utility player acquired from the Dodgers in the Chris Martin trade, to their active roster and optioned A...

JULY 31, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Alfonso Rivas - Sent to minors The Cubs optioned Rivas to Triple-A Iowa on Sunday, Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Impact He'll surrender his spot on the 26-man active roster to utility man Zach McKinstry, whom the Cubs acquired from the Dodgers on Saturday. Rivas had been serving as the Cubs' primary starting first baseman against right-handed pitching since the middle of June, but he's turned in an unremarkable .232/.313/.316 slash line across 201 plate appearances with the big club. His demotion should pave the way for Frank Schwindel to see most of the reps at the position.

JULY 31, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

David Bote - Tallies two hits Saturday Bote went 2-for-4 with a run scored in Saturday's loss to the Giants.

Impact This was Bote's first multi-hit effort since July 10 and just his second of the season. The utility man has played in only 19 games this year, as the start of his campaign was delayed due to shoulder surgery and a bout of dizziness. He also missed some time after injuring his shoulder in a collision with teammate Nico Hoerner. Bote is still batting a solid .271 through 48 at-bats, and he'll look to finish 2022 healthy and playing well.

JULY 31, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Dodgers News: Fans React to Zach McKinstry Trade After a recent trade between Cubs’ Chris Martin and Dodgers’ Zach McKinstry took place, McKinstry posted a thank you message to fans before...

JULY 31, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Dodgers News: Fans React to Zach McKinstry Trade After a recent trade between Cubs’ Chris Martin and Dodgers’ Zach McKinstry took place, McKinstry posted a thank you message to fans before...

JULY 31, 2022 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

No stranger to trade season, Smyly ready for anything SAN FRANCISCO -- Plenty of veterans inside the Cubs' clubhouse have been around long enough to know the drill by now. They have either been...

JULY 31, 2022 • MLB.COM

Trading Chris Martin to Dodgers should be only the beginning for Cubs Dealing Chris Martin is just a start. This trade deadline is an enormous opportunity that Jed Hoyer's front office can't afford to waste.

JULY 31, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Giants face the Cubs with 2-1 series lead

The San Francisco Giants lead 2-1 in a four-game series with the Chicago Cubs

JULY 31, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Drew Smyly - Yields five runs in loss Smyly (3-6) took the loss Saturday versus the Giants. He allowed five runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out five over four innings.

Impact Smyly got through the Giants' order once without giving up runs, but they got to him the second time around. In the fourth inning, he gave up back-to-back home runs to Luis Gonzalez and Joey Bart, and Smyly didn't come back out for the fifth. The southpaw has failed to complete five innings in three of his last four starts since returning from an oblique injury, though he threw 87 pitches (53 strikes) Saturday. He owns a 4.42 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 48:14 K:BB, which he'll carry into next week's projected home start versus the Marlins.

JULY 31, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

González, Bart hit back-to-back HRs, Giants outlast Cubs 5-4

Luis González and Joey Bart homered on consecutive pitches in the fourth inning and the San Francisco Giants withstood a late rally by Chicago and beat the Cubs 5-4

JULY 31, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Estrada leaves Giants' game with Cubs after hit by pitch

San Francisco Giants shortstop Thairo Estrada left Saturday’s game against the Chicago Cubs after being hit by a pitch in the helmet in the fifth inning

JULY 31, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Chicago Cubs vs San Francisco Giants Box Score - July 31, 2022 - The Athletic Get real-time MLB coverage and scores as the Chicago Cubs take on the San Francisco Giants at 1:05am UTC on July 31, 2022. The Athletic brings you the latest stats, scores, and ana...

JULY 31, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Chicago Cubs sell-off begins with reliever Chris Martin traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Zach McKinstry They made their first trade-deadline move Saturday, beginning their sell-off by sending right-handed reliever Chris Martin to the Los Angele...

JULY 30, 2022 • MERCURYNEWS.COM

Chicago Cubs sell-off begins with reliever Chris Martin traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Zach McKinstry They made their first trade-deadline move Saturday, beginning their sell-off by sending right-handed reliever Chris Martin to the Los Angele...

JULY 30, 2022 • DENVERPOST.COM

Chicago Cubs sell-off begins with reliever Chris Martin traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Zach McKinstry They made their first trade-deadline move Saturday, beginning their sell-off by sending right-handed reliever Chris Martin to the Los Angele...

JULY 30, 2022 • BOSTONHERALD.COM

Mark Leiter Jr. - Recalled by Cubs Leiter was recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Saturday.

Impact Leiter was sent to the minors in mid-July but will rejoin the Cubs' bullpen after Chris Martin was traded to the Dodgers on Saturday. Over 14 appearances (four starts) in the majors this year, Leiter has posted a 5.35 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 38.2 innings.

JULY 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Frank Schwindel - On bench Saturday Schwindel isn't starting Saturday against the Giants.

Impact Schwindel started the last two games and went 2-for-6 with an RBI, a walk and three strikeouts. Willson Contreras will serve as the designated hitter while Yan Gomes takes over behind the plate.

JULY 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Christopher Morel - Riding pine Saturday Morel isn't starting Saturday against the Giants.

Impact Morel is getting a breather after he went 0-for-12 with two walks and three strikeouts over the last four games. David Bote will take his place at the keystone and bat ninth.

JULY 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Dodgers acquire reliever Chris Martin in trade with Cubs DENVER — It didn't rock the boat, but the Dodgers are hoping their first pre-trade deadline acquisition Saturday can help steady the ship do...

JULY 30, 2022 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Dodgers News: Chris Martin Traded to LA, Set to Join LA Bullpen With less than three days left before the trade deadline, the Dodgers make their first splash.

JULY 30, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM