JULY 11, 2022 • MLB.COM
CHICAGO CUBS 83-79 · 3RD IN NL CENTRAL
83-79 · 3RD IN NL CENTRAL
Happ's 'wild ride' leads to All-Star nod with Contreras LOS ANGELES -- Cubs manager David Ross slow played a winning hand Sunday, gathering the team in the clubhouse before its series finale again...
Ian Happ's 1st All-Star selection completes the Chicago Cubs outfielder's career turnaround: 'Baseball's a wild ride' Thirteen months ago, Ian Happ sat in Chicago Cubs manager David Ross’ office at Dodger Stadium. Happ gained a more memorable moment Sunday t...
JULY 11, 2022 • DENVERPOST.COM
Steven Brault - Back in action at Triple-A Brault (triceps) has made two appearances for Triple-A Iowa since being activated from the 7-day injured list July 4, striking out three while allowing three hits and no walks over...
Impact After signing a minor-league deal with Chicago in March, Brault was expected to compete for a rotation spot with the big club in spring training, but a left triceps strain prevented him from seriously contending for an Opening Day role. After going on Iowa's 7-day IL, Brault was sidelined for nearly three months before debuting for the affiliate. As a result of the missed time, Brault hasn't been built up for starting duty, so he looks as though he'll stick in Iowa's bullpen for the time being.
JULY 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Nelson Velazquez - Lifts second homer Velazquez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 11-9 loss to the Dodgers.
Impact Velazquez's eighth-inning solo shot was the last run of the contest. It ended an 0-for-15 skid at the plate for the rookie outfielder. He's up to two homers, six RBI, eight runs scored, a stolen base, two doubles and a triple through 57 plate appearances in his first 20 major-league contests. With a .226/.281/.415 slash line, Velazquez is likely still going to have to compete with Christopher Morel, Rafael Ortega and Seiya Suzuki for playing time in the outfield.
JULY 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Nico Hoerner - Racks up three hits Sunday Hoerner went 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored in Sunday's 11-9 loss to the Dodgers.
Impact Hoerner continues to swing a hot stick -- he's hit safely in eight of 10 games in July. In that span, he's gone 11-for-39 (.282) with four extra-base hits, two RBI, five runs scored and a stolen base. The 25-year-old shortstop is up to a .306/.341/.429 slash line with five home runs, 26 RBI, 27 runs scored, seven steals, 10 doubles and three triples through 71 contests overall.
JULY 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
David Bote - Fills stat sheet in loss Bote went 2-for-2 with a home run, a double, a stolen base, three RBI, a walk and a hit-by-pitch in Sunday's 11-9 loss to the Dodgers.
Impact Bote did seemingly a little bit of everything Sunday, which included a three-run homer in the third inning. He got on base in all four of his plate appearances, with this counting as his first multi-hit game of the year. The 29-year-old has hit .280 with a homer, three RBI, six runs scored, a steal and two doubles in 11 contests since making his season debut June 24. Bote should continue to contend for playing time at first base and second base.
JULY 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
P.J. Higgins - Slugs grand slam Higgins went 1-for-3 with a grand slam, a walk and two total runs scored in Sunday's 11-9 loss to the Dodgers.
Impact Higgins punctuated a strong first inning for the Cubs with his grand slam, but that was his only hit Sunday. He's gone 4-for-20 (.200) with three walks and five strikeouts through seven games in July. The 29-year-old catcher has maintained a solid .276/.353/.513 slash line with four homers, 16 RBI, 11 runs scored and four doubles through 86 plate appearances, though his path to playing time behind the dish is likely to close up with Willson Contreras working his way back from a hamstring injury. Higgins could also draw some starts at first base if his hitting earns him a place in the lineup.
JULY 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Drew Smyly - Lasts only two innings in return Smyly (oblique) allowed four runs on five hits and a walk with one strikeout in two-plus innings Sunday versus the Dodgers. He did not factor in the decision.
Impact Smyly was expected to see a slight workload restriction, but his removal Sunday was instead based on poor performance. He was spotted a five-run lead before he took the mound, but he gave up three runs in the first inning and put traffic on the bases again in the third before his exit. The 33-year-old southpaw missed over a month with the right oblique strain. He has a 4.43 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 35:11 K:BB through 44.2 innings in 10 starts this year. The Cubs could have as many as seven pitchers stretched out as starters for the upcoming week, so it's uncertain if Smyly will get another start before the All-Star break -- if he does, it'll likely be in a home game versus the Mets next weekend.
JULY 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Freeman's 4 hits help Dodgers sweep season series from Cubs Freddie Freeman went 4 for 5 with a homer, and the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied from a pair of five-run deficits to complete a homestand with...
JULY 11, 2022 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM
Freeman's 4 hits help Dodgers sweep season series from Cubs LOS ANGELES (AP) — Freddie Freeman went 4 for 5 with a homer, and the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied from a pair of five-run deficits to comple...
JULY 11, 2022 • WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM
How will the Chicago Cubs handle Keegan Thompson and Justin Steele as both pitchers near career-high workloads? LOS ANGELES — The Chicago Cubs are a week away from the All-Star break, yet two pitchers are already on the verge of reaching career-high wo...
JULY 11, 2022 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM
Willson, William Contreras 5th brothers to start All-Star
Atlanta Braves designated hitter Willam Contreras joined Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras as just the fifth brothers to start together in baseball’s All-Star GameJULY 11, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Freeman gets 4 hits, Dodgers roar back to sweep Cubs 11-9
The Los Angeles Dodgers rallied from a pair of early five-run deficits and completed a stellar homestand with an 11-9 victory over the Chicago CubsJULY 11, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ohtani a 2-way All-Star again; 6 Yankees, 5 Braves, Astros selected
The All-Star rosters were rounded out Sunday as Major League Baseball announced the reserves and pitchers.JULY 10, 2022
Ohtani a 2-way All-Star again; 6 Yankees, 5 Braves, Astros
Los Angeles Angels sensation Shohei Ohtani repeated as a two-way All-Star when he was picked for the AL pitching staff, two days after he was elected to start at designated hitterJULY 10, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Frank Schwindel - Rehabbing at Triple-A Schwindel (back) made his third rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Iowa, going 0-for-3 while playing seven innings at first base.
Impact Schwindel has now made two starts at first base and one as a designated hitter over his three-game stint at Iowa, going a collective 1-for-10. He looks as though he'll be back from the 10-day injured list before the All-Star break, though the Cubs may want him to play a full nine-inning game for Iowa prior to his activation. Whenever he returns from the IL, Schwindlel will likely settle back in as the Cubs' everyday first baseman.
JULY 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Jason Heyward - Resumes light activities Heyward (knee) was cleared Sunday to participate in light baseball activities and light running, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Impact The Cubs haven't indicated whether Heyward will eventually need a minor-league rehab assignment before being activated from the 10-day injured list, but since he's only doing light activities at this point, he doesn't look on track to return before the All-Star break. Heyward has been on the IL since June 30 with right knee inflammation.
JULY 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Nick Madrigal - Tweaks groin in rehab game Madrigal was removed Sunday during his third rehab game with Triple-A Iowa after experiencing renewed tightness in his strained left groin, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune...
Impact Madrigal will be pulled off the rehab assignment and will return to Chicago to have his injury further evaluated. Even if the setback proves to be only a minor concern, the 25-year-old will more than likely be held out through the All-Star break to get more recovery time from the injury that has kept him on the shelf since mid-June.
JULY 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Seiya Suzuki - Gets rest day Suzuki is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.
Impact Suzuki looks to be receiving some maintenance for the series finale after he drew starts in the outfield each of the past three days. Nelson Velazquez will check into right field in place of Suzuki, who is hitting .333 with two home runs and a double in five starts since coming off the injured list July 4.
JULY 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Rafael Ortega - Out against lefty once again Ortega is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.
Impact The lefty-hitting Ortega will end up sitting for each of the final three games of the series in Los Angeles with the Dodgers bringing a left-hander to the hill on each occasion. Christopher Morel will replace Ortega in center field and as the Cubs' leadoff man Sunday.
JULY 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Alfonso Rivas - Out against lefty in third straight Rivas is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.
Impact The Dodgers have brought left-handed pitchers to the hill for each of the final three games of the series, with the lefty-hitting Rivas having now taken a seat on each occasion. David Bote will fill in at first base Sunday in place of Rivas, who should be back in the lineup Tuesday against the Orioles. Baltimore is expected to bring right-hander Jordan Lyles to the hill for that contest.
JULY 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Yan Gomes - Sitting Sunday Gomes is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.
Impact P.J. Higgins will step in behind the dish for the series finale after Gomes caught each of the Cubs' last three games while going 0-for-9. Though top backstop Willson Contreras appears to have moved past a hamstring injury, he still may see ample starts as a designated hitter during the final week before the All-Star break, which should continue to open up reps at catcher for Gomes.
JULY 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
P.J. Higgins - Making third straight start Higgins will start at catcher and bat sixth in Sunday's game against the Dodgers.
Impact After manning first base in both of the Cubs' last two games, Higgins will get a turn behind the plate while Yan Gomes rests for the series finale. Gomes and Willson Contreras are likely to occupy either the designated-hitter or catcher spot in most games moving forward, but Higgins could end up encroaching on Alfonso Rivas' role as the Cubs' top first baseman while Frank Schwindel (back) is stuck on the injured list.
JULY 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Michael Rucker - Moves down to minors The Cubs optioned Rucker to Triple-A Iowa on Sunday.
Impact With the Cubs needing to clear a spot on the 26-man active roster for Sunday's starter, Drew Smyly (oblique), to return from the 15-day injured list, Rucker was deemed an expendable piece. During his one-week stint with the big club, Rucker logged three appearances out of the bullpen and gave up two earned runs on four hits and no walks over 4.1 innings.
JULY 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Drew Smyly - Activated from IL for start The Cubs reinstated Smyly (oblique) from the 15-day injured list prior to his scheduled start Sunday against the Dodgers.
Impact Right-handed reliever Michael Rucker was optioned to Triple-A Iowa to clear room on the active roster for Smyly, who is slated to make his first start for the big club since May 30. Smyly said he expects to be limited to around 85 pitches Sunday after tossing four innings and 52 pitches in his lone minor-league rehab start Monday with High-A South Bend.
JULY 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
