CHICAGO CUBS NEWS

MLB All-Star starters announced: Ohtani, Trout among picks

The MLB All-Star starters were announced Friday, with both the Angels and Dodgers well represented.

JULY 9, 2022

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras and White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson are voted All-Star Game starters Cubs catcher Willson Contreras and White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson were voted starters for the 2022 MLB All-Star Game.

JULY 8, 2022 • CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM

Marcus Stroman - Starting Saturday Stroman (shoulder) will start Saturday's game against the Dodgers, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Impact Stroman spent a month on the injured list due to right shoulder inflammation, but he made a rehab start Sunday at Triple-A Iowa and allowed five runs in 2.2 innings. Since the right-hander is starting Saturday's matchup, Drew Smyly (oblique) will likely start in Sunday's series finale.

JULY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Rafael Ortega - Riding pine Friday Ortega isn't starting Friday against the Dodgers.

Impact Ortega has started mainly against right-handed pitchers this season, and he'll take a seat with southpaw Tyler Anderson on the mound for the Dodgers. Nelson Velazquez is starting in center field and batting eighth.

JULY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Alfonso Rivas - Sits against southpaw Rivas isn't starting Friday's game against the Dodgers.

Impact Rivas has started against just two southpaws this season, and he'll get a breather with left-hander Tyler Anderson on the mound Friday. P.J. Higgins is starting at first base and batting seventh.

JULY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Willson Contreras - Remains out of lineup Contreras (hamstring) isn't starting Friday against the Dodgers.

Impact Contreras continues to deal with a tight left hamstring and will be excluded from the lineup for a fourth consecutive game. David Bote is serving as the designated hitter and batting ninth.

JULY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Cubs vs. Dodgers prediction, betting odds for MLB on Friday The Los Angeles Dodgers take on the Chicago Cubs in MLB on Friday. This preview features our best bet of the game.

JULY 8, 2022 • PENNLIVE.COM

Ian Happ - Reaches twice in loss Happ went 2-for-4 with a run scored in Thursday's 5-3 loss to the Dodgers.

Impact Happ was also caught stealing, the first time he'd been nabbed on the basepaths since June 19. The outfielder has only attempted two stolen bases since then and has attempted nine steals all season (successful on six of them), so speed isn't a huge part of his game, but he can run when needed. Happ has been fairly productive overall with a .282/.378/.454 slash line, eight home runs, 38 RBI and 38 runs scored across 81 games.

JULY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Could Yankees Reunite With David Robertson at Trade Deadline? Will the Yankees look to acquire David Robertson before next month’s deadline, bolstering the back of their bullpen with an old friend?

JULY 8, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Leiter solid as fill-in for shorthanded Cubs LOS ANGELES -- These are uncertain times for the Cubs’ rotation. With five starters on the injured list, Chicago turned to right-hander Mark...

JULY 8, 2022 • MLB.COM

Christopher Morel - Belts homer Thursday Morel went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Thursday's loss to the Dodgers.

Impact The Cubs couldn't get much going in the contest, but Morel ensured that they weren't shut out with his two-run blast to left field in the fifth inning. The long ball was his ninth of the campaign and was just his third hit over his past six contests. Despite the recent mini-slump, Morel is enjoying a strong rookie campaign with a .273/.343/.503 slash line, 25 RBI, 33 runs and seven stolen bases in addition to the nine homers.

JULY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Mark Leiter Jr. - Struggles in start Leiter (2-3) took the loss against the Dodgers on Thursday, allowing four runs on five hits and no walks while striking out four batters over five innings.

Impact Leiter gave up only five hits in five innings, but all five went for extra bases, including three that left the yard. The right-hander did well with 5.1 frames of one-run ball after stepping in for Alec Mills (back) in the first inning against Boston last Saturday, but he was unable to duplicate that effort against Los Angeles. Kyle Hendricks (shoulder) recently joined Mills, Marcus Stroman (shoulder), Drew Smyly (oblique) and Wade Miley (shoulder) as Cubs starters on the injured list, so Leiter has a chance to keep a spot in the rotation, though that isn't guaranteed with both Stroman and Smyly expected to be back in action this weekend.

JULY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Dodgers host the Cubs, aim to extend home win streak

The Los Angeles Dodgers, on a four-game home winning streak, host the Chicago Cubs

JULY 8, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tony Gonsolin's bid for the All-Star start gets boost in Dodgers' win over Cubs LOS ANGELES — The fluffy tunes have become some of the most ferocious sounds at Dodger Stadium this year.

JULY 8, 2022 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Gonsolin goes to 11-0, Dodgers get 4 HRs to beat Cubs 5-3

Tony Gonsolin pitched seven strong innings for his 11th victory in the Los Angeles Dodgers' 5-3 win over the Chicago Cubs

JULY 8, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Goodbye baseball: Cubs open series vs. Dodgers with 5-3 loss The Cubs and Dodgers combined to hit five home runs.

JULY 8, 2022 • SUNTIMES.COM

Kyle Hendricks' MRI shows no structural damage — but there's no timeline for the Chicago Cubs starter's return Chicago Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks does not have structural damage in his right shoulder, but there's no timeline for his return.

JULY 8, 2022 • CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM

Kyle Hendricks - No structural damage Hendricks underwent an MRI on his right shoulder Thursday that revealed no structural damage, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Impact This news eliminates the possibility of surgery to correct the shoulder issue, which likely would have sidelined Hendricks for the rest of the season. There's no timetable for his return, though the team expects to update Hendicks' status once it finishes the weekend series in Los Angeles.

JULY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Marcus Stroman - Likely for weekend start Stroman (shoulder) is expected to be activated from the injured list and start during the Cubs' weekend series against the Dodgers, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports...

Impact Stroman threw a bullpen session Thursday and apparently felt well after the activity. Drew Smyly (oblique) is also expected to be activated from the injured list this weekend, which likely means that two of Matt Swarmer, Adrian Sampson and Mark Leiter will lose their rotation spot. Stroman has yet to get on track this season, as he has a 5.32 ERA and 1.23 WHIP across 47.1 frames.

JULY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Drew Smyly - Expected for weekend start Smyly (oblique) is expected to be activated from the injured list either Saturday or Sunday to make a start against the Dodgers, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Impact Smyly threw a bullpen session Thursday and apparently felt well coming off the activity. Though he made only one rehab start, Smyly told reporters he anticipates being able to throw roughly 85 pitches. Smyly is a candidate to replace Justin Steele -- who is awaiting the birth of his child -- on Saturday, or the team could opt to shift its rotation and start Smyly on Sunday.

JULY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Justin Steele - Headed for paternity list Steele did not travel with the team to Los Angeles while he awaits the birth of his child, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Impact Steele has not officially been placed on the paternity list yet, but he will not make his scheduled start Saturday against the Dodgers. The team has not announced a starter, though Drew Smyly (oblique) is among the top candidates.

JULY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Drew Smyly - Completes bullpen session Smyly (oblique) threw a bullpen session Thursday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Impact Smyly is following a similar plan to Marcus Stroman (shoulder) and the duo threw bullpen sessions in front of the Cubs' training and coaching staffs Thursday. Smyly has already made one rehab start with High-A South Bend, so the team could opt to activate him and limit his pitch count. Alternatively, he could be sent back to the minors to complete at least one additional outing prior to rejoining the big-league rotation. Clarification on Smyly's status should come in the next couple days.

JULY 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Marcus Stroman - Throws bullpen session Stroman (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Thursday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Impact The bullpen session was part of Stroman's progression and potential return from the injured list. He rejoined the team after one rehab start with Triple-A Iowa so the Cubs' coaching and training staffs could determine the next steps in Stroman's recovery. Given that, we should have more details about his status in the next few days.

JULY 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Wade Miley - Another throwing session Miley (shoulder) played light catch Thursday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Impact This is at least the second time that Miley has thrown since being placed on the injured list June 11. However, he still needs to ramp up his intensity and will likely require at least a short rehab assignment. Given that, he almost certainly will not be back prior to the All-Star break and early August could be a more realistic target.

JULY 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Willson Contreras - Still not starting Contreras (hamstring) isn't starting Thursday's game against the Dodgers.

Impact Contreras worked on the field prior to Thursday's matchup and remains day-to-day, but he'll be held out of the lineup for a third consecutive game due to left hamstring tightness. Rafael Ortega is serving as the designated hitter while Andrelton Simmons enters the lineup at second base.

JULY 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE