CHICAGO CUBS NEWS

Brennen Davis - Aiming for 2022 return Davis (back) is scheduled to begin a running progression next week and remains optimistic that he'll be able to return from Triple-A Iowa's 7-day injured list before the end of the...

Impact The 2021 All-Star Futures Game MVP will miss out on the event next weekend while he continues to recover from the back surgery he underwent June 2, but he's still hopeful to salvage something from what has otherwise been a lost season. Davis said he plans to start up baseball activities "shortly after" he begins his running program, and a potential target date for a return to game action could come into focus several weeks later if his back responds well to him gradually increasing the intensity of his workouts. While playing through the back discomfort prior to undergoing surgery, Davis had struggled to a .195 average while striking out in 34.1 percent of his plate appearances for Iowa this season.

JULY 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Cubs vs. Dodgers prediction, betting odds for MLB on Thursday The Los Angeles Dodgers square off with the Chicago Cubs in MLB on Thursday. This preview includes our best bet of the game.

JULY 7, 2022 • PENNLIVE.COM

Cristian Hernandez - Decent start in rookie ball Hernandez is hitting .292/.365/.385 with two homers, one steal and an 8:21 BB:K for the rookie-level ACL Cubs.

Impact The highly touted 18-year-old hasn't shown off much power or speed yet in his first taste of stateside baseball, but he's been getting his reps in and picking up plenty of base knocks. While Hernandez is going to need plenty of time to fill out and develop his skills in the minors, he's got tantalizing upside and is a must-roster player in any format where fantasy managers can afford to wait on him.

JULY 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Dodgers host the Cubs on 3-game home win streak

The Los Angeles Dodgers host the Chicago Cubs trying to extend a three-game home winning streak

JULY 7, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Column: Spotlight on manager David Ross gets even brighter after the Chicago Cubs' dismal 1st half After a dismal 1st half of the season, can David Ross get the Chicago Cubs to win enough in the final 3 months to have some optimism?

JULY 7, 2022 • ORLANDOSENTINEL.COM

Christopher Morel - Triples, scores Wednesday Morel went 1-for-3 with a walk, a triple and a run scored in Wednesday's win over the Brewers.

Impact Chicago trailed 1-0 entering the eighth inning, but Morel delivered a jolt with a one-out triple that nearly left the park. The outfielder then scored on a Rafael Ortega single to tie the game. Morel has cooled off some since a hot start to his rookie campaign, but his mix of power and speed (eight home runs and seven stolen bases across 46 games) makes him an intriguing fantasy player so long as he's making regular contact at the plate.

JULY 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Adrian Sampson - Pitches well in no-decision Sampson allowed one run on four hits across 5.2 innings but did not factor into the decision Wednesday against the Brewers. He had no walks and struck out five.

Impact Sampson allowed a solo home run to Keston Hiura in the fifth inning but otherwise cruised through the Milwaukee lineup and lowered his ERA to 2.91 in the process. However, the Cubs didn't score at all until the eighth inning, so the righty had to settle for the no-decision. This was a better performance for Sampson then his last start, when he allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits across 5.1 frames. He'll look to keep it rolling in his next scheduled appearance Tuesday against the Orioles.

JULY 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

David Robertson - Bounces back Wednesday Robertson pitched a clean ninth inning to record the save in Wednesday's win over the Brewers. He struck out one.

Impact Robertson blew the save Monday but looked much sharper in his first outing since then. The four blown saves in 16 chances are about the only negative for the veteran this year. Robertson now has a sparkling 1.89 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 45 strikeouts across 33.1 innings this season. A number of contending teams will likely call the Cubs and ask about the righty before the trade deadline next month.

JULY 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

LEADING OFF: Verlander, Gonsolin go for 11th; Cole at Fenway

Justin Verlander looks to become the first 11-game winner in the majors when Houston hosts the last-place Royals in the finale of a four-game series Thursday afternoon

JULY 7, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Higgins subs splendidly for Willson with go-ahead hit MILWAUKEE -- Josh Hader had just finished striking out two Cubs batters in a row when P.J. Higgins stepped to the plate in the ninth inning...

JULY 7, 2022 • MLB.COM

Paul Sullivan: Spotlight on manager David Ross gets even brighter after Cubs' dismal 1st half Kyle Hendricks was pulled after three innings Tuesday night in Milwaukee with right shoulder soreness, and the first question posed to Chica...

JULY 6, 2022 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Higgins doubles, Cubs break through to beat Hader, Brewers P.J. Higgins hit a tiebreaking two-out double off Josh Hader in the ninth inning, and the Chicago Cubs rallied for a 2-1 victory over the Mi...

JULY 6, 2022 • SACBEE.COM

Higgins doubles, Cubs break through to beat Hader, Brewers P.J. Higgins hit a tiebreaking two-out double off Josh Hader in the ninth inning, and the Chicago Cubs rallied for a 2-1 victory over the Mi...

JULY 6, 2022 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Cubs place starter Hendricks on IL with shoulder strain The Cubs placed starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks on the injured list Wednesday with a right shoulder strain. The veteran right-hander lasted...

JULY 6, 2022 • DAILYHERALD.COM

Cubs rally against Brewers' bullpen, win 2-1 at Milwaukee

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JULY 6, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Chicago Cubs Place SP Kyle Hendricks on 15-Day IL Before the injury, Kyle Hendricks had a 4-6 record, a 4.80 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and a 66/24 strikeout to walk ratio across 16 starts (84 1/3 IP).

JULY 6, 2022 • NESN.COM

Cubs sending N.J. native on rehab assignment The Chicago Cubs (33-48) will play the Milwaukee Brewers (47-36) on Wednesday at American Family Field.

JULY 6, 2022 • NJ.COM

Anderson Espinoza - Recalled from Double-A Espinoza was called up from Double-A Tennessee on Wednesday, Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Impact Espinoza will return to the big leagues and replace Kyle Hendricks (shoulder) on the active roster after he was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday. The 24-year-old surrendered two runs on two hits and three walks while striking out six over four innings in his only big-league appearance May 30 versus the Brewers.

JULY 6, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Cubs' Kyle Hendricks goes on injured list with sore shoulder

Chicago Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks is heading to the injured list after leaving his Tuesday night start after just three innings due to soreness in his throwing shoulder

JULY 6, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Live updates: Milwaukee Brewers vs. Chicago Cubs at American Family Field After splitting the first two games, the Milwaukee Brewers wrap up a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs this afternoon.

JULY 6, 2022 • JSONLINE.COM

Kyle Hendricks - Goes on IL with shoulder strain Cubs manager David Ross said Hendricks will be placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with a right shoulder strain, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Impact Hendricks will miss his final two turns through the rotation before the All-Star break after sustaining the injury in Tuesday's win over the Brewers, but he'll be eligible to come off the IL when the Cubs open their second-half schedule July 22 in Philadelphia. It's not yet clear if the veteran right-hander will be ready to go by then, as his availability coming out of the All-Star break will hinge on how much progress he makes in his rehab and throwing program over the next two weeks. He previously avoided the IL last June but still went 13 days between starts after experiencing shoulder fatigue, so it's possible the Cubs take a more conservative approach with his recovery this time around. Hendricks joins five other starting pitchers on the IL, though both Marcus Stroman (shoulder) and Drew Smyly (oblique) appear close to being activated, and either of the two could be an option to replace Hendricks' next turn in the rotation Sunday in Los Angeles.

JULY 6, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Drew Smyly - Back from rehab, may be activated Smyly (oblique) rejoined the Cubs on Wednesday and is expected to throw a bullpen session in the next day or two before the team decides whether to activate him from the 15-day inj...

Impact Both Smyly and fellow rehabbing starting pitcher Marcus Stroman (shoulder) were back with the big club after making rehab starts Monday and Sunday, respectively. In his outing with High-A South Bend, Smyly struck out six and covered four innings and tossed 52 pitches while allowing three earned runs on four hits. Unless the Cubs are comfortable having Smyly slot back into the rotation this weekend in Los Angeles on a limited pitch count, he'll most likely head back to South Bend or another affiliate for a second rehab start as he looks to get fully ramped up from the injury that has thus far sidelined him for five weeks.

JULY 6, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Marcus Stroman - Back with team, may be activated Stroman (shoulder) returned from his rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa and is scheduled to throw a bullpen session in front of the Cubs' coaching and training staffs in the next co...

Impact Stroman has been on the 15-day injured list since early June with right shoulder inflammation and didn't look particularly sharp in his rehab outing with Iowa on Sunday, as he was tagged for five earned runs on seven hits and one walk. With that in mind, it wouldn't be surprising if the Cubs opted to send Stroman out for a second rehab start so that he get more stretched out and hopefully tighten up his command. Expect more definitive word on Stroman's next steps to come by the weekend.

JULY 6, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Mark Leiter Jr. - Entering rotation Thursday Leiter is scheduled to start Thursday's game in Los Angeles against the Dodgers, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Impact Leiter joins the rotation as a replacement for Alec Mills (back), who exited seven pitches into his most recent start Sunday against the Red Sox and was moved to the 15-day injured list. Following Mills' departure, Leiter stepped in and struck out five over 5.1 innings of one-run ball, so the right-hander should be sufficiently stretched out as he prepares for his fourth start of the season with the big-league club.

JULY 6, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Nelson Velazquez - Getting fourth straight start Velazquez will start in right field and bat fifth in Wednesday's game against the Brewers.

Impact Velazquez remains in the lineup for the fourth game in a row after going 3-for-10 with a home run, a walk, two RBI and an additional run in the previous three contests. The rookie has mostly been benefiting from the continued absence of Willson Contreras, whose hamstring injury will keep him on the bench for the second day in a row. Once Contreras is ready to reclaim a full-time role at designated hitter or catcher, the Cubs will likely roll out an outfield of Seiya Suzuki, Ian Happ and Rafael Ortega in most games, leaving no room in the lineup for Velazquez.

JULY 6, 2022 • ROTOWIRE