CHICAGO CUBS NEWS

Brennen Davis - Undergoes back surgery Davis underwent back surgery Thursday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Impact Davis had dealt with lower-back discomfort since spring training, and he ultimately landed on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Iowa on May 12. It's not yet clear whether 22-year-old will return prior to the end of the regular season, but he's expected to make a full recovery as he isn't dealing with any structural damage or disc issues. Davis appeared to be in the mix to make his major-league debut at some point this summer, but he'll likely have to wait to join the big-league club until at least 2023 due to his procedure.

JUNE 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

James Triantos - Hitting for average but not power Triantos is batting .301/.374/.387 with one homer, nine steals and an 18:30 BB:K across 42 games for Single-A Myrtle Beach.

Impact After he hit six homers in 25 games in rookie ball last year, Triantos was certainly expected to show much more power than this, but at least he's still getting his hits and using his wheels. He hasn't been caught stealing a single time yet this season after going only 3-for-6 last year. Triantos' hit tool looks good, but it's unlikely steals will be a big part of his game in the majors, so he'll need to start putting the ball over the fence a little more often to avoid falling into a utility profile.

JUNE 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Brennen Davis — the top prospect in the Chicago Cubs organization — has back surgery Chicago Cubs top prospect Brennen Davis underwent back surgery and will be sidelined for an unknown amount of time.

JUNE 3, 2022 • CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM

Willson Contreras - Available off bench Contreras (ankle), who isn't starting Friday against the Cardinals, will be available off the bench if needed, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Impact The 30-year-old was hit by a pitch above his left ankle Thursday, but manager David Ross said that the backstop's absence from Friday's lineup is a scheduled day off. Even if Contreras doesn't appear off the bench Friday, Ross is confident that the catcher will be back in the lineup Saturday. P.J. Higgins will start behind the plate and bat seventh Friday.

JUNE 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Robert Gsellman - Outrighted to Triple-A Gsellman cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Tim Stebbins of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Impact Gsellman made eight relief appearances for the Cubs in May and posted a 4.70 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 15.1 innings. However, the right-hander lost his spot on the Cubs' 40-man roster Monday and will remain in the organization after going unclaimed on waivers.

JUNE 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Nick Madrigal - Breather Friday Madrigal is not starting in Friday's game versus the Cardinals.

Impact Madrigal will get a day off after starting three straight games after returning from the 10-day injured list Tuesday, going 3-for-9 with two runs over those contests. Christopher Morel will get the start at second base while Rafael Ortega enters the lineup in center field and bats second Friday.

JUNE 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Nico Hoerner - Not in Friday's lineup Hoerner isn't starting Friday's game against the Cardinals.

Impact Hoerner will get a breather after he went 2-for-13 with a walk and a strikeout over the last three games. Andrelton Simmons will shift to shortstop while Rafael Ortega enters the lineup in center field.

JUNE 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Willson Contreras - Out of lineup Friday Contreras (ankle) is not in the starting lineup for Friday's contest with the Cardinals.

Impact The catcher was hit in the ankle with a pitch Thursday night, causing him to be unavailable Friday. Fortunately, X-rays came back negative and he is considered day-to-day. Contreras currently owns an eight-game hit streak, batting .367 with four homers, seven RBI, eight runs and a stolen base over those contests. P.J. Higgins will get the start behind the plate and bat seventh Friday.

JUNE 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Adbert Alzolay - Playing light catch Alzolay (lat) will resume playing light catch Friday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Impact Alzolay has been on the 60-day injured list since March after he sustained a lat strain during spring training, and he apparently hasn't been able to throw over the first two months of the regular season. While the right-hander is presumably at least several weeks away from returning to game action, it's encouraging that he's now able to play light catch.

JUNE 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

With Caleb Kilian's debut possibly imminent, what's the Cubs' return on their 2021 trades? Kilian is the best starting pitching prospect the Cubs organization has seen since the beginning of the Theo Epstein era.

JUNE 3, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Cubs try to keep home win streak going, host the Cardinals

The Chicago Cubs host the St. Louis Cardinals looking to continue a three-game home winning streak

JUNE 3, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

How Keegan Thompson's warmup routine has set up the Chicago Cubs pitcher's successful transition to the rotation Chicago Cubs right-hander Keegan Thompson has found a warmup routine that has helped him succeed regardless of role.

JUNE 3, 2022 • CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM

Starter? Reliever? Just call Thompson a winner CHICAGO -- For most of this season, Keegan Thompson has remained in a multi-inning relief role. Cubs manager David Ross maintained that he w...

JUNE 3, 2022 • MLB.COM

Keegan Thompson - Improves to 6-0 Thompson (6-0) allowed three runs on five hits across 5.1 innings to earn the win Thursday against the Cardinals. He walked three and struck out three.

Impact Thompson wasn't dominant, but he did enough to maintain his perfect record this year. It was only the righty's fourth start of the season, as two of his six wins so far came in relief. He should stick in the rotation for now, particularly with Wade Miley (shoulder) and Drew Smyly (oblique) both on the injured list. Thompson will carry a 1.99 ERA into his next scheduled start Wednesday against the Orioles.

JUNE 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Ian Happ - Goes deep Thursday Happ went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's win over the Cardinals.

Impact Happ came into the contest in a 2-for-17 slump over his previous five games, and this was his first multi-hit effort since May 23. The outfielder still has a solid .258 average and .802 OPS this season, which are up from the .226 and .757 marks he posted last year, respectively. He has his ups and downs, but Happ should remain a productive fantasy asset so long as he stays healthy.

JUNE 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Frank Schwindel - Big game in win Schwindel went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, two runs scored and two RBI in Thursday's win over the Cardinals.

Impact Schwindel delivered as the team's cleanup hitter, and he now has seven home runs and 26 RBI through 49 games. The three-hit effort also snapped a 1-for-15 slump that covered the previous four games. Schwindel is seeing regular playing time, and while he can be a bit streaky at times, he's still delivering decent fantasy value due to his ability to hit for power and drive in runs.

JUNE 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Willson Contreras - Dealing with ankle injury Contreras exited Thursday's game against the Cardinals after being hit by a pitch in the ankle, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Impact X-rays showed no structural damage, so Contreras can be considered day-to-day for the time being. The Cubs have a short turnaround before a day game on Friday, so it's likely that Contreras won't be in the lineup. P.J. Higgins would take over as the primary catcher if Contreras is in for a lengthy absence, as Yan Gomes (oblique) is also sidelined.

JUNE 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Schwindel, Contreras and Happ homer as Cubs top Cards 7-5

Frank Schwindel launched a long solo homer and doubled among his three hits and the Chicago Cubs topped the St. Louis Cardinals 7-5 for their third straight victory

JUNE 3, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Alec Mills - Another rehab start on tap Mills (back) will make another rehab start at Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Impact Mills has made three rehab starts during his current stint with the Triple-A club, and he's posted a 3.72 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 9.2 innings. The right-hander is eligible to return from the 60-day injured list as early as Monday, but he'll have at least one more opportunity for a tune-up in the minors prior to rejoining the Cubs. Assuming he feels good following Tuesday's outing, it's possible that he'll be reinstated from the injured list as early as next weekend.

JUNE 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Drew Smyly - Could miss about a month Smyly (oblique) said Thursday that he doesn't have a timetable for his return but could miss about a month, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Impact Smyly landed on the 15-day injured list due to a right oblique strain Wednesday, and he appears to be in line for more than a minimal IL stint. However, the southpaw said that his recovery timetable will depend on how he feels as he builds up his workload. Smyly will rest and receive treatment during his first few days on the injured list before he resumes throwing, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

JUNE 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Rafael Ortega - On bench for fourth straight Ortega remains out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cardinals.

Impact With Christopher Morel emerging as Chicago's everyday center field and Jason Heyward and Clint Frazier having settled into a platoon in right field while Seiya Suzuki (finger) is on the injured list, Ortega looks like he doesn't have a path to regular playing time in the Cubs outfield. He'll be on the bench for a fourth consecutive game Thursday.

JUNE 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Andrelton Simmons - Not in Thursday's lineup Simmons is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cardinals.

Impact Simmons is 2-for-16 in his past seven appearances and will take a seat for the second straight game. Nick Madrigal will man the keystone in his place Thursday.

JUNE 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Wade Miley - Gets back on mound Miley (shoulder) was scheduled to throw a bullpen session earlier Thursday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Impact The Cubs have yet to reveal how Miley felt coming out of the workout, but the fact that he isn't being shut down from throwing four days after landing on the injured list suggests that his strained left shoulder isn't a long-term concern. Chicago replaced Miley in the rotation with Matt Swarmer, who will pick up his second start in Saturday's doubleheader with the Cardinals after limiting the Brewers to four runs over six innings in his MLB debut Monday.

JUNE 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Alfonso Rivas - Riding pine against southpaw Rivas isn't starting Thursday's game against the Cardinals.

Impact Rivas drew two starts against left-handed pitchers over the last three games, but he'll get a breather with southpaw Matthew Liberatore on the mound for the Cardinals on Thursday. Frank Schwindel is shifting to first base while P.J. Higgins takes over behind the dish.

JUNE 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Jason Heyward - Sits against left-hander Heyward isn't in the lineup Thursday against the Cardinals.

Impact Heyward returned to the lineup Wednesday against Milwaukee and went 1-for-4 with two runs and a strikeout, but he'll get a breather with left-hander Matthew Liberatore on the mound for the Cardinals. Clint Frazier will start in right field and bat seventh.

JUNE 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE