MAY 26, 2022 • AJC.COM
CHICAGO CUBS 83-79 · 3RD IN NL CENTRAL
83-79 · 3RD IN NL CENTRAL
Reds wallop Cubs 20-5 for their biggest win in 23 years CINCINNATI (AP) — Cincinnati dominated the Chicago Cubs 20-5 on Thursday, the most runs the Reds have scored in 23 years.
Reds have highest-scoring day in 23 years, rout Cubs 20-5
Kyle Farmer homered and had tied his career high with five RBIs to power the Cincinnati Reds to their high-scoring game in 23 years, a 20-5 rout of the Chicago CubsMAY 26, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Seiya Suzuki - Diagnosed with sprained finger Suzuki was diagnosed with a left ring finger sprain after exiting Thursday's game against the Reds, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Impact Suzuki sustained his injury after sliding awkwardly into second base in the top of the third inning, and he was replaced in right field in the bottom of the fourth. Prior to his departure, he went 1-for-2. The 27-year-old will get at least one day to rest prior to Saturday's series opener against the White Sox, and he should tentatively be considered day-to-day.
MAY 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Seiya Suzuki - Exits with apparent injury Suzuki was removed from Thursday's game against the Reds in the bottom of the fourth inning due to an apparent left hand injury, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Impact Suzuki appeared to have his left hand looked at by trainers after sliding into second base in the top of the third inning, but he was initially able to remain in the game. However, he was replaced defensively in the bottom of the fourth. The exact nature and severity of the 27-year-old's injury aren't yet clear, but Rafael Ortega should see an uptick in at-bats if Suzuki is forced to miss time.
MAY 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
No position battle: Why Nico Hoerner will be Cubs' primary shortstop The Cubs activated Nico Hoerner on Wednesday and put catcher Yan Gomes on the 10-day IL.
MAY 26, 2022 • SUNTIMES.COM
Rafael Ortega - May lose CF job to Morel Ortega is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Reds.
Impact The lefty-hitting Ortega will take a seat after starting each of the past four games in center field while going 3-for-16 at the plate. Even though the Reds are bringing a righty (Hunter Greene) to the hill, Ortega will give way in center field to the hot-hitting Christopher Morel, who is leading off for a third game in a row. With Morel's path to playing time in the infield becoming more blocked with Nico Hoerner's return from the injured list Wednesday, the rookie could see most of his starts out of the outfield moving forward. If that's the case, Ortega looks like he'll find himself as the odd man out of the lineup.
MAY 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Patrick Mooney: Cubs second baseman Nick Madrigal, who's on the... - The Athletic Cubs second baseman Nick Madrigal, who’s on the injured list with lower back tightness, will begin a rehab assignment on Saturday with Tripl...
MAY 26, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Nick Madrigal - Set to start rehab assignment Madrigal (back) will start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Impact Madrigal has been out with back tightness since May 10, but resumed on-field work Tuesday and is now set to start his rehab assignment this weekend. He'll likely appear in multiple games in Triple-A before rejoining to the big-league roster, potentially returning to the Cubs during their four-game series versus the Brewers early next week. With Andrelton Simmons now shifted over to second base, he stands to see a lesser role once Madrigal is activated from the injured list.
MAY 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Alec Mills - Another rehab start coming Friday Mills (back) will throw a three-inning rehab start Friday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Impact He is expected to throw 55 pitches in this outing after throwing 43 pitches in 2.1 innings in his prior rehab start. Given that Mills is ineligible to be activated from the 60-day injured list until June 8, it seems likely that he will make at least one more rehab start after Friday's scheduled outing.
MAY 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Andrelton Simmons - Moving to second base Simmons will cede the starting shortstop job to Nico Hoerner going forward, with most of his playing time projected to come at second base, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.
Impact The motivation for this move is partly for the Cubs to evaluate Hoerner over a long stretch at shortstop before potentially signing a high-profile free agent shortstop this winter. It is also likely related to the fact that Simmons' shoulder is not 100 percent, and this makes it easier on him from a throwing standpoint. Jonathan Villar and Christopher Morel could also get work at second base, so Simmons probably won't be a true everyday player.
MAY 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Nico Hoerner - Primary shortstop going forward Hoerner will be the Cubs' primary shortstop going forward, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.
Impact Hoerner, who is starting at the six and batting eighth Thursday against the Reds, was activated from the injured list Wednesday and the expectation is that he will get the reps at shortstop while Andrelton Simmons starts at second base or comes off the bench most days. The Cubs are using this year as an audition for Hoerner to show he can stay healthy and stay productive, before the team potentially eyes up a big free-agent signing at the position this offseason. Hoerner is hitting .278/.300/.402 with two home runs and two steals in 30 games.
MAY 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Christopher Morel - Third straight leadoff nod Morel is leading off for the third straight game Thursday against the Reds.
Impact Morel is not a true pop-up prospect, as he has been on the periphery of Cubs top prospect lists for half a decade, but his performance at Double-A and the majors this year has represented a massive shift in quality of play. He is hitting .296/.406/.556 with two home runs and one steal in eight games since his call-up and his hard-hit metrics largely support this strong start. Now that Nico Hoerner is healthy, it appears Morel will get most of his work in center field. It's unclear if Morel will be able to stick up once Jason Heyward is activated from the COVID-19 injured list.
MAY 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Willson Contreras - Back in action Thursday Contreras (hamstring) is starting behind the dish and batting second Thursday against the Reds.
Impact He missed four games in a row with a strained hamstring, but it was apparently a very minor strain. Contreras is hitting .264/.409/.491 with three home runs and one steal in 17 games this month.
MAY 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Is Nico Hoerner a long-term answer at shortstop? The Cubs want to use this rebuilding year to find out The lineup is largely constructed with the future in mind, so the Cubs can see what they have and what they will need to add this winter.
MAY 26, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Cubs face the Reds with 2-1 series lead
The Chicago Cubs lead 2-1 in a four-game series with the Cincinnati RedsMAY 26, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tensions escalate late — including David Ross' 1st ejection of the season — in the Chicago Cubs' 4-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds Chicago Cubs reliever Rowan Wick's inside pitch to Cincinnati Reds star Joey Votto began a series of escalating tensions late in Wednesday's...
MAY 26, 2022 • ORLANDOSENTINEL.COM
Joey Votto on tempers flaring with Rowan Wick, Cubs: 'He had something to say and I answered' Joey Votto hit a homer and a two-run triple in the Reds’ 4-3 win, but it was a four-pitch walk in the eighth inning that drew the most firew...
MAY 26, 2022 • CINCINNATI.COM
Thursday's Time Schedule All Times EDT Thursday, May 26 MLB Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati, 12:35 p.m. N.Y.
MAY 26, 2022 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM
Patrick Mooney: Cubs reliever Rowan Wick on his dispute with... - The Athletic Cubs reliever Rowan Wick on his dispute with Joey Votto: “All I said was ‘nice bat flip.’ I understand he’s been in the league a long time....
MAY 26, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Patrick Mooney: Cubs reliever Rowan Wick said he has no prior... - The Athletic Cubs reliever Rowan Wick said he has no prior history with Reds star Joey Votto: “I’ve never spoken to him before. I don’t even know if he k...
MAY 26, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Kyle Hendricks - Struggles again in loss Hendricks (2-5) allowed four runs on five hits across four innings to take the loss Wednesday against the Reds. He walked one and struck out one.
Impact Hendricks didn't allow seven runs like he did in his last outing, but he was only moderately better Wednesday. It's been a struggle all year for the righty, as he's now sitting with a 5.20 ERA. Hendricks posted a sub-3.50 ERA every year between 2016 and 2020, but that crept up to 4.77 last season, and he's now on pace for a new career worst. Hendricks has always had a small margin for error since he doesn't record too many strikeouts, and that may be catching up to him in his age-32 season. He'll look to turn things around in his next scheduled start Tuesday against the Brewers.
MAY 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Votto homers, triples, shouts at reliever as Reds beat Cubs
Joey Votto homered and tripled, then shouted at Cubs reliver Rowan Wick during a tense ending to the Cincinnati Reds’ 4-3 win over ChicagoMAY 26, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
PHOTOS: Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati Reds, May 25 View photos from the MLB baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds.
MAY 26, 2022 • CINCINNATI.COM
Chicago Cubs activate Nico Hoerner from the injured list. How will the middle infield options shake out? Hoerner initially feared he could miss more time after colliding with an umpire in shallow right field May 11 in San Diego. He bounced back...
MAY 26, 2022 • MERCURYNEWS.COM
Jonathan Villar - Remains on bench Villar isn't starting Wednesday against the Reds.
Impact Villar has gone 5-for-18 with a homer, two doubles, two runs, two RBI and a stolen base over his last four games, but he'll be out of the lineup for a second straight matchup. Christopher Morel will start at the keystone and lead off.
MAY 25, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
