CHICAGO CUBS NEWS

Alfonso Rivas - Sits amid slump Rivas is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game in Cincinnati.

Impact The slumping Rivas will take a seat for the second time in four games Tuesday, even with the platoon advantage being in his favor with right-hander Tyler Mahle toeing the rubber for Cincinnati. Since the start of May, Rivas is slashing .130/.273/.217 with a 40 percent strikeout rate.

MAY 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Michael Rucker - Advancing through throwing program Cubs manager David Ross said Tuesday that Rucker (toe) is progressing through a throwing program, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Impact Rucker was placed on the 15-day injured list last Thursday after he was diagnosed with turf toe, but his ability to resume throwing a few days after being deactivated suggests that he'll be inactive for only a brief period of time. Prior to landing on the shelf, the 28-year-old righty worked 15 innings out of the Cubs bullpen and submitted a 4.20 ERA and 1.20 WHIP.

MAY 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Willson Contreras - Not yet ready to start Contreras (hamstring) is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game in Cincinnati.

Impact Per Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs manager David Ross said Contreras is on track to avoid the 10-day injured list, but the star catcher will be on the bench for the third game in a row due to a right hamstring strain. P.J. Higgins will fill in for Contreras behind the dish Tuesday.

MAY 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Nick Madrigal - Takes part in all baseball drills Madrigal (back) took part in hitting, fielding, running and throwing drills during an on-field workout Tuesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Impact Fellow injured middle infielder Nico Hoerner (ankle) also performed the same activities, as both look to be at similar spots in their respective rehab programs. Madrigal and Hoerner could both be ready to begin minor-league rehab assignments later this week before potentially returning from the 10-day injured list by the end of the month. Though both Madrigal and Hoerner handled everyday roles for the Cubs prior to hitting the shelf, the two may have to fend off Andrelton Simmons and Jonathan Villar for starts in the middle infield once they're back from the IL.

MAY 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Nico Hoerner - Performing all baseball activities Hoerner (ankle) took part in hitting, fielding, running and throwing drills during an on-field workout Tuesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Impact Fellow injured middle infielder Nick Madrigal (back) also performed the same activities, as both look to be at similar spots in their respective rehab programs. Hoerner and Madrigal could both be ready to begin minor-league rehab assignments later this week before potentially returning from the 10-day injured list by the end of the month. Though both Hoerner and Madrigal handled everyday roles for the Cubs prior to hitting the shelf, the two may have to fend off Andrelton Simmons and Jonathan Villar for starts in the middle infield once they're back from the IL.

MAY 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Clint Frazier - Set for full rehab game in outfield Frazier (appendectomy) is scheduled to play a full game in the outfield Tuesday for Triple-A Iowa, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Impact Tuesday will mark the sixth game of Frazier's rehab assignment as he works his way back into playing shape following a three-week shutdown due to an appendectomy. Through his first five games with Iowa, Frazier has gone 3-for-17 with two doubles, two walks, three runs and an RBI. He'll likely fill a reserve role in the Chicago outfield once he's ready to return from the 10-day injured list.

MAY 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

David Bote - Set for full rehab game in field Bote (shoulder) is scheduled to play all nine innings at third base Tuesday in a rehab game at Triple-A Iowa, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Impact Bote has thus far made four rehab appearances for Iowa, going 2-for-11 with a double, two walks, a stolen base and two runs over those contests. The 29-year-old looks well on his way to being ready to rejoin the Cubs when he's first eligible to come off the 60-day injured list in early June.

MAY 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Column: Criticize the Chicago Cubs? Not on Marquee Sports Network's 'The Reporters' show. When the Chicago Cubs announced they were leaving their old TV home to start their own network, it was viewed by some as a prudent business...

MAY 24, 2022 • BOSTONHERALD.COM

Back to the future: Can Cubs follow Patrick Wisdom's lead and reclaim 2015 feel? Wisdom has homered in four straight games, a feat no Cub has accomplished since Anthony Rizzo in 2015.

MAY 24, 2022 • SUNTIMES.COM

As the Chicago Cubs move past the quarter-mark of the season, many big-picture questions remain: 'Got to let guys continue to develop' The Chicago Cubs still have plenty of big-picture questions to answer as they move past the quarter-mark of the 2022 season.

MAY 24, 2022 • CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM

Cubs visit the Reds on 3-game road win streak

The Chicago Cubs hit the road against the Cincinnati Reds looking to continue a three-game road winning streak

MAY 24, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

David Robertson - Rebounds with save Monday Robertson pitched a clean ninth inning with two strikeouts to record the save in Monday's win over the Reds.

Impact After blowing his first save of the season in Saturday's loss to the Diamondbacks, Robertson bounced back with another stellar effort. Outside of that blown save, the righty has allowed just one run in one of his 13 other appearances this year. Overall, the veteran has six saves to go with a sparkling 1.76 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 22 strikeouts across 15.1 innings. He remains the top relief option on the Cubs roster at this point.

MAY 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Patrick Wisdom - Homers in fourth straight game Wisdom went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Monday's win over the Reds.

Impact That's now four straight games with home runs for Wisdom and 10 total long balls on the season across 38 contests. He continues to be an all-or-nothing type player, as he also struck out two more times Monday, giving him 58 so far in 132 at-bats. Fantasy managers may have to simply accept a low batting average with Wisdom, though he now has 38 homers in 144 games with the Cubs dating back to last year, so he's certainly delivered plenty of value as well.

MAY 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Ian Happ - Big effort in Monday's win Happ went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, a home run, two runs scored and four RBI in Monday's win over the Reds.

Impact Happ's three-run home run in the seventh inning, his fourth of the season, broke open a 4-3 game and helped lead the Cubs to the 7-4 victory. While the power hasn't fully arrived yet, the outfielder does now have 22 RBI through 39 games to go with a solid .836 OPS. Happ's career high for RBI is 68, which he tallied back during his 2017 rookie season, and he could surpass that figure if he stays healthy this year.

MAY 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Happ, Wisdom hit 3-run HRs, Cubs top Aquino, Reds 7-4

Ian Happ and Patrick Wisdom hit three-run homers and the Chicago Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-4 despite two home runs by Aristides Aquino

MAY 24, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

4 days' worth of Wisdom: Cubs' 3B homers in 4th straight CINCINNATI -- Death, taxes and Patrick Wisdom going deep. When things are going well at the plate, you feel like you can make something happ...

MAY 24, 2022 • MLB.COM

Willson Contreras remains out of the Chicago Cubs lineup, but manager David Ross says an IL stint is unlikely The last thing the struggling Chicago Cubs need is catcher Willson Contreras sidelined by an injury.

MAY 24, 2022 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Nico Hoerner - Takes grounders Monday Hoerner (ankle) took grounders prior to Monday's game against the Reds, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Impact Hoerner has been on the injured list for just over 10 days due to a right ankle sprain, but he's been participating in baseball activities recently. Manager David Ross said Monday that the 25-year-old is close to returning, so it's possible he'll be activated within the next few days.

MAY 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Sean Newcomb - Starting up rehab assignment Newcomb (ankle) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday at Triple-A Iowa, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Impact Newcomb has been on the shelf for under two weeks with the left ankle sprain, so he likely won't require more than an appearance or two in the minors before the Cubs are comfortable activating him. Between stops with Atlanta and Chicago this season, Newcomb has made six relief appearances covering 8.1 innings and has given up seven earned runs on 10 hits and five walks.

MAY 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Daniel Norris - Overcomes Achilles soreness Norris (Achilles) made back-to-back relief appearances Friday and Saturday in losses to the Diamondbacks, covering 1.2 innings between the outings while allowing one earned run on...

Impact Heading into the weekend, Norris was considered day-to-day with a right Achilles soreness, but the appearances on consecutive days imply that he's back to full strength as the Cubs prepare for a six-game week. The 29-year-old lefty has served mostly as a low-leverage reliever for Chicago this season, posting a 5.68 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 16:7 K:BB in 12.2 innings.

MAY 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Andrelton Simmons - Not starting Monday Simmons isn't starting Monday against the Reds.

Impact Simmons started in five of the last seven games and went 3-for-18 with two runs, two RBI, a stolen base, a walk and three strikeouts. Christopher Morel will take over at shortstop and bat ninth.

MAY 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Willson Contreras - Remains out of lineup Contreras (hamstring) isn't starting Monday's game against the Reds.

Impact Contreras suffered a right hamstring strain during Saturday's loss to the Diamondbacks, and he's considered day-to-day. With Contreras out of the lineup for a second straight game, Yan Gomes will start behind the dish and bat fifth.

MAY 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Ex-Royal Frank Schwindel was part of a feat unseen by Cubs since Ernie Banks played Former Royal Frank Schwindel hit a game-winning (and historic) home run off former Royal Ian Kennedy.

MAY 23, 2022 • KANSASCITY.COM

Cubs' Willson Contreras day-to-day with strained hamstring Manager David Ross said Contreras will get a couple of days off and “see how it feels” after the Cubs catcher left Saturday’s game with the...

MAY 23, 2022 • SUNTIMES.COM

Reds take on the Cubs in first of 4-game series

The Cincinnati Reds begin a four-game series at home against the Chicago Cubs on Monday

MAY 23, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS