Impact Villar started the past eight games at the keystone and will take a seat for Sunday's contest. Christopher Morel will man second base in his place Thursday.
MAY 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
CHICAGO CUBS 83-79 · 3RD IN NL CENTRAL
83-79 · 3RD IN NL CENTRAL
Jonathan Villar - Out of Thursday's lineup Villar is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Diamondbacks.
Alfonso Rivas - Not starting Thursday Rivas isn't starting Thursday against Arizona.
Impact Right-hander Zac Gallen is starting for the Diamondbacks on Thursday, but Rivas will get a day off after going 0-for-6 with a run, two walks and three strikeouts over the last two games. Frank Schwindel will start at first base while Yan Gomes enters the lineup behind the dish.
MAY 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Alec Mills - Transferred to 60-day IL Mills (back) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Thursday, Tim Stebbins of NBC Sports Chicago reports.
Impact Mills was cleared to face hitters this weekend and threw a bullpen session Thursday, but he'll now be moved to the 60-man injured list to make room on the 40-man roster. The right-hander will likely require several rehab games before rejoining the Cardinals, so Thursday's transaction is unlikely to alter his recovery timetable.
MAY 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Michael Rucker - Placed on injured list Rucker was placed on the 15-day injured list due to turf toe Thursday, retroactive to May 17, Tim Stebbins of NBC Sports Chicago reports.
Impact Rucker has made eight relief appearances for the Cubs this year, and he's posted a 4.20 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 15 innings. The right-hander will be sidelined until at least early June due to his toe injury, but it's not yet clear whether he'll be able to return once he's first eligible.
MAY 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Marcus Stroman - Activated for Thursday's start Stroman (illness) was activated from the COVID-19 injured list ahead of his start against the Diamondbacks on Thursday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Impact The 31-year-old has been on the COVID-19 injured list since testing positive for the virus May 8, but he's cleared MLB's testing protocols and will rejoin the rotation Thursday. Stroman delivered his best start of the season his last time out May 1 with seven scoreless innings, and he could have some workload limitations in his first start back from the shelf.
MAY 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Nico Hoerner - Cleared for baseball activities Hoerner (ankle) has been cleared to resume baseball activities and is building up in his running progression, but he's without a clear timeline to return from the 10-day injured li...
Impact The fact that Hoerner hasn't been shut down from baseball activities since landing on the IL last weekend bodes well for his chances of avoiding an extended absence, but the Cubs may want to see him put in a few more workouts before mapping out a minor-league rehab assignment. Fellow middle infielder Nick Madrigal (back) is also on the mend from an injury of his own, and he and Hoerner could be battling for one spot in Chicago's everyday lineup once both players are healthy.
MAY 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Nick Madrigal - Still in rehab mode Madrigal (back) remains limited to rehab work since being placed on the 10-day injured list May 10, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Impact With Madrigal having yet to resume baseball activities more than a week after landing on the IL, it's clear he'll be sidelined beyond the minimum 10 days. A potential target date likely won't emerge until he's able to do at least some on-field activity. Before hitting the shelf, Madrigal was offering little to get excited about from a fantasy standpoint, as he was hitting .203 with zero home runs, five runs, two RBI and one stolen base through 84 plate appearances on the season.
MAY 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
David Bote - Begins rehab assignment Bote (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, Mike McGraw of the Chicago Daily Herald reports.
Impact Bote underwent left shoulder surgery during the offseason and had been working at the Cubs' extended spring training recently. He'll start at the keystone and bat second during his first rehab game in Iowa and should continue to play in minor-league games over the next few weeks until he's eligible to return from the 60-day injured list.
MAY 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Chicago Cubs picks, predictions, odds: Who wins MLB game Thursday? The Arizona Diamondbacks open a series against the\u00a0Chicago Cubs on Thursday in Chicago. Who will win the game?
MAY 19, 2022 • AZCENTRAL.COM
Why the Cubs' pitching development could be the key to speeding up their path to contention If they can solve their pitching problems and continue to bring up quality arms, maybe the Cubs won't be as far off from contention.
MAY 19, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Ahead of Fergie Jenkins' statue unveiling, his Chicago Cubs ex-teammates reflect on his career: 'He made it look easy' Fergie Jenkins already has his 10- minute speech prepared well ahead of his monumental recognition. When Jenkins’ statue is unveiled Friday...
MAY 19, 2022 • MERCURYNEWS.COM
Ex-Yankees reliever returns to Cubs after testing positive for COVID-19 The Chicago Cubs (15-21) are in fourth place in the National League Central, eight games behind the first-place Milwaukee Brewers (24-14).
MAY 19, 2022 • NJ.COM
Cubs host the Diamondbacks in first of 4-game series
The Chicago Cubs open a four-game series at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks on ThursdayMAY 19, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
LEADING OFF: Mets' Scherzer set for MRI on sore left side
Mets ace Max Scherzer is scheduled for an MRI a day after pulling himself from a start with discomfort in his left sideMAY 19, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Drew Smyly - Surrenders three runs in loss Smyly (1-5) took the loss during Wednesday's 3-2 defeat at the hands of the Pirates, allowing three runs on six hits and one walk with five strikeouts in 4.1 innings.
Impact Smyly encountered trouble his second time through Pittsburgh's order, surrendering four consecutive baserunners with two out in the third inning and a Jack Suwinski solo home run in the fifth that proved to be the difference. After winning his first start of the season, the 32-year-old has lost five straight turns while churning out a 5.55 ERA, although he's gotten only eight total runs of support. He'll look to get back in the win column against Cincinnati early next week.
MAY 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
LEADING OFF: Cubs' Stroman coming off COVID list vs Dbacks
Marcus Stroman is set to come off the COVID-19 injured list and start for the Cubs against ArizonaMAY 19, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rookie Christopher Morel's special moment pumps life into the Chicago Cubs' rebuild plan: 'It's so cool' Christopher Morel's home run in his first major-league at-bat at Wrigley Field was a moment Chicago Cubs fans always will remember.
MAY 18, 2022 • CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM
Cubs' Marcus Stroman to start Thursday, reliever David Robertson activated In corresponding moves, the Cubs optioned right-hander Mark Leiter Jr. to Triple-A on and transferred outfielder Michael Hermosillo from the...
MAY 18, 2022 • SUNTIMES.COM
Michael Hermosillo - Shifts to COVID-19 IL Hermosillo (quadriceps) was transferred to the COVID-19 injured list Wednesday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Impact Hermosillo landed on the 10-day IL last week with a strained left quad, but he's now been moved to the COVID-19 IL. The 27-year-old isn't expected to resume baseball activities for at least a couple weeks, so he'll return to the regular injured list once he clears the COVID protocols.
MAY 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Sahadev Sharma: David Robertson activated off the IL, Mark... - The Athletic David Robertson activated off the IL, Mark Leiter, Jr optioned to AAA. To make room on the 40-man roster, Michael Hermosillo moved from the...
MAY 18, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Daniel Norris - Feeling better Wednesday Norris (Achilles) is feeling better and could be available for Wednesday's game against the Pirates, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Impact Norris exited Tuesday's win over the Pirates due to right Achilles soreness after facing just one batter, but his injury doesn't appear to be a major concern. Even if he doesn't appear in Wednesday's series finale, he should be considered day-to-day for now.
MAY 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Mark Leiter Jr. - Sent down Wednesday Leiter was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday.
Impact Leiter spent a week with the major-league club but made just one relief appearance during his stint with the Cubs. He's posted a 6.57 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 12.1 innings over five appearances (three starts) in the big leagues this year but will return to Iowa after David Robertson (undisclosed) was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list.
MAY 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
David Robertson - Activated by Cubs Robertson (illness) was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list Wednesday, Tim Stebbins of NBC Sports Chicago reports.
Impact Robertson spent a week and a half on the COVID-19 IL, but he played catch Saturday and rejoined the Cubs ahead of Wednesday's series finale against the Pirates. He's converted all five of his save chances while posting a 1.50 ERA and 0.75 WHIP in 12 innings over 11 appearances this year, and he should take over as the team's closer now that he's healthy.
MAY 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Rafael Ortega - Starting again Wednesday Ortega is starting in center field and batting first in Wednesday's game against the Pirates.
Impact Ortega will be making his fourth straight start, and he should remain a regular with Jason Heyward hitting the COVID-19-related injured list Tuesday. Heyward's eventual return may push Ortega to a reserve role, as the Cubs also have Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki to fill outfield spots. Ortega could see more time at DH moving forward, though Frank Schwindel has recently filled that role with increased frequency.
MAY 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Andrelton Simmons - Starting Wednesday Simmons is starting at shortstop and batting ninth in Wednesday's game against the Pirates.
Impact Simmons will make his second start in four games since his return from the injured list Sunday. Nico Hoerner (ankle) hit the IL himself to make room for Simmons, so there should be plenty of playing time available at shortstop, though it seems the Cubs are being cautious with the veteran as he works his way back from a shoulder injury. Ildemaro Vargas remains on hand to provide depth at the position.
MAY 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
