CHICAGO CUBS NEWS

Marcus Stroman - Set to return Thursday Stroman (illness) is listed as the Cubs' probable starting pitcher for Thursday's game against the Diamondbacks in Chicago, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Impact Stroman cleared all COVID-19-related protocols Tuesday and rejoined the team, but the Cubs will give him two days to regain conditioning before formally reinstating him from the COVID-19-related injured list Thursday. Because Stroman didn't complete a rehab assignment beforehand and hasn't started since May 1 before landing on the IL, the Cubs could limit his workload more than usual in his return to action.

MAY 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Patrick Wisdom - Not in Wednesday's lineup Wisdom isn't starting Wednesday against the Pirates.

Impact Wisdom hit just .111 with a home run, a double, two runs and 10 strikeouts over the last five games, and he'll get a breather after drawing eight consecutive starts. Christopher Morel will start at the hot corner and bat eighth.

MAY 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Christopher Morel - Set for first career start Morel is starting at third base and batting eighth in Wednesday's game against the Pirates.

Impact A day after hitting his first MLB home run as a pinch hitter in his first career at-bat, Morel will pick up his first start in the majors. The 22-year-old got the call from Double-A Tennessee to provide some outfield depth with Jason Heyward hitting the COVID-19 injured list, but Morel can also play some third base. Patrick Wisdom gets a rest day to make room at the hot corner.

MAY 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

'My moment': Cubs' Christopher Morel, Brandon Hughes make fairytale debuts Christopher Morel hit a home run, and Brandon Hughes struck out five Pirates in the Cubs’ 7-0 win Tuesday.

MAY 18, 2022 • SUNTIMES.COM

Cubs outfielder Clint Frazier eager to return to Chicago after appendectomy Clint Frazier has only played in 10 games in the big leagues this season. He's ready to return to the Chicago Cubs after undergoing an appen...

MAY 18, 2022 • DESMOINESREGISTER.COM

MLB Rookie Hits HR In Debut At-Bat The difference between winning 6-0 and 7-0 may not sound like much, but it means a whole heckuva lot to Cubs rookie Christopher Morel. On Tu...

MAY 18, 2022 • OUTKICK.COM

How to watch Pirates vs. Cubs FREE on YouTube The MLB Game of the Week Live on YouTube is streamed live, free, to fans around the world in 182 countries. The Cubs will host the Pirates i...

MAY 18, 2022 • MLB.COM

Ed Howard - Done for season Cubs minor-league director Jared Banner confirmed Tuesday that Howard will be out for the rest of the 2022 season after suffering a serious left hip injury in a May 10 game with Hi...

Impact Banner didn't elaborate on the nature of the injury and didn't say whether or not Howard will require surgery, but at the very least, the 20-year-old will require more than four months of rehab and recovery time. The No. 16 overall pick in the 2020 first-year player draft was hitting .244 with a home run, three stolen bases and 10 RBI in 23 games before going down with the injury.

MAY 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Seiya Suzuki - Drives in two Tuesday Suzuki went 1-for-4 with a double, a run scored and two RBI in Tuesday's win over the Pirates.

Impact Suzuki missed three straight games last week due to right ankle soreness, but he's looked fine since returning, delivering hits in four straight contests. The outfielder doubled in two of those four games, though he has seen a bit of a power outage, as he's gone without a home run since April 17. Suzuki will still have plenty of fantasy value if he's delivering extra-base hits and driving in runs, but his value will increase if he starts hitting the ball over the wall more regularly.

MAY 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Frank Schwindel - Collects two hits Tuesday Schwindel went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Tuesday's win over the Pirates.

Impact Schwindel started at DH while the Cubs used Alfonso Rivas at first base. It was the sixth straight start for Schwindel, who's seeing playing time despite the emergence of Rivas. Schwindel has batted .333 during this stretch with four RBI, so he's making the case to stick in the lineup, possibly as the regular DH ahead of Rafael Ortega. Schwindel may also take over again at first at some point and push Rivas back to a reserve role, as the latter has cooled off after a hot start to the season.

MAY 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Christopher Morel - Begins MLB career with home run Appearing as a pinch hitter, Morel delivered a solo home run in his only at-bat during Tuesday's win over the Pirates.

Impact Morel began his MLB career with a bang, delivering a home run in his first at-bat during the eighth inning of the 7-0 win. He is the first Cubs player to homer in his first career at-bat since Willson Contreras did so in 2016, according to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com. The 22-year-old was recalled from Double-A Tennessee on Tuesday to replace Jason Heyward, who landed on the COVID-19-related injured list. Morel should be on the short side of a platoon in center with Rafael Ortega, so he may not see enough playing time in the short term to have a ton of fantasy value.

MAY 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Pirates vs. Cubs prediction, betting odds for MLB on Wednesday The Pittsburgh Pirates take on the Chicago Cubs in MLB on Wednesday. This preview is based on 10K simulations of the game.

MAY 18, 2022 • PENNLIVE.COM

Pirates aim to stop 3-game road slide, play the Cubs

The Pittsburgh Pirates hit the road against the Chicago Cubs looking to end a three-game road losing streak

MAY 18, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jonathan Villar - Homers, swipes bag Villar went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk, an additional RBI and a stolen base in a 7-0 win against the Pirates on Tuesday.

Impact Making his seventh straight start with Nick Madrigal shelved, Villar opened the scoring with a solo home run in the third inning, singled home a run during a five-run fourth and walked and swiped second in the sixth. The infielder is only 6-for-34 in May though Tuesday's offensive display demonstrates the 31-year-old's ability to contribute both power and speed, as Villar's 138 power-speed number ranks 14th among all active players.

MAY 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Keegan Thompson - Victorious in second start Thompson (3-0) registered the win during Tuesday's 7-0 victory over Pittsburgh, allowing four hits with five strikeouts in five scoreless innings.

Impact Making his second start of the season, Thompson shut down Pittsburgh's offense in allowing no more than one baserunner per inning. After exceeding expectations in a multi-inning role, the 27-year-old has seen that success carry over with a total of two runs allowed on nine hits and two walks with six strikeouts in nine innings. Thompson and his 1.41 ERA should have the inside track to get the nod for Sunday's game against Arizona, though Chicago is yet to tab a starter.

MAY 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Wrigley rocks after rookie homers in 1st AB CHICAGO -- Christopher Morel called it. The Cubs rookie was not even sure he was going to get an at-bat, but late in Tuesday's game at Wrigl...

MAY 18, 2022 • MLB.COM

Cubs shut out Pirates for 2nd straight night, 7-0

Keegan Thompson combined with three relievers on a five-hitter, and the Chicago Cubs shut out he Pittsburgh Pirates for the second straight game, a 7-0 win that extended their winn...

MAY 18, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Daniel Norris - Dealing with sore Achilles Norris was removed from Tuesday's game against the Pirates with right Achilles soreness, Tim Stebbins of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Impact Norris retired the only batter he faced on four pitches before exiting Tuesday's contest with the injury. The left-hander should be considered day-to-day, and it's unclear whether or not he'll require a trip to the injured list.

MAY 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Jason Heyward goes on the IL, while the Chicago Cubs give Christopher Morel and Brandon Hughes their 1st MLB call-ups When the Chicago Cubs drafted Brandon Hughes in 2007, the 16th- round pick hoped one day to roam the outfield at Wrigley Field. The Cubs put...

MAY 18, 2022 • DENVERPOST.COM

Patrick Mooney: Marcus Stroman - who's been on the injured list... - The Athletic Marcus Stroman – who's been on the injured list without a specified injury and hasn't pitched for the Cubs since May 1 – was in the Wrigley...

MAY 17, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Rafael Ortega - Should get large-side platoon role Ortega will start in center field and bat leadoff in Tuesday's game against the Pirates.

Impact Though Ortega had already started in five of the Cubs' previous six games, he was a candidate to see a role reduction this week with Seiya Suzuki having moved past a recent ankle injury. However, with Jason Heyward moving to the COVID-19-related injured list Tuesday, Ortega now looks like he'll have the opportunity to play regularly in center field, at least against right-handed pitching. The lefty-hitting Ortega could end up filling the large side of a platoon in center with the righty-hitting Christopher Morel, who was called up from Double-A Tennessee on Tuesday.

MAY 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Patrick Mooney: Tuesday's roster moves for the Cubs: Jason... - The Athletic Tuesday’s roster moves for the Cubs: Jason Heyward placed on the injured list with an unspecified injury; infielder/outfielder Christopher M...

MAY 17, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Marcus Stroman - Cleared but not activated Stroman cleared COVID-19 protocols Tuesday but has yet to be activated off the injured list, Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Impact Stroman has been on the injured list for over a week and hasn't pitched since May 1. He threw a bullpen session Tuesday, per Jordan Bastian of MLB.com, but it's unclear if his absence is long enough that the Cubs will require a rehab outing before he returns to the roster, but the righty's next steps should be revealed soon.

MAY 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Cubs place Heyward on IL with no designation, recall Hughes

The Chicago Cubs placed outfielder Jason Heyward on the injured list with no designation and selected left-handed pitcher Brandon Hughes from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday

MAY 17, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Brandon Hughes - Rises to majors The Cubs selected Hughes' contract from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday.

Impact Chicago freed up a spot on the 40-man roster for Hughes by placing Jason Heyward on the COVID-19-related injured list and opened up room for the southpaw in the bullpen by optioning Connor Menez to Triple-A Iowa. A 16th-round draft pick out Michigan State in 2017, Hughes had yet to allow a run while striking out 22 and holding opponents to an .091 average through 16.2 innings at Iowa. The Cubs are likely to deploy him in lower-leverage spots initially.

MAY 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE