CHICAGO CUBS NEWS

Mychal Givens - Blows save but earns win Givens (2-0) allowed two runs on two hits in an inning of work but managed to earn the win Wednesday against the Padres. He struck out two.

Impact Givens allowed two solo home runs in the seventh inning and was charged with his second blown save of the season, but the righty earned the win when the Cubs scored twice in the top of the eighth. With David Robertson on the injured list for undisclosed reasons, which fits the pattern teams have used when a player lands on the COVID-19 injured list, it was Rowan Wick who saw end-game work Wednesday. The situation could be fluid until Robertson returns, but it appears that Givens will set up Wick.

MAY 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Rowan Wick - Earns second save Wick worked around two hits to log two scoreless innings and earn the save Wednesday against the Padres. He struck out two.

Impact Regular closer David Robertson hit the injured list Monday for undisclosed reasons, which fits the pattern teams have used when a player lands on the COVID-19 injured list. Wick appears to be next in line, as he saw the first save opportunity in the former's absence. Robertson has been lights out this year with a 1.50 ERA, though Wick has also been stellar, as he now has a miniscule 0.77 ERA and 14 strikeouts across 11.2 innings to go along with two saves. It looks like both relievers should have fantasy value the rest of the way, though Robertson is the preferred option as long as he's seeing the bulk of the save chances.

MAY 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Willson Contreras - Goes deep in victory Contreras went 2-for-3 with a solo homer, three runs and a walk in the victory over the Padres on Wednesday.

Impact Contreras launched a solo shot off Nick Martinez in the first inning and later singled and walked, coming around to score in both instances. He now has four long balls on the season and two in his last five games. The catcher has notched four multi-hit performances in his last five contests, raising his average from .227 to a team-best .304 over that stretch. Contreras continues to operate as one of the best fantasy catchers in 2022, producing a .304/.413/.522 slash line with 10 RBI and 19 runs over 92 at-bats in 25 games this year.

MAY 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Nico Hoerner - Battling ankle sprain Hoerner was diagnosed with a right ankle sprain Wednesday after X-rays came back negative, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Impact Manager David Ross said Hoerner may require a couple days off but isn't expected to require a trip to the injured list. The 24-year-old exited Wednesday's contest with the injury and will have Thursday's scheduled off day to aid in his recovery before Friday's series opener in Arizona.

MAY 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Keegan Thompson - Lasts four frames in start Thompson pitched four innings, giving up two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out one in Wednesday's win over the Padres. He did not factor into the decision.

Impact Thompson was called upon to make his first start of the season Wednesday, surrendering one run in the first inning and then another one on an Eric Hosmer solo homer in the second frame. The 27-year-old has now allowed five runs over his last four appearances after tossing 13.2 scoreless innings to open the season. Thompson will likely return to his typical bullpen role following the start and he now holds a 1.67 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 22 strikeouts over 27 innings in 2022.

MAY 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Rivas' key hit vs hometown Padres lifts Cubs to 7-5 win

Alfonso Rivas hit a tiebreaking two-run single against his hometown team in the eighth inning, and the banged-up Chicago Cubs beat the San Diego Padres 7-5

MAY 11, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Marlins use 8-run ninth to blow past Diamondbacks 11-3

Jacob Stallings hit a key single, and the Miami Marlins used an eight-run ninth inning to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 11-3

MAY 11, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pitching matchups for the Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Chicago Cubs series at Chase Field The pitching matchups for the Arizona Diamondbacks' series against the Chicago Cubs at Chase Field this weekend.

MAY 11, 2022 • AZCENTRAL.COM

Cubs SS Nico Hoerner Leaves Game After Colliding With Umpire The shortstop has right ankle soreness and will be further evaluated after the game.

MAY 11, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Cubs SS Nico Hoerner Leaves Game After Colliding With Umpire The shortstop has right ankle soreness and will be further evaluated after the game.

MAY 11, 2022 • SACBEE.COM

Hoerner (ankle) exits after running into ump SAN DIEGO -- The Cubs have put at least one player on the injured list for four straight days. As if that wasn’t testing their depth enough,...

MAY 11, 2022 • MLB.COM

'The world we're living in': MLB, Cubs still navigating COVID-19 challenges The Cubs are also dealing with a spike in ankle injuries.

MAY 11, 2022 • SUNTIMES.COM

Cubs SS Hoerner leaves game after colliding with umpire

Chicago Cubs shortstop Nico Hoerner has exited a game against the San Diego Padres with a sore right ankle an inning after colliding with second base umpire Dan Iassogna in center...

MAY 11, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nico Hoerner - Managing right ankle soreness Hoerner exited Wednesday's game against the Padres due to right ankle soreness, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Impact The 24-year-old initially remained in Wednesday's game after colliding with an umpire, but he was removed in the bottom of the second inning and will be further examined. If Hoerner is forced to miss additional time, Ildemaro Vargas should see an uptick in playing time.

MAY 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Nico Hoerner - Exits Wednesday's matchup Hoerner was removed from Wednesday's game against the Padres in the bottom of the second inning due to an apparent injury, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Impact Hoerner collided with an umpire in the bottom of the first inning and was initially able to remain in the game. However, he struck out in the top of the second and was replaced at shortstop by Ildemaro Vargas in the bottom of the inning. The nature and severity of Hoerner's injury aren't yet clear, but he'll have a day to rest before Friday's series opener in Arizona.

MAY 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

How to watch Cubs vs. D-backs FREE on Apple TV+ Friday night’s game between the Cubs and the D-backs -- which will pit D-backs starter Zach Davies, in the midst of an excellent season, aga...

MAY 11, 2022 • MLB.COM

Mark Leiter Jr. - Back in big leagues The Cubs recalled Leiter from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday.

Impact Leiter, who posted a 7.84 ERA and 1.74 WHIP in 10.1 innings over four appearances (three starts) during a two-week stint with the big club in April, will be rejoining the Cubs as a reliever ahead of Wednesday's series finale in San Diego. Keegan Thompson is scheduled to start Wednesday, but since he hasn't worked more than four innings in any of his appearances this season and is pitching on three days' rest, Leiter could be needed to cover multiple innings behind him.

MAY 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Sean Newcomb - Goes on IL with ankle injury The Cubs placed Newcomb on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with a left ankle sprain, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Impact According to Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times, Newcomb picked up the ankle injury while shagging flyballs in the outfield during batting practice Sunday. Since being acquired from Atlanta on April 20, Newcomb has made just three appearances out of the Chicago bullpen, working 3.1 innings while giving up three earned runs.

MAY 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Ed Howard - Heading to injured list Howard will be placed on the 7-day minor-league injured list with a hip injury Wednesday, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.

Impact Howard fell awkwardly in Tuesday's game at High-A South Bend, and he'll be forced to sit out at least a week due to his hip issue. The 20-year-old had a bit of a slow start to the season but hit .320 with a home run, eight RBI, seven runs and three stolen bases over his last 14 games.

MAY 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Sahadev Sharma: Source confirms that Cubs shortstop prospect Ed... - The Athletic Source confirms that Cubs shortstop prospect Ed Howard will head to IL with a hip injury. Howard fell awkwardly last night after hustling to...

MAY 11, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Rafael Ortega - Gets another leadoff look Ortega will start in right field and bat leadoff in Wednesday's game against the Padres.

Impact Ortega will pick up his third start in four games after he went 2-for-4 with a run and a stolen base in Tuesday's 5-4 loss to the Padres. The Cubs will have room for both Ortega and Frank Schwindel in the lineup for Wednesday's series finale, but one of the two will likely lose out on regular at-bats once Seiya Suzuki (ankle) is back to full strength.

MAY 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Jonathan Villar - Filling in for injured Madrigal Villar will start at second base and bat ninth in Wednesday's game in San Diego.

Impact With Nick Madrigal (back) landing on the 10-day injured list Tuesday, Villar looks set to step in as the Cubs' everyday second baseman, at least in the short term. However, Andrelton Simmons (shoulder) is in the midst of a rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa and could be activated from the IL within the next few days, at which he and Nico Hoerner -- who starts at shortstop Wednesday -- could serve as the Cubs' primary middle infielders.

MAY 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Seiya Suzuki - Remains out of lineup Suzuki (ankle) isn't starting Wednesday against the Padres.

Impact Suzuki was scratched from Tuesday's lineup due to right ankle soreness, and he'll remain out of the starting nine for a second straight game. Rafael Ortega will start in right field while Frank Schwindel serves as the designated hitter.

MAY 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Keegan Thompson - Starting Wednesday Thompson will draw the start Wednesday against the Padres, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Impact Chicago has elected to give Thompson his first start of the season Wednesday, allowing Drew Smyly to get two more days of rest before he's expected to go Friday against the Diamondbacks. The 27-year-old has appeared in seven games this year out of the bullpen, compiling an impressive 1.17 ERA and 0.96 WHIP with 21 strikeouts in 23 innings. Thompson hasn't worked more than four innings in any appearance this season and is pitching on three days' rest, so even if he fares well in Wednesday's start, he may struggle to work deep enough into the contest to qualify for a win.

MAY 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Padres and Cubs meet to decide series winner

Both the San Diego Padres and the Chicago Cubs are looking for a series win with a victory on Wednesday

MAY 11, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS