RAFAEL ORTEGA NEWS

On bench for fourth straight Ortega remains out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cardinals.

Impact With Christopher Morel emerging as Chicago's everyday center field and Jason Heyward and Clint Frazier having settled into a platoon in right field while Seiya Suzuki (finger) is on the injured list, Ortega looks like he doesn't have a path to regular playing time in the Cubs outfield. He'll be on the bench for a fourth consecutive game Thursday.

JUNE 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Sits against lefty Ortega is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Brewers.

Impact The lefty-hitting Ortega will be on the bench for the second straight game, with his benching Tuesday coming with a southpaw (Eric Lauer) on the hill for the opposition. Clint Frazier will draw the start in right field Tuesday, but both he and Ortega could see their opportunities take a hit if Jason Heyward (illness) is cleared to return from the COVID-19-related injured list in the near future. Seiya Suzuki's (finger) move to the IL on Monday creates an opening in right field, but Heyward could end up sliding over from center to replace Suzuki. Christopher Morel has served as the primary option in center while Heyward has been on the shelf and has thus far performed too well for the Cubs to take him out of the lineup.

MAY 31, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Out for Game 2 Ortega is not in the lineup for the second game of Monday's doubleheader against the Brewers.

Impact Ortega started the first game in center, going 3-for-4 with a solo home run, his second of the season, and two runs scored. The outfielder will return to the bench for Game 2, with Clint Frazier, Ian Happ and Nelson Velazquez playing the outfield from left to right, and Frank Schwindel serving as the DH against Milwaukee lefty Aaron Ashby. Ortega should still start frequently against righties.

MAY 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Brewers take 2 from Cubs, Taylor HRs in both, Ashby fans 12

Tyrone Taylor homered in both games, Aaron Ashby struck out a career-high 12 in the nightcap and the Milwaukee Brewers swept a doubleheader from the Chicago Cubs 7-6 and 3-1, Luis...

MAY 30, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Steals base in loss Ortega went 1-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base in a 5-4 loss Sunday against the White Sox.

Impact Ortega singled in the second and walked, stole second and scored in the seventh. It was his fourth stolen base in eight attempts. While the lefty is not producing at the same level as his breakout season a year ago, he has found ways to get on base in large part due to a career-best 14.4 percent walk rate. He continues to be solely a platoon bat with 92.4 percent of his plate appearances coming against right-handed pitching.

MAY 29, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Burger gets game-winning hit as White Sox beat Cubs 5-4

Jake Burger atoned for a costly error with a game-ending RBI single in the 12th inning, and the banged-up Chicago White Sox topped the Chicago Cubs 5-4 in a wild finale to the seas...

MAY 29, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

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

Not in Saturday's lineup Ortega isn't starting Saturday against the Diamondbacks.

Impact Ortega started in the last six games and went 4-for-19 with a homer, two runs, two RBI, four walks and eight strikeouts. However, he'll get a breather while Christopher Morel starts in center field and bats seventh.

MAY 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

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

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

Starts, but role likely to decrease Ortega will start in center field and bat ninth in Monday's game against the Pirates.

Impact After slugging his first home run of the season and extending his RBI streak to three games in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Diamondbacks, Ortega sticks in the lineup Monday for the fifth time in six contests. Now that Seiya Suzuki (ankle) is back in action after a recent multi-game absence, Ortega will likely be the odd man out in the Cubs outfield for a regular role against right-handed pitching.

MAY 16, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Schwindel's go-ahead hit in 9th lifts Cubs over Arizona

Frank Schwindel hit a tiebreaking single in the ninth inning and the Chicago Cubs beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2

MAY 15, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gomes hits HR, go-ahead single to lift Cubs over D-backs 4-2

Yan Gomes hit a solo homer and added a go-ahead single in the ninth inning to lift the Chicago Cubs over the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-2

MAY 15, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Not starting Saturday Ortega will sit Saturday against the Diamondbacks.

Impact Ortega started the last three games in right while while Seiya Suzuki was battling an ankle issue. With Suzuki back in the lineup Saturday, Ortega returns to the bench.

MAY 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Marte has 3 hits to lift Diamondbacks over Cubs 4-3

Ketel Marte had three hits and drove in a run, Zach Davies pitched effectively into the sixth inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Chicago Cubs 4-3

MAY 14, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

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

Machado, Padres beat Cubs 5-4 in Clevinger's return

Manny Machado hit a go-ahead double in the sixth inning and the San Diego Padres beat the Chicago Cubs 5-4 hours after finding out manager Bob Melvin will have prostate surgery

MAY 11, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Not starting against lefty Ortega will sit Monday against San Diego, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Impact Ortega has been on the bench against every lefty the Cubs have faced this season, a trend that continues here against MacKenzie Gore. Willson Contreras will rest his legs as the designated hitter, while Yan Gomes starts behind the plate.

MAY 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Scores lone run Sunday Ortega went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and a run scored in Sunday's 7-1 loss to the Dodgers.

Impact Ortega led off and supplied one of the Cubs' four hits, including the team's only extra-base effort. The 30-year-old hasn't done much offensively this season with a .208 batting average and .613 OPS, which is a far cry from the .291 average and .823 OPS he registered in 2021. Ortega also has to contend with Jason Heyward and several others for playing time, so he's not the most reliable fantasy asset at the moment.

MAY 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Remains on bench Ortega will sit Tuesday against the White Sox.

Impact Ortega began the year in what appeared to be a clear platoon role, as he's yet to start against a lefty this season but was in the lineup against 14 of the first 15 righties the team faced. He sat against right-hander Corbin Burnes on Sunday and remains on the bench Tuesday against another righty in Michael Kopech, so it's possible he's slipping into a bench role. Given his .204/.304/.286 slash line, that may be deserved. Frank Schwindel will be the designated hitter Tuesday, while Alfonso Rivas starts at first base.

MAY 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting again Sunday Ortega is not in the lineup for Sunday's game at Milwaukee.

Impact Ortega sat against southpaw Eric Lauer on Saturday, and he'll remain on the bench Sunday despite the fact righty Corbin Burnes is pitching for the Brewers. Frank Schwindel will serve as the designated hitter while Alfonso Rivas starts at first base.

MAY 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Not starting Saturday Ortega will sit Saturday against Milwaukee.

Impact Ortega has sat against every lefty the Cubs have faced this season while starting against all but one righty. With southpaw Eric Lauer on the mound for the Brewers, Ortega will hit the bench, with Willson Contreras resting his legs as the designated hitter as Yan Gomes takes over behind the plate.

APRIL 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Out against lefty Ortega is not in Tuesday's lineup against Atlanta.

Impact He heads to the bench with lefty Max Fried starting for Atlanta. Yan Gomes is starting at designated hitter and batting sixth.

APRIL 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Doubles twice Sunday Ortega went 2-for-5 with two doubles and a run scored in Sunday's loss to the Pirates.

Impact Ortega found some success as the leadoff hitter Sunday with his second and third doubles of the season. The 30-year-old has been seeing regular time as the DH and No. 1 hitter for the Cubs, though he's been scuffling a bit with a .205 batting average and .577 OPS. Better days could be ahead as long as he holds onto the playing time and prime lineup position.

APRIL 25, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Peters shines as Pittsburgh Pirates beat Chicago Cubs 4-3

Dillon Peters keyed a solid performance by Pittsburgh’s bullpen and Kevin Newman had two hits to help the Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs 4-3

APRIL 24, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS