RAFAEL ORTEGA NEWS

Gets breather Wednesday Ortega isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Phillies.

Impact Ortega has started against only seven southpaws this year, and he'll head to the bench with left-hander Ranger Suarez on the mound for the Phillies. Patrick Wisdom, Ian Happ and Alfonso Rivas will start in the outfield from left to right.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Wisdom, Rivas homer as Cubs beat fading Phillies 6-3

Patrick Wisdom and Alfonso Rivas hit back-to-back homers for the Chicago Cubs in a 6-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies

SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hits triple Sunday Ortega went 2-for-4 with a triple and a run scored in Sunday's loss to the Giants.

Impact Ortega didn't do much aside from hitting a triple and putting up his first multi-hit game since Sep. 4, when he recorded three hits against the Pirates. He's only hitting .225 with a .712 OPS across 42 plate appearances this month and has struggled to make much of an impact across most fantasy formats, partially due to a lack of consistency at the plate. He has gone hitless in six of his 11 games during September.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Miley goes 7, Castellanos and India homer as Reds stop Cubs

Wade Miley pitched seven effective innings, Nick Castellanos homered and the Cincinnati Reds got a sorely needed victory, topping the Chicago Cubs 4-3

SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Heads to bench Ortega is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Reds.

Impact Ortega has cooled off recently after some surprisingly strong performances to start the second half, hitting .175/.230/.368 over his last 15 games. Ian Happ will slide to center field Tuesday, with Patrick Wisdom moving out to Happ's usual spot in left field and Matt Duffy taking Wisdom's place at third base.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Schwindel's grand slam lifts Cubs over Pirates 11-8

Frank Schwindel hit a go-ahead grand slam, Matt Duffy homered twice, including a grand slam, and the Chicago Cubs outslugged the Pittsburgh Pirates for an 11-8 win

SEPTEMBER 5, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Three hits in win Ortega went 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI in Saturday's 7-6 win over Pittsburgh.

Impact The outfielder provided a clutch hit in the Cubs' ninth-inning rally, plating Sergio Alcantara with a game-tying RBI single. Ortega was in a slump prior to Saturday, going 7-for-45 across his last 12 games before the three-hit effort. He's now slashing .299/.353/.486 with nine home runs, 30 RBI, 29 runs scored and eight stolen bases through 234 plate appearances.

SEPTEMBER 5, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Schwindel, Cubs rally in 9th, top Pirates, 5th win in row

Rookie Frank Schwindel hustled hard and sprawled for an RBI single that capped a three-run rally with two outs in the ninth inning, lifting the Chicago Cubs over the Pittsburgh Pir...

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Takes seat Friday Ortega is on the bench for Friday's game against the Pirates, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Impact Ortega went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI on Thursday, raising his average to .175 with three home runs and 10 RBI in the last 10 games. Michael Hermosillo is playing center field and batting leadoff Friday.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Slugs ninth home run Ortega went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run in a 6-5 win over Pittsburgh on Thursday.

Impact Acting as the leadoff hitter, Ortega slugged his ninth home run of the season Thursday tying the game in the seventh inning. The 30-year-old outfielder continues his career-best season slashing .293/.350/.481 across 213 at-bats.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Brault scheduled to start for Pittsburgh against Chicago

The Pirates will start Steven Brault on Friday and the Cubs are expected to counter with Alec Mills

SEPTEMBER 3, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Schwindel homers, Cubs shut down Twins hitters in 3-0 win

Frank Schwindel hit a three-run homer and a pair of Chicago Cubs pitchers combined on a two-hitter in a 3-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins

SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Luis Robert homers twice as White Sox pound Cubs 13-1

Luis Robert homered twice, Dylan Cease tied a career high with 11 strikeouts and the Chicago White Sox pounded the Chicago Cubs 13-1

AUGUST 29, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Slugs grand slam Saturday Ortega went 1-for-4 with a grand slam and a walk in Saturday's 7-0 victory versus the White Sox.

Impact Ortega broke open what had been a two-run game with a fourth-inning grand slam off Lance Lynn. The long ball was his second in the past four games and pushed his total to eight on the season. Ortega is enjoying his strongest big-league campaign, slashing .297/.357/.479 across 211 plate appearances.

AUGUST 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Patrick Wisdom's 2 home runs and Rafael Ortega's grand slam power the Chicago Cubs past the White Sox 7-0 in the City Series For the second straight night, the Chicago Cubs jumped out to a big lead in the City Series. This time, there would be no epic rally from th...

AUGUST 29, 2021 • CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM

Patrick Wisdom, Alec Mills lead Cubs past White Sox 7-0

Patrick Wisdom backed Alec Mills with two more homers and the Chicago Cubs beat the Chicago White Sox for the first time this season, winning 7-0

AUGUST 29, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

On bench Friday Ortega will be on the bench Friday against the White Sox.

Impact The 30-year-old still owns a surprisingly strong .298/.356/.458 slash line through 72 games this season, though he's gone cold at the plate over his last six games, grabbing just two hits. Michael Hermosillo starts in center field in his absence.

AUGUST 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Steals home in loss Ortega went 1-for-5 with a stolen base in Game 2 against the Rockies on Wednesday night.

Impact Ortega swiped home as part of a double steal that gave the Cubs a 5-2 lead in the second inning. It was the eighth stolen base (13 attempts) this season for Ortega, who is hitting just .204 over his last 15 games.

AUGUST 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Marquez expected to start for the Rockies against Cubs

The Rockies will start German Marquez on Wednesday while the Cubs are expected to counter with Zach Davies

AUGUST 25, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Steele scheduled to start for Chicago against Colorado

The Cubs will send Justin Steele to the mound Tuesday and the Rockies plan to give German Marquez the start

AUGUST 24, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cubs top Rockies to end 13-game Wrigley Field losing streak

Rafael Ortega hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning and the Chicago Cubs ended their longest home losing streak with a 6-4 win over the Colorado Rockies on Mond...

AUGUST 24, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Smashes walkoff home run Ortega went 1-for-4 with a walk, a two-run home and two runs scored in Monday's win over the Rockies.

Impact Ortega's seventh home run of the year was of the walkoff variety, as he took Daniel Bard deep in the bottom of the ninth inning with a runner on to give the Cubs a 6-4 win. Ortega has excelled for Chicago, slashing .306/.365/.483 across 70 games. The sample size looks large enough to think that the 30-year-old has earned a role heading into 2022 after being something of a journeyman before this season.

AUGUST 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Collects two hits, two runs in win Ortega went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored in Wednesday's win over the Reds.

Impact Ortega has settled in as a solid leadoff hitter for the Cubs, as he's now slashing .329/.389/.506 across 66 games this season. The 30-year-old outfielder hadn't been able to find sustained success at the MLB level before this year, but he's making a strong case to be a part of Chicago's plans in 2022.

AUGUST 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Depleted Cubs quiet playoff-contending Reds again, win 7-1

Michael Hermosillo homered for the first time since 2018 and the Chicago Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-1

AUGUST 18, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Day off Monday Ortega will sit Monday against the Reds.

Impact The 30-year-old journeyman has been a rare bright spot in Wrigleyville this season, emerging from obscurity to hit .327/.382/.506 in 63 games. Johneshwy Fargas will take his place in center field Monday.

AUGUST 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE