Chisholm homers as Marlins beat reeling Cubs 4-1
Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Jesús Aguilar homered, and the Miami Marlins handed the Chicago Cubs their 11th straight loss with a 4-1 victoryAUGUST 15, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
RAFAEL ORTEGA #27 - CENTER FIELDER - CHICAGO WHITE SOX
0 HR •
1 RBI •
.071 AVG
0 HR
1 RBI
.071 AVG
Marlins rally late extend Cubs' losing streak to 10
Magneuris Sierra hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning, and the Miami Marlins beat the reeling Chicago Cubs 5-4AUGUST 15, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Marlins tie team mark with 11-run inning; Cubs 9th L in row
Bryan De La Cruz hit a grand slam and Alex Jackson added a three-run homer as the Miami Marlins tied a team record by scoring 11 times in the second inning during a 14-10 win over...AUGUST 14, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Receives breather Friday Ortega is not in the lineup Friday against the Marlins.
Impact Ortega started the past 16 games and hit a blistering .421/.476/.684 with four home runs, 10 RBI, 11 runs and four stolen bases during that stretch, and he'll receive a well-earned day off in Miami. Johneshwy Fargas will take over in center field for the Cubs in the series opener.
AUGUST 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Burnes fans 10 straight to tie record, Brewers rip Cubs 10-0
Milwaukee right-hander Corbin Burnes struck out 10 consecutive batters, tying the major league record and leading the Brewers past the Chicago Cubs 10-0AUGUST 12, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Three hits in Tuesday's matinee Ortega went 3-for-4 in a 4-2 loss to the Brewers during the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader.
Impact The 30-year-old did his job as the leadoff hitter, but the depleted Chicago lineup behind him couldn't bring him around to score. Ortega has started 13 straight games and produced multi-hit performances in seven of them. batting a blistering .428 (21-for-49) over that stretch with three doubles, four homers, three steals, nine RBI and 11 runs.
AUGUST 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Brewers score 6 in 5th, beat Cubs 6-3 for DH sweep
Luis Urías had two hits during a six-run, fifth-inning rally as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Chicago Cubs 6-3 Tuesday night to complete a doubleheader sweepAUGUST 10, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Stays hot with two hits, steal Ortega went 2-for-4 with a stolen base Sunday in the Cubs' 9-3 loss to the White Sox.
Impact The 30-year-old journeyman outfielder probably won't be a cornerstone piece for the Cubs as they embark on a rebuild, but he's been a nice find off the scrap heap in an otherwise disappointing season for the North Siders. Since getting his minor-league contract selected from Triple-A Iowa in late May, Ortega has gone from serving as a lightly used fourth or fifth outfielder to playing everyday as the Cubs' leadoff man. With an incredible .394/.449/.662 slash line to go with four home runs and four steals since the All-Star break, Ortega has given manager David Ross no reason to move him off the table-setting role.
AUGUST 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
White Sox sweep Cubs at Wrigley as Jiménez drives in 5 runs
Eloy Jiménez drove in five runs with two home runs and a double, and the Chicago White Sox beat the crosstown Cubs 9-3 for their first sweep of a three-game series at Wrigley Field...AUGUST 9, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rodón strikes out 11, White Sox blank Cubs 4-0
Carlos Rodón struck out 11 in five stellar innings, Cesar Hernandez and José Abreu hit back-to-back home runs and the Chicago White Sox blanked the Chicago Cubs 4-0AUGUST 7, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Reaches base three times Ortega went 2-for-4 with an RBI, a run scored and a walk Thursday against the Rockies.
Impact Ortega extended his hitting streak to seven games, four of which have been multi-hit efforts. He's also slugged four home runs in that stretch -- three came in one game -- to go along with nine RBI and 10 runs scored. Ortega has served as the team's primary leadoff hitter since July 21 and should be locked into regular playing time until the close of the campaign.
AUGUST 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Still here: Story homers twice, Rockies beat Cubs 6-5
Trevor Story hit two home runs, including a go-ahead two-run drive in the fifth inning, and the Colorado Rockies hung on to beat the Chicago Cubs 6-5AUGUST 5, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wisdom's 3-run double lifts Cubs over Rockies, 3-2
Patrick Wisdom hit a three-run double to back a solid outing from Alec Mills and lead the Chicago Cubs past the Colorado Rockies 3-2AUGUST 5, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hits three home runs Ortega went 4-for-4 with three home runs and five RBI in Sunday's loss to the Nationals.
Impact Ortega had himself a career day, as he drove in all of the Cubs' runs in the 6-5 defeat. The outfielder has emerged with a regular role, and with Chicago trading away Kris Bryant and Jake Marisnick before the deadline, Ortega should have an even firmer grip on playing time. He has six home runs and a .918 OPS through 50 games and is worth fantasy attention while he plays at a high level as a starter.
AUGUST 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Rafael Ortega's 3 home runs power the Chicago Cubs offense, but the Washington Nationals win 6-5 on a walk-off homer in the 9th WASHINGTON — Chicago Cubs outfielder Rafael Ortega put on a show Sunday afternoon at Nationals Park.
AUGUST 1, 2021 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM
Hernandez's HR in 9th gives Nats 6-5 win over Cubs
Yadiel Hernandez’s solo shot in the ninth inning — his second homer of the day — gave the Washington Nationals a 6-5 victory over the Chicago CubsAUGUST 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Leads charge in Saturday's win Ortega went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run, a second run scored and a stolen base in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Nationals.
Impact Getting the start in center field and hitting in the leadoff spot, Ortega capped a four-run fourth for the Cubs with his blast off Joe Ross. The 30-year-old outfielder has been on a tear since the All-Star break, slashing .378/.429/.578 through 16 games, and he should remain a lineup regular over the final two months despite his career .623 OPS in 565 big-league plate appearances given the Cubs' lack of credible options right now.
AUGUST 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Alzolay expected to start for the Cubs against Nationals
The Cubs will start Adbert Alzolay on Sunday and the Nationals are expected to counter with Erick FeddeAUGUST 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hendricks earns majors-best 13th win as Cubs beat Nats 6-3
Kyle Hendricks earned his major league-leading 13th victory, Rafael Ortega homered and the Chicago Cubs beat the Washington Nationals 6-3AUGUST 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Records two hits Friday Ortega went 2-for-4 with a double, a run, an RBI and two strikeouts in Friday's 4-3 loss to the Nationals.
Impact The 30-year-old had been splitting time with Ian Happ in the outfield recently, but he could see more regular playing time after Kris Bryant was traded to the Giants on Friday. Ortega has reached base safely in each of the last four games, and he's gone 5-for-14 with two doubles, three runs, an RBI and two walks during that time.
JULY 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Nationals defeat Cubs 4-3 after both sell off at deadline
Josh Bell and Luis García homered, and the Washington Nationals defeated the Chicago Cubs 4-3 to cap a day when both franchises completed trade deadline teardownsJULY 31, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Six-game starting streak ends Ortega is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.
Impact Ortega will sit for the first time since July 18, ending a streak of six straight starts during which he went 7-for-19 with a triple, a walk, an RBI and a stolen base. He appears to have worked his way into a timeshare in the outfield with Ian Happ, but both players will head to the bench Sunday with a lefty (Caleb Smith) on the hill for Arizona.
JULY 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Records RBI triple, stolen base Ortega went 2-for-3 with a triple, RBI, stolen base and caught stealing as Chicago lost 3-2 to St. Louis on Wednesday.
Impact Batting leadoff, Ortega singled and stole second in the first and slapped an RBI triple in third but was caught stealing home. The 30-year-old has come out of the All-Star break hot, going 6-for-13 with three extra-base hits, though he now has just three thefts on the bases compared to four times being caught.
JULY 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Gets leadoff nod Ortega will start in center field and bat leadoff Wednesday against the Cardinals.
Impact With Kris Bryant () on the bench, Ortega will remain in the lineup for the third straight game. Manager David Ross will shift catcher Willson Contreras down one spot in the order and give Ortega a look in the table-setting role, but the 30-year-old's career .292 on-base percentage makes him ill-fitted for those duties.
JULY 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Contreras, Cubs rally for 4-2 victory over Diamondbacks
Willson Contreras capped Chicago’s three-run ninth inning with a two-run homer, sending the Cubs to a 4-2 victory over the lowly Arizona DiamondbacksJULY 17, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
