Cubs' Justin Steele: Can't keep ball in park Saturday
Rotowire
Steele escaped with a no-decision in Saturday's 10-9 loss to the Pirates, surrendering six runs on six hits -- including three home runs -- and two walks over four innings. He struck out three.
Making just his third start of the season after missing all of April with a hamstring strain, Steele served up homers to Connor Joe and Oneil Cruz in the third inning and Michael Taylor in the fourth, but he got taken off the hook for the loss thanks to a seven-run fifth by the Cubs. Steele has yet to complete five innings in an outing and threw just 74 pitches (53 strikes) Saturday, but he should begin to get stretched out further as he puts the injury further behind him. Steele will take a 4.73 ERA and 11:4 K:BB through 13.1 innings into his next start, which lines up to be a rematch with the Pirates back in Wrigley Field next week.
Taillon (back) will not start Sunday's game in Pittsburgh, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Taillon had to be scratched from a scheduled start Friday due to back stiffness. He had hoped to take the ball Sunday after throwing off a mound Saturday, but while the mound session went well, he's not quite ready. It's not clear at this point when Taillon might be ready to make his next start, but there does seem to be optimism he can avoid the injured list.
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Cubs' Kyle Hendricks: Starting Sunday in Pittsburgh
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Hendricks (back) will rejoin the Cubs' rotation on Sunday in Pittsburgh, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Hendricks had been slated to make one more rehab start, but Jameson Taillon (back) isn't quite ready to start Sunday so Hendricks will take the ball that day for the big club instead. The veteran hurler has been sidelined for the last three weeks with a lower-back strain but pitched well in two rehab outings, allowing three runs with a 13:3 K:BB in 9.1 frames. Hendricks held a woeful 12.00 ERA in five starts before getting injured, so fantasy mangers certainly need to see something positive before entrusting the righty.
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Cubs' Christopher Morel: Exits with right knee injury
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Morel was removed from Saturday's game versus the Pirates in the fifth inning with right knee soreness, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Morel looked to hurt the knee on a stolen base attempt in the top of the third inning. He remained in the game initially but was removed for a pinch-hitter following a rain delay. The Cubs could have more on Morel's condition after the game.
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Cubs' Jose Cuas: Recalled from Triple-A
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Cuas was recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Cuas, who has given up eight earned runs in six MLB innings through five appearances this year, should work in low-leverage situations. He has 17 strikeouts and a 4.32 ERA in 8.1 innings at Triple-A
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Cubs' Yency Almonte: To IL with shoulder strain
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Almonte was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a right shoulder strain, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
He didn't recover well from his last outing Tuesday against the Padres and there is no timeline for his return, per manager Craig Counsell. Almonte has a 3.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 20 strikeouts, one win and one save in 15.2 innings through 17 appearances.
Brown (1-1) tossed 3.2 scoreless innings of relief to earn the win in Friday's 7-2 victory over the Pirates. He allowed two hits and a walk while striking out six.
Starter Javier Assad got the hook after 4.1 innings and 89 pitches, which opened the door for Brown to provide some valuable long relief. The 24-year-old was sharp as he recorded a season- and career-best six strikeouts, and the rookie picked up his first MLB win in the process. Brown's fantasy value is limited in his long-relief role, but he's pitched well so far as a rookie, compiling 33 strikeouts across 31.1 innings and posting a 3.73 ERA. The upside is there in the long term.
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Cubs' Ian Happ: Productive in Friday's win
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Happ went 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Friday's 7-2 win over the Pirates.
Happ is off to a bit of a slow start this season, as he's batting just .231 overall with a .661 OPS, but he's been better in May. The outfielder is batting .281 this month with a .707 OPS. What's keeping him from really taking off is a lack of power. Happ is still stuck on just one home run through 36 games after clubbing 21 long balls last year.
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Cubs' Kyle McGowin: Signs MiLB deal with Cubs
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McGowin signed a minor-league contract with the Cubs on Friday.
McGowin posted a 7.40 ERA and 1.47 WHIP across 62 innings with Houston's Triple-A affiliate last season. He signed with the Charleston Dirty Birds of the independent Atlantic League during the offseason and will now return to affiliated ball in an effort to pitch in the majors for the first time since 2021. The 32-year-old righty will report to Double-A Tennessee.
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Cubs' Javier Assad: Lasts 4.1 innings vs. Pittsburgh
Rotowire
Assad didn't factor into the decision Friday against the Pirates, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out four.
After the Pirates scored twice in the first inning, Assad delivered 3.1 scoreless frames before he was ultimately pulled after 89 pitches (53 strikes). The 26-year-old hasn't allowed more than one earned run in five straight starts, and he's 3-0 with a 1.70 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 35:14 K:BB across 42.1 innings this season. The Mexican-born right-hander is currently slated for a road matchup with Atlanta in his next outing.
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Cubs' Cody Bellinger: Four hits, homer in win
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Bellinger went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a solo home run and an additional run scored in Friday's 7-2 victory over the Pirates.
Bellinger opened the scoring in the first inning, launching a solo shot off an 0-2 pitch from Jared Jones to give the Cubs an early lead. The 28-year-old Bellinger is now 7-for-13 with a pair of home runs in three games since returning from the IL. Overall, he's slashing .268/.345/.536 with seven homers, 19 RBI and 13 runs scored through 25 games this season.
Cubs' Jameson Taillon: Dealing with back stiffness
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Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that Taillon was scratched from Friday's start against the Pirates due to back stiffness, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Taillon felt his back tighten up Tuesday when playing catch, and it didn't improve in time for him to make his scheduled start in the series opener. Counsell noted that the right-hander's back issue is not as bad as the one he dealt with in spring training, which caused Taillon to start the season on the 15-day IL. He will be re-evaluated Saturday, and there's a chance he could take the mound Sunday. Javier Assad will start Friday while Justin Steele will get the nod Saturday.
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Cubs' Seiya Suzuki: Comes off injured list
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Suzuki (oblique) was activated from the 10-day injured list Friday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Suzuki's activation comes at a good time for the Cubs' offense, which just lost Dansby Swanson (knee) to the 10-day IL. Suzuki made two rehab appearances at Triple-A Iowa, going 2-for-5 with a pair of runs and a stolen base. He'll likely return to his usual DH role, which could mean fewer opportunities for Patrick Wisdom.
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Cubs' Dansby Swanson: Placed on 10-day IL
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Swanson (knee) was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday, retroactive to May 8, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Swanson missed Wednesday's game against the Padres with knee soreness stemming from an awkward slide that occurred April 25, and the injury has now been deemed a right knee sprain. Nico Hoerner slotted in at shortstop Wednesday while Miles Mastrobuoni got the start at second base -- a lineup that could become the norm while Swanson sits. The shortstop will be eligible to return May 18.
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Cubs' Jameson Taillon: No longer starting Friday
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Taillon won't start Friday in Pittsburgh, as the Cubs list Javier Assad as their starter for the series opener versus the Pirates, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
The late change perhaps hints that Taillon may be tending to an injury. The decision to have Assad take the hill for the series opener instead wouldn't seem to be the result of any dissatisfaction with Taillon's performance, as the 32-year-old has opened his second season with the Cubs with a 3-0 record, 1.13 ERA and 0.88 WHIP over 24 innings. Justin Steele will take the hill on four days' rest to start Saturday, while the Cubs are listing their starter for Sunday's series finale as "TBA." More clarity on Chicago's plans for Sunday -- as well as when Taillon might next pitch -- could come prior to Friday's contest.
Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Suffers first loss Wednesday
Rotowire
Wesneski (2-1) allowed three runs on seven hits across six innings to take the loss Wednesday against the Padres. He walked one and struck out three.
Wesneski pitched well enough, logging his second straight quality start in the process, but he got no run support in the 3-0 loss. The righty now has a strong 1.59 ERA overall, though it remains to be seen if he'll stick in the rotation moving forward. Justin Steele (hamstring) just returned from the injured list Monday, and Kyle Hendricks (back) could return in the near future, possibly as soon as May 17 following a rehab start over the weekend. For now, Wesneski is slated to start again Tuesday against Atlanta, but he may shift to a long-relief role after that.
