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  • MLB Notes

    Read quick notes on the Chicago Cubs big league club, including injuries, lineup changes and roster moves.

    80 rumors in this category

      Brian Kelder

      Iowa Cubs reporter Tommy Birch broke the news Tuesday that the Cubs are adding LHP Luke Little and RHP Ryan Rolison to their active roster. With Hunter Harvey (triceps) and Phil Maton (knee) on the shelf, and recently recalled Charlie Barnes unavailable due to pitching three innings of mop-up work, the Cubs' bullpen was in need of fresh arms. 

      The 6-8 LHP Little has struggled with command in Triple-A Iowa, currently sporting a 1.96 WHIP paired with a 4.70 ERA. He has struck out nine batters in seven innings on the mound, but 10 walks in that time frame seem to indicate that he's slated for mop-up duty in Chicago.

       

      Rolison has a slightly lower 3.68 ERA, but a higher WHIP at 2.00. Walks are his bugaboo; he has six walks in just seven innings pitched. Rolison does have ten strikeouts, so maybe he can corral his electric stuff in Chicago.

      Steve Drumwright

       

      As injuries continue to hit the pitching staff, the Chicago Cubs continue to bring in help from wherever they can find it.

      The Cubs on Wednesday claimed right-hander Bryse Wilson off waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies. Right-handed reliever Christian Roa was designated for assignment to make room for Wilson on the 40-man roster. A move regarding the 26-man roster will need to be made once Wilson reports to the Cubs.

      Wilson was designated for assignment by the Phillies on Monday. The Cubs are approaching desperation mode after two more starting pitchers went on the 15-day injured list before Wednesday's doubleheader against the New York Mets in Edward Cabrera and Ben Brown. The good news is left-hander Matthew Boyd is set to come off the 15-day IL and rejoin the rotation Thursday.

      Wilson made just one appearance with the Phillies, pitching two scoreless innings in Saturday's 6-4 loss to the Mets.

       

      Matthew Lenz

      The Chicago Cubs will have some work to do to rebuild their rotation for the 2026 season after the announcement of an option decision on one of their top starting pitchers.

      Jesse Rogers of MLB.com is reporting that  "the [Cubs] rejected their option to extend [Shota Imanaga's] contract out to a fifth year. That triggered his ability to exercise a $15 million player option for 2026. He declined that as well." He will now become a free agent after two seasons with the club, though they could make a $22 million qualifying offer in the lefty.

      Limited to 25 starts in 2025, Imanaga posted a 3.73 ERA (4.86 FIP) and a 16.% K-BB rate due to a low strikeout rate. He walked opposing hitters at an impressive 4.6% clip. These numbers were all down from an impressive rookie season that earned him an All-Star appearance, as well as Rookie of the Year and Cy Young votes.

      The biggest difference in his two seasons was the effectiveness of his fastball. A pitch that accrued a Run Value (RV) of +4 in 2024, accumulated an RV of -10 last season. While opponents hit just .227 off the pitch, they slugged .567 and had a .356 wOBA against the offering, including an astonishing 24 home runs. This was coupled with less effective secondary offerings, particularly his split finger, whose RV was cut in half from 2024 to 2025.

      Despite his struggles, this announcement strengthens the otherwise weak upcoming free-agent starting pitcher class a bit. Do you think the Cubs should try to bring Imanaga back? Let us know in the comments!

      Steve Drumwright

       

      One step forward and one step back for the Chicago Cubs' pitching staff.

      Right-handed starter Jameson Taillon was activated from the 15-day injured list to start for the Cubs in Monday's opener of a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers. Right-hander Aaron Civale was also formally added to the 26-man roster after being designated for assignment by the A's and traded to the Cubs on Saturday.

      The bad news comes in the form of right-handed reliever Phil Maton going back on the 15-day IL with tendinitis in his right knee. This is his third trip to the IL with the same knee issue. Also, left-hander Drew Pomeranz was designated for assignment.

      Taillon has been out since going on the IL June 9 with a strained left hamstring. He spent the last two weeks on a rehab assignment. The Cubs' rotation has been besieged by injuries, one reason for the addition of Civale, who had a 5.42 ERA in 16 games for the A's. Entering Monday's start, Taillon has 6.31 FIP (5.19 ERA) with an 8% walk rate and 20.6% strikeout rate.

      Maton has been a fairly reliable reliever before this season. In addition to the constant knee ailments, he has posted a 5.49 FIP (6.18 ERA) in 31 games and 27⅔ innings. His walk rate (11.8%) and strikeout rate (22.8%) are way down from last year, when he posted marks of 8.9% and 36.7%.

      Pomeranz was signed to a minor-league contract June 22 after being released by the Los Angeles Angels on June 18. After being called up July 3, Pomeranz had a 9.45 FIP (7.94 ERA) in 5⅔ innings over six appearances.

       

      Andrew Wright

      The National League Gold Glove finalists have been announced and unsurprisingly, the Chicago Cubs lead the pack with six finalists. On the surprising side, Dansby Swanson is not one of those six.

      • Nico Hoerner, 2B
      • Matt Shaw, 3B
      • Ian Happ, LF
      • Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF
      • Carson Kelly, C
      • Matthew Boyd, SP

      Hoerner will be looking for his second Gold Glove Award in the last three seasons. He led second basemen in nearly every single defensive category, and he is the resounding favorite to win the hardware.

      Happ has won the award each of the previous three seasons and that is unlikely to change again this season. Happ would become the first Cubs left fielder to ever win four straight Gold Glove Awards at the position.

      The remainder of the group will all be looking for their first ever Gold Glove. We all know the defensive brilliance shown from Shaw and Crow-Armstrong this season. Kelly was excellent behind the plate this season and Boyd leading MLB in pickoffs certainly put him in position to win the award for the first time in his career.

      As things stand, Hoerner, Happ, Crow-Armstrong, and potentially Boyd appear to be favorites at their respective positions. Patrick Bailey (catcher) and Ke'Bryan Hayes (3B) will make it virtually impossible for Kelly and Shaw to win, however.

      The winners at each position will be announced Sunday, Nov. 2 on ESPN.

      Steve Drumwright

       

      After making a handful of moves before Tuesday's series opener against the Colorado Rockies, the Chicago Cubs tacked on another in what has been a revolving door in the bullpen.

      The Cubs placed Trent Thornton on the paternity list and called up fellow right-handed reliever Tyler Ferguson from Triple-A Iowa. Thornton can be away from the club for up to three days for the birth of his child.

      Thornton has a 5.30 FIP (1.69 ERA) in 12 appearances and 16 innings. He has a rather high 11.3% walk rate and a very below average 9.7% strikeout rate.

      Ferguson is up for the second time this season with Chicago, but has yet to make his Cubs debut. He was acquired from the A's on May 7 after he had been designated for assignment after giving up four runs in 1⅓ innings against the Philadelphia Phillies. He had been called up last week, but didn't pitch and was optioned back to Iowa.

       

      Brandon Glick

      The Padres are in town, and the Cubs are looking to get their first playoff win at Wrigley Field since 2017.

      The team has officially released its playoff roster, and there's not a ton of surprises, save for the presence of rookies Kevin Alcantara and Moises Ballesteros.

      Catchers (2): Carson Kelly, Reese McGuire

      First base (1): Michael Busch

      Second base (1): Nico Hoerner

      Shortstop (1): Dansby Swanson

      Third base (1): Matt Shaw

      Designated hitter (1): Moisés Ballesteros

      Outfielders (5): Kevin Alcántara, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Kyle Tucker

      Utility (2): Willi Castro, Justin Turner

      Starters (3): Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon

      Relievers (9): Aaron Civale, Brad Keller, Andrew Kittredge, Daniel Palencia, Drew Pomeranz, Colin Rea, Taylor Rogers, Michael Soroka, Caleb Thielbar

      Ballesteros should get some playing time against right-handers, though don't expect Alcantara to do much other than potentially sub in as a defensive replacement late in games.

      What do you think of the Cubs' playoff roster? Are you surprised by any decisions made by Craig Counsell and the front office?

      Bryan Jaeger

      The Cubs selected Kade Snell at #151 in the 2025 MLB Draft. Snell is a left fielder at the University of Alabama. The slot value for this pick is $465,400. 

      Here's what MiLB.com says about Snell:

      "Recruited by Auburn as a left-handed pitcher, Snell redshirted while dealing with injuries in 2021 before transferring to Wallace-Dothan (Ala.) CC and starring as a two-way player. The national junior college player of the year in 2023, he played both ways at Alabama in 2024 before becoming a full-time left fielder this spring. He's one of the more attractive discount hitters available as a Southeastern Conference performer with intriguing data and also no college eligibility remaining.

      Snell offers one of the better combinations of swing decisions, contact, and exit velocities in the college ranks. He has a quality left-handed stroke, rarely misses a fastball while handling all types of pitches, and drives the ball to all fields. While he's a hit-over-power guy, he has enough strength to provide 15 homers per year and perhaps more if he learns to lift balls in the air more regularly.

      While Snell will flash close to average speed at his best, he's more of a below-average runner with limited range in left field. He has an average arm and topped out at 93 mph with his fastball as a redshirt junior. Scouts love his competitiveness and leadership, and his all-star summer with wood bats in the Cape Cod League in 2023 is another point in his favor."

      Last season, Snell hit .363/.464/.575 with 10 home runs, 49 runs, and 52 knocked in. He has good plate vision, drawing 38 walks while only 18 strikeouts over 261 plate appearances. The lefty is a contact hitter primarily, but has the lift and exit velocity to produce runs. 

      What do you think of the pick? Add your thoughts in the comments.

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The experiment of using left-hander Jordan Wicks in the starting rotation did not go well to say the least. Thus, Wicks is headed back to the minors.

      The Chicago Cubs on Tuesday optioned Wicks back to Triple-A Iowa and called up right-hander Tyler Ferguson from Iowa.

      Wicks lasted just 6⅓ innings in his two starts since being called up, allowing 11 runs on 13 hits with one walk and six strikeouts. That resulted in a 15.63 ERA.

      Ferguson was acquired from the A's on May 7 after being designated for assignment. He made just one appearance for the A's this year, giving up four runs in 1⅓ innings in a 9-1 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on May 5. At Triple-A Iowa this year, he pitched in six games covering 7⅔ innings, walking five and striking out five for a 3.52 ERA. He has appeared in 105 games with the A's over the last three seasons with a 4.47 ERA with a 12.6 walk rate and 25.4 strikeout rate.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The Chicago Cubs have decided that Moises Ballesteros needs a reset.

      The 22-year-old designated hitter was optioned Thursday to Triple-A Iowa by the Cubs. A move to fill Ballesteros' spot on the 26-man roster will need to be made before Friday's series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays at Wrigley Field.

      Ballesteros has a slash line of .231/.303/.385 with six homers and 23 RBIs in 59 games. Those numbers would be better had it not been for an awful month of May, where he slashed .102/.206/.153 with just six hits in 59 at-bats. His June has been better at .231/.286/.269, already matching his hit total for May in 26 at-bats.

      The left-handed hitter was thought to be an offensive star in the making after making his MLB debut last year and putting up a .298/.394/.474 slash line, hitting two homers and driving in 11 in 20 games. But that has not been the case and the Cubs, at 39-36 and 7½ games behind the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers, decided it was time for Ballesteros to restore some confidence in the minors.

       

      Paul Niemiec

      The Chicago Cubs have signed former Astros outfielder Chas McCormick to a minor-league contract with an invite to Spring Training, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic.

      McCormick was outrighted off the Astros roster following the 2025 season where he missed nearly 2 months with a left oblique strain. He appeared in 64 games at the Major League level and slashed .210/.279/.290 with a -1.0 WAR. For the second straight season, McCormick appeared in fewer than 100 games while posting a negative WAR. 

      McCormick is nothing more than an outfield depth flier for the Cubs. The soon-to-be 31 year old looked like a late-blooming star in 2023 when he hit .273 with 22 home runs, 19 stolen bases, and an .842 OPS; all while playing above average defense across the outfield. As it stands, McCormick will be competing for a backup outfielder role with top prospect Kevin Alcantara and newly acquired Justin Dean, who are both on the 40 man roster. 

      Brock Beauchamp

      The Cubs added depth by signing 32-year-old right-handed pitcher Spencer Turnbull. He will be assigned to the minor leagues to ramp back up after being released by Toronto in late June.

      In 2024 with Philadelphia, Turnbull threw 54 1/3 innings of 2.65 ERA/3.85 FIP baseball, with a career-best 26.1% strikeout rate. Last season, Turnbull leaned on his new sweeper (about one-third usage), which held hitters to .145 AVG/.226 SLG and a 30.8% whiff rate. In very limited 2025 use (only 28 sweepers thrown), the results were poor.

      Things have unraveled for Turnbull in 2025, with his brief stop in Toronto showing negative run value on almost all of his pitches. Turnbull, once a starter with decent velocity (93.8 mph fastball in 2021 with the Tigers), has seen his velo drop consistently and sat at just 90.9 mph with the Blue Jays early this year.

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      Steve Drumwright

      The big storm hitting the northeast has caused MLB to make another change to the weekend schedule, this one being the most dramatic.

      After rescheduling Sunday's game to part of a Friday doubleheader, MLB announced after Game 1 of that twinbill that Saturday's final game of the series, pending the completion of Friday's doubleheader, will be played at Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. All of the games that day will start at 3:05 p.m.

      While the Red Sox have secured the AL's second wild card and thus the No. 5 seed, the Cubs' position in the postseason is still not clear. After losing the opener Friday 4-3, the Cubs are 1½ games behind the San Diego Padres for the top NL wild card. The Cubs, who already clinched a playoff spot, are also just a half-game ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies, who host the Rays in a three-game series. The Padres, who clinched Thursday, are hosting the Arizona Diamondbacks in their final regular-season series. The Phillies lead the D'backs by two games for the final berth in the NL playoff field.

      Steve Drumwright

       

      As expected, the Chicago Cubs' starting rotation took one final hit before free agency begins.

      Right-hander Clay Holmes declined his $12 million player option for 2027 and officially became a free agent. Holmes faced a 4 p.m. CT deadline Monday to make a decision. Also, right-hander Colin Rea and left-hander Caleb Thielbar had their mutual options declined, also making them free agents. Free agency opens across MLB after 4 p.m.

      Holmes was one of the Cubs' big additions at the trade deadline, coming over from the New York Mets along with outfielder Tyrone Taylor for prospect infielder Jefferson Rojas. Holmes was widely expected to be just a rental as his second season as a starter after converting from a relief role had gone pretty well, making him attractive in free agency. The Cubs will be in the mix to retain Holmes' services.

      With the Cubs, Holmes made nine starts, posting a 4.09 FIP (4.25 ERA) over 48⅔ innings. That was worse than what he showed this year with the Mets, also in nine starts before sustaining a fractured left leg on a comebacker. He had a 3.21 FIP (2.39 ERA) over 52⅔ innings. His walk rate and strikeout rate got worse when he came to the Cubs. With the Mets, his walk rate was 8.4% and his strikeout rate was 20.9%, then 11.8% and 16.2% with the Cubs.

      Rea made 19 starts and 15 relief appearances over 137 innings, putting up a 4.80 FIP (4.34 ERA), walking 8% and striking out 17.2% of batters faced.

      In 50 innings this year, Thielbar had 58 outings with a 4.70 FIP (4.86 ERA) to go along with an 8.5% walk rate and 28.3% strikeout rate.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      Perhaps now we know why Hunter Harvey was struggling in the early stages of the season.

      The Chicago Cubs' right-handed reliever was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to right triceps inflammation. Left-handed reliever Charlie Barnes was promoted from Triple-A Iowa and added to the 40-man roster, which had an open spot.

      Today's roster moves presented by @NuveenInv:

      [image or embed]

      — Chicago Cubs (@cubsbot.bsky.social) April 12, 2026 at 9:10 AM

      Harvey becomes the eighth pitcher to go on the IL this year. Signed to a one-year, $6 million contract with an option for 2027, Harvey has appeared in four games with a 8.37 FIP (6.75 ERA), allowing three runs, including two homers, with one walk and four strikeouts in four innings. He last appeared in a game Wednesday, facing the minimum three batters while giving up a hit in the ninth inning to finish off a 6-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

      Barnes is back in the majors for the first time since 2021 with the Minnesota Twins. He made three appearances, one start, at Iowa and posted a 2.38 ERA in 11⅓ innings. Barnes gave up three runs on eight hits, but did walk eight while striking out 14. He made nine appearances for the Twins five years ago with a 5.92 ERA, then spent the next three seasons with Lotte of the Korea Baseball Organization.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      With five players from MLB's best fielding team up for NL Gold Gloves, the Chicago Cubs came away with two being honored.

      Center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and third baseman Alex Bregman each won their second Gold Glove on Sunday. Left fielder Ian Happ, right fielder Seiya Suzuki and shortstop Dansby Swanson were also up for the top defensive honor at their position. For Happ, his streak of four consecutive Gold Gloves was snapped by Jackson Chourio of the World Series champion Milwaukee Brewers.

      Crow-Armstrong, widely expected to win his first NL MVP award this year, has now won back-to-back Gold Gloves after leading MLB in outs above average with 26. He also led MLB center fielders with 393 putouts, while also committing an MLB-worst six errors for a .985 fielding percentage. Crow-Armstrong ranked sixth among outfielders with 10 defensive runs saved.

      Bregman, who also won in 2024 with the Houston Astros, led NL third basemen with 251 assists and 30 double plays, while committing six errors in 335 chances for a .982 fielding percentage. He is only the second third baseman in club history to win a Gold Glove, joining Ron Santo, who won five straight from 1984-68.

      The Cubs led MLB with a .990 fielding percentage, making just 61 errors. 

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The Porter Hodge situation took a dramatic turn Wednesday.

      The right-handed reliever, who has appeared in 75 games over the past two seasons, will have surgery on the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow next week, manager Craig Counsell said before Wednesday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies. That would put most if not all of next season in jeopardy for Hodge.

      Counsell said Hodge, who began throwing again April 4 after being shut down early in spring training, recently had a setback that led to the decision to have the procedure, which will take place Monday. Right-handed starter Cade Horton is slated to have his UCL reconstruction surgery Thursday.

      The 25-year-old Hodge made his MLB debut in 2024 and had a fantastic year. In 39 appearances, Hodge compiled a 1.88 ERA and converted nine of 12 save opportunities. His 2025 was almost the opposite of his rookie year as Hodge's ERA blew up to 6.27 in 36 games, including two saves in five chances.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      Right fielder Seiya Suzuki is making his much-anticipated return to the Chicago Cubs' lineup Friday.

      Suzuki was activated from the 10-day injured list following his sprained right posterior cruciate ligament during the World Baseball Classic while playing for Japan. Outfielder Dylan Carlson was designated for assignment.

      Today's roster moves presented by @NuveenInv:

      [image or embed]

      — Chicago Cubs (@cubsbot.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 9:50 AM

      The Cubs also made a move in their bullpen, putting right-hander Phil Maton on the 15-day IL with tendinitis in his right knee and calling up Ethan Roberts from Triple-A Iowa.

      Suzuki will be a welcome addition to a Cubs offense that entered Friday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates with a .680 OPS, which ranked 14th in MLB. He is coming off a 2025 in which he slashed .245/.326/.478 with career highs of 32 homers and 103 RBIs.

      Carlson signed a minor-league contract in January and made the club out of spring training primarily due to Suzuki's injury. But Carlson appeared in just three of 12 games, going 0-for-4 with a run scored and two strikeouts. If he clears waivers, it is possible that he reports to Triple-A to remain in the organization.

      Maton had struggled in his five appearances, posting a 13.50 ERA in four innings with four walks and five strikeouts. Roberts is back for his second stint with the Cubs this season after being the extra player for Sunday's doubleheader, getting the final two outs of the 6-5 loss to the Cleveland Guardians.

       

      Matthew Nethercott

      FanSided announced the finalists for the Silver Slugger Awards on Thursday, honoring the top hitters at each position. Three Chicago Cubs, along with the team itself, were named finalists, and all of them have a real shot to win.

      The first is presumed NL MVP Pete Crow-Armstrong. In 2026, Crow-Armstrong posted a 157 wRC+ with 45 home runs and 107 RBIs. If he’s going to win MVP, he should take home a Silver Slugger too. Remember, the outfield is given just three awards, regardless of position.

      Last offseason, the Cubs shocked the baseball world by bringing Alex Bregman to Chicago. After a slow start, Bregman finished with a 128 wRC+, 28 home runs and 93 RBIs. He caught fire in the second half, ranking among the best third basemen in baseball, and has a solid shot to win.

      Seiya Suzuki, now a free agent, is also a finalist. Suzuki was one of the best hitting outfielders in baseball in 2026, posting a 134 wRC+ with 26 home runs and 86 RBIs. He'll have to overcome some stiff outfield competition which includes Crow-Armstrong, Jackson Chourio, and James Wood.

      The Cubs are also up for the team award after finishing as the top offense in the sport in terms of runs scored. They posted a team 114 wRC+ and a .428 slugging percentage, four points better than any other squad.

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The Chicago Cubs have their closer back.

      Right-hander Daniel Palencia was activated from the 15-day injured list Sunday, with right-handed reliever Yacksel Rios being designated for assignment. Palencia had been out since April 17 with a strained left lat.

      The Cubs' pitching staff has been decimated by injuries, but the team has still put together the best record in the NL Central at this early stage of the season at 21-12 entering Sunday's action. The Cubs still have nine pitchers on the injured list.

      Today’s roster updates presented by @NuveenInv:

      [image or embed]

      — Chicago Cubs (@cubsbot.bsky.social) May 3, 2026 at 8:20 AM

      Palencia's return fortifies the bullpen. He had yet to allow a run in five appearances when he went down, walking two and striking out five in five innings.

      Rios was called up a week ago Sunday and made just one appearance, going 1⅔ scoreless innings that day against the Los Angeles Dodgers, striking out two.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      For the second time this season, the Chicago Cubs are down their closer.

      Right-hander Daniel Palencia was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday by the Cubs with inflammation in his right elbow. Right-handed reliever Gavin Hollowell was called up from Triple-A Iowa.

      Palencia went on the 15-day IL on April 16 with a mild strain of his left oblique. It was a short stay there as he returned to the Cubs on May 3. Palencia appeared in Monday's game, pitching the ninth inning of the Cubs' 5-4 walk-off victory over the Colorado Rockies. He walked one and struck out three.

      The 26-year-old has a 3.46 FIP (2.70 ERA) in 19 games and 16⅔ innings, with a walk rate of 8.5% and a strikeout rate of 26.8%.

      Hollowell is up for the second time this season. In a one-day call-up, he appeared in the May 7 game against the Cincinnati Reds, pitching 1⅔ innings, giving up two runs on two hits, including a homer, with four walks and a strikeout. In 15 games at Iowa this year, he has a 3.63 ERA with 14 walks and 27 strikeouts in 17⅓ innings.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

       

       

      Following a month on the sidelines, the Chicago Cubs are getting a key player back for the final nine games of the regular season.

      Shortstop Dansby Swanson was activated from the 10-day injured list Friday by the Cubs, who optioned infielder B.J. Murray back to Triple-A Iowa.

      Swanson went on the IL Aug. 17 with a strained left oblique. While a terrific defender, Swanson has been disappointing this season offensively, putting up a .216/.300/.404 slash line with 18 homers and 66 RBIs. He returns to the Cubs as they are tied for the top NL wild-card spot with the Philadelphia Phillies. The Cubs open a three-game road series against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday, then finish against the Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field and then travel to Atlanta for the final three games of the regular season. The Phillies, meanwhile, are in a four-game road series against the New York Mets, then have three-game home series against the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays, the probable No. 1 seeds in the NL and AL, respectively.

      The Cubs and the Phillies are also just one game ahead of the San Diego Padres, who hold the No. 3 NL wild card, four games ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

      Murray was called up when rosters expanded Sept. 1, but has only played in seven games and gone 1-for-11 (.091) at the plate.

       

       

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      It was a double dose of bad news for the Chicago Cubs on Monday.

      Shortstop Dansby Swanson was placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained left oblique, while right-handed starter Edward Cabrera only lasted one game before going back on the 15-day IL with a blister on his right middle finger. Infielder Owen Miller had his contract selected from Triple-A Iowa, with right-hander Javier Assad and outfielder Kevin Alcantara called up from the I-Cubs. Infielder James Triantos was optioned to Iowa, while right-handed closer Daniel Palencia was transferred from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL in a paperwork move to get Miller on the 40-man roster. Palencia has already spent 60 days on the IL.

      Swanson could miss the rest of the regular season with the oblique injury. He sustained the injury during a swing in the third inning of Sunday's 11-4 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. It is a huge blow to the Cubs. Swanson is a terrific defender and has contributed 18 homers offensively, even if his slash line sits at a disappointing .216/.300/.404.

      Cabrera had come off the IL to start Sunday following a strained left hamstring that had kept him out since June 24. He lasted just 3⅔ innings vs. the Cardinals, allowing seven runs on six hits and three walks with two strikeouts. He had the middle finger bandaged after the game.

      Miller has spent the entire season at Triple-A, putting up a .296/.350/.457 slash line with nine homers and 57 RBIs in 96 games.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The Chicago Cubs are ready to see what the Drew Pomeranz experience in 2026 is like.

      The Cubs on Friday selected the left-hander from Triple-A Iowa and sent left-hander Jordan Wicks to Triple-A Iowa.

      Pomeranz, who pitched for the Cubs last year, was released by the Los Angeles Angels on June 18 and scooped up by the Cubs four days later. With the Angels, Pomeranz had a 6.33 FIP (5.01 ERA) in 23⅓ innings over 25 relief appearances to go along with an 11.1% walk rate and 14.8% strikeout rate, all notably worse than his 2025 numbers with the Cubs. He also gave up five homers with the Angels.

      In 57 games with the Cubs last year, Pomeranz had a 3.36 FIP (2.27 ERA) with a 7.4% walk rate and 28.1% strikeout rate. His career rates are 10% and 24%.

      After beginning the season on the 15-day injured list, Wicks has been with the Cubs twice now, appearing in four games, starting twice and getting saves in the other two. He has pitched 10⅓ innings and posted a 10.45 ERA with two walks and eight strikeouts.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The Chicago Cubs have brought back Edward Cabrera, but his role will be different down the stretch than anticipated when he was acquired in the offseason.

      The right-hander was activated from the 15-day injured list Saturday by the Cubs, who placed right-handed reliever Trent Thornton on the 15-day IL with a sprained left ankle.

      Cabrera was expected to be a big part of the Cubs' rotation this season, but has battled a couple of injuries this year. The latest one was a blister on his right middle finger, the second time that has sidelined him this year. He also missed time with a strained left hamstring. That has limited him to 15 starts this season. But with the Cubs' bullpen a mess and only two-plus weeks left in the regular season, Cabrera will be put in the bullpen, a role he has filled just twice in 104 career games. He pitched in relief during his rehab assignment.

      Cabrera has a 5.21 FIP (5.68 ERA) in 76 innings, with a 9.7% walk rate and 20.4% strikeout rate.

      Thornton's move is more precautious even though the timing of a postseason race is bad. Thornton's left foot is the same one he tore his Achilles last year. The earliest he could return is the final game of the regular season. He has posted a 5.21 FIP (3.35 ERA) in 48 appearances and 48⅓ innings with a 8.7% walk rate and 15.8% strikeout rate.

       

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