Chicago Cubs Minor League Report: Steele Whiffs Five Over Two Innings In Latest Rehab Outing

Chicago Cubs Minor League Report (September 19)

Affiliate Overview

Triple-A Iowa Cubs
Series at Omaha Storm Chasers (Kansas City Royals): Cubs lead, 3-0
Season Record: 62–81-1

Double-A Knoxville Smokies
2026 Season Record: 73-64

High-A South Bend Cubs
2026 Season Record: 77–51

Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans
2026 Season Record: 50–77

Triple-A: Iowa Cubs

Season Record: 62–81-1
Series Opponent: Omaha Storm Chasers (64-80)
Series Standing: Lead, 3-0

Sept. 18: The Iowa Cubs swept their doubleheader on Friday at the Omaha Storm Chasers, winning the opener, 2-1, and the nightcap, 10-2. The sweep pushed their winning streak to four games, their longest such streak since also winning four-straight from Aug. 26-29, also against the Storm Chasers.

Game 1: The Cubs earned a 2-1 victory in their doubleheader opener, claiming a third-straight win. Chas McCormick (0-for-3) brought in a run with a groundout in the first and Austin Wynns (1-for-2) doubled the lead with a solo shot in the second, his first homer of the season. Justin Steele started on the mound for the I-Cubs and spun two scoreless frames, firing five strikeouts and walking just one. Grant Kipp followed in relief and would eventually pick up the win, improving to 4-0 on the year, thanks to three innings of one-run ball, giving up one hit, walking one and punching-out three. The Storm Chasers would score their lone tally of the contest in the fourth inning but Tyler Ferguson would keep them off the board over the final 1 1/3 innings to pick up his third save of the campaign and give Iowa the lead.

Game 2: Iowa earned a 10-2 game in the doubleheader nightcap to push their winning run to four games and claim a series win. The Cubs took a 2-0 lead in the fourth thanks to an RBI-single from Jordan Nwogu (2-for-4) and an RBI-double from Jackson Cluff (1-for-3). Omaha pulled a run back in the fifth but the Cubs answered with eight in the sixth to take a 10-2 lead. Chas McCormick (2-for-4) doubled in a run and later scored on a pick-off error. Ben Cowles (2-for-3) singled in one and Hayden Cantrelle (0-for-3) drew a walk with the bases loaded two batters later. BJ Murray (1-for-3) put the exclamation point on the frame with a grand slam, upping his home run total to 17 and his RBI total to 72. The Storm Chasers would add a tally in the seventh to make it 10-2. Braxton Garrett got the start on the mound for Iowa and earned the win, improving to 7-6 on the year. Garrett allowed one run on five hits over five innings of work, walked five and struck out six.

Double-A: Knoxville Smokies

2026 Season Record 73-64

The Knoxville Smokies' season came to an end on Thursday following a 13-3 defeat to the Rocket City Trash Pandas in Game 2 of the Southern League Division Series. The Smokies finished the regular season with a 73-64 record, the second-best mark in the league.

High-A: South Bend Cubs

2026 Season Record: 77–51

The South Bend Cubs season came to an end on Sept 11, falling to the Quad City River Bandits in game 2 of the Midwest League Division Series. The Cubs finished the regular season with a 77-51 record, a league best mark.

Single-A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans

2026 Season Record: 50–77

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans’ season came to an end on September 4 after both of their contests on September 5 and September 6 were rained out. The Pelicans finished the 2026 season with a 50-77 record.

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