Billy Reich

Cubs Affiliate Overview (September 20 – September 21) Triple-A Iowa Cubs Series vs. Toledo Mud Hens (Detroit Tigers): Loss 1-5 2025 Season Record: 74-75 Double-A Tennessee Smokies 2025 Season Record: 69-67 High-A South Bend Cubs 2025 Season Record: 56-75 Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans 2025 Season Record: 68-60 ; Lost Divisional Series 0-2 Triple-A Iowa Cubs Season Record: 74-75 Series Opponent: Toledo Mud Hens (Detroit Tigers) Series Standing: Loss 1-5 September 20: The Cubs were smothered by the Mud Hens on Saturday, dropping the penultimate game of the season 4-2. Starter Jaxon Wiggins picked up just his second loss in Triple-A after giving up three runs in four innings. While it’s uncharacteristic of Wiggins to give up runs like that in a shortened outing, it was his walks that bit him. He pitched exceedingly well on the day, but he walked the first two batters of the game before failing to locate his pitch to the third and giving up a three-run home run with no outs to start the first inning. He settled in quickly after the early mistakes, allowing zero runs, two hits, and six strikeouts for the rest of his outing. Still, the early damage was too much for what has been an extraordinarily sluggish offense for Iowa lately. Daniel Palencia made his rehab start after suffering a shoulder injury against the Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field on 9/7. His return to action brought more of the inconsistency he’s displayed at the Major League level lately. He went ⅔ of an inning, striking out two in spectacular fashion, but he also gave up two hard hits, putting his team in a position to make mistakes. One of those runners would ultimately score on an error and put the game further out of reach. It’ll be interesting to see what the Cubs do with Palencia who hasn’t made three consecutive scoreless appearances since not allowing a run at all from June 26 to August 1, a run where he made 12 appearances and cemented himself as "La Gasolina". The offensive woes continued for Iowa who put up two runs on seven hits. Both runs came in the fifth inning already down 4-0. James Triantos would take home player of the game honors, going 2-for-4 with a home run to break the scoring drought. Nicky Lopez (1-for-4) would cut the deficit to two with an RBI chopper up the middle. That’s about all Iowa could muster in the game as they would go silent the rest of the game. A common thread that’s plagued the team these last two weeks. September 21: The Iowa Cubs were crushed by the Mud Hens 7-2 in what would become a statement loss. The Cubs finished their season losing seven of their last eight games and crushing all postseason momentum they had. Starter Will Sanders was tuned up to the sound of three earned runs off of six hits and a home run in just 3 ⅔ innings pitched. Sanders finished what had once appeared to be his breakout season with a 6.38 ERA while picking up the loss. The offense once again struggled to make a serious impact as they put up just two runs on five hits to go with their 12 team strikeouts. Iowa couldn’t get any runs on the board until they were already in a late game hole, a common theme in their end of season slide. There were still a few bright spots to finish off the season. Ed Howard (1-for-3) finished off his season with his second Triple-A hit -- a two-run double in the seventh inning to avoid the shutout. Miguel Amaya was also back in the lineup today, his fourth start for Iowa on a rehab assignment. He went 0-for-3 on the day, but he’s eyeing a potential return to the Major League club as an impact depth piece. It’ll be interesting to see what the Cubs do, as replacement Reese McGuire has a .528 slug and .791 OPS in his last 30 days in the majors. Regardless of where Amaya finishes the season, seeing him back in action after the brutal scene of him being carted off the field in Toronto on August 13 is a win. Iowa would falter down the stretch this season, but we’ve seen some pretty impressive graduations, top prospect performances, and pitch lab arms that can make an impact in the future. Double-A Knoxville Smokies 2025 Season Record: 69-67 The Knoxville Smokies did not make the playoffs. High-A South Bend Cubs 2025 Season Record: 56-75 The South Bend Cubs did not make the playoffs. Low-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans 2025 Season Record: 68-60 ; Divisional Series 0-2 Myrtle Beach’s season ended after being swept in the divisional playoff series on September 11. Notable Promotions / Injury Notes Chicago Cubs recalled LHP Jordan Wicks from Iowa Cubs Chicago Cubs optioned RHP Eli Morgan to Iowa Cubs Chicago Cubs optioned RHP Porter Hodge to Iowa Cubs Chicago Cubs sent RHP Daniel Palencia on a rehab assignment to Iowa Cubs Iowa Cubs activated SS Jaylen Palmer Iowa Cubs activated C Casey Opitz Iowa Cubs transferred RHP Walker Powell to the Development List View full article

Cubs Affiliate Overview (September 13 – September 14) Triple-A Iowa Cubs Series at Indianapolis Indians (Pittsburgh Pirates): Loss 2-4 Season Record: 73-70 Double-A Tennessee Smokies Series at Montgomery Biscuits (Tampa Bay Rays): Win 4-2 Season Record: 69-67 High-A South Bend Cubs 2025 Season Record: 56-75 Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans Regular Season Record: 68-60 ; Lost Divisional Series 0-2 Triple-A Iowa Cubs Season Record: 73-70 Series Opponent: at Indianapolis Indians (Pittsburgh Pirates) Series Standing: Loss 4-2 September 13: The Cubs lost to the Indians on Saturday by a score of 5-2. Jaxon Wiggins made another shortened start, going 2 ⅔, allowing one run on four hits while striking out four batters. Wiggins has continued to look at home in Triple-A in his limited action, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him back at the level to start next season. It’s been a minute, but bullpen games are back in Iowa. Luke Little, Eli Morgan, Ryan Brasier, and Riley Martin combined to pitch 4 ⅓ innings of one run ball in relief. It was veteran Zach Pop who let up most of the damage, giving up three runs on three hits and two walks in his one inning of work. The offense didn’t do nearly enough to pick up the pitching staff, scoring just two runs on five hits. Rafael Morel (0-for-2, two BB) got the Cubs on the board by scoring off a fielding error to bring the deficit to one. Dixon Machado (1-for-3) drove in the team's second run with an RBI single in the eighth to drive in Billy Hamilton. September 14: The Cubs got blanked by the Indians and dropped the series on Sunday with a 4-0 loss. Starter Will Sanders came close to a quality start, pitching five innings and allowing three runs on three hits, adding on four strikeouts and walking none. Despite the decent start, Sanders picked up his third loss of the season as the Cubs weren’t able to get a run on the board. The offense put up just five hits and zero runs in the contest. Carlos Perez (1-for-3, BB) came closest with a double in the third inning, but things were quiet from there. Rafael Morel—who was called up to Iowa last week—put up the only multi-hit performance of the day, going 2-for-3. Double-A Tennessee Smokies Season Record: 69-67 Series Opponent: at Montgomery Biscuits (Tampa Bay Rays) Series Standing: Win 4-2 September 13: The Smokies baked the Biscuits on Saturday, 7-4. Erian Rodriguez took the mound and pitched 4 ⅔ innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, walking two while striking out three. A rocky performance for a surging Rodriguez, but he kept his composure and limited the damage despite the crowded basepaths. Mitchell Tyranski picked up the win for his relief appearance, going 1 ⅓, allowing no runs on just one hit and striking out three batters to stop the bleeding. The offense was efficient, scoring seven runs on seven hits. Jaylen Palmer (2-for-4) set the tone early with a solo home run in the top of the first inning to put the Smokies up 1-0. After going down 2-1, BJ Murray Jr. (1-for-3) scores on a bases loaded walk to tie the game. Andy Garriola (1-for-4) capitalized on the moment, launching a grand slam to left field, putting the Cubs up 6-2. Jordan Nwogu (2-for-4) joined the party in the sixth, homering on a line drive to left field, his third bomb of the season. September 14: The Smokies season came to an end with a 7-3 loss against the Biscuits. Yenrri Rojas struggled, allowing six runs in just four innings of work. He gave up six hits, two walks, and two home runs. He managed to strike out four but left the ball in the zone too often, leading to major damage. Yenrri has made major strides this season, and despite closing out the year on a rough outing, he’ll garner attention to see if he can continue his ascension next season. The offense went just as quietly in the final game, scoring three runs on just two hits compared to their 11 strikeouts. Brett Bateman (1-for-3) scored on a sac fly in the top of the fourth, but the team couldn’t keep the momentum going as they went down 1-5. Andy Garriola (1-for-2) kept his hot streak going, launching a two-run home run in the top of the seventh to make it 3-5. That was the last of the action as the team would ultimately go quietly into the offseason. Unfortunately, despite a much improved second half of ball, the Smokies missed the playoffs. High-A South Bend Cubs 2025 Season Record: 56-75 South Bend’s season ended on September 7th. Low-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans Season Record: 68-60 ; Divisional Series 0-2 Myrtle Beach’s season ended after being swept in the divisional playoff series on September 11. Notable Promotions / Injury Notes CF Billy Hamilton assigned to Iowa Cubs from ACL Cubs Chicago Cubs optioned RF Kevin Alcántara to Iowa Cubs Chicago Cubs recalled RF Owen Caissie from Iowa Cubs Chicago Cubs recalled RF Kevin Alcántara from Iowa Cubs Iowa Cubs activated RHP Will Sanders View full article

Image courtesy of Mascot Hall of Fame The Chicago Cubs are battling for the division and eyeing their first postseason appearance since 2020, but one team in the organization is already prepping for their first postseason game. The Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Chicago’s Low-A affiliate, takes on Kansas City’s Low-A Columbia Fireflies in a best-of-three series beginning on Monday, Sept. 9. 2025 Draft Pick Kane Kepley propels Myrtle Beach to their third postseason since 2022 The Pelicans had a slow start to their season this year, finishing last place in their division in the first half with a 25-39 record, looking like they were going to miss the postseason in consecutive years. They put up a -55 run differential, struggling on both sides of the ball. However, things took a massive turn in the second half, as the team looked completely different than when they started the season. The Pelicans rode hot bats and breakout pitching performances to a 43-21 finish, racking up a +136 run differential. They went a blistering 26-9 against teams over .500 down the stretch, setting themselves up with the experience they need to make a deep postseason run. Just as the team started to come back to earth, they added 2025 second-round pick Kane Kepley, who added a much-needed boost to a team that had been struggling. Kepley played in 28 games, finishing the season with a .914 OPS and 16 stolen bases. The team has also gotten major contributions from rookie Cole Mathis, the Cubs' 2024 second-rounder who just returned from injury to contribute his .738 OPS to the playoff run. They’re also getting huge production from OF Alexey Lumpuy down the stretch. After starting the season slow slow, Lumpuy has come alive at the end of August, slashing .273/.360 /.545, good for a .905 OPS since getting hot near the end of last month. In the last 30 days, Myrtle Beach ranks second in home runs, first in OPS, third in stolen bases, second in RBIs, and first in hits in the Carolina League. Meanwhile, their first-round competition, the Columbia Fireflies, ranks near dead-last in the Carolina League in all of those categories. They’ve slumped heavily since a blistering first half start. The Pelicans' bats are hot, but the pitching is heating up too Hitting is only half the equation—the pitching staff may not be as vaunted in the offense, but they’ve been receiving big performances down the stretch, primarily led by Alfredo Romero in the second half. In the last month, he’s made four starts, putting up a 1.93 ERA while opposing teams are hitting just .145 against him. Kevin Camacho has been a great aid down the stretch as well. He was a late bloomer, but is rocking a 2.40 ERA and 13 strikeouts in his last four starts, keeping opposing hitters to a .145 batting average against him. The Columbia Fireflies have been struggling in the second half, going 28-35 to finish in last place in the division. They won’t be a pushover though, as they just took three out of six against the Pelicans in the last series of the year. Game 1 starts at 7:05pm ET at Pelicans Ballpark in Myrtle Beach, SC. View full article

Image courtesy of © Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Cubs Affiliate Overview (September 6 – September 7) Triple-A Iowa Cubs Series vs. Omaha Storm Chasers (Kansas City Royals): Sweep 6-0 Season Record: 71-66 Double-A Tennessee Smokies Series vs. Rocket City Trash Pandas (Los Angeles Angels): Win 5-1 Season Record: 65-65 High-A South Bend Cubs Series vs. Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Milwaukee Brewers): Split 3-3 Season Record: 56-75 Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans Series at Columbia Fireflies (Kansas City Royals): Lose 2-3 Season Record: 68-60 Triple-A Iowa Cubs Season Record: 71-66 Series Opponent: Omaha Storm Chasers (Kansas City Royals) Series Standing: Sweep 6-0 September 6: The Iowa Cubs kept their streak alive on Saturday as they outran the Storm Chasers 5-3. Jaxon Wiggins made his Triple-A debut for the Cubs as he took the mound to deliver another short but impressive outing against advanced hitters. Wiggins threw three innings, giving up just one run on two hits and struck out four batters. He looked sharp, throwing 46 pitches, with his only blemishes being one walk and a solo home run. Wiggins has rocketed up the Cubs’ system and has morphed from an injury ridden pitcher with relief potential into a bonafide top of the system starting pitching prospect. The offense started hot to give the team a lead and then coasted down the stretch. The team put up nine hits to score five runs, three of which came in the first frame. Jonathan Long (1-for-4, RBI) led off the scoring with an RBI single in the first inning. Dixon Machado (2-for-4, 2 RBIs, 2 BB) follows it up with a two-run single up the middle to make it 3-1 Cubs. Nate Pearson continued his dominance and picked up his seventh save of the season with two strikeouts in the 9th inning to close the game and extend Iowas win streak to eight games. September 7: The Iowa Cubs defeated the Storm Chasers on Sunday 5-3, extending their win streak to nine games and completing the sweep. Veteran Austin Gomber took the mound for the Cubs, pitching five innings of one run ball, allowing six hits and one walk to go with his four strikeouts. The 31-year-old lefty was a steadying force for a surging Cubs team, providing much needed depth late into the season. The offense scored five runs on six hits, managing to get some much needed slug going to lift them past their 14 team strikeouts. James Triantos (1-for-2, 2 RBIs) got the scoring going with a solo home run in the third inning. The Cubs would go long again in the fourth where Carlos Perez (2-for-4, 2 RBIs) would belt his 27th homer of the year to put the team up 2-0. Perez has been a massive veteran success for the Cubs, filling the hole left behind by Miguel Amaya and Reese McGuire to the tune of a team-leading .976 OPS. Perez would do it again in the fifth with an RBI double to tack on the insurance runs and make it 4-1 Cubs. He likely would’ve taken home player of the game honors if it wasn’t for Jordan Wicks dealing in relief. Wicks stole the show by stopping the bleeding and pitching three innings of shutout ball where he struck out three and notched his second save of the season. Double-A Tennessee Smokies Season Record: 65-65 Series Opponent: Rocket City Trash Pandas (Los Angeles Angels) Series Standing: Win 5-1 September 6: The Smokies took out the Trash (Pandas) with an 11-3 win on Saturday. Erian Rodriguez took the bump for Knoxville and has continued his impressive numbers at Double-A, pitching five innings and allowing two runs on six hits while striking out four. It wasn’t as clean as some of his past outings, but he got the job done and boasts a 2.87 ERA against the higher level of competition. It was the offense that stole the show as they put up 11 runs on 12 hits as seven of the nine position players tallied at least one knock. Jordan Nwogu (3-for-5, 3 RBIs) led the team in hits and RBIs as he put together one of his best days at the plate this season. Andy Garriola (3-for-5, 3 RBI) did his best to steal the spotlight from his teammate, driving in three of his own and launching his second home run of the season to give the Smokies a lead that they would run with. September 7: The Smokies took the Trash (Pandas) to the curb once again on Sunday with a 3-1 victory. Yenrri Rojas continues to highlight the ceiling amongst the next crop of pitching talent for the organization as he pitched a gem in his start. He went four innings, allowing just one run on two hits, and struck out five batters, lowering his Double-A ERA to 2.25. Rojas has been a wild success story. After not making it out of rookie ball in 2022 or 2023, he got his first taste of Low-A ball in 2024 where he worked predominantly as a reliever. He started this season back in rookie ball before catapulting himself to Double-A. The offense wasn’t as explosive today as it was yesterday, but it didn’t need to be. They racked up three runs on six hits with most of the damage coming from the top of the lineup. Pedro Ramirez went 2-for-4 and BJ Murray Jr. went 2-for-4 with a double, but it was Pablo Aliendo who stole the show and did all of the damage. With Ramirez and Murray Jr. on the bags, Aliendo launched his 13th long ball of the season to put the Smokies up 3-0, a lead they would hold for the rest of the game thanks to their pitching staff. High-A South Bend Cubs Season Record: 56-75 Series Opponent: Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Milwaukee Brewers) Series Standing: Split 3-3 September 6: The Cubs were bit by the Timber Rattlers, dropping Saturday's game 6-4. Koen Moreno took the mound for the Cubs and pitched a messy three innings, but limited the damage to just one run as he allowed three hits and three walks to go with his four strikeouts. It was reliever Cole Reynolds who picked up the loss after giving up four runs in long relief. He threw 2 ⅓ innings, giving up four runs on three hits, two walks, and a home run. Reynolds advances to 1-3 on the season to go with his 8.31 ERA. The offense was slow out of the gate today, putting up four runs on eight hits. Edgar Alvarez (2-for-3, 2 RBIs) gave the Cubs the lead early thanks to a two run double in the bottom of the third to make it 2-1 Cubs. The Cubs would go down 6-2, but Reginald Preciado (3-for-4, 2 RBIs) would spark some hope late by hitting his third homer of the season to cut the deficit to three. Preciado would add an RBI double in the bottom of the ninth to try and spark a rally, but the Cubs would go quietly 6-4. September 7: The Cubs bit back on Sunday, taking down the Timber Rattlers 5-1 thanks to an unbelievable start from Kenten Egbert. After a rocky last outing, Egbert put on a clinic today, taking the mound and falling just short of a complete game shutout. He went 8 ⅔ innings of shutout ball before allowing his first run in the bottom of the ninth, missing the CGSO by just one out. It was a stellar performance from Egbert, who ended the South Bend season on a high note. The offense didn’t need to do much, but the Cubs’ 2025 draft picks put up runs anyways. Logan Poteet, the Cubs’ 17th-round pick, went 2-4 with 3 RBIs as he launched the first home run of his pro career. 2025 fifth-rounder Kade Snell added on another with an RBI single in the sixth. Both rookies have started out slow but ended the season on a high note. Low-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans Season Record: 68-60 Series Opponent: Columbia Fireflies (Kansas City Royals) Series Standing: Split 3-3 September 6: The Pelicans doused the Fireflies in their final regular season game of the year, 10-5. Ethan Flanagan made a clean start, throwing three innings of no-run ball, allowing just two hits and striking out another two. Brayden Spears picked up the win in long relief; he tossed three innings and struck out five without allowing a run. The offense showed the heart they’ll need to advance in the playoffs. After going down 5-0, the Pelicans surged back in the sixth. Alexey Lumpuy (1-for-4) continued his late season tear with an RBI triple to cut the deficit to three. Matt Halbach (1-for-5) would add an RBI ground out and Angel Cepeda would score on a balk to bring the deficit to just one run. Rookie Kane Kepley (2-for-2) stays hot and tied the game with an RBI single. Ty Southisene would capitalize by ripping a three-run triple to cap off an eight-run sixth inning that would give the Pelicans the lead and the win. The Pelicans gained some much needed momentum as they take the final game from the Fireflies—the same team they tee off against in a best-of-three playoff series tomorrow. September 7: Game was cancelled due to weather. Notable Promotions / Injury Notes SS Ed Howard assigned to South Bend Cubs from Knoxville Smokies. SS Rafael Morel assigned to Iowa Cubs from South Bend Cubs. Iowa Cubs activated SS Rafael Morel. Iowa Cubs transferred RHP Chris Kachmar to the Development List. Iowa Cubs transferred C Caleb Knight to the Development List. Iowa Cubs activated RHP Jack Neely from the 7-day injured list. Iowa Cubs transferred RHP Will Sanders to the Development List. View full article

Image courtesy of © Cody Scanlan/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Cubs Affiliate Overview (August 30 – August 31) Triple-A Iowa Cubs Series at Las Vegas Aviators (Athletics): Win 4-2 Season Record: 65-66 Double-A Tennessee Smokies Series at Birmingham Barons (Chicago White Sox): Win 4-2 Season Record: 60-64 High-A South Bend Cubs Series at Peoria Chiefs (St. Louis Cardinals): Swept 0-6 Season Record: 53-72 Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans Series at Fayetteville Woodpeckers (Houston Astros): Split 3-3 Season Record: 66-57 Triple-A Iowa Cubs Season Record: 65-66 Series Opponent: Las Vegas Aviators (Athletics) Series Standing: Win 4-2 August 30: The Cubs shot down the Aviators in a 10-8 slug fest on Saturday. Starter Will Sanders has continued his slump, pitching 4 ⅓ innings, allowing six earned runs on five hits, four walks, and a home run while striking out only two opposing batters. Things have gone south quickly for Sanders, who was looked at as a potential major league depth piece just a couple of months ago. He has now given up six or more earned runs in four of his last six starts and has ballooned his ERA from 3.89 on July 19 to 6.51 as of August 30. Luckily for Sanders, the offense pulled its weight, knocking in 10 runs on 16 hits. Five Cubs position players notched a multi-hit game with Kevin Alcantara and Hayden Cantrelle stealing the spotlight. Alcantara went a scorching 3-for-5 with two RBIs on the night in a showing that would lead to his eventual promotion to the Major League club. Carlos Perez put up a quiet—but stellar—performance that garnered hi, player of the game honors thanks to going 3-for-5 with an RBI, 2B, and two runs. Cantrelle only went 1-for-5, but his one hit count as he blasted the game winning go ahead grand slam in the top of the 9th to put the Cubs in position to win the game. August 31: The Cubs put up big numbers again on Sunday and shot down the Aviators 9-6. Antonio Santos took the bump for Iowa, putting up a rocky - but serviceable - performance. Santos went four innings, logging two earned runs on six hits and three walks, but dazzled with eight strike outs, displaying his raw stuff and high ceiling potential. The Cubs hitters stole the show again today, logging another nine runs on 12 hits, with all nine batters getting on base at least once. Hayden Cantrelle got the offense going off rip again, driving in two with a single in the second. Moises Ballesteros (1-for-3, 2 RBI, BB) kept the party going with a solo moon shot in the top of the 5th to extend the Cubs’ lead to two. Bally had himself quite the weekend, going 4-for-7 with a 2B and a HR. It was 29-year-old veteran outfielder Forrest Wall who took home player of the game honors tonight. He spat on the ball, going 4-for-5 with three RBIs, a double, three runs, and a stolen base. Double-A Tennessee Smokies Season Record: 60-64 Series Opponent: Birmingham Barons (Chicago White Sox) Series Standing: Win 4-2 August 30: The Smokies de-throned the Barons on Saturday, 4-2. Jaxon Wiggins was back on the mound again in limited action, but continued to display his dominance. His stock continued to rise as he pitched three innings, allowing zero runs on just two hits, striking out two and lowering his already microscopic ERA to 1.93. The organization continues to be careful with Wiggins as they limit his innings down the stretch, but he’s shown no signs of slowing down in his limited work. The offense only put up six hits tonight, but they managed to plate four runs in the seventh inning to complete a come from behind win. Jalen Palmer (1-for-3, 2B, two RBIs) led off the scoring late in the game with a game-tying, two-run double in the seventh inning. Jefferson Rojas (1-for-4, two RBIs, BB) drove in the go-ahead, game-winning runs thanks to a two-run single in the seventh that put the Cubs in the driver's seat for the rest of the game. Brett Bateman didn’t get anyone across the dish, but he went 3-for-5 on the day and led the team in total bases. August 31: The Smokies slaughtered the Barons on Sunday with an 11-1 romp in the series finale. Erian Rodriguez took the mound for the Smokies and has continued his dominant run since being called up from rookie ball. Rodriguez let up just one run in 5 ⅔ innings of work, allowing just four hits. He struggled to locate the zone as well as he has in his recent starts, but still kept walks down to three while striking out two. Erian started the season in the Arizona Complex League as an unranked Cubs prospect, but has worked his way up to a 2.53 ERA as batters are hitting just .229 against him. The Smokies didn’t need Erian’s elite start though, as they put up 11 runs on 21 hits with seven batters notching a multi-hit game. BJ Murray Jr. (2-for-6, two RBIs), Andy Garriola (1-for-5), Reivaj Garcia (2-for-4, two RBIs), Jaylen Palmer (3-for-5, RBI), and Pablo Aliendo (3-for-5, RBI) all logged doubles today, flashing slug and driving runnings across home plate. Jordan Nwogu (3-for-4, two runs, two RBIs) launched his first home run of the season and led the team in total bases with six. High-A South Bend Cubs Season Record: 53-72 Series Opponent: Peoria Chiefs (St. Louis Cardinals) Series Standing: Swept 0-6 August 30: The Cubs dropped another heartbreaker on Saturday as they were walked off in extras by the Chiefs. Starter Kenten Egbert had a tough start, pitching five innings and allowing four earned runs on six hits and a walk while striking out just one. Relievers Jack Neely and Grayson Moore put up everything they had to keep the Cubs in the game, combining for three innings of shutout ball, but Luis Martinez-Gomez gave up the walk off single with two outs in the bottom of the 10th. The offense did what they could to capitalize off of their seven walks, but they couldn’t string anything together after the fifth inning. The Cubs got on the board early thanks to Rafael Morel (1-for-3, two runs) stealing home from third base. Edgar Alvarez (1-for-4, RBI, BB) cut the deficit to one in the fifth with a ground ball RBI up the middle, and Ariel Armas (0-for-5, RBI) would drive in the game tying run with an RBI ground out. Tied in the 6th, Kade Snell would make a leaping grab to prevent the go ahead run from scoring, but it wasn’t enough as the Cubs would ultimately go down in the 10th. August 31: The Cubs dropped their sixth straight game 3-6 as the Chiefs completed their sweep on Sunday. Rising star Yenrri Rojas took his first major hit since being called up to High-A. Rojas went 5 ⅓, and after a dominant first five innings where he kept the Chiefs scoreless, things blew up for him in the sixth. He would ultimately get credited for five earned runs on six hits, raising his ERA to a still-impressive 2.10. Rojas was cruising until he gave up three straight singles and a home run with one out in the bottom of the sixth. Things went nearly as poorly on offense with the Cubs racking up just three hits on the game. Rafael Morel (1-for-3) got the team on the board by scoring off a balk. Alexis Hernandez (1-for-3, RBI) would capitalize and put the Cubs up 2-0 with an RBI single. That was about all that went the Cubs’ way until the top of the 9th where Reginald Preciado reached on a fielding error and Brian Kalmer came in to score. The six straight losses put South Bend in serious playoff trouble. The team sits at 3.0 games back in the Midwest League West after going 3-for-7 in their last 10 and giving up the lead. With six games remaining in the season, South Bend will need to try and sweep on their final homestand to have a chance. Low-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans Season Record: 66-57 Series Opponent: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (Houston Astros) Series Standing: Split 3-3 August 30: The Pelicans out flew the Woodpeckers, picking up a 5-3 win on Saturday. Starter Ethan Flanagan was in his groove, pitching three innings of no run ball, allowing just three hits and striking out four. Landon Ginn pitched three innings of long relief and picked up the illustrious win and blown save after giving up five hits and two earned runs. Ginn, despite making us doubt, picks up his fifth win of the season. The offense put up five runs on 10 hits and three walks. Angel Cepeda (2-for-5, RBI) got the Pelicans on the board with an RBI single in the top of the fifth. The Woodpeckers would give the team a run for their money after tying the game up 3-3 in the seventh, but Christian Olivio (2-for-4, RBI) would drive in the game-winning run in the eighth with an RBI line drive to left field. Alexey Lumpuy would add on the insurance run in the top of the 9th and become the first Pelican to reach 10 home runs this season! August 31: The Pelicans were pecked out by the Woodpeckers as they dropped the series finale in a disappointing 12-3 romp. Starter Ronny Lopez got tuned up in his start, going 3 ⅓ innings and allowing seven runs on just two hits and five walks. He let up a run scoring balk and then proceeded to walk three consecutive batters with the bases loaded in the fourth. Lopez picked up his second loss (0-2) and raised his season ERA to 6.59. The offense was slightly brighter as the team managed to rack up seven hits, but they could only plate three and didn’t register a single walk to their 10 team strikeouts. Eli Lovich (1-for-4, two RBIs, R) was the main highlight of the game as he drove in two to put the Pelicans up early in the second with an RBI double. That was about it for a quiet offense today. Justin Stransky (0-for-2, RBI) drove in the only other run than;s to a sac fly that would drive in Lovich. While the series finale loss was certainly disappointing, the main focus will be on getting Kane Kepley going again and resting the pitching staff as Myrtle Beach prepares for the playoffs. Notable Promotions / Injury Notes Chicago Cubs optioned LHP Jordan Wicks to Iowa Cubs Chicago Cubs recalled RHP Porter Hodge from Iowa Cubs View full article

Cubs Affiliate Overview (August 23 – August 24) Triple-A Iowa Cubs Series vs. Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Houston Astros): Split 3-3 Season Record: 61-64 Double-A Tennessee Smokies Series vs. Montgomery Biscuits (Tampa Bay Rays): Loss 1-5 Season Record: 56-62 High-A South Bend Cubs Series vs. Cedar Rapids Kernels (Minnesota Twins): Win 4-2 Season Record: 53-66 Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans Series vs. Charleston RiverDogs (Tampa Bay Rays): Win 6-1 Season Record: 63-54 Triple-A Iowa Cubs Season Record: 61-64 Series Opponent: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Houston Astros) Series Standing: Split 3-3 August 23: The Cubs kept the Space Cowboys earthbound with a 7-2 win on Saturday. Chris Kachmar took the mound for Iowa and spun an impressive 5 ⅔ innings of ball, allowing just one run on one hit and striking out ten batters. Kachmar picked up his second win of the season for his effort which was arguably his best appearance of the season. The Cubs had three players notch a multi hit performance with Jonathan Long continuing his exceptional hot streak. Long went 2-for-5 on the day with two RBIs and his 19th home run of the season. Kevin Alcantara went 2-for-4 with a double, but it was his defensive highlight that stole the show. Ben Cowles went 2-for-4 and helped keep the RBIs flowing. Ethan Conrad, the Cubs first overall pick in the 2025 draft is unlikely to make his debut this season as he rehabs his left shoulder at the team’s complex in Arizona. He made a trip to Wrigley Field this week and noted that he should begin hitting sometime in the next couple of days. While we’re unlikely to see Conrad in an affiliate uniform this season, it’s nice to hear that the team’s top pick is close to working on his swing with the staff that has helped Matt Shaw and Pete Crow Armstrong adjust and thrive in the majors. August 24: The Space Cowboys knocked the Cubs out of their orbit on Sunday as they fell 8-4 in the series finale. Will Sanders made his start today on extended rest, but put up another underwhelming performance, giving up six earned runs on six hits in just 3 and ⅔ innings of work. He managed to strike out five and walk just one, but he gave up too much hard contact. Opposing batters have been hitting .264 against the young righty in August. The length and demands of the season may be starting to get to Sanders as he’s already surpassed his career high of innings pitched (106 ⅓ so far in 2025). The bats made some noise as the team amassed 12 hits on the day, but they struggled to get runs across the plate. Moises Ballesteros continued to do what Ballesteros does, going 2-for-3 with two walks, a home run, and raising his team leading batting average to .319. It’s clear why the Cubs told teams at the trade deadline that Moises would be off the table. I can’t imagine he’ll stay in Iowa once the team makes their September call ups. Kevin Alcantara went 2-for-5 with a double and Carlos Perez added a 2-for-5 performance of his own, continuing to add depth and slug to an Iowa team full of talent. The biggest story of the night though was Jonathan Long, who after a 1-for-5 performance tonight set the new record for the longest on base streak in franchise history with 35 games. Long continues to defy odds this season - after a down month in June, Long put up a 1.073 OPS in July and a .931 OPS so far in August. Double-A Tennessee Smokies Season Record: 56-62 Series Opponent: Montgomery Biscuits (Tampa Bay Rays) Series Standing: Loss 1-5 August 23: Saturday’s game was postponed due to rain. August 24: The Smokies dropped both games of their double header against the Biscuits. GAME 1 The Cubs lost a heart breaker in game one, falling 5-4 after a two run rally in the 7th inning fell short. Jaxon Wiggins made his first start today for the Smokies since July 19th, and only his second start since June 20th. Wiggins looked sharp, throwing three innings without allowing a hit and striking out two. According to the radar gun at the stadium, Wiggins’ first pitch of the night came out at 101mph, and his fastball consistently stayed in the upper 90’s. Jaxon has missed a lot of baseball in the past two months, but he hasn’t spent any time on the injured list. After undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023 and equalling his career high in innings pitched, the Cubs appear to be monitoring the flame-thrower's workload while also allowing him a taste of game action to keep him sharp. The offense started out slow but got on the board in the fifth inning thanks to a two-run homer by Carter Trice, his first of the season. The Cubs rallied again in the bottom of the 7th, putting up two runs to bring the game within one. Brett Bateman (1-for-3) notched a sac fly to score Jordan Nwogu and Pedro Ramirez (1-for-4) added an RBI single. With a man on third and one out, the game looked within reach, but BJ Murray Jr would pop out and Corey Joyce would ground out softly to end the game. GAME 2 The Cubs lost their second game to the Biscuits 3-1. Erian Rodriguez made his first start this season for the Smokies after being called up from High-A South Bend. He impressed in his debut against stiff competition. Despite picking up the loss, he pitched five innings, allowing just two earned runs (each on a solo homer) and striking out six batters to keep the Smokies in the game. The offense couldn’t do enough to pick up the win with the team combining for just three total hits. Ben Joyce notched two of them, going 2-for-3 on the day. High-A South Bend Cubs Season Record: 53-66 Series Opponent: Cedar Rapids Kernels (Minnesota Twins) Series Standing: Win 4-2 August 23: The Cubs popped the Kernels on Saturday, shutting out the first place team 2-0. Starter Kenten Egbert wasn’t flashy, but he limited hard contact and pitched a gem, going six scoreless innings, allowing five hits and striking out three. The offense wasn’t flashy either, but they got the job done, putting up six hits and two runs in the contest. Alexis Hernandez was called up from Myrtle Beach three games ago and flashed hit talent today, going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Ariel Armas impressed behind the dish today as well. He threw out his 52nd baserunner tonight, tied for 2nd best in baseball this season. He also scored the team's second run of the night by going from first to home on an RBI single from Cameron Sisneros. August 24: The Cubs shucked the 1st place Kernels again today, taking home a 4-2 win. Yenrri Rojas continues to dazzle since he was called up to High-A on July 20th. He took the mound today and pitched 7 innings of baseball, allowing just one run on four hits and striking out six batters. His ERA for South Bend is a microscopic 0.93 and continues to go deep into games while racking up K’s. This was Rojas’ fourth consecutive start where he pitched at least five innings and striking out six or more batters. Offensively, South Bend tallied just five hits but managed to score four runs thanks to home runs from Edgar Alvarez (8) and Cameron Sisneros (4). Low-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans Season Record: 63-54 Series Opponent: Charleston RiverDogs (Tampa Bay Rays) Series Standing: Win 6-1 August 23: Myrtle Beach took the RiverDogs to the pound in their doubleheader sweep on Saturday. GAME 1: Ethan Flanagan took the mound for the Pelicans today and struggled through three innings of work. He managed to limit the damage to just two runs, but he gave up seven hits and a walk to keep the basepaths busy. Reliever Thomas Magus picked up his second win of the season thanks to two innings of shut out ball. Kane Kepley continues to destroy the ball and race around the bases since being drafted by the Cubs this season. After a 2-for-4 performance today, he’s hitting .375 with a 1.057 OPS in the leadoff spot for a surging Pelicans team. The Pelicans added another three runs in the third and put the game out of reach thanks to a blast to right center field from third baseman Yahil Melendez. Melendez went 2-for-3 in the contest with three RBI’s. GAME 2: The Pelicans continued their surge with an 8-1 rout of the RiverDogs in game 2. Victor Zarraga made his first start for Myrtle Beach since being called up from rookie ball. He impressed in his starter debut, pitching 4 no-hit innings, striking out three batters and walking just one. The Pelicans dinked and dunked their way to the win, scoring eight runs on just six hits - all singles. Dilan Grandillo put up a two-run knock in the fourth to put the Pelicans up 3-0. Thanks to a fielding error, Alexey Lumpuy cleared the bases and drove in three runners with an RBI single to cap off a six run fourth inning. Lumpuy continued to shine, throwing out a runner at home from center field in the sixth to continue the dominant performance. August 24: The Pelicans keep the good times rolling with a 13-12 extra innings win in the series finale against the RiverDogs. Ronny Lopez gave up three runs on seven hits in five innings during his start, but it was Luis Reyes giving up another three in just ⅓ of an inning that put the Pelicans on the ropes. It didn’t matter though, as five different Pelicans put up three hit performances from the plate. Kane Kepley and Ty Southisene went an identical 2-for-5 with two RBI’s and two walks at the top of the order. Angel Cepeda caps off a 15-hit, three-double, one-homer performance against the RiverDogs with a 3-for-6 night while adding on a triple. Alexey Lumpuy also capped off a great weekend with a 3-for-6 performance and helped work a game winning wild pitch to walk off the RiverDogs. Notable Promotions / Injury Notes Myrtle Beach Pelicans placed RHP Yoendris Gonzalez on the 7-day injured list Chicago Cubs optioned RHP Javier Assad to Iowa Cubs Chicago Cubs recalled LHP Jordan Wicks from Iowa Cubs LHP Cole Reynolds assigned to South Bend Cubs from Iowa Cubs Iowa Cubs activated RHP Will Sanders View full article

Image courtesy of © Lily Smith/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Cubs Affiliate Overview (August 16 – August 17) Triple-A Iowa Cubs Series vs. Worcester Red Sox (Boston Red Sox): Loss 2-4 Season Record: 58-61 Double-A Tennessee Smokies Series at Rocket City Trash Pandas (Los Angeles Angels): Split 3-3 Season Record: 55-57 High-A South Bend Cubs Series at Beloit Sky Carp (Miami Marlins): Win 5-1 Season Record: 49-64 Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans Series at Columbia Fireflies (Washington Nationals): Win 3-2 Season Record: 57-53 Triple-A Iowa Cubs Season Record: 58-61 Series Opponent: Worcester Red Sox (Boston Red Sox) Series Standing: Split 3-3 August 16: The Iowa Cubs were defeated by the Red Sox 9-5 on Saturday. Connor Noland was given another chance to start and things didn’t go nearly as well for him as they have in relief recently. Noland picked up the loss and went just 3 ⅓ innings while allowing six runs on eight hits and three walks to put the team down early. After falling behind 9-0 in the seventh inning, the Cubs turned on the jets and put up a five spot in the bottom half. Kevin Alcantara (0-for-3) scores on a wild pitch, Nicky Lopez (0-for-3) scores on a sac fly from Hayden Cantrelle, Chase Strumpf (3-for-4) scores on an error, and Moises Ballesteros (1-for-5) brings the Cubs within four thanks to a monster two run blast to left center field. Carlos Perez would kill the rally with a strikeout and the Cubs would go quiet the rest of the way to drop the game. August 17: The Cubs stomped down the Red Sox on Sunday to take home a 8-5 victory in the season finale. Starter Chris Kachmar had a bumpy outing, going just 2 ⅔ innings pitched while allowing five runs on six hits and three walks. He managed to strike out four, but ballooned his ERA to 7.11 in the process. The relief arms put on a clinic, with Riley Martin, Caleb Kilian, Tom Cosgrove, and Ethan Roberts combining to throw 6 ⅓ innings of one-hit and no-run ball. Caleb Knight made his impact felt on offense—he went 2-for-3 with three RBIs thanks to a three-run homer in the bottom of the third inning to bring the Cubs within 1 run. Hayden Cantrelle (2-for-3) put the Cubs in the league and they never looked back after his two run homer (his second of the season) made it 6-5. Double-A Tennessee Smokies Season Record: 55-57 Series Opponent: Rocket City Trash Pandas (Los Angeles Angels) Series Standing: Win 4-2 August 16: The Smokies took out the Trash (Pandas) with a 5-3 win on Saturday. Tyler Schlaffer dominated in his start today, pitching six innings and allowing zero runs (one unearned). He only allowed four hits and two walks while striking out an impressive nine batters. Schlaffer has flashed elite stuff since his call up to Double-A this season where he’s posted a 2.57 ERA in eight starts and 42 innings of work. Brett Bateman (3-for-5) contributed most of the team's offense thanks to a solo homer in the first and a two-run single in the ninth to put the game out of reach. August 17: The Smokies stepped on the gas and delivered the Trash Pandas to the dump with a 13-5 drubbing on Sunday. Starter Grant Kipp only went three innings and allowed a run on one hit and three walks, but this team put him on their backs with a seven run first inning to take the pressure off of the pitching staff. BJ Murray Jr. (2-for-4, four RBIs) led the team off with a two-run single in the first and would later follow it up with a two-run homer. Reivaj Garcia (3-for-5) followed up with an RBI single, and Pablio Aliendo would take a HBP to drive in a run and make it 4-0. After Jordan Nwogu (2-for-5, three RBIs) drove in another on a fielder's choice, Brett Bateman (2-for-3, three RBIs) went long with a two-run homer to cap off a remarkable weekend and put up a lopsided 7-0 lead. The Smokies continue to display impressive team baseball and small ball antics as they put together an impressive second half. High-A South Bend Cubs Season Record: 49-64 Series Opponent: Beloit Sky Carp (Miami Marlins) Series Standing: Win 4-2 August 16: The Cubs defeated the Sky Carp 5-3 on Saturday despite a rocky start from Evan Aschenbeck who let up three runs in just two innings of work. This is a step back for the 2024 draft pick as he’s been putting together an otherwise steady breakout season. Kade Snell got the scoring going with a two-run single in the first to put the Cubs up early. The Sky Carp rallied back to go up 3-2, but Christian Hernandez (2-for-4) would plate a run with a single in the fifth. Drew Bowser (1-for-4) would take the lead with an RBI knock in the sixth, and Edgar Alvarez adds an insurance run in the seventh with a solo home run to right field. August 17: The Cubs got plucked by the Sky Carp and would drop the series finale 1-0. The offense couldn’t get it done, but Yenrri Rojas continues to string together impressive starts at High-A. He went 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, and an impressive 6 Ks to lower his ERA to 0.82 for South Bend. He’s been a contributor for the team's second half surge as they eye a playoff spot—since being called up, he’s pitched 22 innings and struck out 22 batters while allowing just two runs. The offense couldn’t get it done as they put up zero runs on just two hits while striking out 11 times. The Cubs will hope to bounce back next game as they are currently tied for 1st place in their division in the second half. A strong finish with a hold on that top slot will bring playoff baseball back to South Bend. Low-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans Season Record: 57-53 Series Opponent: Columbia Fireflies (Washington Nationals) Series Standing: Split 3-3 August 16: The Pelicans got burnt by the Fireflies on Saturday, falling 2-4. Myrtle Beach only managed to plate two runs in the sixth inning thanks to a two-run shot from Alexey Lumpuy (his ninth of the season). Ty Southisene added another two hits, but wasn’t able to do any damage. Kane Kepley added another knock, continuing his hot run with a 1.033 OPS after being drafted in the second round of the 2025 draft. Ethan Flanagan struck out six batters in his five innings of work, but gave up three runs on seven hits. This is back-to-back three-run outings for Flanagan, who has otherwise kept opponents to one run or less in all of his other starts this season. August 17: The Pelicans bounce back to extinguish the Fireflies with an 8-5 victory in the series finale. Ronny Lopez pitched a serviceable 4 ⅔ innings of ball, allowing just one run on four hits and two walks. He missed out on the win as Dawson Netz picked it up with 2 ⅓ innings of no run ball in relief. Matt Halbach (1-for-5, two RBIs) and Eli Lovich (2-for-4, two RBIs) picked up the team with their firepower today. After going quiet yesterday, Lovich puts up an RBI single and plates another with a triple in the fifth. Christian Olivo puts up a quiet 2-for-3 game at the bottom of the lineup that caps off a monster series for the 21-year-old that earned him Carolina League player of the week honors. Notable Promotions / Injury Notes SS Alexis Hernandez assigned to South Bend Cubs from Myrtle Beach Pelicans South Bend Cubs activated RHP Koen Moreno from the 60-day injured list Knoxville Smokies activated RHP Nick Hull from the 7-day injured list Knoxville Smokies transferred RHP Nick Dean to the Development List RHP Zach Pop assigned to Iowa Cubs from ACL Cubs Chicago Cubs recalled RHP Gavin Hollowell from Iowa Cubs Chicago Cubs optioned RHP Javier Assad to Iowa Cubs Chicago Cubs recalled LHP Luke Little from Iowa Cubs View full article

Image courtesy of © Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images Cubs Affiliate Overview (August 9 – August 10) Triple-A Iowa Cubs Series at St. Paul Saints (Minnesota Twins): Loss 2-4 Season Record: 55-58 Double-A Tennessee Smokies Series vs. Biloxi Shuckers (Milwaukee Brewers): Split 3-3 Season Record: 51-55 High-A South Bend Cubs Series vs. Fort Wayne TinCaps (San Diego Padres): Win 5-1 Season Record: 45-62 Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans Series vs. Fredericksburg Nationals (Washington Nationals): Win 3-2 Season Record: 54-50 Triple-A Iowa Cubs Season Record: 55-58 Series Opponent: St. Paul Saints (Minnesota Twins) Series Standing: Loss 2-4 August 9: The Iowa Cubs were beaten by the Saints in devastating fashion. After leading the entire game, the Cubs blew a two-run lead to get walked off in the bottom of the ninth after closer Gavin Hollowell gave up three hits and three runs in just ⅔ of an inning of work. The bullpen was handed a great position as starter Spencer Turnbull pitched five innings, striking out five batters without allowing a single hit. Things quickly went south from there as Tom Cosgrove and Luke Little each gave up runs in their appearances, and Hollowell just wasn’t able to shut the game down. The offense did its best to keep the team in the game despite only garnering five hits on the day. Kevin Alcantara started the team off with a three run home run to deep center field to score Jonathan Long and Carlos Perez. The team went quiet from there until Owen Caissie pounded his 21st homer of the season to right center field to increase the lead to 4-1. Caissie is now one homer away from tying his career high of 22 in a single season. While his strikeout rate is still higher than just about everyone would like to see, the 23-year-old slugger is putting up career highs in slug (.564) and OPS (.954). August 10: The Iowa Cubs were struck down by the Saints once again in devastating fashion. After opening up to an early lead and then tying the game in the sixth, the Saints rallied to take the lead and shut the Cubs down in the home stretch. Jordan Wicks took the mound for Iowa today and continued to show the consistency he’s displayed since coming back to the rotation on July 6. Wicks kept the Saints humble, throwing four and ⅔ innings while allowing only one earned run on three hits. His command was sharp, striking out four and walking none. Wicks has been on a nice run here, in his last eight starts since returning to Iowa, he’s never given up more than two runs in a start and his appearances are slowly getting longer. He’s managed to lower his ERA to 3.61 on the season and remind us of his potential despite his poor showing in the majors earlier in the year. The Cubs took the lead on offense early thanks to a wild pitch that scored Jonathan Long in the fourth. After coughing the lead back up, Long scores again by blasting a solo home run to right center field to tie the game back up. Long would finish the day going 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs. Double-A Tennessee Smokies Season Record: 51-55 Series Opponent: Biloxi Shuckers (Milwaukee Brewers) Series Standing: Split 3-3 August 9: The Smokies got popped by the Shuckers, dropping the game on Saturday 4-2. Nick Dean took the mound for Knoxville and quickly gave up three runs (two earned) on three hits and two walks in just two innings of work. Dean picked up his fourth loss of the season and raised his ERA to 5.90. The bullpen would settle in promptly after Deans hook, with Tyler Santana hurling three innings of no-run and one=-hit ball. Tommy Romero almost mimicked the line, going another three innings but giving up one run that could’ve been worse if it wasn’t for a spectacular play by third baseman Pedro Ramirez. The offense tried to have some fight in them but ultimately fell short after mustering up just four hits and six strikeouts on the day. Jordan Nwogu would go 2-for-3 with an RBI double in the eighth at the bottom of the lineup, but the only other run scored would come from an RBI forceout later that inning from Brett Bateman. August 10: The Smokies ride a hot inning and a solid day of pitching to a 3-2 win over the first place Shuckers. Tyler Schlaffer had a stand out game since being called up to Double-A a few weeks ago. Today Schlaffer went six innings, allowing just two hits and striking out six batters. He gave up a homer and two earned runs, but lowered his ERA to 3.00 in his first season at Knoxville and notched a quality start for the team. The offense managed to do just enough today, getting hot for a three run fifth inning to give themselves a one run lead that would eventually hold for the win. Andy Garriola knocked an RBI single to lead off the scoring and load the bags. Jefferson Rojas would step to the plate and take a hit by pitch to drive in a run and tie up the game. Not to be outdone, Brett Bateman took a hit by pitch himself to drive in the winning run. It’s not fancy, but it’ll do. High-A South Bend Cubs Season Record: 45-62 Series Opponent: Fort Wayne TinCaps (San Diego Padres) Series Standing: Win 5-1 August 9: The Cubs out steeled the TinCaps to take home a 4-1 win. Starter Evan Aschenbeck continues to surprise for South Bend this year. He put up another quality start today, pitching six innings, allowing just one run on five hits and lowering his ERA to 2.65. Reliever Yency Almonte made his first appearance for the Cubs organization after suffering season ending shoulder surgery in 2024 after being acquired alongside Michael Busch in an offseason trade. Almonte looked good today, pitching two innings of relief, striking out three batters and walking just one without letting up a single hit. The South Bend offense only notched four runs, but they racked up 11 hits and consistently kept men on base. Cristian Hernandez kicked off the scoring with a two run blast in the third inning. Reginald Preciado would tack on an RBI double the following inning to score Drew Bowser. August 10: The Cubs doffed the TinCaps with a 4-2 win and a resounding series victory. Yenrri Rojas continues to turn heads this season as he’s been dominating in his High-A start. In his last three appearances at the level he’s accumulated a 0.56 ERA in 16 innings of work and racked up 16 strikeouts. Today was no different—he logged five innings pitched, no runs, three hits, and six strikeouts on the day. Rojas has caught fire in his age 21 season after starting the year in rookie ball. Caleb Kilian made a return to the field for the organization for the first time after wowing fans in spring training (again). This seems to be a carousel with Kilian: add new pitches/top speed, impress in spring training/the upper minors, get injured/blown up in the majors, rinse and repeat. Fans were excited to see Kilian take the mound today only to watch him threaten the win by giving up two runs on two hits in two innings. The offense did enough to keep the Cubs on top. After an RBI ground out from Edgar Alvarez in the first and a fielders choice RBI from Ariel Armas in the fifth, the Cubs added some cushion thanks to a red hot Cristian Hernandez who added another home two-run home run to his stats this season to put the team up 4-2. Low-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans Season Record: 54-50 Series Opponent: Fredericksburg Nationals (Washington Nationals) Series Standing: Win 3-2 August 9: The Pelicans wings were clipped by the Nationals as they couldn’t hold on and ultimately dropped the series finale in the 10th inning 7-6. Ethan Flanagan struck out five batters in five innings, but took a step back from his recent dominance, giving up three runs on three hits and four walks. The team got two blown saves in a row where Charlie Hurley allowed a run on two walks and a wild pitch followed by Ethan Bell loading the bases with three walks in just ⅓ of an inning. Landon Ginn tried to clear the mess but ended up with the loss after walking two and giving up a sac fly to lose the game. The Cubs put up a fight on offense and never rolled over, totalling 11 hits and six runs on the game. Angel Cepeda led off the rally with an RBI single in the second, followed by an RBI single from Justin Stansky that would score Cepeda and tie the game. Matt Halbach added an RBI single in the fifth to retake the lead. Angel Cepeda once again played hero with a go-ahead RBI in the bottom of the seventh to boost the Pelicans to a 5-4 lead. Cepeda was the offensive MVP of the night, coming in clutch on multiple occasions, going 2-for-4 with a walk, two RBIs and a run. After falling behind again, Ty Southisene would tie the game up at 6-6 with an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth, but the team couldn’t capitalize and would end up picking up the loss after the back and forth dogfight. August 10: Today’s game was cancelled due to rain. Notable Promotions / Injury Notes 3B Nicky Lopez assigned to Iowa Cubs SS Christopher Paciolla assigned to South Bend Cubs from ACL Cubs Iowa Cubs sent RHP Caleb Kilian on rehab assignment to South Bend Cubs ACL Cubs released RHP Wilme Mora ACL Cubs released LHP Miguel Cruz ACL Cubs released LHP Wilson Cunningham View full article