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. View full rumor

In a piece of stunning news, Alex Bregman is in the Chicago Cubs' starting lineup for Game 1 of Friday's doubleheader, just days after sustaining multiple facial fractures that rendered his left eye swollen shut. Bregman was struck in the left cheek by a foul ball off the bat of Michael Busch in the fourth inning of Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. Typically, that injury would take some time before allowing a player to return. But with the Cubs' postseason seeding at stake, Bregman missed only three games before being inserted into the lineup as the designated hitter. Meanwhile, right-handed starter Edward Cabrera was placed on the bereavement-family medical emergency leave list. Right-hander Gavin Hollowell was activated from the 15-day injured list. Cabrera's first season with the Cubs following a high-profile offseason trade is likely over. He posted a 5.96 ERA over 18 games (16 starts) and was shifted to a bullpen role recently with the Cubs still in need of starters. Hollowell has a 2.51 ERA over 14⅓ innings and 14 games this year. He had been out since July 31 due to right shoulder inflammation. The Cubs enter Friday as the No. 2 NL wild card, one game behind the San Diego Padres and one game ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies. The Cubs hold the tiebreaker over both teams. View full rumor

With the Chicago Cubs still battling for a better seed in the NL wild-card chase and a severe storm hitting New England this weekend, MLB has altered the schedule for the three games being hosted by the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Sunday's game was moved to Friday, creating a split doubleheader on the first day of the scheduled three-game series. The first game will be played at 1:05 p.m. ET, with the second at the originally scheduled 6:05 p.m. ET. The first game will be the rescheduled game from Sunday for ticketing purposes. Saturday's game will be at 7:15 p.m. ET, although that time could be moved up depending on the forecast. While the Red Sox have their postseason invite locked up and are fairly set as the No. 2 wild card (No. 5 overall seed) in the AL, the Cubs could finish anywhere from the No. 1 wild card to the No. 3 entering the final five games of the regular season. The Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres are tied going into Wednesday's action at 87-70. The Cubs hold the tiebreaker over the Phillies and the Padres and the Phillies have the tiebreaker over the Padres. There will be no game on Sunday unless one of the games Friday or Saturday are postponed. Sunday is expected to be the worst of the days of the storm. It is also possible that a game will be played Monday if needed. The postseason begins Tuesday with all four Wild Card Series. View full rumor

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. View full rumor

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. View full rumor

The Chicago Cubs are going to be adding a little power to their bench when rosters expand Tuesday. Corner infielder B.J. Murray will be called up Tuesday when MLB rosters increase by two spots to 28. Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed the move Monday as Murray took batting practice before the series opener against the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers. Only one of the two extra spots can be filled by a pitcher. Murray, who is not among North Side Baseball's Top 20 prospects, had a .294/.395/.500 slash line with 16 homers and 68 RBIs in 118 games with Triple-A Iowa this year. Murray hit 20 homers with 89 RBIs in 2025 at Double-A Knoxville as he had a slash line of .242/.363/.418 in 125 games. The 26-year-old, a 15th-round draft choice in 2021 out of Florida, played in the World Baseball Classic for Great Britain this spring. He will become the 10th player born in the Bahamas to make his MLB debut. View full rumor

The Chicago Cubs are getting their Opening Day closer back at just the right time. Right-handed reliever Daniel Palencia was activated from the 60-injured list by the Cubs on Friday. Infielder Gabriel Arias, who was claimed off waivers from the New York Mets, also officially joined the 26-man roster. To make room for both, infielder Owen Miller was designated for assignment and right-hander Javier Assad was optioned back to Triple-A Iowa. The Cubs entered play Friday five games behind the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers, who have the best record in MLB, and lead the NL wild-card standings. Palencia made his last appearance June 15 and has been out with a mild flexor strain in his right elbow. He has been in 19 games, with a 3.45 FIP (2.70 ERA) over 16⅔ innings. His walk rate is 8.5% and his strikeout rate is 26.8%. Palencia has converted all three of his save chances. The Cubs rank 22nd in MLB with 29 saves. Arias is with his third MLB team this season, having been with the Cleveland Guardians in addition to the Mets before joining the Cubs. He has a .235/.273/.371 slash line with five homers and 11 RBIs in 44 games. Miller was just called up a few days ago but only appeared in one game defensively. Assad is being optioned for the fourth time this year. He has been a vital piece when in the majors, appearing in 22 games, including 10 starts. In 83⅓ innings, he has a 4.97 FIP (3.46 ERA) with a 6.3% walk rate and 16.6% strikeout rate. View full rumor