The Cubs recalled Little from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, Ryan Herrera of MLB.com reports.
Little has permitted seven runs over nine relief innings during his time in the big leagues this season. The 6-foot-8 left-hander will operate in low-leverage situations.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni: Playing time picking up
Rotowire
Mastrobuoni will start at shortstop and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against Atlanta, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
With Dansby Swanson (knee) recently going on the injured list and with Nico Hoerner (hamstring) out of the lineup for the second day in a row, Mastrobuoni has been the main beneficiary from a playing-time perspective. He'll draw his fifth start in seven games Wednesday and could continue to see fairly steady playing time in the middle infield even if Hoerner avoids a trip to the IL.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Keegan Thompson: Placed on IL
Rotowire
The Cubs placed Thompson on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with a viral illness, Ryan Herrera of MLB.com reports.
He will be sidelined at least until late May while he recovers from the ailment. Luke Little was recalled from Triple-A Iowa to take Thompson's spot on the Cubs' 26-man active roster and in their bullpen.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Resting Wednesday
Rotowire
Amaya is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against Atlanta, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Amaya will get a breather after he started at catcher in each of the past three games while going 1-for-9 at the dish. Yan Gomes will fill in for Amaya in Wednesday's series finale.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Ian Happ: Absent from lineup again
Rotowire
Happ is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game in Atlanta, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Happ is on the bench for the second game in a row, so he could be dealing with an unreported injury. Mike Tauchman will cover left field in Happ's stead Wednesday.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Nico Hoerner: Held out again Wednesday
Rotowire
Hoerner (hamstring) remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's game in Atlanta, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Hoerner was a late scratch ahead of Tuesday's 7-0 loss with left hamstring tightness and still isn't feeling up to playing. Hamstring injuries are notoriously tricky, but the Cubs haven't indicated at this point that Hoerner will require a stint on the injured list. Miles Mastrobuoni will again fill in at shortstop.
Taillon (3-1) took the loss Tuesday, surrendering seven runs (two earned) on seven hits and three walks over four innings as the Cubs fell 7-0 to Atlanta. He struck out two.
The right-hander's own fielding error in the fourth inning softened the blow to his ERA, but Taillon's final line was by no means undeserved as he served up homers to Michael Harris and Matt Olson in his last frame. It's the first time in five starts Taillon has been taken deep multiple times, and he'll take a 1.61 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 18:8 K:BB through 28 innings into his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home this weekend against the Pirates.
Hoerner was scratched from Tuesday's lineup against Atlanta due to left hamstring tightness, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Hoerner was originally slated to bat leadoff for Chicago in Game 2 of its series in Atlanta, but he will now be forced to take a seat. More information on his injury will likely be provided following the contest, but in the meantime, Miles Mastrobuoni will take over at shortstop and bat eighth against Atlanta.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Michael Busch: Sitting against left-hander
Rotowire
Busch is absent from the lineup for Tuesday's game against Atlanta.
Southpaw Chris Sale is getting the start for Atlanta, so the left-handed hitting Busch will be given a day off. Cody Bellinger will get the start at first base, while Pete Crow-Armstrong will patrol center field.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Ian Happ: Taking seat Tuesday
Rotowire
Happ is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game in Atlanta.
The switch-hitter is better from the left side of the plate, so it makes sense to give him a breather as Atlanta sends southpaw Chris Sale to the hill. Mike Tauchman will occupy left field for the Cubs.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Christopher Morel: In lineup as DH on Tuesday
Rotowire
Morel (toe) will start at designated hitter and bat cleanup in Tuesday's game in Atlanta.
Morel had to exit Monday's contest after fouling a ball off his left foot, but he's fine. It's his first start at DH in more than a week, which will free up third base for Patrick Wisdom on Tuesday.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Dealing with flexor strain
Rotowire
An MRI confirmed Alzolay is dealing with a right flexor strain, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Alzolay was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday and imaging has confirmed the initial diagnosis. He will be shut down for five days before being reevaluated. Most likely, the injury is going to require longer than a minimum stay on the IL. Hector Neris will continue to serve as the Cubs' primary ninth-inning option.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Matt Shaw: Very patient at Double-A
Rotowire
Shaw is hitting .204 with a .354 OBP, three home runs and eight steals in 31 games for Double-A Tennessee.
He's been unfortunate on balls in play (.247 BABIP) and has been extremely patient at the dish (39.4 percent Swing%, 16.9 BB%) while using the opposite field a bit more than is optimal (46.1 Oppo%). Shaw made a lot of noise during his first spring training and after getting drafted with the 13th overall pick last year, but it doesn't appear that a promotion to Triple-A is imminent. He has played 25 games at third base and three games at second base.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Cade Horton: Velocity slightly down from 2023
Rotowire
Horton averaged 93.4 mph (touched 94.9 mph) with his fastball in his first start for Triple-A Iowa on May 4 and averaged 93.9 mph (touched 95.5 mph) in his second start May 10 after sitting at 95-97 mph with his fastball and regularly touching 98 mph in 2023.
This doesn't necessarily mean Horton is dealing with anything physically, but it's worth noting that he's not working with the same caliber stuff as was advertised during the offseason. Horton had a 1.10 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and an 18:2 K:BB in 16.1 innings across four starts in a return assignment to Double-A Tennessee before getting promoted to Triple-A at the end of April. He has given up eight earned runs on seven hits, eight walks and two home runs while striking out 11 in seven innings through his first two starts at the highest level of the minors. Since Triple-A pitch velocities are public, it's worth keeping tabs on Horton's pitch velocities over his next few outings to see if things keep trending up. This is also Horton's first experience with the automated balls and strikes system at Triple-A, so perhaps that's partly to blame for his elevated walk rate.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Richard Lovelady: Removed from 40-man roster
Rotowire
Lovelady was designated for assignment by the Cubs on Tuesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
The Cubs needed to free up a spot on their 40-man roster for new acquisition Tyson Miller. Lovelady had allowed five runs over his last four appearances before being booted off the roster.
Miller was traded from the Mariners to the Cubs on Monday in exchange for Jake Slaughter, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Miller was designated for assignment three days ago by the Mariners, and he'll now pack his bags for Chicago following Monday's transaction. He's surrendered four runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out 12 over 11.2 innings so far this season as a reliever and will immediately join the big-league club, per Passan.
