The Cubs improved to 3-2 with a blowout of the Rockies on Tuesday night. They bring a relatively rested bullpen into Wednesday's game before a scheduled day off. With near freezing temperatures and precipitation in the forecast, the Cubs plan to use big lefty Luke Little as an opener. Ben Brown last pitched on Saturday and Alzolay, Merryweather, Leiter, and Neris each pitched last on Sunday. So, get ready for a true bullpen game if there is no postponement.

The Cubs improved to 2-2 on the back of six shutout innings from Imanaga in his debut and a break from the Rockies that turned a hard single to left into the equivalent of a three run homerun. Javier Assad takes the ball as the Cubs attempt to push into winning territory. In 2023, Assad followed his work representing Mexico in the World Baseball Classic by putting up a little over 100 innings in 10 starts and 22 relief appearances. He improved his walk rate compared to 2022 and has been the Cubs go-to swing man. 

Geuri Lubo doubled twice and drove-in a run, Albert Gutierrez stroked an RBI double and scored a run, Leonel Espinoza reached base on an HBP, walked, stole a base and scored a run, and Squad "A" SP Freilyn Silverio fired 3.1 IP of shutout ball, in Cubs Spring Training Minor League Camp intrasquad game action Tuesday morning on Field # 1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ. 

The game was pre-planned as a five-inning affair. 

4/2 UPDATE: 

ROSTER MOVES: INF Scott McKeon, 1B-OF Felix Stevens, and OF Bradlee Beesley have been moved-down to the Mesa (Extended Spring Training) group from the AA Tennessee group.

Also, LHP Dalton Stambaugh has retired. He was recently moved down from the Tennessee group to the South Bend group at Minor League Camp. 

IOWA: 28 players (AAA Opening Day was 3/29)
TENNESSEE: 29 players (must get down to 28 by AA Opening Day 4/5)
SOUTH BEND: 29 players (one under roster limit at this time for Opening Day 4/5)

Shota Imanaga makes his MLB debut to kick off April. He'll represent the 1-2 Chicago Cubs as they greet Kris Bryant and the Colorado Rockies for a three-game series at Wrigley. Imanaga was the major free agent addition for the offseason after reportedly falling in love with Chicago this winter. Chicago appears to be in for some unpleasant weather this week--we'll see how Imanaga's appreciation for the setting holds up. Cold temps and wind should help Imanaga's extreme fly ball ways as long as he can maintain feeling in his fingers. 

Jordan Wicks looks to pick up the 0-2 Cubs following an 11-2 loss. The lefty made six strong starts for the big league squad in 2023 and one disappointing outing to end the season. He generally met expectations, commanding the strike zone and mixing a respectable fastball with a great changeup. Having lost Justin Steele to a hamstring strain and then seeing Kyle Hendricks leave game two in the 4th inning, the Cubs would surely use a carrying performance from a starting pitcher.

Anderson Suriel smacked two RBI doubles and scored a run, Jose Escobar drilled a single and an RBI double and scored a run, Reivaj Garcia laced an RBI single and walked twice, Rafael Morel belted a solo HR, and SP Branden Noriega tossed 2.2 IP of one-hit shutout ball, as the Myrtle Beach Pelicans edged the ACL Cubs 5-4 in Spring Training Minor League Camp intrasquad game action Saturday morning on Field # 6 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ. 

Nathan Nankil drove-in five runs with a two-run double and a three-run HR, Pedro Pineda clubbed an RBI double, walked, and scored two runs, Nick Schwartz drilled an RBI single, walked twice (one of the walks forced-in a run), and scored two runs.

The Cubs resume their 2024 campaign following a day off in which to MRI Justin Steele's left hamstring and to process the bottom of the 10th loss to the Rangers. Kyle Hendricks brings his veteran wiles to bear against the Texas Rangers in game two of the season. 

Jordan Nwogu belted a solo HR and an RBI single (and stole a base) and SP Luis Devers fired four innings of two hit shutout ball with five strikeouts and 6/0 GO/AO, as the South Bend Cubs (Hi-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs) took a 3-0 lead and then held-on to edge the Lansing Lugnuts (Oakland Athletics Hi-A affiliate) 3-2 on Field # 3, and Jack Winkler drilled an RBI single and a double, stole a base, and scored two runs, Jacob Wilson (2023 MLB #6 overall draft pick, A's 1st round pick, and A's #1 prospect) singled twice and scored two runs, Jeremy Eierman ripped an RBI triple and scored a