Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full), plus two players are on the 60-DAY IL 

26 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, one player is on the 15-DAY IL, and one player is on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-18-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
Jameson Taillon 
Keegan Thompson
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Garrett Cooper
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Miles Mastrobuoni, INF
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

10-DAY IL: 1 
Seiya Suzuki, OF

15-DAY IL
* Justin Steele, P   

60-DAY IL: 2 
Caleb Kilian, P 
Julian Merryweather, P
 





Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Cubs @ Cardinals: Lester vs. Lackey (Game 164; NLDS Game 1)

Now it gets really good.

CHC: LHP Jon Lester (11-12, 3.34)
STL: RHP John Lackey (13-10, 2.77)
First pitch: 5:45pmCT

Lester finished strong, going 3-2 with a 2.36 ERA in September. He has not pitched since September 30, when he gave up 1 ER over 8 innings for the win in Cincinnati. He has a losing record against the Cardinals this year (1-3) but has pitched to a 2.59 ERA, and they are batting .216 in those games. He’s 1-0 with a 1.59 in the two starts at Busch Stadium. Overall, the Cards are 50-186 (.269) against him: Holliday is 5-9 (.556), Heyward is 10-24 (.417) with a HR, Carpenter is 4-14 (.286), and Peralta is 10-40 (.250) with 3 HR.

Lester is 6-4 with a 2.57 in the postseason. He was dominant with the Red Sox in their 2013 championship campaign, going 4-1 with a 1.56 in five games. In the AL Wild Card game last year with Oakland, he gave up 6 ER in 7.1 innings to the pennant-winning Royals.

Lackey lost in Atlanta on Sunday (4 IP, 3 ER) but had a great September (2-1, 1.78), going at least 7 innings in each of his five starts. At Busch this year, he’s 9-4 with a 1.93 ERA. He’s 2-0 with a 1.75 in three games against the Cubs this year, and they are hitting .244 in those games. Overall, the Cubs are 34-121 (.281) against him: Fowler (2-7, .286), Schwarber (no ABs), Rizzo (1-12, .083), Bryant (2-9, .222), Castro (3-12, .250), Coghlan (8-17, .471), Russell (2-7, .286), and Ross (1-3, .333).

In 18 postseason games, including two championship teams (LAA in 2002 and BOS in 2013), Lackey is 7-5 with a 3.08 ERA.

Game Two is tomorrow at 4:30pmCT: Hendricks vs. Garcia.

Go Cubs!

 

Comments

Gordo's lede today: ST. LOUIS – Whether it’s a year early or right on time, Jon Lester’s $155 million moment arrives just after 5:45 p.m. Friday.

[ ]

In reply to by Tito

I've been pretty harsh with Lester here at various times but that's how it is when you pull in that kind of money, and besides, it's not like he reads my posts or would care what I have to say if he did read them for some reason. If I was him, the first thing out of my mouth would be, what level have you played this game at, pal? Anyway, he's really looked good lately, and overall his body of work turned out pretty good, too. I'm glad his worst struggles were in April. This is such an easy team to like that I even like the overpaid free agent.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

So, yes, I have been quoting your, "mediocre pitcher" label all year in jest - good or bad. He has been pretty filthy against the Cards, and this is the game they need to "steal". I am hoping against hope that Pedro Strop only sees the mound if the Cubs are up 8 in a game.

Cubs go home 1-1, with Arrieta starting game 3, I like our chances in this series. Tomorrow's pitching matchup is lousy on paper, so today is obviously crucial. Will be fun to watch. My two keys are scoring early, and keeping Lester's pitch count below 15 per inning.

So Kershaw is opening the series for the Dodgers. How, then, does Greinke get the Cy Young? Not even the best pitcher on his team!

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

I wonder if it is about numbers specifically against the Mets. But, it could also be because Kershaw can go 9 innings everytime, while Grienke very rarely makes it through the game. They don't want to expose their weak bullpen. I have trouble getting past the extraordinary 1.66 ERA, but I don't know what the heck will happen with the Cy Young vote this year.

Fowler (CF), Schwarber (RF!), Bryant (3B), Rizzo (1B), Castro (2B), Coughlan (LF), Russell (SS), Ross (C), Lester (P)

Joe.

So all this business about Maddon being an old Cards fan and Arrieta being in Matt Carpenter's wedding... I have really strong feelings about this stuff. I'm not sure if I really enjoy it or really despise it, but I feel strongly about it...

aside from one swing, this 1-0 game feels like a blow out. Still nice to know one swing can change everything. We need Rizzo and Bryant to show up.

Really doesn't matter, but I was surprised to see Lester out for the 8th. Down 1-0, at 100 pitches, seemed better to give a very fresh bullpen a little work. Oh well...Throw away game, although in a 5 game series there is no luxury afforded to do that.

"Strop vs. Cardinals." Seen the movie. Hated it. Not all that disappointed -- I didn't think they would beat Lackey in Game 1. Need to get the bats going against the guys with less experience -- and they hit Wacha pretty good.

TBS' K Zone seems to be more harsh than the others. I wonder if MLB will ask the networks to stop using them. They just make the umps, and the game, look bad, and it only pisses off the fans.

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

Considering how players reacted it seemed pretty accurate high and wide (to righties), but not so accurate low and in. I thought the strike zone by the ump was awful, but it was consistent and the Cubs never adjusted. Rizzo and Bryant need to have good at bats. They are really looking outclassed in these two games.

[ ]

In reply to by blockhead25

I think it's probably hard to adjust to an ump's zone mid-game, as least for hitters. Pitchers can locate to an ump's zone, but hitters have minimal time to react. But, whatever. Umps are going to miss calls. Let's beat up on the non-Lackey starters.

Cubs 3-4-5 hitters are 0-21 so far in the post-season. Let's change that in a big effin' way tomorrow, boys.

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Childersb3: Very possible. Suriel, too. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    DJL: if a pitcher is recalled to be the 27th man for a doubleheader and then is optioned back to the minors the next day, the 15-day "clock" does NOT reset. The one day call-up for the doubleheader is treated like it never happened with respect to a pitcher having to spend at least 15 days on optional assignment before he can be recalled. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Probably the only reason David Peralta is still in the organization (he is at AAA Iowa) is to be available in case anything bad were to happen to Ian Happ (which it just did). So if Happ needs to go on the IL, the Cubs can select Peralta to play LF, DFA Wisdom (and hope he and what remains of his $2.725M salary gets claimed off waivers), and recall Mervis to platoon at DH with Cooper (with Canario / Tauchman sharing RF), at least until Suzuki and Happ are back...

     

  • crunch (view)

    i'd just like to take a moment to express to the world i'm still pissed willson contreras is not a cub when the pricetag was 5/87m (17.5m/yr).

    it would be nice to have a legacy-type player to stick around, especially one with his leadership and the respect he gets from his peers.  cubs fans deserved more than 1 season of contreras + morel...that was gold.

  • crunch (view)

    happ, right hamstring tightness, day-to-day (hopefully 0 days).

    he will be reevaluated tomorrow.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    I guess I'm not looking for that type of AB 

    Just a difference of opinion

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    I don’t see Tauchman as a weak link in any position. He simply adds his value in a different way.

    I don’t know that we gain much by putting him in the outfield - Happ, Bellinger and Suzuki and Tauchman all field their positions well. If you’re looking for Taucnman’s kind of AB in a particular game I don’t see why it can’t come from DH.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Tauchman gets a pinch hit RBI single with a liner to RF. This is his spot. He's a solid 4th OF. But he isn't a DH. 

    He takes pitches. Useful. I still believe in having good hitters.

    You don't want your DH to be your weak link (other than your C maybe)

  • crunch (view)

    bit of a hot take here, but i'm gonna say it.

    the 2024 marlins don't seem to be good at doing baseballs.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Phil, will the call up for a double header restart that 15 days on assignment for a pitcher? Like will wesneski’s 15 days start yesterday, or if he’s the 27th man, will that mean 15 days from tomorrow?

    I hope that makes sense. It sounds clearer in my head.