Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full), plus one player is 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 3-28-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

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

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

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Ben Brown, P 
Alexander Canario, OF 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Keegan Thompson, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

10-DAY IL: 1 
Patrick Wisdom, INF 

15-DAY IL: 1 
Jameson Taillon, P 

60-DAY IL: 1 
Caleb Kilian, 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

  • Charlie (view)

    I worry that Morel will lose starts at 3B as long as this roster lacks a compelling DH.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    I think if you had ranked players by how much the team could ill afford to have them miss significant time, Steele would be right at the top of the list.

  • crunch (view)

    steele MRI on friday.  counsell expects an IL stint.

    no current plans for his rotation replacement.

  • hellfrozeover (view)

    I would say also in the bright side column is Busch looked pretty good overall at the plate. Alzolay…man, that hurts but most of the time he’s not giving up a homer to that guy. To me the worst was almonte hanging that pitch to Garcia. He hung another one to the next hitter too and got away with it on an 0-1. 

  • crunch (view)

    amaya blocked like 6-8 of smyly's pitches in the dirt very cleanly...not even an exaggeration, smyly threw a ton of pitches bouncing in tonight.

    neris looking like his old self was a relief (no pun), too.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    In looking for bright spots the defense was outstanding tonight. The “stars” are going to need to shine quite a bit brighter than they did tonight offensively though for this to be a successful season.

  • Eric S (view)

    Good baseball game. Hopefully Steele is pitching again in April (but I’m not counting on it). 

  • crunch (view)

    boo.

  • crunch (view)

    smyly to face the 2/3/4 hitters with a man on 2nd in extras.

    this doesn't seem like a 8 million dollar managerial decision.

  • crunch (view)

    i 100% agree with you, but i dunno how jed wants to run things.  the default is delay.  i would choose brown.

    like hellfrozeover says, could be smyly since he's technically fresh and stretched.

    anyway, on a pure talent basis....brown is the best option.