The Cubs finish out their Wrigley games for the season with three against the Cincinnati Reds. See below for the pitching matchups.

Miguel Pabon drilled an RBI double, walked, stole a base, and scored two runs, Anderson Suriel doubled, walked, drove-in two runs, and stole a base, and Rafael Morel doubled and singled and scored two runs, as the Cubs "Blue Squad" eged the Cubs "Red Squad" 6-5 in AZ Instructional League intrasquad game action Tuesday moring on Field # 1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.   

Reggie Preciado belted a two-run HR, singled, stole two bases, and scored two runs, and Cristian Hernandez cracked an RBI double, singled, and score a run for the "Red Squad" in a losing cause.  

The game was pre-planned as a six-inning contest. 

Erbin Jaque belted a two-run inside-the-park HR, Pedro Ramirez singled, doubled, and drew a walk, and Haydn McGeary singled twice and drove-in a run, as the Cubs "Blue Squad" blanked the Cubs "Red Squad" 4-0 in AZ Instructional League intrasquad game action Monday afternoon on Field # 1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ. 

The game was pre-planned as a seven-inning contest. 

Pedro Ramirez saw his first-ever pro game action in CF, as the Cubs are attempting to exploit his power / speed combo all over the diamond. He was mostly a SS in the DSL in 2021, but was moved to 2B in the ACL this season to accommodate Cubs top SS prospect Cristian Hernandez. Ramirez also played some 3B in the ACL.   

The Jaque inside-the-park HR was amazing. It was like watching "The Freeze" race a fan at an Atlanta Braves game. The hit itself was an oppo-field line-drive into the right-centerfield alley, and CF Ismael Mena got to it quickly. Parker Chavers was on 1st base and was running on the pitch, but Jaque caught up with him at 3rd base and they both scored standing up about a foot apart.

Jaque may be the fastest runner I have ever seen on a baseball diamond. He is really, really fast. That said, there may be some issues with his hit tool. Despite the blazing speed displayed with the inside-the-park job, he also struck out swinging against DSL Cubs Blue Pitching Coach Jose Zapata.

Cubs 2022 4th round pick Nazier Mule once again served as a DH, the second time he has done so in a Cubs AZIL intrasquad game. He singled, stole second, and scored a run in the top of the 5th. Although he has not yet appeared in an AZIL game as a pitcher, he has been throwing bullpen side sessions and metriculating in the Pitch Lab on Camp Days. He also has taken ground balls at SS in infield practice. By all appearances, the Cubs do intend to allow Mule to be a two-way player. He is a very unique five-tool SS / RHP.

The Cubs have greet the Phillies to begin the final homestand of 2022. This will also be the Cubs' final chance to play spoiler for the season as the Phillies fight off the Brewers for teh final Wild Card spot. See below for pitching matchups.

Brody McCullough, Brandon Birdsell, and Frankie Scalzo Jr combined to hurl five innings of no run / no hit ball with nine strikeouts, and Parker Chavers walked, stole a base, and drilled an RBI single to account for the lone run in the game, as the Cubs "Blue Squad" blanked the Cubs "Red Squad" 1-0 in AZ Instructional League intrasquad game action Saturday morning on Field # 1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.  

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

Four pitchers combined to hurl ten innings of shutout ball with 17 strikeouts, as the Cubs "Blue Squad" and the Cubs "Red Squad" played to a scoreless tie in AZ Instructional League intrasquad game action Thursday morning on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.  

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

Here is the box score frrom the game: 

9/22 UPDATE: 

LHP Sean Newcomb was semt outright to AAA Iowa on Monday (9/19).

As an Article XX-D player, Newcomb had the right to elect free-agency immediately and forfeit what remains of his 2022 salary (he had 72 hours to decide) or defer free-agency until the conclusion of the MLB regular season and continue to get paid. He has accepted the outright assignment, choosing to defer free-agency until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season (if not added back to the MLB 40-man roster in the meantime). 

+++++++++++++++++++++

9/17 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have selected the contract of INF Esteban Quiroz from AAA Iowa and he has been added to the Cubs MLB Reserve List (40-man roster). He would have been eligible for selection in the 2022 MLB Rule 5 Draft if he hadn't been added to the 40. 

Like Javier Assad, Jeremiah Estrada, Hayden Wesneski, and Jared Young, Quiroz will have Rule 5 Draft-Excluded Player status until twenty days prior to 2023 MLB Opening Day. 

++++++++++++++++++++