The Cubs' recent run of failure proceeded from frustrating to demoralizing against the Pirates. Solid pitching and defensive performers fell through and two attempted comebacks fell short as the Cubs managed only one win. Chicago is in a virtual tie for the final NL Wild Card spot with nine games remaining. They have three games against the Rockies at Wrigley to leave home on a positive note. See below for matchups.

Game 154, Friday, September 22, 1:20 pm central
CHC: RHP Jameson Taillon (7-10, 5.27 ERA)
COL: RHP Noah Davis (0-2, 9.58 ERA)

SP Juan Bello tossed three innings of no run / no hit ball and combined with three relievers on a four-hitter, Zyhir Hope singled leading off the game and scored on a bases-loaded 4-6-3 DP, Drew Bowser crushed a towering solo HR in the 2nd, Adan Sanchez and Carter Trice belted back-to-back home runs with two outs in the 4th, and Sanchez, Trice, Bowser (RBI), and Reggie Preciado stroked consecutive singles, Jose Escobar drew a walk with the bases loaded to force-in a run, a third run scored on a 6-4-3 DP, and Zyhir Hope roped a two-out single to right to plate the fourth and final run of the

Skyler Messinger laced a double and an RBI single and scored a run, Bryant Betancourt and Jesus Bugarin each drilled a two-run single, and Andy Perez singled, walked, stole two bases, and scored two runs, helping the Rockies edge the Cubs 5-4 in Arizona Instructional League game action Tuesday morning on Dust Storm Field at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, east of Scottsdale, AZ.   

Geuri Lubo belted a solo HR and Zyhir Hope reached base four times (two singles, an E-4, and an HBP), stole a base, and scored two runs for the Cubs.   

Following a day off on Monday, the Cubs begin their final homestand of the season. They need to put a devastating road trip behind them, as they have only twelve games left to scratch their way to a Wild Card position. They begin the homestand in a virtual tie with the Cincinnati Reds for the last NL Wild Card spot. Mathematically, the division is still in play as they are six games back of the Brewers and finish with a three game set in Milwaukee. They'll begin six at home with three games against the Pirates.

Geuri Lubo singled twice, walked, stole a base, scored a run, and drove-in another, Josh Rivera laced an RBI double, and Luis Devers, Alfredo Romero, and Yenrri Rojas combined to hurl a two-hitter, helping the Cubs defeat the Diamondbacks 4-1 in Arizona Instructional League game action Saturday morning at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ. 

The game was called after seven innings of play. 

Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only): 

AZIL CUBS LINEUP: 
1. Leonel Espinoza, CF: 0-2 (F-8, K, 2-3 SH, F-8 SF, RBI)

The Cubs took only one game from the last place Rockies in a series full of mistakes. They had Thursday to travel and regroup. Their rebound opportunity comes against the Diamondbacks in Arizona. Both teams face Wild Card stakes as the season nears its conclusion. Marcus Stroman has been building up his arm and could be pushes for an early return to big league action as the Cubs scramble for the postseason. See below for daily matchups.

Kenny Castillo blasted a three-run HR in the bottom of the 1st, Alexander Benua hammered an RBI triple and scored in the 1st, walked in the 3rd, singled, stole two bases, and scored a run in the 6th, and singled and scored in the 8th, Yerald Nin cracked a bases-loaded bases-clearing double in the 8th, and Juan Aparicio singled twice, walked, stole two bases, and scored a run, as the Diamondbacks scored early and often en route to a 13-5 thrashing of the Cubs in Arizona Instructional League game action Thursday morning on Whirlwind Field at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, east of Scottsd

2023 CUBS ARIZONA INSTRUCTIONAL LEAGUE ROSTER

LAST UPDATED: 9-12-2023

* bats or throws left 
# bats both  

51 players

NOTE: Not all players have reported  

PITCHERS: 31 
Gabriel Agrazal
Juan Bello
* Daniel Brown 
Garrett Brown
Raino Coran (ex-OF) 
Nick Dean 
Luis Devers 
Kenten Egbert
Will Frisch 
* Carlos Garcia
Landon Ginn 

Christopher Paciolla blasted a two-run home run and Mason McGwire, Branden Noriega, and Luis A. Reyes combined to hurl a two-hit shutout, as the Cubs blanked the Giants 4-0 in Arizona Instructional League game action Tuesday morning at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.

Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only):

Despite dropping the first three games against the Diamondbacks this weekend, the Cubs pulled out a win in the final game and remain in the second NL Wild Card spot and three games back in the Central. They begin this week on the road in Colorado where they will play three games against a Rockies team aspiring to lose fewer than 100 games this season. Kris Bryant recently took batting practice but remains without a timetable for his return from a finger fracture.