The Cubs remain at Wrigley after an off day and host the Padres for a three-game series to close out the homestand. They had a run of five series wins in a row before losing three of four to the Dodgers at home. Positive production from the top through the middle of the lineup along with mostly solid starting pitching have allowed their current 12-9 record. They've gotten little offense from DH or 1B, and Yan Gomes's homeruns have been the only real offensive contribution from the catcher position. Meanwhile, Mervis, Velazquez, and Morel are each making strong showings in Iowa.

Cubs 2022 3rd round draft pick (#86 overall) Christopher Paciolla roped a double into the LF corner leading off the game and scored later in the inning on a Raino Coran sacrifce fly, singled in the top of the 3rd, walked in the top of the 5th and then made an outstanding diving backhand stop and laser throw to 1st to rob a hitter of a double in the bottom of the inning, and in his final AB pulled what would have been a HR down the LF line before it hooked foul just before clearing the fence, as the Cubs edged the Rockies 3-2 in a Cactus League Extended Spring Training game played Monday mor

2023 EXST CUBS ROSTER (updated 4/22)

74 players 

* bats or throws left 
# bats both 

PITCHERS: 36  
Elian Almanzar (not throwing "live" BP or pitching in games) 
* Jose Aquino (not throwing "live" BP or pitching in games)
Max Bain (ACTIVE - on Tennessee Development List)
Juan Bello (not throwing "live" BP or pitching in games)
* Burl Carraway (ACTIVE - on Tennessee 7-day IL) 
Danis Correa (THROWING BULLPENS ONLY - on Tennessee Development List)

Henry Bolte (A's #11 prospect) smacked an RBI triple, singled, stole a base, and scored a run, Pedro Pineda singled, walked, stole two bases, scored two runs, and drove-in another, Denzel Clarke (A's #10 prospect) singled twice, stole a base, and scored a run, and Bjay Cooke singled twice and drove-in a run, helping the Athletics edge the Cubs 5-4 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Saturday morning at the Lew Wolff Training Complex at Fitch Park in Mesa, AZ.  

Anderson Suriel clubbed a solo HR (his third home run in four games this week), walked, lofted a sacrifice fly, and doubled and scored, Geuri Lubo doubled, walked, and scored a run, Ronnier Quintero (two-run single) and Ismael Mena (RBI single) stroked consecutive run-scoring hits to highlight a three-run third inning, and SP Jackson Ferris fired three innings of shutout ball, lifting the Cubs to an 8-4 victory over the Diamondbacks Red squad in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Friday afternoon at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.    

Jefferson Rojas lined an RBI double off the LF fence and scored a run in the bottom of the 1st inning, drilled another RBI double off the LF fence in the 2nd, looped a double down the RF line in the 4th, and (for dessert) lofted a sacrifice fly to the warning track in RF in the 6th, Anderson Suriel singled twice, stole four bases, and scored two runs, and Ke'Shun Collier singled, walked twice, stole two bases, and scored two runs (but unfortunately also made the final out of the game when he was thrown out trying to steal 3rd base), but it just wasn't enough as Junior Franco belted a bases-

The Cubs took advantage of the series in Oakland to boost their offensive statistics and their standing in the NL Central. They are still behind the Brewers, but the favored Cardinals are now 4th in the division at 8-11 while the Cubs are five over .500 at 11-6. The Dodgers will visit them at Wrigley, having lost two of three to the Cubs in L.A. See below for matchups int he four-game set.

Game 18, Thursday, April 20, 6:40 pm central

LAD: RHP Michael Grove (0-1, 9.00 ERA)

CHC: RHP Jameson Taillon (0-2, 4.50 ERA)

After throwing his first "live" BP a week ago on a backfield, RHRP Codi Heuer (on Cubs MLB 60-day IL - March 2022 TJS) threw a "live" BP in the stadium (Sloan Park) this morning. 

Working one "inning" and facing James Triantos, Ezequiel Pagan, and Ronnier Quintero, Heuer threw 21 pitches (16 strikes - seven swing & miss). 

As is usual with "live" BP at Extended Spring Training, the Cubs hired an umpire to call balls & strikes. However, the hitters did not run the bases, and with one exception (Ed Howard played SS on defense) there were no fielders.  

Geury Lubo (two-run bomb), Cristian More (solo blast), and Anderson Suriel (solo shot - his second dinger in two days) belted back-to-back-to back HR to highlight a four-run 4th inning, Adan Sanchez drilled an RBI single to give the Cubs the lead in the 6th, and Alexis Hernandez singled and scored in the 6th and smacked a solo HR in the 8th, as the Cubs dug themselves out of an early 4-0 hole and rallied to defeat the Athletics 6-4 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Tuesday morning at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ. 

Kyle Hendricks and DJ Herz combined to hurl five innings of shutout ball with seven strikeouts, Christopher Paciolla laced an RBI double and a single, and Anderson Suriel belted a solo HR, leading the Cubs to a 3-1 victory over the Rockies in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Monday morning on Dust Storm Field at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, east of Scottsdale, AZ.