Archive

UPDATED 6/16: 

As things stand right now...

Alfonso Rivas (on AA Tennessee 7-day IL) belted a solo HR and a single, Wally Soto clubbed a solo HR and an RBI double and scored two runs, Shendrik Apostel thumped an RBI triple off the top of the CF Batter's Eye and singled, Owen Caissie doubled and singled and scored two runs, and Yeison Santana drilled a two-run double and reached base on a walk and an HBP and scored a run, leading the Cubs to an 8-5 victory over the Athletics in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Tuesday morning on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.   

LHP Brendon Little (on AA Tennessee 7-day IL) made a rehab start and needed only 18 pitches to toss two perfect innings (4-3, 6-3, K / L-8, 6-3, 6-3). In fact, he was so efficient that he was sent to the bullpen after he left the game to throw another 15 pitches in the pen.  

Recently acquired catcher Tim Susnara (ex-AZ) made his Cub debut, catching the first five innings of the game and going 0-2 at the plate with a walk. Susnara's contract was purchased by the Cubs from Ogden (Pioneer League) last week, the second player acquired by the Cubs from the Pioneer League (formerly an affiliated short-season league, but now it's an independent MLB "Partner League"). The other player acquired by the Cubs from the Pioneer League recently is 1B Matt Warkentin, and he has been at EXST for about ten days.  

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

Yeison Santana went 4-4 (solo HR and three singles) and scored three runs, Owen Caissie drilled two doubles and a single, drew a walk, scored a run, and  knocked-in two, Felix Stevens blasted a two-run HR, Jose Lopez belted a two-run triple, and SP Porter Hodge fired 3.1 IP of shutout ball, as the Cubs demolished the Rockies 13-2 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Monday morning on Dust Storm Field at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick Resort east of Scottsdale, AZ. 

The game was called after 7-1/2 innings of play.  

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

The Cubs swept the Cardinals at Wrigley to remain tied for first with the Brewers, and to push the Cards all the way to 4th in the division. They return to the jet-set life with a four-game series against the Mets. This will be their second time taking on the Mets. The Cubs took three out of three at Wrigley April 20-22. This time, they are not fortunate enough to dodge Jacob deGrom. The Mets enter the series first in the NL East thanks largely to their pitching staff; they lead the NL in fWAR on the pitching side while their offense rates at near the middle of the pack. See below for the pitching matchups.

The Cubs return from a challenging 7-game road trip to take on the Cardinals on home turf. The Cardinals come in trailing the tied Cubs and Brewers by 3 games in the division. The Cubs continue to labor without Trevor Williams and now Adbert Alzolay--the matchups you'll find below are my best guess at the probables.

Junior Franco tripled and scored and Ricardo Caldera belted a three run home run to highlight a four-run 4th inning, as the Diamonbacks cruised to a 4-2 victory over the Cubs in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Thursday morning on Whirlwind Field at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick Resort east of Scottsdale, AZ.  

Trent Giambrone is on a Conditioning Assignment at EXST, and he played 3B for the Cubs in the game, batted five times (he led-off each of the first five innings), drew four walks, and scored a run. He also committed a costly throwing error and was caught stealing on the basepaths. 

The Cubs played as the home team because the D'backs had a limited number of pitchers available to throw in the game, and the game was called after 6-1/2 innings of play. 

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

2021 CUBS EXTENDED SPRING TRAINING ROSTER