Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full) 

28 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, and twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors. 

Last updated 3-26-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 15
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

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

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
Alexander Canario
# 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 

 



 

Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Cubs See High-Speed Black and Rally to Tie at Riverview Park

Jhonny Pereda drilled a game-tying two-out two-run single in the bottom of the 7th and then he tied the game again with an RBI double with two outs in the bottom of the 9th, as the Cubs rallied to tie the Giants in a Cactus League Extended Spring Training game played this morning on Field #6 at Mesa CubTown at Riverview Park.

The game was called after ten innings of play with the scored tied 4-4.

Kevin Encarnacion singled twice, walked, drove-in a run, and scored another for the Cubs, and Chuckie Jones drove-in two runs with an RBI single and a sacrifice fly and scored a run, Evan Potter reached base twice (HBP and a single), stole a base, and scored two runs, and LHSP Nik Turley hurled four innings of shutout ball for the Giants.

Veteran MLB RHP Felipe Paulino got his second EXST start for the Cubs, throwing two shutout innings (29 pitches - 20 strikes), allowing two singles and no walks, with four strikeouts and a 1/1 GO/FO.

Veteran MLB RHRP Daniel Bard saw his first Cactus League EXST game action (he pitched in an intrasquad game two days ago), and threw one inning (17 pitches - 10 strikes), allowing one run on two hits (both singles) and a HBP, with no walks or strikeouts, 

Veteran LHRP Daniel Schlereth threw in his second Cactus League EXST game for the Cubs, and he labored through his one inning of work (26 pitches - only 11 strikes), allowing a run on one hit (a single), three walks, and two WP (but also two strikeouts),   

The Cubs trailed 3-0 going into the bottom of the 7th, and then proceeded to tie the game with a three-spot off Giants fireballing RHRP Ray Black (Eloy Jimenez lead-off double off the LF fence, Kevin Encarnacion RBI single to right, and two walks to load the bases, and then the two-out two-run Jhonny Pereda line-drive RBI single once Black had left the game).

Despite blowing the lead, Black was getting his fastball velocity up to triple digits today, topping out at 101 MPH. (He was clocked at 102 last Saturday in a Cactus League EXST game versus the Angels in Tempe). The Cubs knew about him, so a couple dozen of the players who weren't in the game crowded around behind the screen watching the radar gun readings, shouting out each time he hit 100 or 101. It's not often you seen triple-digit fastballs at Extended Spring Training. 

Black is an interesting case, because he had TJS in high school and then after being drafted by the Giants in 2011 (7th round out of the U. of Pittsburgh), he missed the next two seasons with a torn labrum. He finally returned to the mound last season, and he racked up an incredible 71 strikeouts in only 35.1 IP (that's 18.1 K per 9 innings) and only 4.3 hits allowed per 9 innings (combined) at Augusta and San Jose, which got him a spot on the Giants MLB 40-man roster post-2014 despite having only one year of pro game experience and no experience above "A" ball.  

While the Cubs were playing the Giants in the Cactus League EXST game on Field #6, the rest of the Cubs EXST contigent was engaged in a seven-inning intrasquad game on Field #4.

LHP Carson Sands (Cubs 2014 4th round pick - North Florida Christian HS - Tallahassee, FL) was one of the starting pitchers in the intrasquad game, and he was outstanding, hurling 3.1 IP of hitless shutout ball (one walk and four strikeouts).

Conversely, RHP Jose Zapata was unable to retire a batter, allowing five runs on a single, a double, a triple, and two walks. Zapata is attempting to come back after suffering a cervical fracture in an off-season car crash in the Dominican Republic post-2013, the same crash that almost killed Kevin Encarnacion. 

Here is the abridged box score from today's Cactus Leagie EXST game (Cubs players only), followed by the box score from the intrasquad game: 


CACTUS LEAGUE EXST GAME - CUBS VERSUS GIANTS 

FIELD #6

CUBS LINEUP
1. Kevonte Mitchell, CF: 0-5 (K, F-9, 5-4-3 DP, 4-3, L-8)
2. Frandy de la Rosa, 2B: 0-5 (K, 4-3, F-9, P-4, E-6)
3. Eloy Jimenez, LF: 1-5 (F-8, F-9, 2B, K, L-5, R)
4. Kevin Encarnacion, RF: 2-4 (P-1, 1B, 1B, BB, K, R, RBI)
5. Adonis Paula, 1B: 1-3 (1B, K, BB, 6-3, BB, R, PO)
6. Andrew Ely, 3B: 0-3 (F-9, BB, BB, F-7, K)
7. Ho-Young Son, SS: 1-3 (1B, 4-6-3 DP, P-4, BB, R, PO)
8. Alberto Mineo, C-DH: 1-4 (K, 2B, P-5, F-7)
9. Jhonny Pereda, DH-C: 2-3 (F-8, BB, 1B, 2B, 3 RBI)

CUBS PITCHERS
1. Felipe Paulino: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 1/1 GO/FO, 29 pitches (20 strikes) 
2. Daniel Bard: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP, 1/2 GO/FO, 17 pitches (10 strikes) 
3. Brad Markey: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 2/1 GO/FO, 23 pitches (16 strikes) 
4. Daniel Schlereth: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 2 K, 2 WP, 0/1 GO/FO, 26 pitches (11 strikes) 
5. Alexander Santana: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 2/1 GO/FO, 24 pitches (17 strikes) 
6. Jordan Brink: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 0/1 GO/FO, 16 pitches (9 strikes) 
7. Corbin Hoffner: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 1/1 GO/FO, 25 pitches (16 strikes) 

CUBS ERRORS: 2 
1. P Felipe Paulino: E-1 (errant throw on pick-off attempt at 1st base allowed baserunner to advance to 2nd) 
2. C Alberto Mineo: E-2 (overthrow on stolen base at 2nd base allowed baserunner to advance to 3rd)

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE
Alberto Mineo: 0-1 CS, 1 E (see above)

WEATHER: Partly cloudy & breezy with tempratures in the 70's 

ATTENDANCE: 12 

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

EXST CUBS INTRASQUAD GAME 

NOTE: Tyler Alamo and Tyler Pearson served as Designated Hitters for both squads. 

FIELD #4 

CUBS SQUAD "B" LINEUP:
1. Robert Garcia, CF: 0-3 (6-3, K, K)
2. Tyler Alamo, DH #1: 1-2 (F-8, 1B, R)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED THIRD TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
3. Jenner Emeterio, RF: 1-3 (F-8, 3B, K, R, RBI)
4. Varonex Cuevas, 1B: 0-2 (K, F-8 SF, 3-1, RBI)
5. Tyler Pearson, DH #2: 0-1 (K, BB)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED THIRD TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
6. Yohan Matos, C: 1-2 (BB, F-9, 1B, SB)
7. Carlos Sepulveda, 2B: 0-3 (K, L-8, F-7)
8. Jose Paniagua, LF: 0-3 (F-8, L-8, K)
9. Andruw Monasterio, SS: 0-1 (6-3)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED SECOND TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
10. Calvin Graves, DH #3: 0-2 (P-6, F-9)
11. Wladimir Galindo, 3B: NO AB
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST TWO TIMES THRU BATTING ORDER

CUBS SQUAD "A" LINEUP:
1. Roberto Caro, CF: 1-4 (5-3, F-7, 3B, K, R, RBI)
2. Danny Gutierrez, RF: 2-4 (P-6, E-9, 2B, E-5, R, RBI, SB)
3. Tim Saunders, SS: 1-3 (F-7, 2B, BB, K, 2 R)
4. Roney Alcala, 1B: 2-4 (2B, K, 1B, 4-3, R, RBI)
5. Bryant Flete, 2B; 1-2 (K, 3B, BB, 2 R, RBI, SB)
6. Ricardo Marcano, LF: 1-3 (F-8, 3-2 FC, 1B, 2 RBI, SB)
7. Carlos Jimenez, 3B: 0-3 (F-7, F-8, P-3)
8. Miguel Rico, C:  1-2 (E-5, 1B, RBI)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED SECOND TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
9a. Tyler Alamo, DH: 0-1 (F-7)
9b. Tyler Pearson, PH: 0-0 (BB, R)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED THIRD TIME THRU BATTING ORDER

CUBS SQUAD "B" PITCHERS
1. Jesus Camargo: 4.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 2/8 GO/FO, 51 pitches (35 strikes) 
2. Jose Zapata: 0.0 IP, 3 H, 5 R (5 ER), 2 BB, 0 K, 23 pitches (9 strikes)
3. Pedro Araujo: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 1/1GO/FO, 37pitches (23 strikes) 

CUBS SQUAD "A" PITCHERS
1. Carson Sands: 3.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 2/4 GO/FO, 45 pitches (26 strikes) 
2. Jae-Hoon Ha: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 1 WP, 0/3 GO/FO, 22 pitches (13 strikes) 
3. Hector Perez: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 1/3 GO/FO, 32 pitches (22 strikes) 

CUBS SQUAD "B" ERRORS:
1. 3B Wladimir Galindo: E-5 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely) 
2. CF Robert Garcia: E-8 (fielding error allowed batter to advanvce an extra base) 
3. 3B Wladimir Galindo: E-5 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)
4. C Yohan Matos: E-2 overthrow on stolen base at 2nd base allowed runner to advance to 3rd)

CUBS SQUAD "A" ERRORS: 1 
C Miguel Rico: E-2 (overthrow on stolen base at 2nd base allowed runner to advance to 3rd)  

CUBS SQUAD "B" CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Yohan Matos: 0-3 CS, 1 E (see above)

CUBS SQUAD "A" CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Miguel Rico: 0-1 CS, 1 E (see above) 

Comments

KRIS BRYANT! KRIS BRYANT! WORLDSTARHIPHOP! KRIS BRYANT! WORLDSTARHIPHOP! WORLDSTARHIPHOP! WORLDSTARHIPHOP! WORLDSTARHIPHOP! WORLDSTARHIPHOP! WORLDSTARHIPHOP! WORLDSTARHIPHOP!

Must have been great seeing Ray Black firing pitches over 100mph. That is incredible after his surgeries. Hopefully Dylan Cease will come thru like that after his TJ.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

T Wood started this shit parade last week when he surrendered a grand slam to the cardinals in the first inning with a 5-0 lead. The strain on the already shitty bullpen began thusly, and here we are again with him just getting POUNDED. I like him as a guy, but as a pitcher right now he is KILLING us.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

as far as end-rotation replacement, at least wada is waiting in the wings (he's paid $4m, so he's not an afterthought). good to know that if t.wood continues he may end up doing long relief while wada slips into the rotation. it's at least an option (one not named jokisch).

Travis was one of the worst starting pitchers in baseball last year (in NL ERA, second worst only to...EJax, I believe), so this should not be a surprise to anyone. I'm sure he's a fine fellow, but, if they are to make any effort for the wild card this year, he needs to be gone. Soon. The evidence is quite compelling.

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

And at some point Wada won't be "rehabbing" anymore at AAA. He's throwing a fair amount of pitches and having success. I'm guessing one of these days we are going to wake up to Jackson either traded for nothing or DFAed and Wood moved to be the longman and Wada called up to be in the rotation. 

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

Tsuyoshi Wada's 30-day Minor League Rehab Assignment could be cut-short, but if it goes the full 30 days he would have to be reinstated no later than May 17th (next Sunday). The only thing that could change that is if he he were to suffer a relapse related to the groin injury that landed him on the DL in Spring Training, or a new/different injury. 

The Cubs could ask Wada to accept an Optional Assignment to Iowa once he completes his Minor League Rehab Assignment (he agreed to be optioned to the minors with Baltimore in 2013 and again with the Cubs last season), but he has $2M in potential performance bonuses in his 2015 contract (he didn't have performance bonuses in 2013 or 2014), so the Cubs would probably have to guarantee some or all of the $2M in performance bonuses before he would accept an Optional Assignmenmt to the minors this time. (Wada has Article XX-B status because of his NPB service time).  

Travis Wood has not yet reached five years of MLB Service Time, so he does not have to give his permission before he can be sent to the minors. He is out of minor league options, but the Cubs could place him on Outright Assignment Waivers and then if he is not claimed, they could outright him to the minors.

If Wood is placed on Outright Waivers and is claimed by another club, that club would assume his contract and would have to pay 100% of what is left of his 2015 salary (about $4.5M), and the Cubs would receive the $20,000 waiver transfer fee.

Because he has accrued at least three years of MLB Srrice Time, Wood can elect free-agency if he is outrighted. He could accept the assignment and defer free-agency until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season (in which case he would continue to receive his 2015 salary), or elect free-agency immediately and receive no termination pay (saving the Cubs about $4.5M). Of course, the Cubs would get nothing back for him if he is outrighted and elects free-ageny... they would just save payroll.   

On the other hand, Edwin Jackson has accrued at least five years of MLB Service Time, so he cannot be outrighted without his consent. He can be released, but if the Cubs release Jackson they are on the hook for what remains of his 2015 and 2016 salaries (about $8M+ left this season, and the entire $11M next season), minus only the pro-rated MLB minimum salaries in 2015 & 2016 if he signs a major league contract with another club (pro-rated minimum left this season would be about $400K, and then the entire $500K+ next season, for a savings of just under $1M, with the Cubs paying the rest).

 

Going for a split of the first 6 games against the worst team in baseball -- c'mon, Kyle, it't time to show something.

I turned the game off just before Ross came in to pitch. When I saw it in the comments I thought it was a joke. The real question is: is he available for an inning today?

Possible dumb question, but Google was no help really: Is there a site where I can sort through hard-hit percentage and or speed-off-bat / exit velocity numbers? Or are they proprietary and available only in those faketeams.com articles? (I'm curious in part because of Coghlan's fairly enormous BABIP woes, and I wonder where his hard-hit numbers are, but also for future reference.) Thanks in advance and/or sorry for not finding the answer myself if it turns out to be obvious.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

It doesn't help you with accumulated numbers, but you can use the MLB App, go to the box score, and choose "Feed" and you'll see the speed of the ball hit and where it was hit. Not quite what you're looking for but helps at least to see on a game by game basis.

it's a shame this isn't lester vs garza and everyone just tries to bunt on the pitchers all game. that would be a special circus of pitcher errors.

2 on and 2 out with the 8-hitter up. It sure would be nice if this were Russell, instead.

[ ]

In reply to by CTSteve

expand rosters, pitch nothing but relievers, pinch hit for them every time...profit (why don't we see this more in sept?). the problem with hypothetical situations like "well, it'd be nice if a real batter was getting more ABs" is someone can just say "well, they'd walk/pitch-around him anyway to get to the pitcher" or a bunch of other dismissive things such as the extreme claim that someone has no idea what's going on to begin with because they're not on board with it. it's a no-win. at least when this is going on maddon shifts the lineup in a way that a traditional "2 hitter" doesn't exist...which is one of the most archaic leftovers from the traditional lineup construction method (contact and/or 2nd speed guy hits 2nd). i think getting the 3/4/5 hitters moved up for more ABs over the course of a season is a lot more benefit than the (sigh) "possible negative" of having the 8/9 swapped. hopefully if maddon abandons the pitcher hitting 8th thing he doesn't abandon how he treats the top of the lineup. that said, he's had a half-raging boner for batting the pitcher 8th since before spring training began...who knows how long it will last.

I don't think there's anyone I dislike more than Ryan Braun right now and listening to Len and JD they agree with me. Rarely hear JD talk that blatantly about disliking someone.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

JD was talking about how braun was working on a getting a pitch in the ribs over a bat flip as well as how much braun thinks he's better/special/etc than everyone else. the tone was as nasty and cold as the things being said. it wasn't anything so angry/harsh that it will make the sports/sports-gossip media, though (maybe).

Far (Bryant) Farther (Rizzo) Farthest (MONTERO!!)

That may be the worst 2 hitters to hit back-to-back HRs in baseball history. Looks like Rosscup's moment has passed.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

I just am hoping they can keep it at .500 or a little above somehow. It doesn't help when the bullpen sucks so bad. I wish they'd cut eJax loose. He's done. If he can't keep the team down two runs in the middle innings, I don't get what else there is for them to try him out for.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

If they can battle at .500 and then Grimm/Ramirez/Rondon can get their groove back by the all star break, it could come together. But I really don't know what we've got here, very hard to read this team. They might be just plain bad (mostly talking pitching but certainly the jury is out on some young guys - actually not just young guys), we'll see.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

is lifting an elbow a new rule? He was touching the bag and didn't raise his arm to deflect the ball, it was within his body. He did stick out his elbow in front of him and I'm not doubting it was to disrupt the play, I just don't recall that ever being a rule as he never extended it from his body.

Sorry to go off-topic, but if the Bulls can't beat this wounded Cavs team, Thibs needs to go. He's a very good regular-season coach, but, really, so what? The Bulls try harder than most teams during the season, so they win games. Thibs doesn't have "another gear" for the playoffs. Now, back to "I thought I would feel good about the Cubs being .500 after 30 games, but I really don't..."

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

Bulls are equally wounded now.

But you gotta win those home games.

Bulls have too many offensive options to have Noah taking any shots that aren't just putbacks imo. He is incredibly valuable defensively though so I understand playing him.

Series ain't over, anything against Lebron wasn't going to be a cakewalk. Any game where you can have James go 10/30, you'd think was a win, but shots weren't falling for anyone except Rose today.

Game 5 win would be nice to set up a Game 6 home clincher opportunity.

 

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

I believed before the game yesterday that it was a must win for both teams...whoever won that one would take the series. Only way through now for the Bulls that I see is that some of their key guys get healthier by not playing while some Cavs get further banged up by continuing to play. I think a loss tomorrow night is a foregone conclusion so I might be tempted to trot out as many B-teamers as possible and get ready to try to win games 6&7. No Gasol for me tomorrow night, however he feels. If he plays 10 mins and tweaks his leg again, that will end the year for him so why bother.

[ ]

In reply to by Jackstraw

Two games that came down to buzzer beaters, I feel they're pretty evenly matched teams now with the Gasol injury. If the fucking Clippers can run over the Rockets without Chris Paul for 2 games, the Bulls certainly are capable...whether they will is another question. I don't buy much into home court advantage until Game 7 frankly.

But I do agree that regardless of injuries or what not, this was about as golden an opportunity for Bulls to advance to the finals as they have had in years. They blow this, they need to try a new coach and a few new players (although I can't imagine the core will change much).

 

 

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

FG% this series for Bulls

Rose .400, Butler .398, Noah .250, Brooks .238, Mirotic .286, Snell .364, Dunleavy .484 (1/7 in Game 4 though), Gasol  .516, Gibson .619

of course Lebron is .377 and Irving at .364, JR Smith been at .500 in his 2 games though.

I think it'll be another down-to-wire game tomorrow and Game 6. Gasol would certainly help, but don't think he'll back before Game 6.

Wow -- Schwarber leads the Southern league in both OBP and Slugging. Get that man a left-fielder's glove, stat!

Can anyone explain to me why the Bears are typically the top story in the Tribune feed, even in their offseason, when they are the shittiest and shittiest run team in town, with Bulls and Hawks heading deep into the playoffs and Cubs and Sox regular season in full swing. I don't get it ...

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

Same reason the NFL draft gets a month of non-stop coverage ("see the all-new Mock 5.0!"), despite the fact that all the pre-draft analysis is meaningless. According to the talking heads, in the day before the draft, the Bears were either going to: trade up, trade down, or stay put. The NFL is a juggernaut, despite the fact that many players wind up crippled, either physically or mentally, or both. The media thinks Chicago is a "Bears town", and I think they are right. A good Bears team generates much broader interest than a good Bulls or Hawks team. And, regarding baseball, as my wife would say, sarcastically, "What, are there A HUNDRED more games left in the Cubs season?" Uh, no, honey -- more like 132.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

I think both critiques are fair but also pretty nitpicky- right now the bullpen sucks. So if the pitching is going to blow games, let the starters blow them until the bullpen shows it can do its job. It's a long season, though, so the counter to that is that the starters need to ease in slowly to longer games. Hitting for Montero is also questionable, but just questionable, not "that's dumb". The stats are on Maddon's side, and if Szczur wants to stick, he'll need to learn not to strike out in those situations, and learn fast. He didn't get called up to be a regular. Maybe Castillo would have been a better pinch hitting choice, but I can't help but think that was a bit of a test for Szczur, and, well, he didn't pass. He looked anxious up there on that at bat. Which sucks cuz I really root for him. Overall, much ado about nothing. Team isn't performing, and the bag of magic tricks can only go so far.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

yeah, he proposed and fleshed out the "hitting for montero" thing and made a case for it being a wise or at least neutral decision backed up by historic performance. i'm totally on board with wanting to see the SPs work more, though...i think a lot of people are after watching the pen fail at multiple points with multiple arms doing it.

"Cubs signed RHP Felipe Paulino to a minor league contract." he's been looking work since he was released by the...wait for it...rsox during spring training.

Phil, what is the physical status of Pierce Johnson and Tommy LaStella down there in Arizona. They have both been gone for some time.

Alcantara in AAA so far

233/300/507 (2 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR, 23 K, 7 BB)

John Andreoli got hot recently, up to

289/407/421

next time they want to do the 5th outfield roster shuffle, might be an option.

Wada up to 27.2 IP with a 3.25 ERA and 23 K vs 10 BB, gotta figure/hope T. Wood has a 1-2 starts left to figure it out

lineups...

1. Curtis Granderson (L) RF 2. Juan Lagares (R) CF 3. Daniel Murphy (L) 3B 4. Lucas Duda (L) 1B 5. Wilmer Flores (R) SS 6. Kirk Nieuwenhuis (L) LF 7. Anthony Recker (R) C 8. Ruben Tejada (R) 2B 9. Jacob deGrom (L) P

vs.

1. Dexter Fowler (S) CF 2. Kris Bryant (R) 3B 3. Anthony Rizzo (L) 1B 4. Jorge Soler (R) RF 5. Starlin Castro (R) SS 6. Chris Coghlan (L) LF 7. David Ross (R) C 8. Jon Lester (L) P 9. Addison Russell (R) 2B

Cubs face DeGrom, Syndegaard, Harvey and Niese over 4-game set...so many K's.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

looks like Mets had change of heart...

1. Juan Lagares (R) CF 2. John Mayberry Jr. (R) RF 3. Daniel Murphy (L) 3B 4. Michael Cuddyer (R) LF 5. Lucas Duda (L) 1B 6. Wilmer Flores (R) SS 7. Kevin Plawecki (R) C 8. Dilson Herrera (R) 2B 9. Jacob deGrom (L) P

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Javier Assad started the Lo-A game (Myrtle Beach versus Stockton) on the Cubs backfields on Wednesday as his final Spring Training tune-up. He was supposed to throw five innings / 75 pitches. However, I was at the minor league road games at Fitch so I didn't see Assad pitch. 

  • crunch (view)

    cards put j.young on waivers.

    they really tried to make it happen this spring, but he put up a crazy bad slash of .081/.244/.108 in 45PA.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Seconded!!!

  • crunch (view)

    another awesome spring of pitching reports.  thanks a lot, appreciated.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Here are the Cubs pitchers reports from Tuesday afternoon's Cardinals - Cubs game art Sloan Park in Mesa:

    SHOTA IMANAGA
    FB: 90-92 
    CUT: 87-89 
    SL: 82-83 
    SPLIT: 81-84
    CV: 73-74 
    COMMENT: Worked three innings plus two batters in the fourth... allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits (six singles and two doubles) walked one, and struck out six (four swinging), with a 1/2 GO/AO... he threw 73 pitches (52 strikes - 10 swing & miss - 19 foul balls)... surrendered one run in the top of the 1st on a one-out double off Cody Bellinger's glove in deep straight-away CF followed one out later by two consecutive two-out bloop singles, allowed two runs (one earned) in the 2nd after retiring the first two hitters (first batter had a nine-pitch AB with four consecutive two-strike foul balls before being retired 3 -U) on a two-out infield single (weak throw on the run by Nico Hoerner), a hard-contact line drive RBI double down the RF line, and an E-1 (missed catch) by Imanaga on what should been an inning-ending 3-1 GO, gave up another run in the 3rd on a two-out walk on a 3-2 pitch and an RBI double to LF, and two consecutive singles leading off the top of the 4th before being relieved (runners were ultimately left stranded)... threw 18 pitches in the 1st inning (14 strikes - two swing & miss, one on FB and the other on a SL - four foul balls), 24 pitches in the 2nd inning (17 strikes - three swing & miss, one on FB, two SPLIT - six foul balls), 19 pitches in the 3rd inning (13 strikes - seven swing & miss, three on SL, two on SPLIT, one on FB - three foul balls), and 12 pitches without retiring a batter in the top of the 4th (8 strikes - no swing & miss - four foul balls)... Imanaga throws a lot of pitches per inning, but it's not because he doesn't throw strikes...  if anything, he throws too many strikes (he threw 70% strikes on Tuesday)... while he gets a ton of swing & miss (and strikeouts), he also induces a lot of foul balls because he doesn't try to make hitters chase his pitches by throwing them out of the strike zone... rather, he uses his very diverse pitch mix to get swing & miss (and lots of foul balls as well)... he also is a fly ball pitcher who will give up more than his share of HR during the course of the season...   
     
    JOE NAHAS
    FB: 90-92 
    SL: 83-85 
    CV: 80-81 
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day... relieved Imanaga with runners at first and second and no outs in the top of the 4th, and after an E-2 catcher's interference committed by Miguel Amaya loaded he bases, Nahas struck out the side (one swinging & two looking)... threw 16 pitches (11 strikes - two swinging)...   

    YENCY ALMONTE
    FB: 89-92 
    CH: 86 
    SL: 79 
    COMMENT: Threw an eight-pitch 5th (five strikes - no swing & miss), with a 5-3 GO for the first out and an inning-ending 4-6-3 DP after a one-out single... command was a bit off but he worked through it...   

    FRANKIE SCALZO JR
    FB: 94-95
    CH: 88 
    SL: 83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 6th inning... got the first outs easily (a P-5 and a 4-3 GO) on just three pitches, before allowing three consecutive two-out hard-contact hits (a double and two singles), with the third hit on pitch # 9 resulting in a runner being thrown out at the plate by RF Christian Franklin for the third out of the inning... 

    MICHAEL ARIAS
    FB: 94-96
    CH: 87-89
    SL: 82-83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and allowed a hard-contact double on the third pitch of the 7th inning (a 96 MPH FB), and the runner came around to score on a 4-3 GO and a WP... gave up two other loud contact outs (an L-7 and an F-9)... threw 18 pitches (only 10 strikes - only one swing & miss)... stuff is electric but still very raw and he continues to have difficulty commanding it, and while he has the repertoire of a SP, he throws too many pitches-per-inning to be a SP and not enough strikes to be a closer... he is most definitely still a work-in-progress...   

    ZAC LEIGH: 
    FB: 93-94 
    CH: 89 
    SL: 81-83 
    CV: 78
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and tossed a 1-2-3 8th (4-3 GO, K-swinging on a sweeper, K-looking on another sweeper)... threw 14 pitches (11 strikes - one swing & miss - eight foul balls)... kept pumping pitches into the strike zone but had difficulty putting hitters away (ergo a ton of foul balls)... FB velo is nowhere near the 96-98 MPH it was a couple of years ago when he was a Top 30 prospect, but his secondaries are better...   

    JOSE ROMERO:  
    FB: 93-95
    SL: 82-84
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 9th (14 pitches - only six strikes- no swing & miss) and allowed a solo HR after two near-HR fly outs to the warning track, before getting a 3-1 GO to end the inning... it was like batting practice when he wasn't throwing pitches out of the strike zone...

  • crunch (view)

    pablo sandoval played 3rd and got a couple ABs (strikeout, single!) in the OAK@SF "exhibition"

    mlb officially authenticated the ball of the single he hit.  nice.

    he's in surprisingly good shape considering his poor body condition in his last playing seasons.  he's not lean, but he looks healthier.  good for him.

  • crunch (view)

    dbacks are signing j.montgomery to a 1/25m with a vesting 20m player option.

    i dunno when the ink officially dries, but i believe if he signs once the season begins he can't be offered a QO...and i'm not sure if that thing with SD/LAD in korea was the season beginning, either.

  • crunch (view)

    sut says imanaga getting the home opener at wrigley (game 4 of the season).

  • crunch (view)

    cubs rolling out the who's who of "who the hell is this guy?" in the last spring game.

  • videographer (view)

    AZ Phil, speaking of Jordan Wicks having better command when he tires a bit, I remember reading about Dennis Lamp 40 years ago and his sinker that was better after 3 or 4 innings when he would tire a bit and get more sink with a little less speed on the pitch.  The key for Lamp was getting to the 4th inning.