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 @ Brewers: Arrieta vs Davies (Game 152)

CHC (84-67): RHP Jake Arrieta (14-9, 3.48)  
MIL (81-71): RHP Zach Davies (17-9, 3.89) 
First pitch: 7:10pmCST

Don’t say revenge. 

The Cubs could have stepped on the neck of the Brewers last week at Wrigley, but opted to get swept instead. Now the magic number to clinch the division is 8. I have no problem with having that happen on Sunday.

Arrieta last pitched on September 4th in Pittsburgh (2.1 IP, 3 ER, 4 K, 1 BB) before his hammy starting barking. He had been on quite a run before that, so let’s hope he picks up where he left off.

He’s 2-0 with a 2.08 in two starts against Milwaukee this season. Overall, the Brewers are 28-126 (.222) against him. Braun is 7-24 with 3* HR.

Davies lost in Miami his last time out (4 IP,  er, 2 K, 0 BB). In four starts against the Cubs this season, he’s 2-2 with a 3.96. For their careers, the Cubs are 45-161 (.280). Bryant is 9-25 with a HR.

No word on what ailment Braun will suffer over the weekend—other than the obvious. If Bernie Brewer is a no-show, it’s because I slashed his tires.

Lackey (11-11) and Woodruff (2-2) throw tomorrow at 6:30pmCST on ESPN*.

Go Cubs! 
 

Comments

While the Cubs magic number over the Brewers is indeed eight, it's seven over the Cardinals, so for the Cubs to clinch the N. L. Central on Sunday they would not only have to sweep the Brewers four-straight, but the Cardinals would have to lose at least three of their next four (one at CIN and three at PIT).  

Of course another possibility is that by the end of the weekend the Cubs will be a 1/2-game behind the Brewers, and then what the Colorado Rockies are doing in San Diego will be just as important to the Cubs as it is now to the Brewers and Cards. 

Here is how the MLB Rule 33 tie-breakers work: 

SEEDING - TWO CLUBS SAME DIVISION: In the case of a tie between two clubs for a division championship, the club with the best head-to-head record gets the #1 seed and gets the home game. If the two clubs are tied head-to-head, then intradivision winning percentage (record within division) is used to determine seeding. If clubs are stil tied, then the intraleague winning percentage (the record within the clubs' own league) over the last half of intraleague games played is used to determine seeding. If still tied, then go one additional intraleague game further back from half (not including games two clubs played against each other) until one club has a better wnning percentage.  

SEEDING - TWO CLUBS TIED - WILD CARD: Same procedure as two clubs tied for division except intradivision winning percentage (record within club's own division) is not used (go directly from head-to-head to second-half intraleague record if head-to-head tied). 

SEEDING - THREE OR MORE CLUBS TIED - DIVISION: Club with best head-to-head against the other clubs gets #1 seed, then the head-to-head between the two remaining clubs, etc. If one club has a better head-to-head record against a second club and the second club has a better head-to-head record against the third club and the third club has a better head-to-head aganst the first club, then composite record among the three clubs in common games against each other is used. If still tied then go to last-half of intraleague record.

SEEDING - THREE OR MORE CLUB TIED - WILD CARD:  Club with best head-to-head against the other clubs gets #1 seed, then the head-to-head between the two (or more) remaining clubs. If one club has a better head-to-head against a second club and the second club has a better head-to-head record against the third club and the third club has a better head-to-head aganst the first club, then composite record amiong the three clubs in common games against each othet is used. If still tied then go to intradivision record, and then go to last half of intraleague record.   

TWO TEAM TIE FOR DIVISION OR WILD CARD: The two clubs play each other in a tie-breaker game on the Monday after the conclusion of the MLB regular season.  

THREE-TEAM TIE FOR DIVISION OR WILD CARD: Clubs choose designation based upon seeding. Clubs are Designated Club "A," Club "B," or Club "C". Club "A" and Club "B" play on Monday at Club "A" and Club "C" gets a "bye." The winner of Monday's game between Club "A" and Club "B" is the home team on Tuesday versus Club "C." 

TWO-TEAM TIE FOR DIVISION AND THREE-TEAM TIE FOR WILD CARD WITH TWO OF THE TEAMS TIED FOR WILD CARD ALSO TIED FOR DIVISION: The division winner is determined first and then the loser of the division tie-breaker game plays a wild card tie-breaker game at the third club (the club from the other division that was tied for the Wild Card) the next day after that. .

FOUR-TEAM TIE FOR DIVISION OR WILD CARD: Clubs are seeded and then choose (in order of seeding) to be either Club "A," "B," "C," or "D." Club "B" plays at Club "A" and Club "D" plays at Club "C" on Monday, and then the two winners play at home of Club "A" or Club "B" on Tuesday.

Other more-complicated permutations are based upon this same seeding system. First head-to-head (with common/composite record used if three or more clubs are tied and head-to-head is inconclusive), then intradivision record (if division tie-breaker but not for wild card tie-breaker), and finally record in last half of intraleague games played (with additional games added backward from half-way as necessary). 

If a club tied for the Wild Card is also tied for a division, the division winner is always determined first, and then the club that loses the division tie-breaker plays as the road team in the wild card tie-breaker. 

The MLB Commisioner may move tie-breaker games to other sites or schedule a doubleheader at one particular site depending on circumstances (weather, travel, etc)  

Tie-breaker games are considered "regular season" games for individual statistical purposes (HR, ERA, W-L, BB/K, OBP, SLG, etc), attendance, revenue, and gate receipts, but the games do NOT count in the standings, so draft order and waiver claim priority are not affected by the outcome of a tie-breaker game. 

Why are they not letting Otani come to America and choose who he wants to play for at a free market contract rate? It's obvious he wants to play for the Cubs. #freeotani #racistMLBantiasians #fixisin #stopthecubhate #otaniwewanti

So it's felt like the Cubs offense has been Jekkyl and Hyde with wins/losses and offense but I ran the #s vs other division leaders and the Cubs have averaged 7.2 runs/win and 3.15 runs/loss and the other division leaders have averaged 6.60 runs/win and 2.61 runs/loss. The Cubs have scored .6 more runs per win and .54 more runs per loss so pretty much a wash. As frustrating as some of the games are then they definitely aren't unique.

Brewers get back-to-back walk and score. Cubs get back-to-back walks with Rizzo and Contreras up and get nothing. Crap. Other than Schwarber HRs, there has been no offense the last 3 games. Ugh.

As I said yesterday, I believe this series decides the Division. If they lay an a egg, its on them and no one else.

"Justin Wilson" is 2017 for "Adam Warren". Really, truly awful. Didn't like Joe going to Strop in the 7th for just (ha!) that reason -- who was going to pitch the 8th? With only 4 decent bullpen guys, this team cannot survive 5-inning starts.

happ and baez!!! tie game with 2 out in the top 9th. happ with the pure hustle and baez with the hit to get him in.

5th infielder time. happ gets to play IF in this version of the circus shift. bases loaded, 1 out, bottom 9.

I can't stop giggling that we have Wade Davis on the Cubs roster. Wadebot 2.0, so nice. Let's hope he gets the next couple of days off now.

[ ]

In reply to by Jim Hickmans Bat

Looking to next year, I think the Cubs will either: - Make CJ the closer and hope he can improve his control and become next year's Knebel. This assumes they believe he can handle the workload. - Continue their practice of trading young, blocked talent (Torres, Soler) to get a top-level closer by trading Caratini. I think Joe likes having an experienced catcher, Caratini is too young to sit, and the Cubs don't really have any other pieces to trade (maybe Almora?) that could bring back a reliable closer. I don't see Theo paying Davis what the market rate will be -- he just turned 32, and the Cubs will likely need to pay up for an SP next year.

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

Rondon? For argument's sake... was really good (maybe not elite) in 2014, 2015, & for the first 2/3 of 2016. I'm not sure I'm arguing for the plan, but he's still an asset. If somebody is going to take us to the cleaners on a trade in the off season, there are worse ideas than riding him for a few months & picking up somebody mid-season (Jeurys Familia? AJ Ramos? Brad Brach?).

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

Agree with you about CJ as closer-of-the-future. He throws his explosive fastball so smoothly, with so little effort, he should have excellent control, and will, I think in the not-too-distant future. But he's still a little nervous and jittery. He's getting over it. He had a terrific 9th inning last night; but then in the tenth, with a lead and a save situation, he started missing again. It's psychological right now. Both of his pitches are better than Rondon's. It's why Edwards never gets hit. He just tenses up and gets a little wild.

Just...WOW! Cubs down to their last strike...Brewers load the bases with one out in the 9th, and have a 3-1 count on the batter...EFFING WOW! Wade Davis is something else. My goodness.

Davis was so clutch, he should get the win AND the save. To quote Bill Raftery -- ONIONS!

As I said yesterday -- if you're going to lose, it's better to lose big and save your good bullpen guys. The difference in this game was we had our closer and they didn't have theirs.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

...and the Mets. I think Nelson's injury will be a problem for them. They have already said he will miss a "chunk" of next year after surgery. But, yeah, they have young, exciting talent, and hit for a lot of power. Again, if not for Braun, they would be a very likable bunch.

Let me not forget to salute Gary Jones for almost blowing the game. Only a third-base coach could get Bryant thrown out running the bases. Watch the top of the third if you don't get the reference. Here's my quick version: Rizzo hits a ground single to right with two on and one out. With the right fielder playing at Rizzo depth, Jones for some reason tries to stop the guy on second from scoring but Jay thinks he's crazy and scores easily. Meanwhile, Bryant sees the stop sign and stops, but then realizes Jones is crazy and gets thrown out trying to take third after all. Bryant's run would have been the third run, which would have given the Cubs a lead into the 8th. Wilson doesn't come in with the Cubs protecting a lead.

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    wow.  what a blown call.  go cubs, i guess.

  • crunch (view)

    neris is good for 70-ish appearances and having him throw 89-91mph fastballs was something i was not looking forward to for 70-ish games.

    his splitter today was ranging 82-83mph...also a bit faster than spring performances.

  • Eric S (view)

    Holy shit this umpire sucks


    However, all is forgiven when his suckiness works in favor of the Cubs. 

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Neris must have been sand-baging spring training. He's a veteran, so he knew what he was doing. Had me fooled to be honest. Glad I was wrong.

  • hellfrozeover (view)

    Looks like he might the cliche veteran pitcher in spring not really ramping it up and just “forking on stuff” in spring. If he gets to 94 on the regular he’ll do just fine. 

  • crunch (view)

    topped out a 94mph, threw 4 of those.  feeling a lot better about neris.

  • crunch (view)

    neris has thrown 2 pitches at 93mph out of his first 5 pitches.  that's a positive turn.

  • hellfrozeover (view)

    I really am not interested in the wesneski head case experience again any time soon. Give me smyly over wesneski. Hell give me keegan Thompson over wesneski every day of the week. His stuff isn’t as good but at least he doesn’t melt down mentally every time something goes mildly awry. 

  • crunch (view)

    they might not want to start the clock on brown and give us wesn.  hopefully it won't come to that.

  • crunch (view)

    madrigal ground rule double!

    he blows a play and hits a double.  we're getting bizarro madrigal.