#Cubs, #MLB, and #MiLB news, notes, and commentary, -four days a week, rain or shine. The Cubs sent the Dodgers on their way without a Chicagoland victory and prepare for Philadelphia to arrive.
WELCOME to today’s episode of Cub Tracks news and notes™, a greatest-hits collection of Chicago-style beat writers and bloggers, ground from #Cubs, #MiLB, and #MLB baseball, overheated, steeped in writers’ tears, and then cold-brewed overnight for maximum flavor. No artificial intelligences were deployed, employed, entranced, or embalmed in the commission of this missive (apparently I might be training some though). Cub Tracks eagerly awaits the advent of robotic umpires and has already amended the three laws. The going is weird. Cub Tracks turned pro a long time ago.
Cub Tracks. Where the great ones run away.
Roster churn has set in. Hopefully Justin Turner feels the whirlpool. He looks to be ready for the fork to be put in. Paradoxically, he’ll get more at-bats as Suzuki is still nursing that wrist, or Nicky Lopez will. Jon Berti wins by default.
Can we call PCA a star yet?
How about Porter Hodge?
See you in October, LA.
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- Andy Martinez (Marquee Sports Network*): Cubs takeaways: What we learned as Cubs complete sweep of Dodgers. “The last two days at Wrigley Field have been absolute theater.”
- Tony Andracki (Marquee Sports Network*): 11 stats that show Cubs, Kyle Tucker, Carson Kelly’s 2025 dominance.
- Jack Harris (LA Times* {$}): Shohei Ohtani’s struggles continue as Dodgers are swept by Cubs. “… the reigning National League MVP has been slumping.”
- Jordan Bastian (MLB.com)*): Assad to be evaluated after rehab start was cut short by injury. “… the right-hander has hit a setback in his comeback from a left oblique issue…”
- Patrick Money (The Athletic {$}): After missing on Tanner Scott, Cubs reshape bullpen and put together ‘a fun team to watch’. “The weak spots are at the bottom of the bullpen depth chart, which is why the Cubs will keep cycling through relievers.
- Maddie Lee (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): What Cubs’ acquisition of Drew Pomeranz says about president Jed Hoyer’s approach to bullpen. “The Cubs initially assigned Pomeranz to Triple-A Iowa, but he’s expected to join the major-league bullpen.”
- Meghamn Montemurro (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Chicago Cubs continue to shuffle the bullpen as they try to find right mix: ‘We have to solve that issue’. “We’ll continue to shuffle the bullpen, I think it’s the right thing to do,” Hoyer said.
- Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Moisés Ballesteros could be an injury away from Chicago. “He continues to crush everything, just as he has at each stop along his journey.”
- Andy Martinez (Marquee Sports Network*): Cubs DFA Gage Workman, sign Nicky Lopez amid plethora of roster moves. “The moves were announced before Wednesday’s series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field.” Jordan Bastian has more.
- Andy Martinez (Marquee Sports Network*): Why Cubs decided now was time to part ways with Gage Workman. “By nature, that pick and what we’re” kind of trying to accomplish, it makes the fit difficult at times,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said.
- Tommy Birch (Des Moines Register* {$}: Prized prospect Matt Shaw talks about his demotion back to minors. “I’m feeling like I needed some time to get some at-bats to get back in a groove where I’m feeling good and that’s just part of the process of hitting.”
- Jason Cornwell (NCTV*): Naperville native Nicky Lopez returns to the Chicago Cubs. “For the second time this year…”
- Matthew Trueblood (North Side Baseball*): Since last we talked about this, Pete Crow-Armstrong began swinging less. it worked. “Since April 11, he’s batting .366/.381/.654, with four home runs.”
- 670The Score*: Jed Hoyer: Cubs hope to sign Kyle Tucker to a long-term deal, but ‘it’s hard to negotiate in-season’. [AUDIO] “Tucker is hitting .320 with seven home runs, 25 RBIs and a 1.070 OPS in 25 games this season.”
- Jason Ross (North Side Baseball*): Christian Franklin, Iowa Cubs’ forgotten outfielder, has made big strides this spring. “The third guy in the Cubs’ Triple-A outfield, however, isn’t a nobody, and there’s reason to believe he’s better than he’s been credited for.”
Food for thought:
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