Cubs

JT Brubaker hasn't pitched like an Opening Day starter for the Pittsburgh Pirates yet this season. However, he's fared relatively well against the Chicago ...

The Cubs hung three touchdowns on Pittsburgh in yesterday's game, which makes it a football score even though the Bears aren't capable of such a drubbing.

While he’s capable of striking out his fair share of batters, this has all the hallmarks of a matchup the Cubs should be able to exploit. The 28-year-old righty is in his third MLB season and hasn’t been getting great results over his first few starts, so it’ll be a fun one for the Cubs if that trend holds. The Cubs hung three touchdowns on Pittsburgh in yesterday’s game, which makes it a football score even though the Bears aren’t capable of such a drubbing.

This one could have been the one where Kyle Hendricks flashed his historical brilliance or the one where Alfonso Rivas busted out. But this one was a team ...

The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. Justin is coming off of his worst start of the year. Up Next: The fourth and final game of the series between these two teams. He did throw well on August 17 in the win, allowing three hits and one run in Cincinnati (a place that hasn’t been kind to him in general). But the start before that was a disaster, arguably the worst of his career. The only two negative scores are the guys who made outs early on while the game was getting out of hand. This was probably the most important performance in this game. Now he’s back because of a teammates illness and he’s made the most of his first start since being back. Accordingly, the eight his over three consecutive days is also a best. That was only his seventh three hit game, so the seven hits over two days is obviously a personal best too. It would be easy to say to cop out today and say that everything about yesterday’s game was what I liked and gloss over the three things. First, I have to pick Rivas. After getting squeezed off of the roster a few days ago, Alfonso went back to Iowa and basically knocked the cover off of the ball. Otherwise, the only lasting effect is the early distortion this can have on a whole barrel of statistics including expected record (which is based largely on run differential).

CHICAGO (AP) — Alfonso Rivas had three hits and five RBIs, and the Chicago Cubs stopped a four-game slide by pounding the Pittsburgh Pirates 21-0 on ...

Nico Hoerner is getting a breather today, and the Cubs are filling in as best they can without a true backup shortstop. Nick Madrigal takes his “second leadoff” ...

None of that is ideal given how well Hoerner has been playing on both sides of the ball and how much the Cubs could use this win today, but even the healthiest players need rest. Actively managing his work load is of the utmost importance for the Cubs coaching staff – and not just for this season. Nico Hoerner is getting a breather today, and the Cubs are filling in as best they can without a true backup shortstop.

As for pitcher Wade Miley (left elbow inflammation), he threw around 50 pitches in a bullpen session that went well, and is expected to throw live batting ...

“I think everybody likes home runs, but I think we’re built to be contact-based and hopefully that’s a strength of ours.” I like home runs,” Ross said. “Whatever happens when I get back is what I’ll do,” Mills said. “We were joking yesterday, everybody’s enjoying the 21-0 game and I still have to give the green light 3-0 to swing or not to swing,” Ross said. “I know Millsy’s done multiple roles, so that’s always an option, but I think the main thing for me is just that we get him built up to start.” “I obviously need to get to a position where I can throw multiple innings.

The start of Sunday's Cubs-Pirates scheduled 1:20 p.m. game was delayed by rain.

The Cubs and Pirates both have scheduled days off Monday before the Cubs open a three-game series in Atlanta on Tuesday. On Friday morning the Cubs moved that day's scheduled afternoon game to a night game because of the forecast. The Cubs on Wednesday played in a downpour before the Rays' 8-2 victory over the Cubs was halted in the sixth inning.

The Cubs finished with 23 hits in their most lopsided shutout win dating to at least 1901. Their 21 runs were their most since scoring 26 at Colorado on Aug ...

The Cubs finished with 23 hits in their most lopsided shutout win dating to at least 1901. The Cubs finished with 23 hits in their most lopsided shutout win dating to at least 1901. Cubs LHP Justin Steele (1-1, 4.30 ERA) takes the mound. Thompson allowed four consecutive hits with one out in the second before shortstop Kevin Newman committed errors on consecutive plays. Infielder/outfielder Diego Castillo pitched the eighth and allowed four runs. The Pirates (7-8) have lost four of their last six games.

Whenever Alec Mills makes it back to the Chicago Cubs, he plans to be ready for whatever manager David Ross needs...

But he left open the possibility for changes depending on injuries and other factors. The veteran right-hander pitched three innings in a rehab start with Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, allowing three runs and eight hits. I obviously need to get to a position where I can throw multiple innings,” Mills said.

The tarp was removed from the field at about 1:20 p.m., the originally scheduled start time, after more than an hour of heavy rain.

The Cubs and Pirates both have scheduled days off Monday before the Cubs open a three-game series in Atlanta on Tuesday. The Cubs on Wednesday played in a downpour before the Rays' 8-2 victory over the Cubs was halted in the sixth inning. It's the third time during this seven-game homestand and second time since the Pirates got to town that weather has altered the Cubs schedule.

The offense was led by the two Nelson's, Velazquez and Maldonado. Those two should really have begun in Iowa in my view. Nelson Velazquez blasted his 5th homer ...

Cubs right-hander Keegan Thompson is off to a dominant start that has his manager calling him his bullpen “weapon.”

“It’s just regular yoga, and it’s like 95 degrees in there,” Thompson said. And hopefully it can keep you healthier longer.” You just want to be limber; it just makes things easier.

CHICAGO (AP) — Whenever Alec Mills makes it back to the Chicago Cubs, he plans to be ready for whatever manager David Ross needs from him.

But he left open the possibility for changes depending on injuries and other factors. I obviously need to get to a position where I can throw multiple innings,” Mills said. The veteran right-hander pitched three innings in a rehab start with Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, allowing three runs and eight hits.

How does that saying go? “It wasn't pretty, but a win is a win.” In their final game at Wrigley Field, the Pittsburgh Pirates bounced back from Saturday's ...

Offensively, Kevin Newman bounced back from a poor outing yesterday by going 2-for-3 at the plate with a RBI double. Peters’ line extended his scoreless streak to 10.1 innings and he also ties Max Scherzer for the National League lead in wins. fastball by Frank Schwindel to seal the win.

A day after their 21-0 rout, the Cubs squandered chances and struggled defensively, leading to a missed opportunity to split the four-game series with ...

The Cubs had a chance to get back into the game in the seventh when pinch-hitter Alfonso Rivas doubled and Pirates second baseman Michael Chavis misjudged a Patrick Wisdom pop-up for a single to begin the inning. Contreras struck out swinging, and Happ was intentionally walked to load the bases before Schwindel struck out to end the game. Happ’s homer, his first of the year, cut the Pirates lead in the eighth. Tsutsugo’s sacrifice fly tied the game, and then Newman doubled in Hayes. This inning wasn’t as prolific for the Cubs, though they did take a 2-0 advantage when first baseman Frank Schwindel singled in Contreras. The offense went just 3 for 13 with runners in scoring position and the defense also fell back, as shortstop Jonathan Villar was charged with one error and could’ve had another.