Cubs

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

It was a beautiful day Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field, where fans witnessed a historic win for the Chicago Cubs.

Rivas brought in five RBIs. The Pittsburgh Pirates were in town to play the third of a four-game series and experienced a beautiful afternoon, at least as far as the weather goes. The score?

Dillon Peters keyed a solid performance by Pittsburgh's bullpen and Kevin Newman had two hits to help the Pirates...

Cubs: RHP Alec Mills (low back strain) pitched three innings in a rehab start with Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, allowing three runs and eight hits. A day after it collected 23 hits during a historic romp, Chicago lost for the fifth time in six games overall. Peters, Wil Crowe, Hembree, Chris Stratton and Bednar combined for six innings of one-run ball on a rainy afternoon that turned into partly cloudy skies by the end of the game. After Happ was walked intentionally, Frank Schwindel also struck out swinging on three straight fastballs from Bednar — each registering at least 97.2 mph. With runners on second and third in the ninth, Willson Contreras struck out swinging for the second out. “I give credit to our bullpen,” manager Derek Shelton said.

The Cubs did have some chances to come back and win in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings, but fell short. When they scored two in the first inning, though, ...

Ortega doubled with one out and Seiya Suzuki blooped a ball into short right that dropped for another double — but Ortega had to hold to see if the ball was going to be caught, and nearly ran through a stop sign at third. Rain delayed this game for 55 minutes before it started and maybe 18,000 of the 28,387 announced were in the ballpark. After a mound visit, Stratton threw 2 straight fastballs, with Wisdom swinging through the second which was in the upper third of the zone. The Cubs got two more baserunners in the inning. In the ninth, things looked even better. From the fifth inning on Scott Effross, Chris Martin, Mychal Givens and David Robertson combined for five shutout innings, allowing one hit and three walks, and the defense prevented another run from scoring at the plate on a good play by Villar (there, I said something nice about him). Stratton threw Wisdom 5 straight curves, got ahead 1-2, but Wisdom hammered the last of those five foul. That was later changed to a hit, but after a stolen base, another Villar error allowed a Pirates run to score [VIDEO]. When they scored two in the first inning, though, it seemed a continuation of Saturday’s big offensive day. I don’t know what the deal with Villar is. Eleven walks (two intentional, but one on a 3-0 count). Three somewhat pointless mid-inning pitching changes. Justin Steele was not good on this day.

The Cubs rotation is approaching full strength as a pair of veterans are nearing returns. Wade Miley threw 50 pitches in a bullpen Saturday at Wrigley Field ...

“I think the true direction for me would be to start Millsy,” David Ross said. “It was just something that I felt but it wasn’t too bad and thought I could get through it,” Mills said. There is obviously no timetable for exactly when he will come off the IL, but it’s an encouraging sign for the Cubs that he was able to build up to 50 pitches in a bullpen and throw again a few days later. I know Millsy’s done multiple roles, so that’s always an option.” Mills has been focused on making sure his core is working the way it’s supposed to and increasing the flexibility of his hips in hopes of eradicating further back issues. Felt more like myself.”

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.

The Cubs jumped on starter JT Brubaker for a pair of runs in the 1st inning when rare error from Ke'Bryan Hayes and a run-scoring single from Frank Schwindel ...

The Cubs had runners on the corners with no outs in the 7th inning trailing by two and were unable to score. In the 9th, they put men on second and third with one out and again failed to score. Unfortunately, Chicago starter Justin Steele did not have it on Sunday and was unable to hold the lead.

David Ross has no choice. Not if he ever wants to give Nico Hoerner a day off. Not until Andrelton Simmons returns from that shoulder injury — whenever that ...

“We’ve got Andrelton Simmons out; we only have so many guys,” Ross said. That doesn’t count the error he cost catcher Yan Gomes Wednesday when he misplayed a throw from behind the plate, or, obviously, the one that was mercifully erased Sunday. Yeah, so he’s our backup shortstop right now.”