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Josiah Hartshorn • OF • Cubs

Josiah Hartshorn Homers Again, Dynasty Arrow Still Pointing Up

Chicago Cubs first base/outfield prospect Josiah Hartshorn parlayed his regular-season success into postseason success, registering an impressive performance in Game 1 of the High-A playoffs on Tuesday, albeit in a losing effort. The South Bend Cubs lost 8-3 to High-A Quad Cities, but Hartshorn went 3-for-5 with a solo home run in the contest. The Cubs' top-ranked prospect (MLB No. 39) began the season at Single-A and was promoted to High-A after just 39 games, proceeding to excel at the next level. The 2025 sixth-round draft pick hit .297 with 18 home runs and 12 steals in 83 games, while his .965 OPS led the entire Midwest League. The switch-hitter boasts big power, and although his strikeout rate increased with the advancement to High-A, it was still just 21.4 percent, while he continued to display a keen eye, walking at a 14.6 percent rate. Look for the 19-year-old to potentially make a run at Triple-A at some point next season, and debut in 2028. With an arrow pointing up, managers in dynasty leagues, especially those looking for some future power production, should be looking to stash him away if still available.

10 hours ago

Ian Happ • LF • Cubs

Ian Happ Returns to Cubs Lineup on Tuesday

Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ (knee) returned to his team's lineup for their matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday. Happ was held out of Chicago's game against the Brewers due to left knee discomfort, but it appears that he is not dealing with a serious injury. Across 579 plate appearances entering play on Monday, Happ was hitting .221/.327/.416 with 23 home runs, 64 RBI, 81 runs scored, and four stolen bases. The 32-year-old's batting average is weighed down by his elevated 30.4% strikeout rate, but Happ's 12.4% walk rate and elite defense in left field keep him in the Cubs lineup every day when healthy. Happ has also been exceptionally durable in his career, as he looks to be on track to top 650 plate appearances for the fifth consecutive season in 2026. Now that he's back in the Cubs lineup, Happ profiles as a quality source of power and run production for fantasy managers.

23 hours ago

Ian Happ • LF • Cubs

Ian Happ Absent on Monday With Knee Injury

Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ (knee) was held out of the team's starting lineup for Monday's series opener in Milwaukee against the division-rival Brewers due to discomfort in his left knee, according to MLB.com. Happ is considered day-to-day for now with a minor injury, so fantasy managers should check back on Tuesday to see if the 32-year-old veteran is feeling good enough to return to action. With Happ sitting on Monday, Tyrone Taylor made the start in left field for the Cubbies. The switch-hitting Happ has hit .221/.326/.416 with a .743 OPS, 23 home runs, 64 RBI, 81 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 138 games across 577 plate appearances in 2026 in his 10th year in the big leagues with the Cubs. He needs just three more home runs to set a new career high in that category, but he has really struggled from the right side of the plate against southpaws, slashing .152/.226/.280 with a .506 OPS and only four of his 23 home runs in 138 plate appearances. Happ's power has also been down in the second half, with six homers and 22 RBI in 46 games compared to 17 homers and 42 RBI in 92 games in the first half.

2 days ago

Ben Brown • SP • Cubs

Ben Brown Will Not Return This Season

Chicago Cubs right-hander Ben Brown (neck) has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2026 season, according to Taylor McGregor of the Marquee Sports Network. This should not come as a huge surprise, since Brown has been sidelined on the injured list since June with a stress reaction in his neck, something that he has dealt with in the past. The 26-year-old former 33rd-round pick by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2017 will finish his 2026 campaign with a 4-2 record, a sharp 1.85 ERA, a 0.94 WHIP, one save, 65 strikeouts, and 19 walks in 68 innings pitched across 20 appearances (eight starts) for the Cubbies. Brown has good stuff and plenty of potential, but because he has been unable to stay healthy, his future could be as a full-time reliever in 2027 and beyond. In 25 outings (15 starts) last year for Chicago, Brown had a career-worst 5.92 ERA (4.08 FIP) but also 121 strikeouts and 32 walks in 106 1/3 innings pitched. Barring another setback with his neck injury, he should be ready in plenty of time for spring training in 2027, barring a league lockout.

6 days ago

Nico Hoerner • 2B • Cubs

Nico Hoerner Re-Emerging as a High-End Middle Infielder

Across 596 plate appearances entering play on Wednesday, Chicago Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner was hitting .263/.319/.361 with eight home runs, 62 RBI, 56 runs scored, and 22 stolen bases. With his minuscule 1.4% barrel rate and 28.2% hard-hit rate, Hoerner's power upside for fantasy managers is extremely limited. However, the 29-year-old's production has been trending upward in the second half. Across 176 plate appearances since the All-Star break, Hoerner has slashed .331/.352/.440 with four home runs, 24 RBI, 19 runs scored, and eight stolen bases. Hoerner's high-end defense at both second base and shortstop keeps him in the Cubs lineup every day, and his elite 8.7% strikeout rate should keep his batting average floor high even if his recent power surge cools off. With his sub-standard first half now behind him, Hoerner profiles as an extremely useful source of batting average, run production, and speed for fantasy managers down the stretch.

6 days ago

Alex Bregman • 3B • Cubs

Alex Bregman has Another Three-Homer Game on Monday

Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman went off at the plate for his second three-homer performance in the month of August in Monday night's 17-3 drubbing of the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field. Bregman went 3-for-6 at the plate with three home runs and four RBI to boost his season average to .258 and his OPS to .785. The veteran third baseman also clubbed three home runs back on Aug. 12 in a 12-6 win over the Washington Nationals, when he went 3-for-3 with seven RBI and two walks. The 32-year-old veteran and three-time All-Star wraps up a very strong month of August with an incredible 12 home runs, 30 RBI, and a 1.025 OPS in 28 games played. Bregman got off to a slow start early in his first year on the North Side in Chicago, but he has been much better in the second half, as he entered Monday's series opener against Milwaukee with a .288/.361/.564 slash line, .925 OPS, 11 homers, 12 doubles, 32 RBI, 32 runs scored, and a stolen base in 40 games during August. If Bregman is half as good in September as he was in August, fantasy managers will be stoked.

Aug 31

BJ Murray Jr. • 3B • Cubs

Cubs Promote Infield Prospect BJ Murray on Monday

The Chicago Cubs promoted corner-infield prospect BJ Murray from Triple-A Iowa on Monday, per Milb Central. Murray, the Cubs' 19th-ranked prospect per MLB Pipeline, will get his first taste of the Show after hitting .294/.395/.500 with an .895 OPS, 16 home runs, 68 RBI, 74 runs scored, and nine stolen bases in 118 games across 516 plate appearances at Iowa this year. The 26-year-old switch-hitter stands at 5-foot-11 and 205 pounds and was selected by Chicago in the 15th round in 2021 out of Florida Atlantic University. Murray is old for a prospect, but with his age comes an impressive combination of power upside and plate discipline from both sides of the plate. He has the potential to hit 20 homers at the next level over a full season, but he will most likely serve in a bench role down the stretch for the Cubbies with rosters expanding on Tuesday. In addition to his emerging power, Murray also has speed to boot and could eventually become a 20-20 player down the road in the majors if he can earn a starting spot at either third base or first base on the North Side.

Aug 31

Pete Crow-Armstrong • CF • Cubs

Pete Crow-Armstrong Slugs Three Homers in Blowout Win

Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong helped his case in the National League MVP race with his performance against the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday. Crow-Armstrong went 4-for-6 at the plate with three home runs and six RBI in the blowout win. This was the first three-homer game for PCA during his young career. He started the first inning with a bang when he took Andrew Abbott deep for a solo shot. It didn't take long for Crow-Armstrong to homer again as he got Abbott again in the second frame. In his finale, he connected on a three-run shot off reliever Tony Santillan in the seventh inning. The 24-year-old is slashing .282/.377/.567 with 36 homers, 89 RBI, and 32 stolen bases this season. He'll continue to battle with Shohei Ohtani for the MVP award during the final month of the season.

Aug 29

Seiya Suzuki • RF • Cubs

Seiya Suzuki Continues to Produce for Fantasy Managers

Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki may not reach the heights that he showed last season, when he hit a career-high 32 home runs and drove in 103 runs in 151 regular-season games, but his fantasy managers are not really complaining in 2026. After going 3-for-5 at the plate with two doubles, two RBI, two runs scored, and a walk in Friday's 10-8 loss to the division-rival Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field, the Japanese outfielder is now slashing .274/.366/.484 on the year with a career-high .851 OPS, 22 home runs, 77 RBI, 78 runs scored, and three stolen bases across 117 games and 516 plate appearances in his fifth year in the big leagues. The 32-year-old veteran has three multi-hit games in his last five contests for a 1.173 OPS during that span. Suzuki is hitting .285 (41-for-144) with seven home runs in 37 games since the All-Star break and sports a .287/.385/.521 slash line with a .907 OPS, four homers, 10 doubles, 17 RBI, 19 runs scored, and two steals in 24 games in August. If he can keep this up going into September, Suzuki could be the difference for fantasy managers chasing championships.

Aug 29

Edward Cabrera • SP • Cubs

Edward Cabrera to Begin Throwing on Saturday

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Edward Cabrera (finger) will resume his throwing program on Saturday, according to Bruce Levine. Cabrera has been sidelined since the middle of August due to a finger blister. When healthy, Cabrera has struggled this season with a 5.68 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, and a 67/32 K/BB ratio across 15 starts with the Cubs. Given his durability issues and lack of success as a starter, the Cubs plan to bring Cabrera back as a reliever for the rest of the season. He shouldn't need a long rehab assignment if he's coming back as a relief pitcher. His fantasy value will be limited unless he's going to pitch in a high-leverage role, which is unlikely.

Aug 28

Matt Shaw • RF • Cubs

Matt Shaw Activated off Injured List on Friday

Chicago Cubs infielder/outfielder Matt Shaw (hand) was activated off the 10-day Injured List ahead of Friday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. Shaw has been out of action since late June due to a sprained left hand. He was hitting the ball well during his rehab assignment and appears ready to make an impact in Chicago again. It's unclear how Shaw is going to fit into the puzzle down the stretch of the season. Pedro Ramirez is playing very well, so it'll be tough for Shaw to cut into his playing time. Through 56 games, Shaw is slashing .246/.322/.415 with four home runs, 20 RBI, and four steals. Given he probably won't have a full-time role, Shaw is only worth considering in deep leagues. In a corresponding move, outfielder Kevin Alcantara was optioned to Triple-A Iowa.

Aug 28

Clay Holmes • SP • Cubs

Clay Holmes Re-Emerging as a Priority Waiver-Wire Target

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Clay Holmes missed nearly three months this season after suffering a fractured fibula in mid-May. However, the 33-year-old has been highly effective when healthy, recording a 5-6 record with a 2.49 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts across 68 2/3 innings (12 starts). Holmes has also pitched well since being acquired by Chicago from the New York Mets at the trade deadline, pitching to a 2.81 ERA across his first 16 innings (three starts) with the Cubs. Holmes is a ground-ball specialist who pitches to contact, so fantasy managers should not expect high-end production in the strikeout department. However, the veteran right-hander's pitch efficiency allows him to work deep into games, which gives him a good chance to rack up wins while pitching in Chicago. In leagues where he is not already rostered, Holmes profiles as an obvious waiver wire target.

Aug 25

Daniel Palencia • RP • Cubs

Daniel Palencia Officially Returns on Friday

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Daniel Palencia (elbow) was activated off the 60-day Injured List ahead of Friday's game against the Seattle Mariners, Taylor McGregor reports. Palenica is officially back in the mix after being sidelined since mid-June due to an elbow issue. When healthy, Palencia has posted a 2.70 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, and a 19/6 K/BB ratio across 16.2 innings of work in 19 appearances. Jacob Webb was pitching well as the closer while Palencia was out, but he'll move out of that role now. Fantasy managers looking for a source of saves should snag Palencia off the waiver wire before it's too late. In a corresponding move, right-hander Javier Assad was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Friday

Aug 21

Daniel Palencia • RP • Cubs

Daniel Palencia Will be Activated on Friday

Chicago Cubs right-handed reliever Daniel Palencia (elbow) will be activated from the 60-day injured list on Friday before the series opener against the Seattle Mariners, according to Meghan Montemurro of The Chicago Tribune. Palencia was the Cubs' primary closer earlier this year before he landed on the injured list on June 16 with a flexor strain in his right elbow, but it remains to be seen how manager Craig Counsell will manage the back end of his bullpen down the stretch with Palencia back in the fold. Jacob Webb has emerged as a trusted source of saves for the Cubbies, having converted seven straight saves while giving up zero runs in his last 23 outings out of the bullpen. At the very least, Palencia will be eased into high-leverage situations in Chicago as he returns from yet another injury. The 26-year-old Venezuelan had a career-high 22 saves in the regular season in 2025, but he has appeared in only 19 games in 2026 while saving three games in 16 2/3 innings pitched. Fantasy managers scrounging for saves should be interested in stashing Palencia, who is rostered in 57% of Yahoo leagues.

Aug 19

Kevin Gausman • SP • Cubs

Kevin Gausman Leaves Tuesday's Start with Hand Cramp

Chicago Cubs right-hander Kevin Gausman (hand) was pulled in the fifth inning of his start against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday due to a hand cramp, per Bruce Levine of 670 The Score. Gausman allowed seven hits and three earned runs while recording five strikeouts across 4 1/3 innings before exiting the game. Gausman has struggled since being traded to the Cubs by the Toronto Blue Jays at the trade deadline, pitching to a 6.13 ERA and 1.38 WHIP across 16 innings (three starts). For the season overall, the 35-year-old has recorded a 6-11 record with a 4.58 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and 143 strikeouts across 143 1/3 innings (26 starts). He's pitched to a 5.52 ERA across 31 innings since the All-Star break. While Gausman appears to have avoided a serious injury, his ongoing troubles on the mound put his fantasy value in question going forward.

Aug 19

Daniel Palencia • RP • Cubs

Daniel Palencia Set to Be Activated from Injured List "Soon"

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that right-hander Daniel Palencia (elbow) will be activated off the injured list "soon," per Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network. Palencia has been on the IL since mid-June due to elbow inflammation, but he's made five minor league rehab appearances since August 5 and appears to be on the doorstep of a return to the big leagues. Across 16 2/3 innings (19 games) on the year, Palencia has recorded a 2.70 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 19 strikeouts, and three saves. The Cubs have deployed a closer committee for most of the year and could continue to do so once Palencia returns. However, the 26-year-old recorded 22 saves in 2025 and profiles as Chicago's highest-upside relief arm. Ahead of his impending activation, Palencia should be viewed as a priority waiver wire target in any fantasy league where he remains available.

Aug 18

Jaxon Wiggins • SP • Cubs

Jaxon Wiggins Pitching in Relief in Last Two Appearances at Triple-A

Chicago Cubs pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins has pitched one-inning relief outings in his past two appearances at Triple-A Iowa. Both innings were scoreless for the talented right-hander and the relief pitching is a new trend for him at Triple-A, signifying he could have a role out of the bullpen with the Cubs at the big league level potentially. With Iowa this season, Wiggins is 0-3 in seven starts with a 9.00 ERA in 24 innings pitched. He has three combined strikeouts in his two innings of bullpen work. So Wiggins could be carving himself a role as a reliever for the Cubs. At age 24, that might be Wiggins' quickest path to the majors, but it wouldn't be the best role for fantasy. As a reliever he has high strikeout upside but wins and saves would be scarce making him better left on the waiver wire in most leagues.

Aug 18

Edward Cabrera • SP • Cubs

Edward Cabrera Headed Back to Injured List Due to Blister

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Edward Cabrera (finger) was placed on the 15-day injured list on Monday due to a blister on his right middle finger, per Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network. Cabrera just made it back from the injured list on Sunday after missing nearly two months due to a hamstring injury. However, he allowed seven earned runs across 3 2/3 innings against the St. Louis Cardinals in his first start back and is now set to miss additional time. Cabrera has had a rough first year in Chicago, recording a 5-5 record with a 5.68 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, and 67 strikeouts across 76 innings (15 starts). While the 28-year-old should make it back from the injured list shortly after he is first eligible, Cabrera needs to put together a stretch of healthy and productive starts before fantasy managers can rely on him.

Aug 17

Dansby Swanson • SS • Cubs

Grade 2 Oblique Strain for Dansby Swanson, Could Miss 4-6 Weeks

ESPN's Jesse Rogers is hearing that Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson (oblique) suffered a Grade 2 oblique strain, which carries a normal timetable of four to six weeks. It would leave him ready for the postseason, but fantasy managers might be without him for the rest of the 2026 regular season. The 32-year-old veteran is expected to be placed on the 10-day injured list before Monday's series opener against the Chicago White Sox after he injured himself on his first swing of the day in Sunday's series finale against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field. Fantasy managers in redraft leagues should not feel the need to keep Swanson stashed, as he might not be back until mid-September in a best-case scenario. In the meantime, the Cubs will slide Nico Hoerner from second base to shortstop, with Pedro Ramirez most likely to see most of the playing time at the keystone going forward. In his fourth year with the Cubs, Swanson has hit a career-low .216 (87-for-403) but has 18 home runs, 66 RBI, 17 stolen bases, and 78 runs scored in his 119 games played and 458 plate appearances.

Aug 17

Dansby Swanson • SS • Cubs

Dansby Swanson to Go on Injured List With Oblique Injury

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said on Sunday that shortstop Dansby Swanson (oblique) will go on the 10-day injured list with a left-oblique injury, according to Taylor McGregor of the Marquee Sports Network. The severity of his oblique injury is not yet determined, and Swanson will undergo an MRI exam on Monday. The 32-year-old shortstop had to be pulled from Sunday's loss to the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals early after swinging at the first pitch he saw on the day. Even if Swanson's oblique injury isn't severe, fantasy managers should expect him to miss more than 10 days and possibly up to a month or more. With Swanson going on the shelf, expect the Cubs to move second baseman Nico Hoerner over to the 6, with Pedro Ramirez and James Triantos as options to see playing time at the keystone in Chicago. Swanson is two homers and three steals away from his second straight 20-20 campaign, but he also came into Sunday's series finale with a career-low .216 average (87-for-403) and a .704 OPS in 118 games played. For his power/speed abilities at a premier position, Swanson should be stashed in most fantasy leagues while he recovers.

Aug 16

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