Chicago Cubs Roster
- NL Central
- Stadium
- Wrigley Field
Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki blasted a pair of home runs on Monday in a 6-3 Cactus League loss to the Cardinals. It was the second time this spring he's had a multi-HR game, and he's got six home runs total in Cactus League action. Overall, the 29-year-old is batting .459 (17-for-37) with five doubles, six home runs, 12 RBI, 13 runs scored, and two stolen bases. He'll head into the regular season on a roll and is looking more and more like a value at his NFBC ADP of 103. RotoBaller ranks him at 88 overall. The Cubs get their regular season started Thursday in Arlington against the Rangers.
The Chicago Cubs are sending outfield prospect Alexander Canario down to Triple-A Iowa to begin the 2024 season. Canario, the team's No. 14 prospect per MLB Pipeline, won't open the season in the big leagues for the first time in his career, but we expect to see the 23-year-old make at the major-league level at some point in 2024. He missed most of last season after having multiple surgeries but was called up to the big leagues in Chicago, going 5-for-17 with a homer and six RBI in six games played. Canario should eventually gain outfield eligibility for fantasy managers in NL-only and dynasty/keeper leagues, but it's hard to envision him finding much playing time in Chicago unless an injury or two strikes. He can be avoided in mixed leagues for now.
Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that right-hander Jameson Taillon (back) is scheduled to throw one inning of live batting practice in camp on Monday and then repeat the process on Friday. If all of it goes well, Taillon will be looking at a minor-league game after that. Due to a back injury that he picked up in spring training, the 32-year-old former first-round pick will open the season on the injured list and won't be ready to make his 2024 debut until at least the middle of April. We'll have a better idea of when exactly Taillon could rejoin Chicago's starting rotation once he pitches in minor league games. He doesn't walk many hitters, but Taillon hasn't been dominant and is also a fly-ball pitcher, leaving him very little fantasy upside in mixed leagues at this stage of his career.
Chicago Cubs Opening Day starter Justin Steele (knee) said on Monday that he threw a bullpen session in camp and that all systems are go for him to kick off the 2024 regular season on Thursday against the defending World Series-champion Texas Rangers on the road. The 28-year-old southpaw was removed from his final Cactus League start last Friday as a precaution due to a left-knee contusion, but it's obviously nothing serious and he will kick off the Opening Day festivities for the Cubbies later this week. Steele is firmly on the fantasy radar as a low-end No. 2/high-end No. 3 fantasy starter this year after earning his first All-Star selection in 2023 with a 3.06 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with 36 walks and a career-high 176 K's in 30 starts. The matchup against the defending World champs on the road isn't the best one for DFS purposes, though.
The Chicago Cubs have optioned right-hander Hayden Wesneski to Triple-A Iowa. Jose Cuas and Luke Little have grabbed the final two bullpen spots on the roster while Javier Assad and Jordan Wicks have also made the team. A rough spring did not help Wesneski's chances of cracking the Opening Day roster as he posted a 9.82 ERA across six outings, two of which were starts, spanning 11 innings of work. He made 11 starts and 34 appearances for the Cubs in the 2023 season, working to a 4.63 ERA across 89 1/3 innings of work. The righty is likely the club's first arm to be promoted upon an injury to a member of the pitching staff but he remains well off the fantasy radar at this point.