Chicago Cubs

Jameson Taillon was scratched from Friday's start due to back stiffness. The Cubs will see how he feels tomorrow and could start as soon as Sunday. (Source: Meghan Montemurro on X)

Fantasy Impact: Taillon felt the issue while playing catch on Tuesday, and the Cubs didn't feel comfortable with him starting on Friday. Taillon was on the IL to start the season due to back issues, but manager Craig Counsell says that this issue is not as bad as what he dealt with in Spring Training. This isn't an ideal situation for Taillon, who has enjoyed a great start to the season with a 1.13 ERA in 4 starts. More information should come this weekend, but managers should have a backup plan in place in case he can't pitch this weekend.

David Peralta has parted way with the Cubs organization and will become a free agent. (Source: Tommy Birch on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Peralta joined the Cubs on a minor-league deal this past offseason. He was not able to get fully up to speed during Spring Training, as the veteran outfielder was still recovering from forearm surgery. Peralta has spent the entire regular season with Triple-A Iowa hoping to get a shot to join the Cubs in Chicago at some point. That didn't happen, and he will now hit the free-agent market once again. Peralta put up a .689 OPS with two homers and three doubles across 85 plate appearances with Iowa this season.

Seiya Suzuki (oblique) has been activated from the 10-day IL. (Source: Meghan Montemurro on X)

Fantasy Impact: Suzuki has been out of action since April 14th due to an oblique strain but felt good in his rehab assignment this week. He'll look to pick up where he left off before getting hurt where he hit .305 with an .893 OPS in 15 games to start the season.

Dansby Swanson has been placed on the 10-day IL due to a right knee sprain. (Source: Meghan Montemurro on X)

Fantasy Impact: Swanson has been dealing with pain in his knee since April 25th and the Cubs were hoping he would be better after a few days off. The issue seems to still be lingering, so the Cubs will play it safe and put the shortstop on the IL. Nico Hoerner will get the bulk of starts at shortstop, with Nick Madrigal and Miles Mastrobuoni getting time at second base.

Javier Assad is now listed as the scheduled starter for the Cubs Friday. (Source: Maddie Lee on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Assad will now start in place of Jameson Taillon against the Pirates. There is no word yet on why the Cubs have made the change. Assad currently has a 1.66 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP in seven games this season.

Hayden Wesneski allowed three earned runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out three over six innings in Wednesday's 3-0 loss to the Padres.

Fantasy Impact: Despite this less-than-stellar outing, Wesneski's season numbers remain impressive, boasting a 1.59 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP through his first four starts. His 6.8 K/9 and 4.25 strikeout-to-walk ratio suggest he's been effective at managing contact and controlling the strike zone, although his low strikeout numbers might limit his ceiling in fantasy formats that heavily reward strikeouts. The increase in hits this game could hint at regression, especially considering his low .235 BABIP, indicating some luck in previous outings. Fantasy managers should monitor his next few starts closely for signs of adjustment or continued regression.

Yan Gomes is in the Cubs’ starting lineup Wednesday.

Fantasy Impact: Gomes will start behind the plate and bat eighth against the Padres Wednesday. The veteran is hitting .192 with two home runs in 52 at-bats this season.

Miguel Amaya is out of the Cubs’ starting lineup Wednesday.

Fantasy Impact: Amaya will get the day off for rest reasons. Yan Gomes will get the start behind the plate and bat eighth against the Padres.

Shota Imanaga delivered a strong performance, allowing two earned runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out eight over seven innings in the Cubs' 3-2 victory over the Padres on Tuesday.

Fantasy Impact: Despite not factoring into the decision, Imanaga's outing continues to bolster his already impressive season stats. With a microscopic ERA of 1.08 and a WHIP of 0.82 through seven starts, he remains a top-tier option in fantasy leagues.

Cody Bellinger is back in the Cubs lineup on Tuesday against the Padres.

Fantasy Impact: Bellinger is back after being activated off the injured list. He is hitting No. 3 in the lineup and serving as the team's designated hitter.

Alexander Canario has been optioned to Triple-A Iowa. (Source: Meghan Montemurro on X)

Fantasy Impact: Canario will head back down to the minors with the activation of Cody Bellinger. He hit .274 with a .815 OPS in 25 plate appearances.

Drew Smyly (hip) completed a bullpen session Tuesday. (Source: Andy Martinez on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Smyly continues to rehab from a right hip impingement. He will likely require at least one rehab start before returning to the active roster.

Justin Steele delivered a strong performance in Monday's 6-3 loss to the Padres.

Fantasy Impact: He tossed 4.2 innings, allowing no earned runs on three hits and one walk while striking out two. Despite Steele's solid outing, his efforts weren't enough to secure a win for the Cubs, reflecting the ongoing struggle of the team to capitalize on quality starts. Steele's season ERA now impressively stands at 0.96, with a WHIP of 0.86, indicating high-level pitching that should keep him relevant in fantasy leagues. Fantasy managers should value his ability to maintain low scoring and WHIP, but temper expectations for big strikeout numbers.

Mike Tauchman went 2-for-4 in the Cubs' 6-3 loss to the Padres, adding a double, a run scored, a stolen base, a walk, and a strikeout.

Fantasy Impact: Despite the team's defeat, Tauchman's performance was a bright spot, showcasing his ability to contribute across multiple categories. His season batting average holds steady at .278, and his on-base skills are highlighted by a solid .382 wOBA and a .168 walk rate. While his power numbers aren't eye-popping, his ability to get on base and score runs, coupled with occasional stolen bases, makes him a useful, if not spectacular, option in deeper fantasy leagues.

Christopher Morel contributed notably in the Cubs' 6-3 loss to the Padres, finishing the game 1-for-4 with a home run, a run scored, two RBI, and a stolen base.

Fantasy Impact: This performance, while solid, underscores the inconsistency that has plagued Morel this season. Despite the home run adding to his decent power numbers, his .220 batting average suggests he's struggling to find his rhythm at the plate. Fantasy managers should view Morel as a high-risk, high-reward option, given his ability to contribute in multiple categories but with a batting average that could be a liability. His speed and power combo keep him relevant in deeper leagues, though his strikeout rate remains a concern.

The Cubs have optioned Keegan Thompson to Triple-A Iowa. (Source: Meghan Montemurro on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Thompson will be replaced in the bullpen by Ben Brown, who is moving from the rotation for the recently activated Justin Steele. He will likely be back at some point this season as depth bullpen option for the Cubs.

Ian Happ went 1-for-3 with a walk in the Cubs' 5-0 win over the Brewers.

Fantasy Impact: Despite the team's success, Happ's individual performance was subdued, contributing minimally to the scoring. His season batting average remains low at .227, and with only one home run and 11 RBI through 32 games, his power numbers are not where fantasy managers would hope. Happ's decent on-base skills, highlighted by a .149 walk rate and a .304 wOBA, offer some value in formats that reward these metrics. However, his limited impact in the power and speed categories makes him a fringe option in standard leagues. His performance today is a reflection of his season thus far—useful in specific contexts but generally underwhelming.

Kyle Hendricks threw a bullpen session on Sunday. (Source: Andy Martinez on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Hendricks remains on track to make his next rehab start in Triple-A on Tuesday after throwing one in Double-A earlier in the week. He could be ready to return to the Cubs rotation shortly afterwards if all goes well.

Hector Neris allowed one run and two hits over an inning to notch a save in the Cubs' 6-5 victory over the Brewers on Saturday.

Fantasy Impact: Despite securing the save, Neris's performance was less than stellar, allowing multiple baserunners and narrowly maintaining the lead. His season-long metrics, including a bloated 1.69 WHIP and a concerning 5.41 FIP, suggest that his save opportunities could be in jeopardy if this trend continues. Fantasy managers should be wary; while he's accumulating saves, his underlying numbers indicate potential volatility ahead, making him a risky play in all but the deepest of leagues.

Patrick Wisdom went 2-for-4 in the Cubs' 6-5 victory over the Brewers with a home run, two RBI, one run scored, and one stolen base.

Fantasy Impact: This performance marks a continuation of a decent start to the season for Wisdom, who now boasts a .250 batting average with some power metrics that could hint at more productive outings to come. His ability to contribute in multiple categories, including home runs and stolen bases, makes him a potentially valuable asset in fantasy leagues, especially in formats that reward power-speed combinations. However, his high strikeout rate remains a concern, potentially capping his batting average upside. Fantasy managers should consider Wisdom a viable option in deeper leagues or as a streaming candidate when power is needed.