SAN FRANCISCO – Javier Assad has built a reputation as a pitcher who will take on whatever role the Cubs have to offer. He has had to fight for a spot in the rotation or accept a role in the bullpen, while being ready to step in at a moment’s

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DENVER – Once the baseball cleared the wall down the left-field line at Coors Field, Seiya Suzuki punched the air and let out a shout as he began his trip around the bases on Thursday afternoon. It was the kind of display the Cubs have been lacking and surely brought

DENVER – What looked like a foul ball turned into a fluky double play and, ultimately, led to Cubs manager Craig Counsell arguing and being ejected from his team's 9-3 win against the Rockies on Thursday afternoon in the series finale at Coors Field.

DENVER – Given Shota Imanaga’s recent troubles with giving up home runs, Coors Field did not seem like a great antidote for the Cubs’ starter. The lefty then went out and defied the elements on Wednesday with five scoreless innings, delivering one of his more impressive outings of the season.

DENVER – In the wake of Jameson Taillon landing on the injured list on Tuesday, Cubs manager Craig Counsell at least pointed to Matthew Boyd’s pending return as a piece of good news for a rotation that has been constantly hit with setbacks this season. The plans surrounding Boyd’s comeback

DENVER -- Pete Crow-Armstrong was not in much of a mood to talk about any personal accolades sent his way on Tuesday afternoon -- not when the Cubs as a team are trying to pull out of a persistent cold spell. Standing at his temporary locker at Coors Field, Crow-Armstrong

DENVER -- In the latest blow to their pitching staff, the Cubs are anticipating being without veteran Jameson Taillon until the second half of the season. Prior to Tuesday night’s game against the Rockies, the North Siders placed Taillon on the 15-day injured list due to a left hamstring injury.

DENVER – When the Cubs began this season with Matt Shaw in a versatile utility role, it helped manager Craig Counsell with his in-game maneuvering and played a part in Chicago having a deep and productive reserve group. On Tuesday, the Cubs activated Shaw from the 15-day injured list and

CHICAGO – The Cubs are hoping that Edward Cabrera’s stint on the injured list can wind up being something that helped him get a quality mid-season break in preparation for some important months ahead. The righty’s recent reset came to an end on Friday afternoon. As planned, Cabrera was activated

CHICAGO -- When asked about the importance of a particular game or stretch within a season, Cubs manager Craig Counsell has more than once told the story of a teammate he had during his playing career who arrived each day with the same mantra. “Biggest game of the year.”

CHICAGO – There is no way to know right now if what took place at Wrigley Field on Thursday night will go down as a turning point in this season for the Cubs. All that can be said in this moment is that it was precisely the category of win

This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian’s Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CHICAGO – In the hours leading up to Wednesday’s game, Cubs manager Craig Counsell had a chat with slugger Seiya Suzuki. The general message delivered was that every game is a chance to turn the page on anything that happened a day earlier. “I talked to Seiya about this today,”

CHICAGO -- The decibel level inside Wrigley Field kept climbing in the ninth inning Tuesday night. The crowd was revved up after Nico Hoerner flipped away his bat after a leadoff walk. Things were buzzing even more when Pete Crow-Armstrong followed with a single into right field. Images of a

This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian’s Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CHICAGO -- When the Cubs enjoyed a long string of wins that piled up in late April and continued into early May, consistent performance and length from the rotation was a key to the ballclub’s formula. The lineup’s recent lull has garnered the most attention, but the starting staff has

CHICAGO -- Edward Cabrera was scheduled to play catch and test things off a mound on Sunday morning at Wrigley Field. It soon became clear that the results did not match Cabrera’s recent optimism that he would not miss a start for the Cubs. Prior to Sunday’s 8-5 loss to

CHICAGO – The lineup that Cubs manager Craig Counsell rolled out on Saturday afternoon had a much different look from what has been his typical alignment. Pete Crow-Armstrong was shifted into the leadoff spot. Nico Hoerner hit cleanup for the first time in four years. Ian Happ was on the

CHICAGO – Nico Hoerner has tried this bit of defensive wizardry before, and even those efforts – whether during drills in Spring Training or in a game – wowed any and all onlookers. On Saturday afternoon, the Cubs’ second baseman pulled it off. In the fifth inning of a 3-0

CHICAGO – Kevin Alcántara has made the trip to Wrigley Field twice previously, but both of those promotions came in September. The outfield prospect got to check off some firsts as a big leaguer, learned the ropes and experienced a late-season playoff push. On Saturday morning, Alcántara was back at

This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian’s Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CHICAGO -- After Edward Cabrera’s opening fastball in the fourth inning sailed high on Wednesday night, Cubs catcher Carson Kelly tossed the ball back to the pitcher and immediately looked in the direction of the home dugout. Cubs manager Craig Counsell was already en route to the mound.

CHICAGO -- It is a play that Pete Crow-Armstrong has made countless times throughout his life as a center fielder. He charged in, lowered his glove and prepared to retrieve the ball that Brewers third baseman David Hamilton sent bouncing through the grass in center on Wednesday night. The loud

CHICAGO -- The Cubs understood that the task in front of them on Tuesday night was a difficult one. Brewers flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski has been lighting up the radar gun to historic levels for a starting pitcher, making any opportunity to score a crucial moment for the lineup facing the