ARLINGTON – Given his tendency to lean on pragmatism and logic, Cubs manager Craig Counsell has never really bought into the concept of riding the hot hand. And then the manager once again wrote Michael Conforto’s name into Saturday’s starting lineup. “Michael changed my mind,” Counsell quipped. “If I could

ARLINGTON – During the Cubs’ pregame pitchers’ meeting on Friday afternoon, pitching coach Tommy Hottovy held up a card detailing the reliever usage over the past several days. Coming off a drama-filled, tightly contested series with the Reds, and within a stretch of 23 games in 24 days, the group

ARLINGTON -- The Cubs have dealt with a constant churn of injuries and transactions related to their bullpen over the first seven weeks of this season. That remained the case for the North Siders when they arrived at Globe Life Field on Friday to begin a series with the Rangers.

CHICAGO -- The way Cubs manager Craig Counsell phrased it, veteran lefty Matthew Boyd woke up on Wednesday morning as a healthy player. In a matter of hours, a fluke setback while at home created yet another obstacle for the North Siders to try to overcome in the weeks ahead.

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 -- Before Pete Crow-Armstrong settled in to face Reds reliever Graham Ashcraft in the ninth inning on Wednesday night -- with the Wrigley Field crowd buzzing in anticipation of some more late magic -- Cubs manager Craig Counsell turned to bench coach Ryan Flaherty. “I told Flash,” Counsell said,

CHICAGO -- Michael Busch raised both arms skyward after rounding first base and was soon met on the field by his Cubs teammates, who poured out of the third-base dugout. The first baseman got the customary treatment: players pulling at his jersey, drenching him with water and soon jumping together

CHICAGO -- Michael Conforto could not stop smiling as he rounded third base and headed to the plate, where his Cubs teammates were waiting to swarm the veteran and get the celebration rolling. Conforto could not remember hitting a walk-off home run in his life -- maybe as a Little

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 – The Cubs have learned to embrace some of the chaotic environment of Wrigley Field, trying to use the elements to their advantage at times. Take a day like Sunday, when the wind had the flags rattling the poles around the ballpark as it howled out and toyed with

CHICAGO – All Shota Imanaga could do after the ball nicked off the end of his glove was turn and watch. And from his vantage point on the mound, the Cubs' lefty saw shortstop Dansby Swanson in position to react to the ricochet.

CHICAGO – Cubs manager Craig Counsell referred to Nico Hoerner as the engine of the offense during the second baseman’s torrid start to this season. Given his importance to the lineup and defense, losing Hoerner for any amount of time would be detrimental.

CHICAGO – The Cubs have been waiting for Michael Busch to really find his rhythm in the batter’s box this season. There have certainly been signs of offensive life for the first baseman of late, and Busch knows what it will look like as he continues to feel more and

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.

SAN DIEGO -- Ben Brown held a raised fist at his side and then gave one hard slap of his glove as he walked off the Petco Park mound in the eighth inning on Wednesday afternoon. Five pitches was all the Cubs reliever needed to escape one of the toughest

SAN DIEGO -- Pete Crow-Armstrong made a point on Tuesday night to praise manager Craig Counsell and the Cubs’ staff for keeping the center fielder in the lineup every day and maintaining a belief that he would pull out of his early season offensive lull. “To repay them, I’d like

SAN DIEGO -- Dansby Swanson got the Cubs’ scoring started on Tuesday night, but the shortstop was soon forced to make an early departure due to an injury. In the second inning, Swanson stole third base against the Padres and initially remained in the game. Before the home half of

SAN DIEGO – The offensive outburst that swung the momentum for the Cubs on Tuesday night was a story in three parts. There was Nico Hoerner, delivering in the clutch as his incredible opening month is approaching its finish line. Alex Bregman came off the bench – after what was

SAN DIEGO – There is still a chance that Justin Steele will pitch for the Cubs this season, but his comeback timeline has officially been pushed back. On Tuesday, Cubs manager Craig Counsell noted that Steele recently felt discomfort in his throwing elbow during a bullpen session in Arizona. Steele

SAN DIEGO – After pulling a fastball inside to Ramón Laureano in the first inning on Monday night, Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd walked off the mound and tapped the top of his head. The veteran pitcher immediately knew it was a mistake. Boyd mouthed, “My bad,” and patted his chest

SAN DIEGO -- The Cubs' bullpen has been dealt blow after blow over the past few weeks, but there was finally a bit of good news ahead of Monday's series opener against the Padres. The North Siders activated righty Phil Maton -- one of the team's key leverage arms --

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.

LOS ANGELES -- It had been more than a calendar year since Shota Imanaga issued two walks in the same inning. Attacking the strike zone and being stingy is what the Cubs' starter does best, so it made the first inning on Sunday afternoon an odd sight.

LOS ANGELES -- The visitors’ clubhouse staff worked like a pit crew on Sunday morning, swiftly emptying out one locker and preparing two more as the Cubs’ bullpen churn continued. The speed at which the lockers were rotated was fitting given the rapid pace of the injuries that had hit

LOS ANGELES -- Moisés Ballesteros raised his right arm skyward as he rounded first base and for a moment on Saturday night it looked like the Cubs had the makings of another inspiring win. That feeling was fleeting, as the magic that powered Chicago’s longest winning streak in a decade