CHICAGO -- The Cubs were hopeful that Phil Maton’s last trip to the injured list -- combined with the All-Star break -- would give the veteran reliever ample time to rest the right knee that has been a persistent issue dating back to last season. That turned out to be

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 Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong chased down a drive from Royce Lewis deep into the gap to his right -- sending ivy leaves flying off the vines clinging to the Wrigley Field’s famous wall -- Shota Imanaga stood on the mound with his hands on his hips.

CHICAGO -- The Cubs were on a nice run in the few weeks leading into the All-Star break, but knew they could not let the season’s intermission halt that momentum. One series into the second half, the North Siders look to have picked up where they left off. With a

CHICAGO -- Aaron Civale played a part in the Cubs’ bullpen down the stretch last season and then stepped up in a big way when needed in the playoffs. Given the need for pitching depth at the moment, Chicago has once again brought the veteran righty back into the fold

CHICAGO -- Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson remained in the dirt near second base, grabbing at his face and in clear pain. It was a scary moment on Friday night at Wrigley Field, as the defensive anchor of Chicago’s infield had just taken a ball to the mouth in a play

CHICAGO -- When the All-Star Game arrives at Wrigley Field next summer, the national landmark on Chicago’s North Side will be the only active ballpark to have hosted the annual showcase four times. That fact was on full display at the Friendly Confines on Friday night, when the Cubs unveiled

CHICAGO – As the second half arrives for the Cubs, the ballclub is hopeful to have two of its starting pitchers returning from the injured list soon. Prior to Friday’s game against the Twins, Cubs manager Craig Counsell noted that right-hander Jameson Taillon (15-day IL, left hamstring) is set to

CHICAGO -- Cade Townsend kept using the word “surreal” to describe being selected by the Cubs in the first round of the MLB Draft. His parents got engaged in Chicago. He already had a connection with Cubs lefty and fellow Ole Miss product Ryan Rolison. He hit it off with

CHICAGO -- Pete Crow-Armstrong has seen what the atmosphere is like at Wrigley Field for a weekday game in the middle of summer. The old place is packed and the sun-soaked fans who fill the bleachers make for a raucous environment. The Cubs center fielder also has seen how things

CHICAGO -- The Cubs’ first half this season was filled with extreme peaks and valleys. Injuries piled up throughout the pitching staff, the offense went through a deep lineup-wide slump through May, and the North Siders did all they could to weather and withstand all the obstacles.

CHICAGO -- Pete Crow-Armstrong stepped into the box to face Braves closer Raisel Iglesias during the Cubs’ trip to Atlanta in May and knew what to expect. Iglesias leans heavily on his fastball and changeup -- rarely featuring his slider, especially against a left-handed batter. Iglesias fired a first-pitch slider,

CHICAGO -- Given that the Draft can take unexpected turns, the Cubs needed to see how things played out while keeping a clear goal in mind. The ballclub wanted to inject more top pitching talent into its farm system, but did not want to do that at the expense of

The Cubs have dealt with plenty of bad news on the pitching front this season, but there have been some positive developments of late. That includes having veteran righty Jameson Taillon potentially poised to rejoin the rotation in the near future. Taillon has been on the 15-day injured list since

CHICAGO -- With an injury to another Ole Miss starter impacting the team’s staff, Cade Townsend was tasked with taking the ball in the semifinals of the SEC tournament as a freshman. The righty was nearing the end of an inconsistent tour, but none of that mattered with Louisiana State’s

BALTIMORE -- Given the state of the Cubs’ bullpen -- a group dealing with a long list of injuries -- manager Craig Counsell has had to mix and match in critical moments. On Thursday afternoon, the relief corps was unable to hold the line in a tight game at Camden

BALTIMORE – There are only so many adjectives available to describe the kind of run that Pete Crow-Armstrong has been on over the past several weeks. The achievements keep stacking up and there are still nearly three months left for the Cubs’ star center fielder to continue adding eye-popping feats.

BALTIMORE – Cubs lefty Justin Steele shared a handwritten letter from a young fan earlier this week that was not seeking an autograph, but served simply as a get-well message for the sidelined pitcher. “I watch the Cubs all the time,” wrote the fan. “And it is much more exciting

BALTIMORE -- Gunnar Henderson tried to stop his swing, but it was too late. The curveball that Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd sent spinning across the zone and tumbling low and outside did its job, getting the Orioles' shortstop to offer feebly for a strikeout to end the third inning on

BALTIMORE -- Given the rotation issues that have hit the Cubs this season, having a healthy and productive Matthew Boyd the rest of the way would be a crucial development. On Tuesday against the Orioles, Boyd certainly looked ready for that challenge. Boyd logged six scoreless innings to guide the

CHICAGO -- As the All-Star break approaches, Cubs starter Edward Cabrera has continued to make progress in his comeback from the left leg injury that sidelined him last month. This past weekend, Cabrera increased the intensity in his throwing program and was able to do some agility work in the

CHICAGO -- The Cubs have established a strong track record when it comes to identifying position players in the Draft and developing those hitters in their system. That strength from a scouting standpoint has extended to trades that have brought core building blocks into the fold. What the Cubs have

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 came into this season planning on contending for the division crown. Having to fight off the Cardinals in the National League Wild Card picture was probably not high on the list of expectations, given St. Louis’ recent history. The Cardinals came into Wrigley Field this weekend

CHICAGO -- With three months remaining on their schedule, the Cubs have already experienced a season’s worth of twists and turns. They were one of baseball’s hottest teams out of the chute, dropped into a drastic offensive lull in May and have once again picked up the pace, even as