The Cubs have tried a few things with their bench configuration while super sub Matt Shaw has remained on the injured list due to a sprained left hand. Prospect James Triantos will be the latest player given a chance to pitch in for the North Siders. The Cubs promoted Triantos

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 -- With the exception of a quiet May, the Cubs have featured one of baseball’s more prolific lineups this season. The North Siders headed into Wednesday ranked fourth in the Majors in runs scored and the Tigers felt it first-hand one night earlier when Chicago rattled off six runs

CHICAGO -- As David Peterson headed off the field in the seventh inning on Tuesday night, the lefty experienced his first ovation from the Wrigley Field faithful. With each step off the mound and toward the dugout, the volume level ticked up in the old ballpark. “It’s special,” Peterson said.

CHICAGO -- Pete Crow-Armstrong pulled a pitch from Tigers lefty Framber Valdez deep into the right-field corner to lead off the first inning on Tuesday, and then both the Cubs’ center fielder and the North Siders were off and running. Crow-Armstrong legged out a triple, igniting a six-run first inning

CHICAGO -- Trent Thornton hunched over in pain by the first-base line and then made his way back to the mound for the Cubs Monday night at Wrigley Field. As the reliever moved awkwardly up the hill, it quickly became clear that he was very much feeling the effects of

CHICAGO -- With the Wrigley Field crowd on its feet and roaring, the Cubs were poised for a dramatic walk-off win on Monday night. The North Siders had the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth against Tigers closer Kenley Jansen, and Alex Bregman worked the count full with

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