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Dansby Swanson to Go on Injured List With Oblique Injury
Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said on Sunday that shortstop Dansby Swanson (oblique) will go on the 10-day injured list with a left-oblique injury, according to Taylor McGregor of the Marquee Sports Network. The severity of his oblique injury is not yet determined, and Swanson will undergo an MRI exam on Monday. The 32-year-old shortstop had to be pulled from Sunday's loss to the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals early after swinging at the first pitch he saw on the day. Even if Swanson's oblique injury isn't severe, fantasy managers should expect him to miss more than 10 days and possibly up to a month or more. With Swanson going on the shelf, expect the Cubs to move second baseman Nico Hoerner over to the 6, with Pedro Ramirez and James Triantos as options to see playing time at the keystone in Chicago. Swanson is two homers and three steals away from his second straight 20-20 campaign, but he also came into Sunday's series finale with a career-low .216 average (87-for-403) and a .704 OPS in 118 games played. For his power/speed abilities at a premier position, Swanson should be stashed in most fantasy leagues while he recovers.
Source: Marquee Sports Network - Taylor McGregor
Source: Marquee Sports Network - Taylor McGregor
Dansby Swanson Exits Early with Side Injury
Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson (side) was removed early during Sunday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Swanson was pulled from the contest during his first plate appearance after being in pain following a swing. The expectation is that he'll undergo further testing to determine the severity of the injury. Fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if Swanson ends up landing on the Injured List. Pedro Ramirez figures to see an expanded role if Swanson is placed on the shelf. He'd be worthy of a spot in mixed leagues if he does indeed get more playing time. For now, Swanson should be considered day-to-day until the team reveals further details.
Source: Chicago Cubs
Source: Chicago Cubs
Edward Cabrera to Rejoin Cubs' Rotation on Sunday Against Cardinals
Chicago Cubs right-hander Edward Cabrera (hamstring) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to start on Sunday against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field, manager Craig Counsell told Patrick Mooney of The Athletic. Cabrera will return to Chicago's rotation for the first time since suffering a strained hamstring in late June. Although he struck out 15 and walked just one batter in his nine innings over three minor-league rehab starts, fantasy managers have every right to be hesitant to trust the 28-year-old Dominican hurler now that he's on the verge of returning to the big leagues. Cabrera has been inconsistent in 2026 in his first year with the Cubbies, going 5-4 with a 5.10 ERA (5.04 FIP) and 1.39 WHIP with 65 strikeouts and 29 walks in 72 1/3 frames over his 14 starts. He only threw 65 pitches in his last rehab outing, too, so we'd recommend avoiding him in his first start back this Sunday versus St. Louis. With Cabrera returning, left-hander David Peterson is now a candidate to shift back to the bullpen.
Source: The Athletic - Patrick Mooney
Source: The Athletic - Patrick Mooney
Alex Bregman has Monster Game on Wednesday in Win Over Nats
Chicago Cubs veteran third baseman Alex Bregman came to play on Wednesday on the road against the Washington Nationals, going a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with three home runs, a career-high seven RBI, and two walks to boost his season average to .256 and his OPS to .759. It was the first three-homer game of Bregman's career and his second multi-homer performance of the 2026 season. The 32-year-old three-time All-Star has mostly been mediocre offensively for the Cubbies this year in his first season with the team, as he entered Wednesday's contest with a .251/.341/.388 slash line, a career-low .729 OPS, 13 home runs, 54 RBI, 66 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 117 games across 537 plate appearances. Bregman is heating up since the start of August, though, as he's now sporting a 1.123 OPS with five home runs and 14 RBI in just 11 games played. His underlying batted-ball metrics don't exactly point to a massive turnaround before the season's end, but fantasy managers should definitely be riding his current hot streak at the dish.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jacob Webb Looks Like the Saves Source to Roster in Chicago
Across 51 2/3 innings (52 games) in 2026, Chicago Cubs right-hander Jacob Webb has recorded a 4-2 record with a 2.44 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with 58 strikeouts and seven saves. With closer Daniel Palencia (elbow) on the injured list, the Cubs have largely taken a committee approach to the ninth inning. Still, Webb has now earned saves in each of his last two appearances, both of which came after Chicago acquired right-hander Ryan Zeferjahn from the Los Angeles Angels at the trade deadline. Even with another high-leverage arm in the mix for the Cubs, Webb may be the team's preferred option. The 32-year-old has posted a stellar 27.1% strikeout rate and has been one of Chicago's more reliable bullpen arms all season long. In deeper leagues, Webb carries waiver wire appeal for fantasy managers in need of stable ratios and some saves upside.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jaxon Wiggins Struggling to Find Consistent Results Amid Injury Setback
Chicago Cubs pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins is looking for results at Triple-A Iowa and was saddled with a tough loss on Tuesday with five earned runs and six walks in 2 2/3 innings. Wiggins has had a tough time all season dealing with right elbow inflammation, and it has caused some inconsistency issues for the right-hander. At 24 years of age, Wiggins is knocking on the door for a major league debut, but this year might be tricky for him as he has dealt with the injury and hasn't seen the dynamic results he is used to seeing. He is getting back in the mix though at Triple-A and is gaining valuable Innings. It might be best, however, to leave him off the stash radar as he works his way back and gains more confidence with his right throwing arm. Right now, he is best left on waiver wires in redraft leagues with an eye toward dynasty leagues.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Jaxon Wiggins Looking to Find Consistency at Triple-A
Chicago Cubs pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins struggled in his latest start, giving up five runs in 2 2/3 innings for Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday. In his last five starts with Iowa, Wiggins has given up at least three earned runs in each start. Wiggins has been dealing with right elbow inflammation and it caused him to miss about two months of this season. The 24-year-old is the Cubs No. 5 overall prospect and has a 60-grade fastball with a 55-grade slider and a 50-grade changeup. Wiggins has struggled this season coming back from his elbow inflammation and is having a bit of a tough go lately with Iowa. Wiggins has major league stuff but he is looking to get into a rhythm after missing so much time. In Triple-A at age 24, it's a good sign for Wiggins and the Cubs, but he might need more time in the minors before he makes his MLB debut.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Jaxon Wiggins Struggling Since Returning To Iowa Rotation
Chicago Cubs pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins is coming off a start in which he allowed five earned runs in 2 2/3 innings and has struggled since coming off the injured list at Triple-A Iowa on July 10. He's 0-3 in five starts with Iowa since returning from right elbow inflammation. It's been a bit of a lost year for the 24-year-old with the injury, but he is still ranked as the No. 5 overall prospect in the Cubs' system. He boasts a 60-grade fastball with a 55-grade slider and 50-grade changeup. With Iowa this season, Wiggins has 28 strikeouts in 22 innings pitched, which is a good sign. The Cubs 5-man rotation is set right now at the big league level, but Wiggins could be counted on for some depth if they look to give him his major league debut. But right now it would be best to keep Wiggins on the waiver wire unless an injury occurs to one of the Cubs' starters.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Daniel Palencia Blows a Save in First Rehab Appearance
Chicago Cubs right-handed reliever Daniel Palencia (elbow) didn't exactly have the greatest first minor-league rehab outing on Wednesday at Triple-A Iowa. Palencia allowed an earned run on one hit while walking two and striking out one in two-thirds of an inning to blow the save against Triple-A Indianapolis. He threw half of his pitches for strikes but did sit around 98 mph with his fastball, which is encouraging. The 26-year-old Venezuelan hurler last pitched for the Cubbies on June 15, so he will need at least a couple more rehab appearances to try to get his command in the right place. Once reinstated from the 15-day injured list, the Cubs could ease Palencia back into high-leverage situations out of the bullpen, but the expectation is that Palencia will once again become manager Craig Counsell's preferred option for saves in the ninth inning. Palencia has appeared in only 19 games this year and has a 2.70 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, three saves, and 19 strikeouts in 16 2/3 innings pitched after he saved a career-high 22 games for Chicago last year. Palencia is rostered in only 59% of Yahoo leagues. Now is the time to scoop him up if you need saves.
Source: Milb.com
Source: Milb.com
Pete Crow-Armstrong Continues MVP-Caliber Season With Two-Homer Performance
Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong went toe-to-toe with four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers in Wednesday's 7-6 win at Wrigley Field. Both Crow-Armstrong and Ohtani hit two home runs apiece, with Crow-Armstrong going 3-for-5 in the leadoff spot with four RBI and a strikeout. After a slow start to the 2026 campaign, the 24-year-old left-handed slugger has been heating up since June. The two-time All-Star came into Wednesday's action with a .284/.384/.535 slash line with a .919 OPS, 24 home runs, 65 RBI, 28 stolen bases, and 76 runs scored across 426 at-bats. Crow-Armstrong has now gone 7-for-17 with two home runs, a double, a triple, six RBI, and seven runs scored in his first five games in August as he continues to stay locked in at the dish. He's now up to three multi-homer games in 2026 and nine for his career. While PCA's numbers look great, his .257 xBA and .364 xwOBA predict regression to close out the campaign.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Daniel Palencia Starting a Rehab Assignment on Wednesday
Chicago Cubs right-handed reliever Daniel Palencia (elbow) will start a minor-league rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, according to Meghan Montemurro of The Chicago Tribune. Palencia has been sidelined since June 16 with a mild right flexor strain, but the 26-year-old is nearing a return to the major-league bullpen for the stretch run. Because of injuries in 2026, Palencia has only thrown 16 2/3 innings and recorded all three of his saves after picking up a career-high 22 saves in 54 regular-season appearances in 2025. The Cubs picked up right-handed reliever Ryan Zeferjahn from the Los Angeles Angels at Monday's trade deadline, but when back and fully healthy, Palencia is expected to take over as the team's primary closer in the ninth inning. Fantasy managers searching for saves should look to stash Palencia now. He's rostered in 59% of Yahoo leagues. Along with his three saves in 16 2/3 frames this year, Palencia has a 2.70 ERA (3.46 FIP), 1.38 WHIP, and 19:6 K:BB.
Source: The Chicago Tribune - Meghan Montemurro
Source: The Chicago Tribune - Meghan Montemurro
Kevin Gausman's Cubs Debut Likely to Come Friday Against KC
Right-hander Kevin Gausman's debut with the Chicago Cubs is expected to come in Friday's series opener in Kansas City against the Royals, according to The Chicago Tribune's Meghan Montemurro. Both Gausman and right-hander Clay Holmes (leg) will make their debuts with the team this weekend after both were acquired by the Cubs at the trade deadline. The 35-year-old Gausman comes to the National League Central with a 5-10 record, 4.38 ERA (3.50 FIP) and 1.29 WHIP with 127 strikeouts and 36 walks in 127 1/3 innings pitched across 23 starts with the Toronto Blue Jays in his 14th season in the majors. He hasn't been as sharp since the beginning of July, going 1-3 with a 5.13 ERA (2.41 FIP), 12 walks, and 27 strikeouts in 26 1/3 innings pitched over five starts, but Chicago is hoping Gausman's solid underlying metrics will help him finish strong down the stretch. The two-time All-Star doesn't have a ton of strikeout upside (23.5% K rate), but he has strong command still and has a hard-hit rate below 40%. Fantasy managers should keep Gausman in their starting lineups this weekend against the Royals.
Source: The Chicago Tribune - Meghan Montemurro
Source: The Chicago Tribune - Meghan Montemurro
Clay Holmes' Next Start Likely to be his Debut With Cubs
The Chicago Tribune's Meghan Montemurro expects newly acquired right-hander Clay Holmes' (leg) next start to be his debut with the Chicago Cubs, not another minor-league rehab outing. Based on the current alignment of Chicago's starting rotation, Holmes will most likely start on Saturday against the Kansas City Royals on the road. The Cubs will be activating the 33-year-old veteran from the 60-day injured list, and Saturday will be his first start since fracturing his fibula against the New York Yankees on May 15. He made three rehab starts in the minors with the New York Mets before they traded him to the Cubs on Monday, so Holmes should be efficiently stretched out. The Cubs are hoping Holmes is a key part of their rotation the rest of the way as they look to get into the postseason, and fantasy managers looking for rotation depth should look his way, as he's only rostered in 37% of Yahoo leagues. The former ninth-rounder in 2011 by the Pittsburgh Pirates went 4-4 in New York earlier this year with a 2.39 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 45 strikeouts in 52 2/3 frames over his nine starts.
Source: The Chicago Tribune - Meghan Montemurro
Source: The Chicago Tribune - Meghan Montemurro
Clay Holmes Worth Waiver Consideration as he Nears a Return With New Team
The New York Mets shipped right-hander Clay Holmes (leg) to the Chicago Cubs at Monday's trade deadline, even though he's still on the 60-day injured list with a fractured fibula that he suffered when he was hit by a comebacker on May 15 against his former team, the New York Yankees. It's a bit unclear what Holmes' role will be with his new club when he's reinstated from the IL, but either way, he could be a meaningful role player in fantasy leagues. The 33-year-old veteran made his third minor-league rehab start on Sunday with High-A Brooklyn, throwing 5 1/3 innings and 73 pitches, so it appears he's on the verge of joining Chicago's major-league roster. Holmes will have more fantasy appeal if he joins the Cubbies' starting rotation, but he does have experience as a high-leverage reliever as well, saving 74 games for the Yankees from 2022 to 2024. Before his fibula injury with the Mets, Holmes went 4-4 with a 2.39 ERA (3.21 FIP) and 1.10 WHIP with 45 strikeouts and 18 walks in 52 2/3 frames across nine starts. Fantasy managers who have room on their roster and need pitching depth should consider picking Holmes up. He's rostered in only 35% of Yahoo leagues, so he's widely available.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Jefferson Rojas is Mets' New No. 1 Prospect Following Trade Deadline
The New York Mets acquired shortstop prospect Jefferson Rojas from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for right-hander Clay Holmes (leg) and outfielder Tyrone Taylor on Monday, a person familiar with the deal told Chelsea Janes of SNY. Rojas, 21, comes to the National League East after slashing .270/.339/.461 with a .799 OPS, 15 home runs, 57 RBI, 17 stolen bases, and 58 runs scored in 91 games across 390 plate appearances with Double-A Knoxville this year. Per MLB Pipeline, Rojas has become New York's top prospect, and he also sits at No. 63 overall in the sport. The 5-foot-11, 150-pound Dominican infielder Rojas probably won't be an elite fantasy option at the shortstop position in the long-term, but he should offer 20-homer potential and average speed on the basepaths, which makes him a solid pickup for the disappointing Mets in exchange for a starting pitcher who could just be a rental. He probably won't be a realistic candidate for his MLB debut until next year, and he could be what the Mets have in mind as Francisco Lindor's eventual successor.
Source: SNY - Chelsea Janes
Source: SNY - Chelsea Janes
