Zyhir Hope led off the bottom of the 1st inning with a triple and scored, Alexis Hernandez collected two RBI singles, Geuri Lubo drilled an RBI single, walked, and scored a run, and SP Alfredo Romero tossed three innings of shutout ball, as the Cubs defeated the Athletics 4-1 in Arizona Instructional League "Bridge Camp" game action Friday morning on Field # 1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ. 

The Cubs are now 1-4 through their first five Instructs games.

Nate Nankill belted a solo home run, Nelson Beltran and Darlyn Montero stroked RBI singles, and SP Nathan Dettmer and four relievers combined to hurl a six-hit shutout, as the Athletics blanked the Cubs 6-0 in Arizona Instructional League "Bridge Camp" game action Thursday morning at the Lew Wolff Training Complex at Fitch Park in Mesa, AZ.

Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only): 

The Cubs swept the Giants to climb to 1.5 games back both in the NL Central and behind the Phillies for the top NL Wild Card spot. Moreover, the offense showed up for this series, with Bellinger and Suzuki staying hot and benefitting from support throughout the lineup. Twenty-two games remain to land a preferable playoff position. They host the Wild Card hopeful Arizona Diamondbacks starting this Thursday. See below for matchups in the four-game series.

Dario Laverde drilled an RBI double and a single, John Wimmer doubled, singled, and scored a run, Capri Ortiz singled twice and stole three bases, and SP Yendy Gomez hurled three innings of no run / no hit ball, leading the Angels to a 6-3 victory over the Cubs in Arizona Instructional League "Bridge Camp" Labor Day game action Monday afternoon at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ. 

The Cubs split the series in Cincinnati, dropping to 3.5 back of Milwaukee and maintaining their second Wild Card spot. They return to Wrigley on Labor Day to take on the 70 and 67 Giants. San Francisco enters the series in a four way tie for the last Wild Card spot. See below for daily matchups.

Game 138, Monday, September 4, 1:20 pm central
CHC: LHP Justin Steele (15-3, 2.69 ERA)
SFG: RHP Logan Webb (9-11, 3.49 ERA)

Game 139, Tuesday, September 5, 6:40 pm central
CHC: RHP Kyle Hendricks (5-7, 3.59 ERA)
SFG: TBD

Yerald Nin drilled a two-run double, singled twice, and scored a run, and Jakey Josepha singled twice, walked, stole a base, scored a run, and drove in another, leading the Diamondbacks to a 9-3 victory over the Cubs in Arizona Instructional League "Bridge Camp" game action Saturday morning on Whirlwind Field at Talking Stick at Salt River Fields, east of Scottsdale, AZ.

Batting RH versus a RHP, Reggie Preciado (no longer switch-hitting) clubbed a solo HR over the LF fence to account for one of the three Cub runs. 

The Cubs closed out August by squeezing two wins from a three-game set against the Brewers at Wrigley. The barely present offense couldn't overcome a poor inning from Taillon to open the series. But Steele, Hendricks and the bullpen gutted out a pair of one-run wins to bring the Cubs to three back in the Central and to retain the second Wild Card spot.

A club's Post-Season Eligibility List is established at midnight (Eastern) on August 31st.  

A club's Active List (26-man roster) must be submitted to the MLB Commissioner prior to the start of the first game of each post-season series (Wild Card game, LDS, LCS, and World Series).  

A club's Active List can be changed (tweaked) prior to the start of the first game of each series (WC, LDS, LCS, and WS). 

Capri Ortiz doubled in the 1st, reached base on an error and scored in the 3rd, singled and scored in the 5th, hammered a two-run double in the 6th, and stroked a sacrifice fly in the 7th, Landon Wallace singled twice, doubled, reached base on an HBP, and scored two runs, Edgar Alfonso ripped three singles, scored three runs, and drove-in two more, John Wimmer doubled, walked twice, and scored two runs, and Caleb Ketchup doubled, walked twice, and scored a run, helping the Angels batter the Cubs 19-7 in Arizona Instructional League Opening Day game action Wednesday morning on Field # 3 at t

The Cubs have gone seven for their last ten, climbing into the second Wild Card position. They next get their opportunity against the Milwaukee Brewers, who are eight are on an eight-game winning streak that extended their NL Central lead to four. This is the first of two crucial series remaining in which the Cubs directly confront the Brew Crew. See below for matchups in this three game series at Wrigley Field.

Game 131, Monday, August 28, 7:05 pm central
CHC: RHP Jameson Taillon (7-8, 5.60 ERA)
MIL: LHP Wade Miley (6-3, 3.18 ERA)