James Triantos lined a double off the LF fence, stole 3rd base, and scored on a balk in the bottom of the 1st inning, Christian Olivo drilled a double into the LF corner leading off the bottom of the 3rd and scored on a Brayan Altuve line-drive RBI single, and Jefferson Rojas clobbered a two-run HR that landed at the top of the berm in LF in the bottom of the 7th, leading the Cubs to a 4-1 victory over the Diamondbacks Black squad in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Monday morning at Sloan Park In Mesa, AZ.    

The Cubs suffered a three-game sweep in Miami to end the month of April, lowering their 2023 record to 14-13. Cody Bellinger continued his recent showing of power by hitting his 7th homerun of the season. Patrick Wisdom homered in the series as well to push his 2023 total to 10. Nico Hoerner has stretched his on-base streak 25 games, having reached base safely in every game except for his 0-4 with no walks on April Fools Day. The Cubs have had a strong showing in offense, starting pitching, and defense.

Johan Benitez drilled a two-run triple to cap a four-run 2nd, and Jean Walters (RBI double) and Juan Aparicio (RBI single) stroked run scoring hits to highlight a two-run 3rd, as the Diamondbacks Black squad defeated the Cubs 6-4 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Saturday morning on Whirlwind Field at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, east of Scottsdale, AZ.  

Ismael Mena smacked an inside-the-park HR for the Cubs in a losing cause (CF failed to make a diving catch on a line-drive and the ball rolled to the CF wall).

Yeison Santana belted a triple into the right-centerfield alley and scored in the 5th, Ed Howard smashed a line-drive triple off the LF fence and scored on the 6th, Jairo Diaz smacked a two-run triple to right in the 8th, and SP Jackson Ferris and RP Gleiber Morales each hurled three innings of shutout ball, as the Cubs defeated the Diamondbacks Red Squad 5-1 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Friday afternoon at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.  

The Cubs take their first 2023 road trip to the east coast. There, they will meet the 13-13 Marlins for a three-game series. Call-ups from Iowa Velasque and Killian get their early season auditions, with Velasquez already having made a notable first few appearances. Bellinger returns from paternity leave, hopeful to resume his recent power surge. See below for matchups.

Game 25, Friday, April 28, 5:40 pm central

CHC: RHP Marcus Stroman (2-2, 2.17 ERA)

MIA: LHP Jesus Luzardo (2-1, 3.62 ERA)

Game 26, Saturday, April 29, 3:05 pm central

Cristofer Torin drilled a two-run single to put the D'backs on the board in the bottom of the 2nd, Jansel Luis reached base three times (a 1st inning single, a 2nd inning walk, and a 6th inning RBI single), and SP Lorenzo Encarnacion and two relievers combined to spin a two-hit shutout, as the Diamondbacks Red Squad blanked the Cubs 3-0 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Thursday afternoon on Whirlwind Field at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, east of Scottsdale, AZ.  

SP DJ Herz hurled 3.2 IP of no run / one hit ball (62 pitches - 39 strikes - six swing & miss), Anderson Suriel smoked a double off the RF fence (near HR) in the 4th, collected an RBI on a FC in the 6th, and lined a one-out single to left and scored the tying run in the 9th, and Adan Sanchez belted a game-tying RBI double (driving in Suriel) with two outs in the bottom of the 9th but then was thrown out at 3rd base to end the game while attempting to stretch the double into a triple, as the Cubs had to settle for a 2-2 tie with the Giants in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game a

The Cubs remain at Wrigley after an off day and host the Padres for a three-game series to close out the homestand. They had a run of five series wins in a row before losing three of four to the Dodgers at home. Positive production from the top through the middle of the lineup along with mostly solid starting pitching have allowed their current 12-9 record. They've gotten little offense from DH or 1B, and Yan Gomes's homeruns have been the only real offensive contribution from the catcher position. Meanwhile, Mervis, Velazquez, and Morel are each making strong showings in Iowa.

Cubs 2022 3rd round draft pick (#86 overall) Christopher Paciolla roped a double into the LF corner leading off the game and scored later in the inning on a Raino Coran sacrifce fly, singled in the top of the 3rd, walked in the top of the 5th and then made an outstanding diving backhand stop and laser throw to 1st to rob a hitter of a double in the bottom of the inning, and in his final AB pulled what would have been a HR down the LF line before it hooked foul just before clearing the fence, as the Cubs edged the Rockies 3-2 in a Cactus League Extended Spring Training game played Monday mor

2023 EXST CUBS ROSTER (updated 4/22)

74 players 

* bats or throws left 
# bats both 

PITCHERS: 36  
Elian Almanzar (not throwing "live" BP or pitching in games) 
* Jose Aquino (not throwing "live" BP or pitching in games)
Max Bain (ACTIVE - on Tennessee Development List)
Juan Bello (not throwing "live" BP or pitching in games)
* Burl Carraway (ACTIVE - on Tennessee 7-day IL)