CTSteve's Archives

Opening Day!

Welcome to the end of the void and the beginning of the baseball season! 

Remember that, in addition to your brilliant and insightful comments, you are also welcome to join the MeWe chat--on your computer or the great app. 

Go Cubs!

2019 Predictions Contest

The Free Agents Contest has not been determined, but it's already time to reveal your "genius" in a new way: the 2019 TCR Predictions Contest. It's the second or third most wholesome thing you can do on the web.

Make your guesses by the first pitch of opening day. Thoughts and prayers are useless, but bribes can be sent using PayPal, Venmo, or EBT.

Good luck!

Bad News, Good News, Really Good News

While I’m weighing multiple $300m+ offers, I wanted to take a moment to announce a change to the site: I will no longer be making regular daily game thread posts.

If anyone is interested in stepping up to fill that void, let me know. (Perhaps a once-a week rotation could work.)

The good news is that I will still be lurking in the background to keep the site running and making the occasional snide comment. I’ll keep the contests running, too. 

Rockies @ Cubs: Freeland vs Lester (Game 164; NL Wild Card Game)

COL (0-0): LHP Kyle Freeland (0-0, —-)
CHC (0-0): LHP Jon Lester (0-0, —-)
First pitch: 7:00pmCST

We started yesterday morning tied for the best record in the League. Now we're looking down the barrel of an elimination game. Yay, baseball! Of course, if we lose both of these games, we deserve to be eliminated. (I seem to recall saying the same thing about a couple of games in 2003.)

Brewers @ Cubs: Chacin vs Quintana (Game 163; NL Central Tie-breaker)

MIL (95-67): RHP Jhoulys Chacin (15-8, 3.56)
CHC (95-67): LHP José Quintana (13-11, 4.09)
First pitch: 12:05pmCST

Quintana gave up 2 ER in 5 innings and had a no-decision against the Pirates on Friday. He's 4-1 with a 2.17 in six starts against the Brewers this season, including 6.2 scoreless innings on September 11 at Wrigley. The Brewers are 63-310 (.203) against him. Moustakas is 12-46 with 3 HR, and Yelich is 1-11.

NL Central Tie-breaker Preview

As the Cubs prepare for the dreaded Game 163 (against the flippin' Brewers?), here are some things to chew on. 

Starter: Quintana has great numbers against the Brewers, and I don't like TBD's body language. Advantage Cubs.

Offense: The Cubs have scored 10 more runs on the season, but the Brewers have done better in the second half. Advantage Brewers.

The Bullpen: The Cubs are used up and banged up; the Brewers are rested. Advantage Brewers.

Defense: The Brewers have committed 4 more errors and are playing in someone else's park. Advantage Cubs.

Cardinals @ Cubs: Flaherty vs Montgomery (Game 162)

STL (88-73): RHP Jack Flaherty (8-8, 3.16)
CHC (94-67): LHP Mike Montgomery (5-6, 3.99)
First pitch: 2:20pmCST

Montgomery gave up 5 ER in 4 innings and lost to the Pirates on Tuesday. In four games (two starts) against the Cardinals this season, he's 0-1 with a 3.60. Overall, they are 22-77 (.286) against him.

Cardinals @ Cubs: Mikolas vs Hamels (Game 161)

STL (87-73): RHP Miles Mikolas (17-4, 2.94)
CHC (94-66): LHP Cole Hamels (9-11, 3.87)
First pitch: 12:05pmCST

Hamels gave up 2 ER in 6 innings and lost against the Pirates on Monday. The Cardinals are 22-86 (.258) against him. Ozuna is 8-29 with 3 HR.

Mikolas beat the Giants (7 IP, 1 ER) his last time out. In three games against the Cubs this season, he's 2-0 with a 2.00. For their careers, these Cubs are 19-76 (.250) against him. Happ is 3-5.

Tomorrow it's Montgomery and Flaherty at 2:20pmCST to end the regular season.

Cardinals @ Cubs: Wainwright vs Hendricks (Game 160)

STL (87-72): RHP Adam Wainwright (2-3, 4.08)
CHC (93-66): RHP Kyle Hendricks (13-11, 3.49)
First pitch: 1:20pmCST

Hendricks gave up 1 ER in 7.2 innings and won on the Southside on Sunday. He's 2-0 with a 4.08 in three games against the Cards this season. Overall, they are 41-168 (.244) against him. Ozuna is 7-19 with 2 HR.

Pirates @ Cubs: Williams vs Lester (Game 159)

PIT (80-77): RHP Trevor Williams (14-9, 3.04)
CHC (92-66): LHP Jon Lester (17-6, 3.43)
First pitch: 7:05pmCST

Lester won on the Southside on Saturday (5 IP, 2 ER). After an inconsistent couple of months, he's 3-1 with a 1.90 in September. He's 3-1 with a 3.72 in 5 starts against the Pirates this season. Overall, they are 51-208 (.245) against him. Bell is 5-16 with a HR.

Pirates @ Cubs: Nova vs Quintana (Game 158)

PIT (80-76): RHP Ivan Nova (9-9, 4.01)
CHC (91-66): LHP José Quintana (13-11, 4.11)
First pitch: 7:05pmCST

Quintana gave up 5 ER in as many innings and lost to the White Sox on Friday. He had a no-decision in Pittsburgh (5 IP, 1 ER) on August 19. Overall, the Pirates are 11-52 (.212) against him. Dickerson is 4-9

Nova, who had a no-decision against the Brewers his last time out (4.1 IP, 1 ER), is 2-1 with a 2.33 in three starts against the Cubs this season. For their careers, these Cubs are 41-176 (.233) against him. Happ is 4-17 with 3 HR, and Contreras is 5-11.

Pirates @ Cubs: Archer vs Montgomery (Game 157)

PIT (79-76): RHP Chris Archer (5-8, 4.49)
CHC (91-65): LHP Mike Montgomery (5-5, 3.75)
First pitch: 7:05pmCST

Montgomery won in Arizona his last time out (6 IP, 1 ER). He's 2-0 with a 2.63 in two starts (and three games) against the Pirates. Overall, they are 17-70 (.243) against him. Mercer is 4-9 with a HR.

Archer gave up 1 ER in 7 innings and beat KC his last time out. The Cubs are 15-47 (.319) against him for their careers. Baez is 3-6.

Quintana and Nova tomorrow at the same time.

Go Cubs!

Pirates @ Cubs: Taillon vs Hamels (Game 156)

PIT (78-76): RHP Jameson Taillon (13-9, 3.24)
CHC (91-64): LHP Cole Hamels (9-10, 3.90)
First pitch: 7:05pmCST

Hamels didn't have it on Wednesday in Arizona—to say the least, giving up 7 ER in 6 innings. That was probably bound to happen. He has two wins and twelve scoreless innings against the Pirates this season—and a nice chance to right the ship. Overall, they are 20-78 (.256) against him. Marte is 10-20 with a HR.

Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info


40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full), plus two players are on 60-DAY IL   

32 players
are on the MLB ACTIVE LIST (26-man limit in effect on MLB Opening Day)

17 players signed to minor league contracts are Spring Training NON-ROSTER INVITEES (NRI) 

Last updated 3-18-2023
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 16
Adbert Alzolay
Javier Assad 
Brad Boxberger
Michael Fulmer
Kyle Hendricks
* Brandon Hughes
Julian Merryweather
Michael Rucker
Adrian Sampson
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele 
Marcus Stroman
Jameson Taillon 
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski
Rowan Wick

NRI PITCHERS: 10 
* Ryan Borucki  
Nick Burdi 
Tyler Duffey 
* Roenis Elias  
* Anthony Kay  
Mark Leiter Jr 
* Brendon Little  
Vinny Nittoli 
Manuel Rodriguez 
Cam Sanders 

CATCHERS: 2 
* Tucker Barnhart 
Yan Gomes

NRI CATCHERS: 2  
* Dom Nunez  
Luis Torrens 

INFIELDERS: 9
Nico Hoerner
* Eric Hosmer
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
* Zach McKinstry
Christopher Morel
* Edwin Rios
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

NRI INFIELDERS: 3 
# Sergio Alcantara 
David Bote 
* Matt Mervis  

OUTFIELDERS: 5 
* Cody Bellinger 
# Ian Happ
Trey Mancini 
Seiya Suzuki 
Nelson Velazquez

NRI OUTFIELDERS: 2
Ben DeLuzio 
* Mike Tauchman   

OPTIONED: 8
Keven Alcantara, OF 
Miguel Amaya, C 
Ben Brown, P 
Alexander Canario, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Jeremiah Estrada, P 
Ryan Jensen, P 
Caleb Kilian, P 

60-DAY IL: 2 
Codi Heuer, P 
Ethan Roberts, P
  



Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents