Amaya went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 5-0 win over the Angels. Amaya has been seeing less playing time recently, with the newly signed Tomas Nido seemingly taking over as Chicago's top catcher. The 25-year-old Amaya still has some upside, but after hitting .214 in 53 games last year as a rookie he's only batting .194 this season. If he can't get his bat going a bit more, Amaya will likely stick in a reserve role, which caps his fantasy value.
Heavy on Cubs
Chicago Cubs news, rumors, and information.
Latest Cubs News Alerts
Amaya went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 5-0 win over the Angels. Amaya has been seeing less playing time recently, with the newly signed Tomas Nido seemingly taking over as Chicago's top catcher. The 25-year-old Amaya still has some upside, but after hitting .214 in 53 games last year as a rookie he's only batting .194 this season. If he can't get his bat going a bit more, Amaya will likely stick in a reserve role, which caps his fantasy value.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Sunday that Assad (forearm) could be activated from the injured list prior to the All-Star break, Mike McGraw of the Chicago Daily Heraldreports. The right-hander landed on the shelf in late June with a strained forearm, but he wasn't shut down from throwing for long and had a bullpen session Friday. The Cubs have a doubleheader Saturday in St. Louis, and that would be a logicial point for him to be re-insterted into the rotation ahead of the All-Star break.
Busch went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 5-0 win over the Angels. Busch has gone 8-for-25 (.320) with four extra-base hits across his last seven games. His homer provided the Cubs' last runs in the seventh inning of Sunday's win, though he also generated a run despite grounding into a double play in the fifth. The corner infielder is at a .264/.359/.457 slash line with 11 homers, 32 RBI, 40 runs scored and one stolen base across 301 plate appearances this season. Busch isn't strictly limited to a strong-side platoon role, but he'll still sit against some southpaws.
Neris struck out the only batter he faced to earn the save in Sunday's 5-0 win over the Angels. Neris was credited with the save after Luke Little loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth inning. Neris struck out Zach Neto on four pitches to end the threat. This is the second stretch of the season where Neris has avoided giving up a run over five consecutive appearances, with this scoreless streak at 4.1 innings. He has a 9:2 K:BB in that span, and for the season, the closer is up to 12 saves with a 4.06 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 33:22 K:BB across 31 innings.
Wesneski (3-5) allowed a hit and a walk while striking out two over 6.1 innings, earning the win Sunday over the Angels. Wesneski had allowed eight runs over nine innings across his previous two starts, but he took advantage of a favorable matchup Sunday to earn his first win since April 25. The right-hander is now at a 3.67 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 53:20 K:BB through 56.1 innings over 23 appearances (six starts). Wesneski is likely to remain in the rotation as the Cubs continue to navigate a rough stretch of injuries, and he's tentatively projected for a road start in St. Louis his next time out.
Crow-Armstrong is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels. Though the Cubs aren't yet back to full strength in the outfield with Mike Tauchman (groin) still stuck on the injured list, manager Craig Counsell has seemingly pulled the plug on Crow-Armstrong as a regular part of the lineup versus right-handed pitching. Crow-Armstrong will hit the bench for the fourth game in a row, with the Cubs facing two lefties and two righties in that span. Since getting called up from Triple-A Iowa in late May, Crow-Armstrong has gone 11-for-11 in stolen-base attempts, but he's slashed .173/.212/.247 with a 32.2 percent strikeout rate.
Almonte (shoulder) said Saturday that he hopes to make a full recovery from right labrum surgery in less than 12 months, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports. On the shelf since May 11 with a right shoulder strain, Almonte had been treating the injury with rest and rehab but has ultimately decided to get season-ending surgery after he recently sought a second opinion following a setback in the recovery process. A more precise timeline for Almonte's return to game action could come once he undergoes surgery in the coming days, but he's already seemingly preparing to miss time to begin the 2025 campaign. For the time being, Almonte is seemingly targeting a return shortly before the All-Star break next season.
Smyly allowed a walk and a solo home run over two innings of relief in Saturday's 7-0 loss to the Angels. He struck out one. Starter Kyle Hendricks left the game after two innings due to back tightness, which forced the Cubs to use five relievers, including Smyly. The veteran lefty has been solid this year with a 3.48 ERA and 31 strikeouts across 31 innings of relief work. While he's been used exclusively out of the bullpen so far in 2024, Smyly did make 23 starts for the team last season, and he could be an option for the rotation in the short term if Hendricks has to miss any time.
Unlock the latest Chicago Cubs news — direct to your inbox.
More From Heavy on Cubs
-
The Chicago Cubs Trade Deadline Market Takes Shape Amid Selling Rumors
Cody Bellinger, Nico Hoerner, and Jameson Taillon could all be on the move if the Cubs decide to sell at the trade deadline.
-
Mariners Trade Proposal Sends $80 Million Former MVP to Seattle in 2-Player Swap
-
Yankees Trade Proposal Sends $80 Million Centerfielder to NY in 2-Player Swap
-
Yankees Interested in Trade for $80 Million Former MVP: Report
-
Cubs Lose Top Starter to Injured List
-
Cubs Linked to $50 Million All-Star Slugger to Spark a ‘Sputtering Offense’
Luis Robert Jr. is an intriguing trade candidate in 2024. Would Jed Hoyer make a play to bring him to the Chicago Cubs?
-
Cubs Trade Proposal Sends $14 Million Catcher to Chicago in 3-Player Deal
-
Cubs Trade Proposal Sends $100 Million Infielder to Chicago in 3-Player Swap
-
Cubs President Hints at Uneventful Trade Deadline
-
Blockbuster Trade Proposal Would Give Cubs Pete Alonso & Bullpen Help
-
Cubs Could Make Trade to Upgrade ‘Struggling’ Catchers: Ex-GM
Cubs catchers have been among the worst in baseball this year, and could be a spot for an upgrade at the trade deadline.
-
Cubs ‘Touched Base’ on Trade for 3-Time All-Star Slugger: Ex-GM
-
Cubs Trade Proposal Adds Much-Needed ‘Big Bat’ & 2 Pitchers
-
Cubs Have ‘Privately Discussed’ Trading for Blue Jays Star
-
Cubs Urged to Trade for $5 Million ‘Massive Catcher Upgrade’ to Bolster Lineup
-
Stumbling Cubs Recall Top Prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong: ‘Role Is to Help Us Win’
-
Ex-MLB GM Urges Cubs to Trade for All-Star Catcher
-
Cubs ‘Desperately Need Power,’ Urged to Trade for $19 Million Slugger: Columnist
-
Cubs Named as Landing Spot in Trade for 3-Time All-Star First Baseman
-
Cubs Manager Announces Drastic Move on Struggling $56 Million Veteran
Cubs manager Craig Counsell made it official: Kyle Hendricks, one of the organization's top pitchers in recent history, is bullpen-bound.
-
Cubs’ Bad-Luck Prospect Brennen Davis Is Ready for His MLB Debut
-
Cubs Manager Warns That Struggles From $16 Million Veteran ‘Not Going to Work’
-
Yamamoto Who? Cubs’ Shota Imanaga Emerges From Shadow of Dodgers Counterpart
-
Cubs Among Teams Justin Verlander Could Approve for a Trade
-
Cubs Seen as Team That Could Use ‘Unhittable’ A’s Reliever: Insider
MLB Network's Jon Heyman listed the Cubs (and other teams) as among those that would benefit from a trade for Mason Miller of the Oakland A's.
-
Cubs Named No. 1 Landing Spot for MLB’s ‘Top Hurler’ With 4-Player Trade Pitch
-
Cubs Trade Infielder for Reunion With ‘Sturdy’ Former 4th-Round Pick
-
Cubs Floated as Blockbuster Trade Destination for $100 Million 2-Time All-Star
-
Cubs Named as Potential Trade Suitor for Marlins Closer
-
Cubs Pitcher Said to Have ‘MLB’s Most Valuable Pitch’
The Cubs signed Shōta Imanaga in free agency and have seen great results. The 30-year-old's fastball has been one of the best pitches in 2024.