Chicago Cubs

Jordan Wicks is close to beginning a rehab assignment. (Source: Patrick Mooney on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The same goes for Drew Smyly who is also close to beginning his rehab assignment. Wicks has been sidelined since the end of April due to a left forearm strain.

Drew Smyly is close to beginning a rehab assignment. (Source: Patrick Mooney on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Smyly and Jordan Wicks are on similar timelines as they're both close to starting a rehab assignment. Smyly has missed close to a month now due to a right hip impingement.

Dansby Swanson will be activated from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday. (Source: Patrick Mooney on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Swanson was placed on the IL on May 8 due to a right knee sprain. He has progressed in his baseball activities and will miss just over the minimum 10-day stay on the injured list.

Nico Hoerner is not in the Cubs lineup on Saturday against the Pirates.

Fantasy Impact: It is the fifth straight Hoerner has missed due to a left hamstring injury. He remains day-to-day, but could wind up on the injured list if he can't return to the lineup in the next couple of days.

The Cubs traded Richard Lovelady to the Rays in exchange for minor leaguer Jeff Belge. (Source: Marc Topkin on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Lovelady had been designated for assignment by Chicago earlier in the week. He will add some depth to the bullpen for Tampa Bay.

Michael Busch is not in the Cubs lineup on Saturday against the Pirates.

Fantasy Impact: Busch reached base twice on a pair of walks on Friday. Patrick Wisdom is back in the lineup and starting at first base for Chicago.

Pete Crow-Armstrong is not in the Cubs lineup on Saturday against the Pirates.

Fantasy Impact: Crow-Armstrong went hitless in four at-bats on Friday. Seiya Suzuki is back in the lineup and starting in right field for Chicago.

Miguel Amaya is not in the Cubs lineup on Saturday against the Pirates.

Fantasy Impact: Amaya hit a home run in Friday's loss. Yan Gomes is back behind the plate for Chicago.

Yan Gomes is in the Cubs lineup on Saturday against the Pirates.

Fantasy Impact: Gomes gets the start behind the plate and is hitting at the bottom of the lineup. He is 2-for-5 with a pair of home runs in his career against Bailey Falter.

Seiya Suzuki is in the Cubs lineup on Saturday against the Pirates.

Fantasy Impact: Suzuki makes his return after getting the day off on Friday. He is hitting .282 with 15 RBI on the season, but has yet to record a hit in seven career at-bats against Bailey Falter.

Patrick Wisdom is in the Cubs lineup on Saturday against the Pirates.

Fantasy Impact: Wisdom is set to lead off and start at first base for the Cubs. He is 4-for-7 in his career against Bailey Falter.

Kyle Hendricks struggled mightily in Friday's 9-3 loss to the Pirates, allowing seven earned runs on 11 hits while striking out four over 4 2/3 innings.

Fantasy Impact: This outing continues a troubling trend for Hendricks, whose season ERA ballooned to an alarming 10.57, accompanied by a 1.99 WHIP through seven starts. His inability to limit hits, evidenced by a .385 BABIP, and a modest 7.3 K/9 rate, suggests ongoing challenges in regaining his form. Fantasy managers should be wary of relying on Hendricks in any format, as his current performance offers little in terms of reliability or upside.

Christopher Morel went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI in the Cubs' 9-3 defeat to the Pirates.

Fantasy Impact: Despite the loss, Morel's performance was a small silver lining, as he managed to drive in both of the Cubs' runs. This game, however, does little to brighten his rather dim season stats, with a batting average lingering around the Mendoza Line at .215. His power numbers are decent, with nine homers, but his overall production has been underwhelming. Fantasy managers should view Morel as a risky play, primarily useful in deeper leagues or as a fill-in option when matchups are favorable. His lack of consistent on-base skills (.305 wOBA) and high strikeout rate (40 Ks in 163 at-bats) continue to limit his upside.

The Cubs placed Colten Brewer on the 15-day injured list. (Source: Sahadev Sharma on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Brewer is dealing with lower back tightness. He has posted a 3.09 ERA across 11 2/3 innings out of the Cubs bullpen so far this season. Porter Hodge was called up as the corresponding move.

The Cubs called up Porter Hodge from Triple-A Iowa. (Source: Sahadev Sharma on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Hodge has been called up to the majors for the first time. He has posted a 6.55 ERA across 11 innings in Triple-A so far this season.

Ian Happ went 1-for-4 with a home run and an RBI in the Cubs' 5-4 loss to the Pirates.

Fantasy Impact: His solo shot provided a glimmer of hope but wasn't enough to secure a win. Happ's season has been underwhelming with a batting average of just .220 through 40 games, and his power numbers have been modest at best. This home run, only his second of the season, might hint at potential improvements, but his high strikeout rate and low wOBA suggest fantasy managers should temper their expectations. His ability to draw walks is a small consolation, yet it doesn't quite compensate for the overall lack of production.

Justin Steele endured a rough outing, allowing five earned runs on six hits and one walk while striking out seven over 5.2 innings in Thursday's 5-4 loss to the Pirates.

Fantasy Impact: This performance nudges his ERA up to a concerning 5.68 through four starts this season. Despite a decent WHIP of 1.21 and a solid strikeout rate (8.5 K/9), Steele's inconsistency in run prevention is a red flag for fantasy managers. His FIP standing at 5.43 suggests that his struggles may not just be a matter of bad luck, as indicated by a relatively normal BABIP of .255. Owners should be cautious, as his ability to eat innings without significant damage is currently in question.

Javier Assad delivered a stellar performance, allowing no earned runs on four hits and one walk while striking out seven over six innings in Wednesday's 7-1 victory against the Braves.

Fantasy Impact: This outing continues Assad's impressive season, where he now boasts a 1.49 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP through 10 starts. His ability to maintain a low ERA and WHIP, coupled with a solid 7.8 K/9 rate, makes him a valuable asset in fantasy leagues. The consistency shown by maintaining a low BABIP (.248) and a strong strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.80) suggests that Assad could be a reliable starter for fantasy teams looking for quality innings and decent strikeout numbers. His performance today only solidifies his status as a top-tier fantasy option moving forward.

Mike Tauchman went 2-for-5 with a home run and an RBI in the Cubs' 7-1 victory over the Braves.

Fantasy Impact: His performance included a solo shot, contributing to the team's dominant win. This season, Tauchman has maintained a .266 batting average with a decent mix of power and on-base skills, as evidenced by his .363 wOBA. While his strikeout rate sits at a manageable 19.2%, his ability to draw walks (16% walk rate) adds value, especially in formats that reward on-base percentage. Fantasy managers should note his consistent playing time and role in the Cubs' lineup, making him a viable option in deeper leagues or as a streaming candidate based on matchups.

Curt Casali and the Giants have agreed to a one-year contract. (Source: Alex Pavlovic on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Casali was in Triple-A Iowa as a member of the Cubs’ organization, but he had an opt out in his minor league contract. He is in the lineup Wednesday, starting behind the plate and batting ninth.