Chicago Cubs Team Player News

Rotowire: Aug 20, 11:29p ET

News: Hamels (7-4) allowed three runs over six innings to pick up the win Tuesday against the Giants. He gave up five hits and two walks, while striking out five.

Impact: After allowing 12 earned runs across five innings in his previous two starts, this was a welcome strong outing for Hamels. All the damage came on a pair of home runs, but the lefty generally limited baserunners and navigated his six innings on 94 pitches (58 strikes). Hamels will take a 3.73 ERA and a little bit of positive momentum into his next start, which is scheduled for Sunday against the Nationals.

Nicholas Castellanos CHC

Rotowire: Aug 20, 11:22p ET

News: Castellanos went 3-for-5 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Giants.

Impact: Castellanos continues to rake since joining the Cubs at the trade deadline, as he's now batting .365 in 18 games with seven home runs. Locked in as the team's No. 2 hitter, the 27-year-old should continue to produce at a high level in a strong Chicago lineup.

Anthony Rizzo CHC

Rotowire: Aug 20, 11:18p ET

News: Rizzo went 3-for-3 with a walk, two solo home runs and three runs scored in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Giants.

Impact: Rizzo hit his 24th home run of the season in the first inning off of San Francisco starter Tyler Beede, then launched No. 25 against Beede again two innings later. The 30-year-old first baseman has now reached the 25-home-run plateau in each of the last six seasons as he continues to produce at an elite level for the Cubs.

Steve Cishek CHC

Rotowire: Aug 20, 8:22p ET

News: Cishek (hip) was activated off the 10-day injured list prior to Tuesday's game against the Giants, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Impact: Cishek was placed on the injured list Aug. 10 with left hip inflammation, but he completed a pain-free bullpen session over the weekend and was able to return after spending the 10-day minimum on the shelf. The 33-year-old gave up seven runs over his last four innings prior to landing on the IL, so he'll look to regain his first-half form -- 2.75 ERA and 1.02 WHIP -- after the brief injury hiatus.

Ben Zobrist CHC

Rotowire: Aug 20, 6:34p ET

News: Zobrist (personal) will play for Double-A Tennessee on Thursday and Triple-A Iowa on Friday and Saturday, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Impact: Zobrist played in three games for Iowa last weekend. He'll take the field for the Smokies on Thursday before advancing back up to the highest minor-league level. If the Cubs are satisfied by his progress over the next three games, there's a chance he could be back with the big-league club next week.

Mark Zagunis CHC

Rotowire: Aug 20, 6:28p ET

News: Zagunis was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday.

Impact: Zagunis was up as the 26th man for Sunday's Little League Classic. He'll head right back to the minors after striking out in his lone plate appearance. He's 9-for-36 with three doubles and five RBI in the big leagues this season (30 games).

Ian Happ CHC

Rotowire: Aug 20, 4:30p ET

News: Happ is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Giants.

Impact: He got off to a great start after getting the call in late-July, but is just 3-for-15 with six strikeouts over his last six games. Tony Kemp starts at second base and will hit eighth.

Victor Caratini CHC

Rotowire: Aug 20, 4:28p ET

News: Caratini is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Giants.

Impact: He is just 2-for-18 with zero home runs, four walks and six strikeouts in his last seven games. Jonathan Lucroy starts at catcher and will hit seventh.

Steve Cishek CHC

Rotowire: Aug 19, 7:56p ET

News: Cishek (hip) is expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Tuesday's series opener against the Giants, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Impact: The Cubs haven't made the move official yet, but they did open up a roster spot by optioning David Bote to Triple-A Iowa on Monday night. Cishek has been sidelined since Aug. 10 due to left hip inflammation, though he's since fired two bullpens without issue and should be back in Chicago's bullpen in time for Tuesday's clash.

David Bote CHC

Rotowire: Aug 19, 7:52p ET

News: Bote was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Monday, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Impact: Bote is 5-for-10 with an RBI and three walks over his last 10 contests, but he'll head back down to the minors following Monday's roster move. Steve Cishek (hip) is expected to return from the 10-day injured list and take Bote's place on the 25-man roster for Tuesday's matchup with San Francisco.

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