Steele (2-3) earned the win over Baltimore on Thursday, pitching seven scoreless innings during which he gave up three hits and issued no walks while striking out four batters.
Steele shut down a potent Orioles lineup, retiring the first 11 batters he faced and allowing just three baserunners (all on doubles) overall. The left-hander couldn't get into the win column over his first 12 starts but has now notched consecutive victories, allowing just one run over 16 innings while posting an 11:2 K:BB during that stretch. Steele's excellence extends further than that -- he's posted seven straight quality starts, registering a 1.65 ERA and 45:7 K:BB across 49 frames over that span.
Swanson went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional RBI in Thursday's 8-0 win over the Orioles.
The home run was Swanson's ninth of the season and first since June 19. Since then, the shortstop has batted just .191 across 19 games. For the season, Swanson is hitting .209, which is a decent step back from his career average of .250. While it's been a disappointing first half, the 30-year-old is talented enough to pick things up in a hurry, so fantasy managers should try to remain patient.
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Cubs' Seiya Suzuki: All over the bases in win
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Suzuki went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a triple, a run scored and three RBI in Thursday's 8-0 win over the Orioles.
Suzuki had a solid series against Baltimore, as he recorded at least one hit in all three games, including four extra-base knocks. The outfielder enjoys regular playing time as well as a spot near the top of Chicago's order, so he should continue to produce strong fantasy results the rest of this season, provided he stays healthy.
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Cubs' Michael Busch: Keeps rolling Thursday
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Busch went 2-for-4 with a walk, two doubles, two RBI and three runs scored in Thursday's 8-0 win over the Orioles.
Busch extended his hitting streak to eight games, and he has eight hits in the last three contests alone. The first baseman has used the hot streak to push his batting average up to .278 and his OPS to a robust .853. Busch continues to see regular playing time in his first season with the Cubs, and he should remain locked into fantasy lineups, particularly while he's producing like this.
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Cubs' Jordan Wicks: Progressing slowly
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Wicks (oblique) has not been progressing through his throwing program as well as the Cubs had hoped, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Wicks is reportedly still feeling the effects of the right oblique strain that sent him to the injured list in mid-June, so he has yet to advance beyond playing catch. He remains without a firm return timeline, though it's unlikely he returns to Chicago's rotation before the end of July.
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Cubs' Cody Bellinger: Hits IL with fractured finger
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The Cubs placed Bellinger on the 10-day injured list Thursday due to a fracture in his left middle finger, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Bellinger had to be taken out of Wednesday's game after he was hit in the hand by a pitch during the seventh inning, and imaging confirmed Thursday that the incident resulted in a fractured finger. He'll be sidelined through at least July 21, though the Cubs haven't yet provided a timeline for his return. Alexander Canario will come up from Triple-A Iowa in order to replenish Chicago's outfield depth.
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Cubs' Alexander Canario: Joins big-league club
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The Cubs recalled Canario from Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
The 24-year-old was up with the Cubs early in the season and posted an .815 OPS in 25 plate appearances, and he'll receive another look as Cody Bellinger heads to the injured list with a fractured finger. Canario should have at least a semi regular role with Bellinger and Mike Tauchman (groin) both sidelind.
Hoerner went 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's 4-0 win over the Orioles.
Hoerner extended his hitting streak to six games as he tries to build some momentum heading into the All-Star break. The infielder is batting just .248 for the season, though he's hitting .333 during the recent hot streak. Hoerner batted .281 or better each of the last three seasons, which provides some optimism that a big second half is in store.
Cubs' Shota Imanaga: Dominant in final first-half start
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Imanaga (8-2) tossed six scoreless innings to earn the win Wednesday against the Orioles. He allowed six hits and a walk, while striking out six.
Imanaga finished the first half of the season in style, as he allowed zero runs in a start for the seventh time already this year. The lefty got off to a blazing start in his MLB debut, posting a 0.84 ERA across his first nine outings, before enduring a few lumps since then. However, he has a solid 3.00 ERA over his last three starts and 2.97 ERA overall, giving him some momentum heading into his All-Star appearance next week. Imanaga is tentatively set to take the mound again for the Cubs on July 20 against the Diamondbacks.
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Cubs' Christopher Morel: Goes deep in win
Rotowire
Morel went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 4-0 win over the Orioles.
Morel launched his 16th home run of the season in the second inning against All-Star Corbin Burnes. While the 25-year-old continues to hit for power, he's not doing much else at the plate, as he's batting just .200 on the season. Morel has fantasy upside due to his pop, though fantasy managers will have to endure the low batting average.
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Cubs' Cody Bellinger: Removed after HBP
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Bellinger was removed from Wednesday's game against the Orioles after getting hit in the hand by a pitch, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. He went 2-for-3 with a stolen base before leaving the game.
Bellinger initially stayed in the game to run the bases after he took a 97-mph sinker off his hand during the seventh inning, but Miles Mastrobuoni replaced him in right field once the Cubs came out to play defense. The Cubs will likely take Bellinger in for imaging, and the team should have an update on his condition relatively soon.
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Cubs' Trayce Thompson: Latches on with Cubs
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Thompson signed a minor-league contract with the Cubs on Wednesday, Tommy Birch of The Des Moines Register reports.
Thompson was let go by the Mets last week after posting an .800 OPS with 16 home runs and 44 RBI over 253 plate appearances with Triple-A Syracuse. He'll now report to Triple-A Iowa to provide the Cubs with organizational outfield depth, though his chances of appearing in the majors remain slim.
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Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Hits two innings in third rehab start
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Kilian (shoulder) struck out two over two perfect innings in his rehab start Tuesday with High-A South Bend.
Kilian tossed 21 pitches in the outing while the Cubs continue to ease the right-hander along slowly as he makes his way back from a teres major strain in his right shoulder, an injury that has sidelined him since early March. The 27-year-old will likely require at least three more rehab starts to get fully stretched out for a traditional starter's workload, so he may not be activated until late July or early August. Once Kilian is reinstated, the Cubs could elect to option him to Triple-A Iowa, if the big club doesn't have an opening in its rotation.
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Cubs' Ben Brown: Still experiencing symptoms
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Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday that Brown is still experiencing lingering discomfort in his neck, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Brown has been shelved since mid-June with a neck strain and doesn't appear to have made much progress. He had been cleared to resume throwing in late June, but it's uncertain where he currently stands in his throwing program.
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Throws bullpen session
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Alzolay (forearm) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Tuesday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Alzolay appears to have responded well to what was his first time throwing off a mound since he was shelved with a flexor strain in mid-May. Before coming off the 60-day injured list, Alzolay will need to make multiple rehab appearances in the minors, and it's unclear when he might be ready to begin an assignment.
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Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni: Returns to bench role
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Mastrobuoni is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Orioles.
The lefty-hitting Mastrobuoni had been included in the lineup in each of the Cubs' last three matchups with right-handed pitchers, but the uptick in playing time looks to have been the result of outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong being unavailable due to a thumb injury. After serving as a pinch runner in Tuesday's 9-2 win, Crow-Armstrong has received the green light to re-enter the starting nine Wednesday for the first time in a week, so Mastrobuoni will head back to the bench.
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Cubs' Tomas Nido: Hitting bench Wednesday
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Nido is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Orioles.
Nido had started behind the plate in four of the past five games, but he'll cede catching duties to Miguel Amaya on Wednesday. Since signing with the Cubs on June 19, Nido has put together a .133/.156/.200 slash line with a 31.3 percent strikeout rate, so his hold on the No. 1 catcher's role may be tenuous.
