This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian’s Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CHICAGO -- The Cubs have tried a few things with their bench configuration while super sub Matt Shaw has remained on the injured list due to a sprained left hand. Prospect James Triantos is expected to be the latest player given a chance to pitch in for the

The Trade Deadline arrives at 6 p.m. ET on Aug. 3 this year, and before all the commotion that comes with a flurry of moves across the Major and Minor Leagues, we figured it was time to update the MLB Pipeline team Top 30 prospects lists.

Truth be told, we’re always

CHICAGO -- With the exception of a quiet May, the Cubs have featured one of baseball’s more prolific lineups this season. The North Siders headed into Wednesday ranked fourth in the Majors in runs scored and the Tigers felt it first-hand one night earlier when Chicago rattled off six runs

The Aug. 3 Trade Deadline is fast approaching, and with it, potential moves that could shake up the balance of power and playoff races as we enter the regular season stretch run.

The Trade Deadline is quickly approaching and more teams than ever are in the hunt for a playoff spot. So, which organization is going to make that move, that not only grabs the headlines but puts their team in position for a run to the World Series?

On the latest <a

This page will be updated throughout the year with all the latest Cubs injury news and transactions.

It’s hard to stay on top of the Hitter Power Rankings for an extended period of time. Even great hitters slump, right?

Well, don’t tell that to the man in our No. 1 spot -- yet again. He’s become a regular there and is showing no signs of slowing down, perhaps

CHICAGO -- Pete Crow-Armstrong pulled a pitch from Tigers lefty Framber Valdez deep into the right-field corner to lead off the first inning on Tuesday, and then both the Cubs’ center fielder and the North Siders were off and running.

Crow-Armstrong legged out a triple, igniting a six-run first inning that

CHICAGO -- As David Peterson headed off the field in the seventh inning on Tuesday night, the lefty experienced his first ovation from the Wrigley Field faithful. With each step off the mound and toward the dugout, the volume level ticked up in the old ballpark.

“It’s special,” Peterson said. “To

CHICAGO -- Trent Thornton hunched over in pain by the first-base line and then made his way back to the mound for the Cubs Monday night at Wrigley Field. As the reliever moved awkwardly up the hill, it quickly became clear that he was very much feeling the effects of

In the midst of a wild 8-6 Cubs loss to Detroit on Monday, Pete Crow-Armstrong did something that he’s done so often that it almost feels routine: He made a truly great defensive play.

Stunning, we know: The defending Gold Glover, who rates as the best non-catcher defender in

CHICAGO -- With the Wrigley Field crowd on its feet and roaring, the Cubs were poised for a dramatic walk-off win on Monday night. The North Siders had the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth against Tigers closer Kenley Jansen, and Alex Bregman worked the count full with

CHICAGO -- The Cubs were hopeful that Phil Maton’s last trip to the injured list -- combined with the All-Star break -- would give the veteran reliever ample time to rest the right knee that has been a persistent issue dating back to last season. That turned out

This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian's Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

The second half of the MLB season usually comes with a mission. For contenders, it's getting to the postseason. For others, it's taking stock and looking ahead to improve for next season.

In either circumstance, there are players who teams want to see contribute because they figure to be an important

CHICAGO -- After Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong chased down a drive from Royce Lewis deep into the gap to his right -- sending ivy leaves flying off the vines clinging to the Wrigley Field’s famous wall -- Shota Imanaga stood on the mound with his hands on his hips.

Imanaga

CHICAGO -- The Cubs were on a nice run in the few weeks leading into the All-Star break, but knew they could not let the season’s intermission halt that momentum. One series into the second half, the North Siders look to have picked up where they left off.

With a <a

CHICAGO -- Aaron Civale played a part in the Cubs’ bullpen down the stretch last season and then stepped up in a big way when needed in the playoffs. Given the need for pitching depth at the moment, Chicago has once again brought the veteran righty back into the fold

CHICAGO -- Anthony Rizzo was merely taking in a game at Wrigley Field on Saturday. Sitting in the right-field bleachers alongside his teammates from the 2016 World Series champions -- who earlier helped dedicate a brand new Champions Gate monument outside the stadium -- the three-time All-Star likely

CHICAGO -- Joe Maddon stood up on a stage just outside of Wrigley Field on Saturday morning, holding up a page of notes from the first day of 2016 Spring Training. On it, the then-Cubs manager had scribbled what became one of the mottos for that year’s club -- embrace

Before he hit the game-winning shot in the 1982 NCAA Men’s Basketball championship game, before he was drafted third overall in the 1984 NBA Draft, before the Rookie of the Year Award, the 14 All-Star selections, the 10 scoring titles, the five MVP Awards and the six NBA titles …

Before

CHICAGO -- Matthew Boyd remembers what it was like celebrating Justin Verlander reaching 10 years of service time when both were teammates with the Tigers in 2015. As he acknowledged the milestone accomplishment of a likely future Hall of Famer, Boyd also couldn’t help but hope that one day he’d