Cubs News

The greatest at-bat in the history of Spring Training?

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo tuned up for the regular season with a brief piano recital before Tuesday's 9-5 win over the Athletics.

Trevor Bauer tossed six shutout innings and Jose Ramirez drove in a run as a Cleveland Indians split squad and the Los Angeles Angels played to a 1-1, nine-inning tie Tuesday. Bauer gave up seven hits and struck out seven. Angels starter Garrett Richards pitched a two-hitter over five innings, allowing a run, walking one and striking out four.

New York Mets right-hander Matt Harvey has been suffering from a blood clot that was a result of a bladder infection. Now it appears the 27-year-old will take the mound on Sunday night in a rematch of last season's World Series combatants when the Mets face the Kansas City Royals to open the season. "It started with a bladder infection and it created a blood clot in the bladder," Harvey told reporters after having a minor procedure Tuesday morning to make sure "everything was clear." Harvey blamed the infection on not using the bathroom often enough.

Former pitcher Mark Prior ran into Dusty Baker in San Diego last year at a scouting event his old manager's son was participating in. Baker was out of baseball after being fired by the Cincinnati Reds, but baseball wasn't out of him. ''He wants to try to win a World Series.

NEW YORK (AP) -- Chicago White Sox pitcher Kameron Loe has received an 80-game suspension for a positive test under baseball's minor league drug program.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Fifth starter front-runner CC Sabathia allowed two runs and three hits over four innings as a New York Yankees split squad beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-4 Tuesday in a game shortened to five innings because of rain.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon met with Neil Ramirez, Matt Szczur and Tommy La Stella on Tuesday to tell them that they made the Opening Day roster.

The Cubs released outfielder Shane Victorino, infielder Munenori Kawasaki and left-handed reliever Manny Parra on Tuesday. However, a team official said the Cubs were actively trying to re-sign all three.

Ace Zack Greinke pulled the biggest winter surprise, leaving the Dodgers to sign with Arizona. The Diamondbacks then quickly doubled down on a new rotation, trading for All-Star Shelby Miller. Hoping to end a World Series drought that dates to 1908, the Cubs loaded up with Jason Heyward, John Lackey and Ben Zobrist.

The Cubs felt good about the physical talent on the roster, such as youngsters like Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Addison Russell and Kyle Schwarber. But something was missing. That's where John Lackey comes in.

SUPRISE, Ariz. (AP) -- The San Diego Padres have acquired right-hander Dan Straily from the Houston Astros for catcher Erik Kratz.

Mike Trout and Albert Pujols hit back-to-back home runs, Jason Heyward smoked a ball about 460 feet and the Cubs and Angels settled for an 8-8 tie on Monday at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

Jason Heyward homered for the second straight game and Anthony Rizzo also connected as the Chicago Cubs tied the Los Angeles Angels 8-8 at spring training on Monday. Heyward's three-run shot homer off Nick Tropeano cleared the bullpen in right field in the third inning. Mike Trout and Albert Pujols hit back-to-back homers in the Angels' five-run fourth against Kyle Hendricks.

Danny Salazar pitched six innings and Tyler Naquin hit his fourth home run of the spring as the Cleveland Indians beat the Oakland Athletics 6-4 Monday. Salazar gave up two runs and seven hits. Joba Chamberlain pitched a hitless ninth for a save.

Javier Baez, who has not played a game since March 20 because of a sprained left thumb, played catch on Monday and his uncertainty for the start of the regular season is leaving the Cubs with a possible 11th-hour decision regarding the 25-man roster.

Add "matchmaker" to the long list of Bryant's skills.

Cubs outfielder Dexter Fowler said he left Sunday's game as a precaution because of tightness on his left side, and it had nothing to do with the bees that invaded Sloan Park.

A swarm of bees descended on Sloan Park on Sunday during a Cactus League game between the Chicago Cubs and Seattle Mariners. The bees targeted Cubs outfielder Jason Heyward in the top of third inning and stung him more than 10 times in head and neck area. Heyward kept moving around in centerfield where he was playing in place of Dexter Fowler, who suffered an injury earlier in the game and was removed. Heyward swatted at the bees with his glove and hat and even considered jumping over the centerfield wall at one point before encouraging umpires to continue play and get the inning over. The game was delayed for 5 minutes and some fans in the outfield shielded themselves from the bees by hiding under blankets. Heyward remained in the contest. He came up in the bottom of the third inning and belted a home run off James Paxton. He finished the day 1-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI. The Mariners won the game 12-9 Got stung at least 20 times smh https://t.co/um47ptnE19 — jheytwotwo (@JasonHeyward) March 27, 2016 Swarms of bees at spring training games are nothing new. It has happened in the past but it's not often that they attack a player on the field the way they did with Heyward. Heyward and Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo were able to have a little fun with the incident after the fact. Heyward hitting a home run and Rizzo apparently predicting he would helped. U called the homer after!