Cubs News

Yu Darvish is set to make his return to the Texas Rangers' rotation on Saturday. The AL West leaders said Darvish threw a bullpen session Wednesday and is expected to be activated from the 15-day disabled list to start the second game of the team's weekend series at the Chicago Cubs. Darvish has been on the disabled list since June 9 with shoulder discomfort.

Two of baseball's top teams from the first half will try to regain their momentum on Friday, when the Rangers and Cubs open a three-game series at Wrigley Field.

David Ortiz is set to get booed at Yankee Stadium, Chris Sale is ready to resume striking out Kris Bryant and the Kansas City Royals are facing a rugged road back to the playoffs. PENNANT PUSH: All eyes will be on Joe Maddon and his Cubs as they chase their first World Series crown since 1908.

On June 19, the Cubs had a 12 1/2-game lead in the National League Central, the best record in the Major Leagues, and Wrigleyville was prepping for a wild October party.

Brad Johnson covers the latest news and notes from the closer and stolen base front including Craig Kimbrel's injury.

Kris Bryant, whose bat connected with the pitch, knew. It was a first pitch fastball from Sale and Bryant blasted it off the scoreboard in left field, the first run of Tuesday night’s MLB All-Star game. Just as quickly as that ball flew out of the ballpark, Mike Bryant flew out of his seat.

Kris Bryant probably won't get another first-pitch fastball from White Sox ace Chris Sale when the Chicago Cubs slugger bats against the left-hander during the City Series in a couple of weeks. Back in his college town, Bryant showed exactly what he can do with that pitch - even against a crosstown rival who has owned him. Bryant hit an estimated 410-foot homer on the fourth pitch of the 87th All-Star Game, providing the biggest highlight of a mediocre night for the NL in a 4-2 loss.

Kris Bryant, who left San Diego three years ago as a first-round Draft pick, returned on Tuesday and gave the National League a quick one-run lead in the All-Star Game presented by MasterCard, though the American League would come back to win, 4-2.

Eric Hosmer stood in the middle of the field, holding up a trophy. Hosmer and Salvador Perez homered off former Kansas City teammate Johnny Cueto during a six-pitch span in the second inning, Hosmer added an RBI single to become MVP of the All-Star Game and the American League beat the Nationals 4-2 Tuesday night for its fourth straight win. If the defending champion Royals reach the World Series for the third straight year, they will start at home, sweet, home once again.

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Cole Hamels of the Texas Rangers pitched a scoreless third inning in the All-Star Game in his hometown several hours after receiving eight stitches in his chin.

Kansas City's Eric Hosmer homered and drove in two runs, Royals teammate Salvador Perez also hit a two-run homer, and the American League won its fourth consecutive All-Star Game, beating the NL 4-2 Tuesday night. Hosmer and Perez provided enough offense in the early innings for the AL to win the midsummer classic for the 15th time in the last 19 years. Hosmer and Perez both connected in a six-pitch span of the second inning against San Francisco's Johnny Cueto, their Royals teammate on last season's World Series-winning team.

The 2016 All-Star Game presented by MasterCard quickly became a Royal affair, as Eric Hosmer and Salvador Perez powered the American League to a 4-2 victory on a festive Tuesday night in San Diego's East Village.

Chicago Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta is leaning toward sitting out Tuesday's MLB All-Star Game in San Diego, his agent, Scott Boras, confirmed via ESPN on Monday. The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner is 12-4 with a 2.68 ERA and 121 strikeouts but has struggled recently, losing three of his last four starts. Arrieta was passed over to start the game for the NL in favor of San Francisco Giants starter Johnny Cueto.

Wade Miley hears the talk about lifting the bottom of the strike zone in an effort to spark offense and insists there has been too much tinkering already. Concerned about the drop in offense in recent years, Major League Baseball has studied whether to restore the lower edge of the strike zone from just beneath the kneecap to its pre-1996 level - at the top of the kneecap. ''I think it's kind of outrageous what they're trying to do with the strike zone,'' Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Alex Wood said.

Balloting is underway through the end of tonight's Midsummer Classic for the Ted Williams All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet. Fan votes help decide the winner.

Jake Arrieta may not pitch in the All-Star game. Chicago Cubs fans worked hard to stuff the ballot box this season to ensure their players would make it to the All-Star game. Now, one Cubs player is considering sitting out during the event.

National League manager Terry Collins watched from the dugout as Johnny Cueto dominated in the 2015 World Series. On Tuesday, he hands the ball to Cueto as the starting pitcher against the American League in the 87th Major League Baseball All-Star Game at Petco Park. Collins, whose New York Mets were mowed down by the Kansas City Royals in the 2015 Fall Classic, said his decision to name Cueto, 13-1 with a 2.47 ERA in his first season with the San Francisco Giants, his starter was easy.

And you thought your baseball superstitions were intense.

Petco Park in San Diego hosts the 87th All-Star Game, with White Sox ace Chris Sale (14-3) starting for the American League against Giants righty Johnny Cueto (13-1). The AL has won three in a row, but the National League leads 43-41 overall with two ties. Anthony Rizzo and a lot of Cubs take on David Ortiz and a bunch of Red Sox, and the league that wins gets home-field advantage in the World Series.

Braves prospect Kolby Allard and Rangers prospect Lewis Brinson were among the top prospect performers in the Minors on Monday.