Mastrobuoni went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored in Wednesday's 13-7 loss to the Pirates.
Mastrobuoni entered the contest with just three hits at the MLB level since July 21, so Wednesday's performance was certainly unexpected, particularly out of the No. 9 spot in the order. The 27-year-old is still just a bench option for the Cubs, though he's seen a slightly larger role recently with Jeimer Candelario (back) and Nick Madrigal (hamstring) both currently out.
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Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni: Recalled from Iowa
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The Cubs recalled Mastrobuoni from Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Despite his lackluster MLB stats this season, Mastrobuoni appears to have rediscovered his swing over the last several weeks. He appeared in 13 games during his last major-league stint in July and slashed .324/.375/.432 with three RBI and 10 runs scored. Once he was optioned to Triple-A, his hot hitting continued with a .959 OPS since Aug. 1. Mastrobuoni will likely serve in a bench role with the Cubs, but the team could look for ways to get his hot bat in the game. Tucker Barnhart was DFA'd in a corresponding move.
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Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni: Sent to Triple-A
Rotowire
Mastrobuoni was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Nick Madrigal was activated from the 10-day injured list, so Mastrobuoni's playing time was about to evaporate anyway. He hit .300 with one home run and five steals over his last 40 at-bats.
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Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni: Sitting versus lefty
Rotowire
Mastrobuoni isn't in the Cubs' lineup Friday against the Cardinals.
With southpaw Jordan Montgomery set to start on the mound Friday for St. Louis, the lefty-hitting Mastrobuoni will take a seat to begin the game. Patrick Wisdom will get the nod at the hot corner instead and bat eighth.
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Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni: Settling in at third base
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Mastrobuoni will start at third base and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the White Sox.
Mastrobuoni looked at risk of losing out on playing time when Dansby Swanson returned from the 10-day injured list Saturday, but it's instead been Trey Mancini who has moved into a bench role. With Christopher Morel making his last three starts as the Cubs' designated hitter, Mastrobuoni has been able to settle as the team's primary third baseman. He should continue to make regular starts against right-handed pitching, though Mastrobuoni could give way to Morel or Patrick Wisdom at third base when the Cubs oppose southpaws.
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Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni: Moves into reserve role
Rotowire
Mastrobuoni is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.
Though he's on the bench Sunday versus a southpaw (Jordan Montgomery), Mastrobuoni's opportunities to play against right-handed pitching may become more scarce now that Dansby Swanson is back from the injured list. With Swanson back in the fold, Christopher Morel is unlikely to see much time in the middle infield moving forward and could end up settling into an everyday role at third base, where Mastrobuoni had been occupying the strong side of a platoon with Patrick Wisdom.
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Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni: Hits first career home run
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Mastrobuoni went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's victory over the Cardinals.
Mastrobuoni got the Cubs on the board in the third inning with his first career home run. It's been a struggle offensively for the versatile defender in his first season with Chicago, but he's beginning to pick up the pace and has recorded three straight multi-hit games. With Patrick Wisdom scuffling defensively and Nick Madrigal (hamstring) on the injured list, Mastrobuoni should continue to draw regular starts at third base, especially against right-handed starters.
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Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni: Sitting against southpaw
Rotowire
Mastrobuoni is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cardinals.
While he'll head to the bench with southpaw Steven Matz on the hill for St. Louis, the lefty-hitting Mastrobuoni looks to have emerged as a strong-side platoon player at third base for the Cubs. Mastrobuoni has occupied the hot corner in each of the Cubs' last three matchups with right-handed pitchers, while Patrick Wisdom has now started in all of the Cubs' matchups with lefties since he returned from the injured list earlier this month. However, the Mastrobuoni-Wisdom platoon could come to an end as soon as this weekend, when Dansby Swanson (heel) likely comes off the injured list. Swanson's return is expected to push Christopher Morel out of the middle infield and into a regular role at third base.
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Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni: Tallies three hits in big win
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Mastrobuoni went 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored in Tuesday's 17-3 win over the Nationals.
The Cubs cranked out 20 hits and Mastrobuoni had three of them, which was his first three-hit game of the season. It was just his second multi-hit effort, as he came into the contest batting only .155. The 27-year-old managed to raise that figure by 29 points, but he shouldn't be expected to have too many more stat lines like this the rest of the way.
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Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni: Nabs steal
Rotowire
Mastrobuoni went 0-for-2 with two walks, a stolen base and a run scored in Sunday's 11-5 loss to the Red Sox.
Mastrobuoni has been in the lineup in two of three games since the All-Star break, but he's gone hitless over six at-bats. He's faced right-handed pitchers both times, suggesting he could be carving out a platoon role at third base that could eat into Patrick Wisdom's playing time. Mastrobuoni will need to do a bit more with the bat to maintain his newfound role -- he's slashing just .155/.268/.197 with seven steals, one RBI, seven runs scored and three doubles over 84 plate appearances this season.
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Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni: Back in big leagues
Rotowire
Mastrobuoni was recalled by the Cubs on Saturday.
Mastrobuoni has been on and off the Cubs' roster this season but has generally not made much of an impact, slashing .145/.254/.177 in 30 games. He'll take the roster spot which had belonged to Dansby Swanson, who landed on the injured list with a bruised left heel.
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Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Cubs optioned Mastrobuoni to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
With the selection of Jared Young from Triple-A on Tuesday, Mastrobuoni will head back to the minors to make room for the promising prospect. Mastrobuoni holds an impressive .949 OPS in Iowa this season, but has yet to put it together in Chicago, where that figure sits at just .431.
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Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni: Starting Saturday
Rotowire
Mastrobuoni is starting at third base and batting ninth in Saturday's game against the Orioles.
Patrick Wisdom (wrist) hit the injured list Saturday, which should open up some time at the hot corner. Nick Madrigal will likely get some run there as well, though he's on the bench for Saturday's contest. Mastrobuoni has just a .440 OPS across 59 MLB at-bats this season, making him a fairly unappealing fantasy option at this point.
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Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni: Back in majors
Rotowire
The Cubs recalled Mastrobuoni from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
After being optioned to Iowa on Friday, Mastrobuoni will return to Chicago as Brandon Hughes (knee) lands on the injured list. Mastrobuoni is slashing just .161/.266/.196 on the season through 64 plate appearances and is unlikely to be a large contributor off the bench for the Cubs.
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Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni: Optioned to Iowa
Rotowire
Mastrobuoni was optioned to Triple-A Iowa by the Cubs on Friday, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.
Mastrobuoni was sent down to make room for Nick Madrigal, with Madrigal receiving a promotion for his strong work at Triple-A. Mastrobuoni hit only .161 with a .462 OPS while with the Cubs over 64 plate appearances.
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Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni: On base four times in loss
Rotowire
Mastrobuoni went 1-for-2 with a double, three walks and a stolen base in Wednesday's 7-6 loss to the Astros.
Mastrobuoni hadn't drawn a walk this season prior to Wednesday. The 27-year-old wasn't able to get involved in the Cubs' run-scoring plays, but it was a solid showing in a rare start at second base with Christopher Morel covering for Cody Bellinger (knee) in center field. Mastrobuoni is slashing .214/.290/.286 with one RBI, one run scored, two doubles and two steals through 31 plate appearances.
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Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni: Recalled from Triple-A
Rotowire
The Cubs recalled Mastrobuoni from Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
The 27-year-old will add a bit of versatility to the bench while Nico Hoerner recovers from a left hamstring strain. Mastrobuoni has slashed just .194/.216/.222 through 37 career plate appearances at the MLB level.
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Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni: Optioned to Iowa
Rotowire
Mastrobuoni was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
The move opens up a roster spot for Seiya Suzuki (oblique) to return from the injured list. Mastrobuoni slashed just .200/.200/.250 over 20 plate appearances during his time with Chicago, and he will likely remain in an organizational depth role while he's with Triple-A Iowa.
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Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni: Gets second start of series
Rotowire
Mastrobuoni will start in right field and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Mariners.
Mastrobuoni will be making his second start of the series after going 1-for-3 with a double in Monday's 3-2 win. The Cubs haven't committed to a full-time replacement for Seiya Suzuki (oblique) in right field while Suzuki has been on the injured list all season, but with five starts at the position now under his belt, Mastrobuoni appears to be the preferred option for the time being, at least against right-handed pitching.
