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Suzuki went 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 12-4 win over the Mets.
This was Suzuki's fifth straight start, so it looks like any playing time restrictions for him after returning from a knee injury have been lifted. He's still seeking his first home run after going deep 32 times in the regular season last year, but the outfielder is batting a solid .286 and the power should begin to come. Suzuki remains a strong fantasy option who figures to deliver plenty of homers and RBI as the season progresses.
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Cubs' Ian Happ: Launches fifth home run Friday
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Happ went 1-for-4 with a walk and a two-run home run in Friday's 12-4 win over the Mets.
Happ was one of three Chicago hitters to go deep in the easy win, as he launched his fifth home run of the season in the eighth inning. The veteran outfielder is batting just .214, but his .799 OPS is actually nine points higher than his career mark, so he's still finding ways to produce offensively. After missing a few games recently with a bruised heel, Happ looks fully healthy, and he should remain a lineup staple for the Cubs moving forward.
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Cubs' Moises Ballesteros: Goes deep in win
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Ballesteros went 2-for-2 with a three-run home run in Friday's 12-4 win over the Mets.
Ballesteros gave the Cubs an early jolt with a three-run bomb in the first inning, which was his third home run of the season. The 22-year-old was eventually lifted for a pinch hitter, but not before he boosted his batting average to .375 and his OPS to a robust 1.034. Ballesteros has competition for playing time as Chicago's primary DH, but his strong play so far is making it hard to keep him out of the lineup.
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Cubs' Edward Cabrera: Notches second win
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Cabrera (2-0) picked up the win in Friday's 12-4 rout of the Mets, giving up three runs on eight hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out four.
With the wind blowing out to left field, it looked like the two teams might be headed for an afternoon fireworks display at Wrigley Field when the Cubs struck for four runs in the bottom of the first and the Mets responded with three in the top of the second. Cabrera didn't allow another baserunner to even get into scoring position until the sixth inning, however, eventually exiting after 91 pitches (57 strikes). The quality start was the second for Cabrera in his first four trips to the mound for Chicago, and he'll take a 2.38 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 17:11 K:BB through 22.2 innings into his next outing, which is set to come at home next week against the Phillies.
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Cubs' Nico Hoerner: Goes deep again Friday
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Hoerner went 3-for-5 with a two-run home run in Friday's 12-4 win over the Mets.
Not known as a power hitter, Hoerner has now gone deep in consecutive games, and he has three home runs this season already. The speedy infielder's career high in long balls is 10, and he only had seven of them last year, so the power surge is a bit unexpected. Hoerner is also currently third in the National League with a .342 batting average, making it an outstanding start overall for the 28-year-old.
The Cubs placed Palencia on the 15-day injured list Friday with a left oblique strain.
It's unclear when Palencia -- who hasn't pitched since Sunday -- was hurt, but the injury will knock him out at least for the next couple weeks and likely longer. The Cubs are also currently without Hunter Harvey (triceps) and Phil Maton (knee), so their late-inning bullpen depth is thin. Caleb Thielbar could be the next man up for saves, with Ben Brown also an option.
Horton (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery Thursday and is expected to be sidelined up to 16 months, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Horton required a full Tommy John repair on his right UCL, which means he's unlikely to be ready to pitch again for the Cubs until the second half of 2027. The 24-year-old has authored a 2.66 ERA in his first 25 appearances (24 starts) at the major-league level.
Boyd (biceps) will make a rehab start with Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, Tommy Birch of the Des Moines Register reports.
Boyd is expected to require just the one rehab outing, setting him up to rejoin the Cubs' rotation as soon as Tuesday at Wrigley Field against the Phillies. The veteran southpaw has missed the last two weeks of action with a left biceps strain. Boyd allowed eight runs (seven earned) with a 17:3 K:BB over 9.1 innings in his first two starts of the season before getting hurt.
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Cubs' Shota Imanaga: Delivers another gem
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Imanaga (1-1) earned the win, allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out 11 over six innings in Wednesday's victory over the Phillies.
Imanaga gave up a leadoff homer to Trea Turner on just the second pitch of the game, but he was nearly untouchable the rest of the way. The left-hander settled in and went on to record multiple strikeouts in five separate innings, overpowering Philadelphia's lineup. His 11 punchouts tied a career high, and he generated an eye-popping 26 whiffs in one of the most dominant starts of his career. Imanaga has looked absolutely fantastic over his last two outings, striking out 20 while allowing just one run across 12 innings. Chicago's ace is slated to face Philadelphia again in his next start, this time back at Wrigley Field.
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Cubs' Matt Shaw: Tallies three doubles Wednesday
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Shaw went 3-for-4 with three doubles, two runs scored and three RBI in Wednesday's 11-2 win over the Phillies.
Shaw got into a nice groove Wednesday as he delivered his first three-hit effort of the season and doubled his extra-base hit total. The 24-year-old also raised his batting average from .200 to .245 in the process. Shaw has seen his playing time trend down with Seiya Suzuki back from the injured list, though the former can still provide some fantasy value from a super-utility role due to his ability to hit for power and swipe a base.
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Cubs' Dansby Swanson: Goes deep again Wednesday
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Swanson went 3-for-5 with a solo home run, an additional run scored and two total RBI in Wednesday's 11-2 win over the Phillies.
Swanson appears to be heating up, as he now has three home runs across his last four games. The shortstop's batting average is still sitting at just .200, but his recent surge suggests that figure will continue to climb. Swanson has also yet to sit out a game this season, and his consistent playing time should offer him plenty of opportunities to keep racking up counting stats while he's locked in at the plate.
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Cubs' Nico Hoerner: Keeps rolling Wednesday
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Hoerner went 3-for-5 with a home run, an additional run scored, a stolen base and five RBI in Wednesday's 11-2 win over the Phillies.
Hoerner's scorching-hot start to the season continued, as he delivered his third three-hit effort through 18 games and launched his second home run. The infielder is also a perfect 6-for-6 in stolen bases, and he's batting a robust .324 with a .917 OPS. At this rate, Hoerner appears primed to make his first All-Star Game appearance this summer, and he seems locked in as Chicago's preferred leadoff hitter against both righties and lefties.
Cubs' Porter Hodge: Undergoing season-ending surgery
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Hodge is slated to undergo UCL surgery on his right elbow and will miss the rest of the 2026 season, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Hodge opened the season on the 15-day IL due to a right flexor strain that he sustained during spring training. Initially, there was hope he would be able to play catch by the beginning of April, but it appears Hodge's injury is severe enough for him to go under the knife. Given the nature of the issue, it wouldn't be surprising to see Hodge miss the opening portion of the 2027 season.
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Cubs' Moises Ballesteros: Riding pine Wednesday
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Ballesteros is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies.
Ballesteros had served as the Cubs' designated hitter in six of the past seven games but will be riding pine Wednesday while the Phillies send a tough lefty (Jesus Luzardo) to the hill. Seiya Suzuki will get a day off from playing the outfield and will draw the start at DH in the series finale.
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Cubs' Carson Kelly: Receiving rest Wednesday
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Kelly is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies.
Miguel Amaya will step in behind the plate for Kelly, who will be rested after making starts each of the past three days. Kelly is off to a scorching start to April, having recorded a hit in each of his starts while slashing .364/.488/.545 in 10 games overall.
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