Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks (shoulder), who missed the last three months of the 2022 season due to a capsular tear in his right shoulder, has resumed a throwing program this offseason. He's on a regimented throwing program and is playing catch on flat ground, and pitching coach Tommy Hottovy is encouraged by Hendricks' progress. In a best-case scenario, Hendricks will feel great in spring training and be ready by Opening Day. However, the Cubs won't speed up Hendricks' process just so he can be ready by Opening Day. Chicago has enough starting pitching depth to get by early in the year if Hendricks isn't ready, and it sounds as though there's a good chance he won't be.

The Chicago Cubs agreed with free-agent reliever Brad Wieck (elbow) on a two-year minor-league deal on Wednesday, according to sources. Wieck missed all of last season due to an elbow strain and underwent Tommy John surgery in July, so he'll likely miss most, if not all, of 2023 as well. In his last year with the Cubs in 2021, the 31-year-old left-hander only tossed 17 innings, allowing no earned runs on 10 hits while walking 10 and striking out 28. In his four major-league seasons with the Cubs and San Diego Padres, he's posted a 3.77 ERA (3.75 FIP), 1.11 WHIP, 89 strikeouts and 24 walks in 59 2/3 relief innings. The Cubs will be hoping Wieck is fully healthy for the 2024 season.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Brennen Davis (back) will miss the rest of the Arizona Fall League. This is not good news after Davis missed most of the season due to surgery on his legs. Luckily, this sounds like it's only back tightness, so hopefully it won't linger into Spring Training. The Cubs were expected to add Davis to their 40-man roster this winter. The 22-year-old was likely to debut in Chicago next season, but those plans might've changed. Hopefully, Davis can get healthy and contribute next season.

Chicago Cubs pitcher Adrian Sampson (groin) was removed from Wednesday's start against the Cincinnati Reds due to right groin tightness. He exited with the trainers in the third inning as a precaution. Sampson allowed one earned run on four hits and a walk while striking out three across 2 2/3 innings before leaving. The 30-year-old finished the 2022 campaign with a 4-5 record, a 3.11 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and a 73:27 K: BB across 104 1/3 innings in 2022. Sampson is expected to be available for Spring Training in 2023.

Chicago Cubs left-hander Drew Smyly (shoulder) will make the start on Saturday against the Cincinnati Reds. Smyly has been unavailable for a few weeks due to left shoulder fatigue, but he'll return to make one last start in 2022 against the Reds. The 33-year-old southpaw has been solid for the Cubbies this year in his 21 starts, going 7-8 with a 3.48 ERA (4.31 FIP), a 1.19 WHIP, 89 strikeouts and 26 walks in 103 1/3 innings pitched. He'll have a nice matchup against Cincinnati, too, but he'll still be a pretty risky fantasy streamer for those chasing a title in his first major-league start in several weeks. Tread carefully.

Chicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele (back) threw a successful bullpen session on Tuesday and is expected to throw one more high-intensity bullpen, but it sounds as though he will not make it back to make another start for the Cubs in 2022. "It just makes sense to me to just go ahead and send him off on a high note," manager David Ross said about Steele. It doesn't make sense for the Cubs to rush the 27-year-old southpaw back with nothing to play for this year. Steele showed plenty of improvement in his sophomore season in the big leagues, going 4-7 with a 3.18 ERA (3.21 FIP), a 1.35 WHIP, 126 strikeouts and 50 walks in 119 innings pitched over his 24 starts for the Cubbies.

The Chicago Cubs reinstated catcher Willson Contreras (ankle) from the injured list on Tuesday and also reinstated outfielder Seiya Suzuki from the paternity list. In corresponding moves, the Cubs optioned Jared Young to the minors and designated outfielder Michael Hermosillo for assignment. Contreras is serving as the designated hitter and is batting third against Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler on Tuesday, while Suzuki isn't in the starting lineup. Contreras might be eased back into his role as the regular catcher, but the 30-year-old should be returned to starting fantasy lineups on Tuesday. He has 21 home runs and 54 RBI on the year in 395 at-bats for the Cubbies. Suzuki should eventually return to an everyday role in the outfield down the stretch.

Chicago Cubs shortstop Nico Hoerner (triceps) remains out of the starting lineup on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. It remains to be seen if Hoerner will land on the injured list, which would likely end his 2022 season. The 25-year-old has now missed 10 straight games, so it's entirely possible he won't be able to make it back for the final couple of weeks of the season. Hoerner has been very solid for fantasy managers this year, slashing .291/.338/.421 with nine home runs, 49 RBI, 51 runs scored and 18 stolen bases in his 444 at-bats. Rookie Christopher Morel is at shortstop and is batting ninth on Thursday against Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller. The 23-year-old has plenty of power (14 home runs), but he's hitting ninth and has gone 5-for-36 (.139) with a homer and three RBI in 15 games this month.

Chicago Cubs middle infielder Nico Hoerner (triceps) remains out of the starting lineup on Wednesday against the Miami Marlins. This will be Hoerner's ninth straight game starting on the bench due to his injury, and fantasy managers have to be wondering if he'll land on the injured list to close out the 2022 season at this point. The 25-year-old has had a really solid year in his fourth big-league season, hitting .291/.338/.421 with a career-high nine home runs, 49 RBI, 51 runs scored and 18 stolen bases in 477 plate appearances over 125 games. Zach McKinstry will get the start at the 6 on Wednesday and will hit eighth against Marlins left-hander Jesus Luzardo. The left-handed-hitting McKinstry should be avoided in DFS while facing a southpaw.

Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner (triceps) has been diagnosed with a "mild/moderate" right triceps strain. He is currently receiving treatment for the injury that's kept him out of the lineup for the last five games. He sustained the injury last weekend and hasn't appeared in a contest since September 11. While he hasn't been placed on the injured list yet, there is still no timetable for his return. He should be considered day-to-day until further notice.

Chicago Cubs right-hander Alec Mills (back) underwent a successful lower-back discectomy on Wednesday, according to the team. Mills has been out of action since early July and was moved to the 60-day injured late last month, so he obviously won't pitch again in 2022. The 30-year-old only appeared in seven games (two starts) for the Cubbies in 2022 before his injury this summer. In those seven appearances, he allowed 19 earned runs on 28 hits (seven home runs given up) while walking three and striking out 11 in 17 2/3 innings pitched.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki (hand, wrist) remains out of the starting lineup on Friday against the Colorado Rockies. However, the good news is that his X-rays came back negative for structural damage after he was hit by a pitch on his left hand/wrist in Wednesday's game against the New York Mets. Fantasy managers should consider the 28-year-old Japanese outfielder as day-to-day heading into the weekend. With Suzuki out on Friday, rookie Nelson Velazquez is starting in right field and is batting eighth against Rockies right-hander German Marquez. Velazquez is hitting .211/.286/.375 with six home runs, 20 RBI, 18 runs scored and four stolen bases in his first 152 major-league at-bats. He'll be a low-upside DFS option at the bottom of the lineup.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras (ankle) has progressed to light agility work in a running progression. Contreras sprained his left ankle recently and was placed on the 10-day injured list on Sept. 6. The Cubs have no reason to rush the 30-year-old All-Star back in a lost season, but it's good news that he's moving in the right direction. Skipper David Ross said that Contreras is likely around a week from returning to the team. Yan Gomes will continue to do most of the catching, while P.J. Higgins will occasionally mix in. Contreras made his third All-Star team this year and is currently hitting .246/.351/.471 with an .822 OPS, 21 home runs, 54 RBI, 63 runs scored and four stolen bases in 107 games. Keep him stashed everywhere.

Chicago Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner (triceps) underwent an MRI exam on Friday and is meeting with a doctor to go over the results. Hoerner has missed the team's last four games with right triceps tightness and might have to be placed on the injured list. It would be a big blow for fantasy managers, as the 25-year-old has been a solid contributor all year. Hoerner is batting .291/.338/.421 with nine home runs, 49 RBI, 51 runs scored and 18 stolen bases in 444 at-bats in 2022. With Hoerner still sidelined, rookie Christopher Morel will start at shortstop and bat ninth against Colorado Rockies right-hander German Marquez on Friday. Morel has 13 long balls in his first MLB season, but there won't be a ton of upside in DFS in the nine-hole.

Chicago Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner (triceps) is not in the starting lineup on Friday against the Colorado Rockies. Hoerner will miss his fourth straight game this week while dealing with a triceps injury. If he's unable to return to the lineup this weekend, there's a good chance he could land on the injured list, which could end his 2022 season. The 25-year-old is having a solid year in his fourth big-league season, hitting .291/.338/.421 with nine home runs, 49 RBI, 51 runs scored and 18 stolen bases in 444 at-bats. Rookie Christopher Morel is starting at the 6 on Friday and is batting ninth against Rockies right-hander German Marquez. Morel has 13 homers, 38 RBI, 50 runs scored and 10 stolen bases in 335 at-bats, but he'll be a low-upside DFS play in the nine-hole.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki (hand, wrist) went for X-rays on Wednesday after getting hit by a pitch on his left hand/wrist, according to skipper David Ross. Suzuki finished the game against the New York Mets, going back out to the field for the bottom of the ninth inning. The 28-year-old went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored before getting hit by the pitch. The Cubs have an off day on Thursday, so we'll see if Suzuki is able to return to the lineup on Friday for the start of a weekend series against the Colorado Rockies. Fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day for now. On the season, the Japanese outfielder is hitting a respectable .263/.336/.433 with 13 home runs, 45 RBI, 48 runs scored and nine stolen bases in 372 at-bats.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Nelson Velazquez (illness) remains out of the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the San Francisco Giants. He was a late scratch on Friday due to a non-COVID related illness. Possibly, the Cubs decided to have him sit out due to the fact a right-hander pitcher is on the mound. Ian Happ, Rafael Ortega and Seiya Suzuki will cover the outfield for the Cubs on Sunday night. The expectation is that Velazquez will return within the next few days.

Chicago Cubs corner infielder Patrick Wisdom (finger) has been activated from the 10-day injured list on Saturday. The 31-year-old slugger missed a few weeks with a ring finger sprain on his left hand but he should be good to go for the remainder of the regular season. Wisdom owns a subpar .217/.311/.438 batting line but does have 22 home runs, 58 RBI, and seven stolen bases over 411 at-bats on the year. Second baseman Nick Madrigal (groin) was placed on the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move.

Chicago Cubs second baseman Nick Madrigal (groin) has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a right groin strain. The 25-year-old infielder left Friday's game against the Giants early with right groin tightness and that's the ailment that's placed him on the IL. He was hampered by a left groin issue earlier this season as well. Injuries have limited Madrigal to just 59 games played this season where he's put together a .249 batting average to go along with a .587 OPS and seven RBI over 209 at-bats. There's a chance he could make it back for the end of the regular season.

Chicago Cubs rookie outfielder Nelson Velazquez (illness) was scratched from the starting lineup on Friday against the San Francisco Giants with an illness. Velazquez should be considered day-to-day for now. He's struggled in his first 147 major league at-bats this year, slashing .204/.282/.374 with six home runs, 19 RBI, 18 runs scored and four stolen bases. With him under the weather, Michael Hermosillo will start in center field and bat seventh against Giants left-hander Carlos Rodon. Hermosillo should be avoided in DFS formats on Friday in a tough matchup. In 28 at-bats for the Cubbies in 2022, he has just two hits, two RBI, two runs scored and 14 strikeouts.

Chicago Cubs third baseman Patrick Wisdom (finger) took batting practice on the field ahead of Thursday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. The 31-year-old has been sidelined since August 25 with a left ring finger sprain. He is eligible to come off the injured list, but it's unclear if Wisdom will require a rehab assignment before rejoining the lineup. Wisdom is slashing .217/.311/.438 with 22 home runs, 58 RBI, 60 runs, and seven stolen bases over 471 plate appearances in 117 games in 2022. Fantasy managers should continue to stash Wisdom in all league formats.

An MRI exam on Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras (ankle) on Wednesday confirmed that he's dealing with a left ankle sprain. Contreras was placed on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday, but it remains to be seen if he'll be able to return when he's first eligible on Sept. 13. The 30-year-old has been one of the better catching options for fantasy managers this year, hitting .246/.351/.471 with an .822 OPS, 21 home runs, 54 RBI, 63 runs scored and four stolen bases in 462 plate appearances over 107 games played. However, fantasy managers may not get all that much production out of him the rest of the way in September. In his absence, Yan Gomes and P.J. Higgins will split playing time behind the plate in Chicago.

The Chicago Cubs activated left-hander Wade Miley (shoulder) from the injured list on Tuesday and designated pitcher Luke Farrell for assignment in a corresponding move. Miley is returning to the team's starting rotation and will start on Tuesday against the Cincinnati Reds. The 35-year-old veteran southpaw has made only four starts this year, but he's allowed only six earned runs on 15 hits while walking eight and striking out 12 in 19 innings. Miley doesn't bring much fantasy upside with his 7.1 career K/9, but he's returning to a nice matchup against Cincinnati and is worth a look as a streamer in deeper formats if you still need innings.

The Chicago Cubs placed catcher Willson Contreras (ankle) on the 10-day injured list with a left ankle sprain on Tuesday and reinstated Michael Hermosillo from the 60-day injured list in a corresponding move. The Cubs also designated Nicholas Padilla for assignment. Contreras' injured list stint is retroactive to Sept. 3. The All-Star backstop missed the series against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals over the weekend with more pain in his sprained left ankle. With the 30-year-old on the shelf, Yan Gomes and P.J. Higgins will share catching duties for Chicago. Contreras has been a no-brainer must-start at the weak catching position in fantasy this year, as he's slashed .246/.351/.471 with an .822 OPS, 21 home runs, 54 RBI, 63 runs scored and four stolen bases in 395 at-bats.

Chicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele (back) was placed on the 15-day injured list on Monday, with the move being retroactive to Sept. 2. The earliest he can return will be on Sept. 17. Steele hasn't pitched for the Cubs since Aug. 26, also being put on the restricted list because of his vaccination status for a series in Toronto against the Blue Jays. With the 27-year-old on the shelf, pitching prospect Hayden Wesneski was called up from Triple-A Iowa and is a leading candidate to start this weekend against the San Francisco Giants in his MLB debut. Steele has been solid in 2022, going 4-7 with a 3.18 ERA (3.20 FIP), a 1.35 WHIP and a 126:50 K:BB in 119 innings pitched over his 24 starts.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Wade Miley (shoulder) is expected to take the mound for Tuesday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. The left-hander has been sidelined since early June due to shoulder issues. Miley has only made four starts for the Cubs this year because of lingering injuries. However, he's posting a 2.84 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 12/8 K/BB across those starts. The 35-year-old could be an interesting streaming option against a sub-par Reds lineup.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras (ankle) is still absent from the starting lineup on Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals. The 30-year-old backstop has now missed four straight games with left ankle discomfort. It still looks like he'll avoid a trip to the injured list but it's anyone's guess as to when he'll return to the lineup. P.J. Higgins is starting in his place and batting seventh vs. Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas. Fantasy managers should still consider Contreras day-to-day.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras (ankle) is not in the starting lineup on Wednesday against the Toronto Blue Jays. Contreras left the game early on Tuesday with left ankle soreness, and he'll get another day to rest. Consider him day-to-day for now. Before leaving the contest early, he at least hit a solo home run for his fantasy managers. It's an ongoing issue for the 30-year-old backstop, as he missed four games last week with the same injury. Yan Gomes will do the catching on Wednesday and will hit seventh against Blue Jays right-hander Mitch White. Gomes will be a low-upside DFS play at the position. He's hitting .217/.247/.338 with six homers, 20 RBI and 18 runs scored in his 207 at-bats for the Cubs this year.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras (foot, ankle) exited Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Blue Jays in the sixth inning with left foot/ankle soreness, per the Chicago Tribune's Meghan Montemurro. Contreras was pinch-hit for in the top of the inning, but went 1-for-2 with a solo home run before exiting. He will get treatment Wednesday and the Cubs have an off day on Thursday, so hopefully, he will have enough time to rest. The 30-year-old backstop has been a solid fantasy option at a weak position once again this season, slashing .246/.351/.471 with 21 HR, 54 RBI, and four stolen bases. Fantasy managers should keep an eye out for more updates in the coming days.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Adbert Alzolay (lat) went two innings in his minor league rehab start for Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, and he allowed one run on one hit while walking two and striking out six. Alzolay has been out all year due to a right shoulder lat, but he appears to be getting closer to making his 2022 debut for the Cubbies. The 27-year-old went 5-13 last year with a 4.58 ERA (4.65 FIP), a 1.16 WHIP and a 128:34 K:BB in 125 2/3 innings over 29 appearances (21 starts) in Chicago. Alzolay won't return to the big leagues until at least September, and he's unlikely to have much fantasy appeal if the Cubs insert him into their rotation.

Chicago Cubs pitcher Wade Miley (shoulder) threw a 25-30 pitch bullpen session Saturday. The southpaw said the bullpen session went well and is on track to begin a rehab assignment. "I'd like to pitch tomorrow (Sunday), but I don't think they'll let me," said Miley. The 35-year-old had been sidelined since June 10 with a shoulder injury. He owned a 2.84 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and a 12:8 K: BB across 19 innings in four starts in 2022. Fantasy managers with an open IL spot should continue to stash Miley for the final stretch of the regular season.

Chicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele left his Friday start against the Milwaukee Brewers with an apparent injury to his left leg or knee. Steele departed with one out in the sixth inning, allowing one run on four hits while striking out six and walking four. The 27-year-old grabbed at the back of his left knee after a fly-out in the inning and appeared to be trying to stretch it out. Trainers came out to check on him and he left shortly after. Look for the Cubs to update the lefty's status after Friday's game concludes.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras (ankle) will return to the lineup Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers. Contreras missed the last four games due to stiffness in his left ankle, which was caused by a tweak during the Field of Dreams game. He is ready to go tonight, though, and will catch and bat second against Freddy Peralta and the Brewers. The stud backstop has a tremendous .248/.357/.472 slash line to go along with 20 homers and even four swipes. Get him back in your lineup right away.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras (ankle) remains out of the starting lineup on Thursday against the St. Louis Cardinals. It will be his fourth straight game starting on the bench due to left ankle stiffness. Fantasy managers should continue to view the All-Star backstop as day-to-day. P.J. Higgins is behind the dish again and is hitting sixth on Thursday against Cardinals right-hander Dakota Hudson. Higgins is just 6-for-40 (.150) with two home runs, four RBI, three runs scored and 16 strikeouts in 14 games this month, and he's hitting .242 on the season with six long balls and 20 RBI in his 128 at-bats. There should be better DFS plays on Thursday at the position.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras (ankle) remains out of the starting lineup on Wednesday against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals. Contreras is dealing with left ankle stiffness and didn't play in either game of a doubleheader against St. Louis on Tuesday. For now, fantasy managers should consider the 30-year-old All-Star catcher as day-to-day. With Contreras out again Wednesday, Yan Gomes will do the catching and will hit seventh against Cardinals right-hander Miles Mikolas. Gomes is a low-upside DFS option at the position to begin with, and he's also hitting just .188 (3-for-16) with a homer, three RBI and a run scored in five games over the last two weeks.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras (ankle) is out of the lineup for Game 2 of the doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday. Contreras' left ankle felt stiff when he woke up Tuesday morning, but he'll be available off the bench. The fact that he's available off the bench means his injury probably isn't very serious. Consider the 30-year-old All-Star catcher to be day-to-day. P.J. Higgins is behind the dish in Game 2 and is hitting seventh against Cardinals right-hander Jake Woodford. Higgins will be a low-upside DFS option at the position. He's hitting .246 with six home runs, 20 RBI and 17 runs scored in 122 at-bats for the Cubs this year.

Chicago Cubs third baseman Patrick Wisdom (finger) remains out of the starting lineup for Game 1 of a doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday. Wisdom will miss his third straight game due to a strained left ring finger, but he remains day-to-day and could return in the nightcap for Game 2. The 30-year-old is hitting just .219 with a .314 on-base percentage, but he also has a useful 22 home runs, 58 RBI, 59 runs scored and seven stolen bases in 114 games. Wisdom leads baseball with his 154 strikeouts. Rookie Christopher Morel is starting at third base and hitting ninth in Game 1 against Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright. Morel hasn't been bad in his first MLB season, but he's gone 6-for-30 (.200) with two home runs, three RBI and four runs in 10 games over the last two weeks.

Chicago Cubs right-hander Adbert Alzolay (shoulder) started his minor league rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League on Monday and allowed one run while striking out four in three innings pitched. Alzolay has yet to pitch for the Cubs this year after beginning the regular season on the injured list with a strained right lat, but he's getting closer to making his 2022 season debut. The 27-year-old will surely have at least a couple more rehab outings before he becomes a realistic option to join Chicago's starting rotation for the stretch run. In 125 2/3 innings for the Cubbies in 2021, Alzolay went 5-13 with a 4.58 ERA (4.65 FIP), a 1.16 WHIP and a 128:34 K:BB in 29 appearances (21 starts).

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks (shoulder) said that he'll head to Arizona after the team's current homestand with the goal of resuming a throwing program. However, the veteran hurler said his focus is on getting right for the 2023 season while having a full offseason. With the Cubs well out of contention, Hendricks' priority isn't to return to close out the 2022 campaign, so fantasy managers can likely let him go in single-year formats. The 32-year-old right-hander has had a tough year, too, going 4-6 with a 4.80 ERA (4.83 FIP), a 1.29 WHIP and a 66:24 K:BB in 84 1/3 innings over his 16 starts for Chicago.

Chicago Cubs third baseman Patrick Wisdom (finger) hurt his left ring finger when sliding into home during Saturday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers. In Saturday's win, he went 1-for-4 with an RBI double, a walk, and one run before injuring his finger in the bottom of the 11th inning. The 30-year-old sustained the finger at the end of the game. He will undergo x-rays after the game to determine the severity of his injury. The Cubs slugger is slashing .219/.314/.444 with 22 home runs, 58 RBI, 59 runs, and seven stolen bases in 114 games in 2022. If Wisdom is forced to miss any time, PJ Higgins and Zack McKinstry would see an uptick in at-bats.

The Chicago Cubs placed right-hander Keegan Thompson (back) on the 15-day injured list with lower back tightness on Saturday and recalled Anderson Espinoza from Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move. Thompson's last two outings haven't gone well, and perhaps his back injury is mostly to blame. He lasted only 3 2/3 innings against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night and allowed five earned runs to raise his season ERA to 3.97 (4.57 FIP) in 25 appearances (17 starts). The 27-year-old also has a 1.31 WHIP, 91 strikeouts and 37 walks in 104 1/3 innings pitched. It remains to be seen if Thompson will be able to return when he's eligible on Sept. 6, but fantasy managers in deeper leagues should try to keep him stashed.