Chicago Cubs

Smyly went 5.2 innings giving up 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 5 improving to a 2-5 record.

Fantasy Impact: He was an out shy of a quality start and limited his mistakes. This is now the fourth time Cubs manager David Ross has extended his pitcher past the 5 inning mark showing that he has confidence in his veteran arm. That being said, he is best left as a streaming candidate until he proves that he can consistently extend into games.

Ian Happ went 2-for-3 with a home run, four RBIs, a walk, and two runs scored in Monday's 7-4 win against the Reds.

Fantasy Impact: Happ got his night started in the fourth, hitting an RBI double and later scoring on a Patrick Wisdom home run in the inning. It was Happ's turn in the seventh, going deep for the fourth time this year. The four RBIs are the most the outfielder has driven in so far in 2022.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras remains day-to-day and is out of the lineup tonight against the Reds due to a right hamstring strain. (Source: Meghan Montemurro on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Contreras remains listed as day-to-day with a strained hamstring suffered during the Cubs’ game on Saturday. It is a positive sign that he has not been placed on the IL as of yet. Yan Gomes takes over the catching duties Monday night against the Reds.

Frank Schwindel hit his fourth home run of the season in the bottom of the eighth inning, going back-to-back with Patrick Wisdom for the second day in a row. His would prove to be the winning run during Chicago's 5-4 win over Arizona.

Fantasy Impact: Fantasy managers have been waiting for the 29-year-old to show any of the power he demonstrated last year. At this point, Schwindel has nowhere to go but up, so hopefully, these two home runs will jump-start more consistent power from the first baseman.

In the eighth inning, Patrick Wisdom crushed his ninth home run to tie the game 4-4. The Cubs would go on to beat the Diamondbacks 5-4 on Sunday afternoon.

Fantasy Impact: Wisdom homered for the third day in a row, continuing his hot streak. He did not strike out, which is only the sixth game this season in which that happened. Fantasy managers who can withstand his barrage of strikeouts can enjoy his power when it arrives.

Wade Miley pitched six innings, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks while striking out three. On Sunday afternoon, he received a no-decision in the Cubs' 5-4 win over the Diamondbacks.

Fantasy Impact: Miley cruised through the Arizona lineup the first two times, but he ran into trouble in the sixth when the hitters began jumping on his fastball. After three starts, Miley has a 3.38 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 10 strikeouts in 16 innings. He remains only an occasional streaming option in most fantasy formats.

Ildemaro Vargas went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's loss to Arizona.

Fantasy Impact: Along with Vargas' lone hit, he walked twice and produced two runs. On the year he is hitting .158 with one home run and four RBI. Needless to say, he is a non-factor in fantasy baseball.

On Friday afternoon, Christopher Morel went 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs during Chicago's 10-6 defeat by Arizona.

Fantasy Impact: The 22-year-old continued introducing himself to MLB with his second home run in 11 at-bats. More importantly, he received the start in centerfield, suggesting he may see continued playing time while Jason Heyward remains out. However, any fantasy managers who pick him up should consider him a temporary add.

In the fourth inning of Friday afternoon's 10-6 loss to the Diamondbacks, Jonathan Villar hit his second home run of the year.

Fantasy Impact: Villar's homer went 411 feet with an exit velocity of 105.7 mph, so it didn't need much help from the 20-mph wind. The 31-year-old utility man had had a slow start to the season but started to heat up over the previous week when he slashed .280/.333/.600 with two homers and two stolen bases. If he is available on waivers, he might be a good grab for the remainder of his hot streak.

Kyle Hendricks pitched five innings, giving up seven runs on eight hits, two walks, and four home runs while only striking out three. He took the loss in the Cubs' 10-6 defeat by the Diamondbacks Friday afternoon.

Fantasy Impact: In his defense, the wind was blowing out at about 20 mph, making it difficult for anyone to keep the ball in the park. The 32-year-old righty was coming off two solid starts heading into this one, but he could never find any rhythm. He will carry his 4.89 ERA and 1.33 WHIP into next week's start against Cincinnati.

Marcus Stroman pitched five innings, giving up two runs on five hits while walking no one and striking out six in the Cubs' 3-1 loss to the Diamondbacks Thursday night.

Fantasy Impact: Stroman returned to the mound for the first time since May 1 and pitched well against Arizona's mediocre lineup. The loss moves his record to 1-4 with a 4.88 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 28 strikeouts in 31 1/3 innings. Stroman is still a middle-of-the-road option for fantasy managers, but with injuries depleting the pool to choose from, he will at least protect your WHIP.

OF Seiya Suzuki is out of the Cubs' lineup Friday against the Diamondbacks. (Source: Chicago Cubs on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: This looks to just be a rest day for Suzuki. He has cooled off a bit since his hot start to 2022, hitting just .235 with 0 HRs in his last 10 games. Rafael Ortega will man RF and Christopher Morel will play CF.

Cubs closer David Robertson has been activated off the IL Wednesday. (Source: CHGO Sports)

Fantasy Impact: Robertson missed nine days on the COVID-19 IL, but is expected to slide right back into his closer role with Chicago. Prior to going down, Robertson was pitching spectacularly for the Cubs, with a 1.50 ERA and 0.75 WHIP. But save opportunities are not too frequent in the Windy City.

Keegan Thompson pitched five scoreless innings, giving up four hits, striking out five, and walking no one to earn the win in the Cubs' 7-0 victory over the Pirates.

Fantasy Impact: Thompson pitched efficiently, only throwing 65 pitches to complete five innings. He now has a 1.41 ERA and 1.03 WHIP with 27 strikeouts in 32 innings. For fantasy managers looking for ratio help, chances are good the 27-year-old righty is available on waivers.

Nico Hoerner was placed on the 10-day IL on Monday with a right ankle sprain. The move is retroactive to Thursday when he collided with the second base umpire in San Diego. (Source: Meghan Montemurro on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Hoerner is slashing .271/.293/.936 with two home runs, and 11 RBIs this season. He hopes to return and continue his solid start to the season and remain a lower-cost DFS play for fantasy mangers.

Andrelton Simmons was activated from the injured list Sunday and made his Cubs debut as a defensive replacement in the ninth inning. (Source: Meghan Montemurro on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Simmons did not record a plate appearance. His defensive presence will be huge for the Cubs infield, but he likely won't be quite the producer from a fantasy perspective that he once was at this point in his career.

Clint Frazier is schedule to begin his rehab assignment on Tuesday at Triple-A Iowa. (Source: Meghan Montemurro on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Frazier is expected to play about five games at Triple-A Iowa before attempting to rejoin the Cubs in Cincinnati. He reportedly is not experiencing any lingering issues from his appendectomy.

Rafael Ortega hit his first home run of the season during Chicago's 3-2 win over Arizona Sunday afternoon.

Fantasy Impact: The 31-year-old previously had only one barrel in 55 batted balls, but he didn't get cheated with the homer going 428 feet with a 103.1 mph exit velocity. While he is in the 90th percentile of Whiff%, he does not hold much fantasy value, though he will continue to hit at the top of the lineup.

Rowan Wick pitched the ninth inning, giving up one hit en route to his fourth save during Chicago's 3-2 win over Arizona on Sunday.

Fantasy Impact: The 29-year-old earns the save for the second day in a row. With no official timetable for David Robertson's return, Wick is worth a pickup until then.

Justin Steele pitched six innings, giving up three hits, two walks, and two runs (only one earned) while striking out 10 during the Cubs' 3-2 win over the Diamondbacks.

Fantasy Impact: Steele was excellent in his seventh start of the season. A significant gap between his ERA (4.50) and FIP (3.74) suggests he might have some value in deeper leagues. He is short on win equity, and this is his first QS of the year, so temper expectations.