Chicago Cubs

Javier Baez went 2-for-5 with a double and run scored in Tuesday's 7-1 win over the Indians.

Fantasy Impact: Baez is starting to heat up and is a on three-game hitting streak. He is batting .455 (5-for-11) with two RBI during that span. Baez is living up ti his early-round value, slashing .255/.288/.473 with three home runs, nine RBI and seven runs scored across 59 plate appearances.

Kris Bryant went 1-for-3 with a run scored in Tuesday's 7-1 win over the Indians.

Fantasy Impact: Bryant has now recorded a hit in three of his last five games. He is starting to turn things around after starting the season 3-for-25. Bryant is locked in at top of Cubs batting order, slashing .195/.327/.341 with one home run, three RBI and eight runs across 49 plate appearances this season.

Jason Heyward went 3-for-4 with a three-run homer and four RBI in Tuesday's 7-1 win over the Indians.

Fantasy Impact: Heyward belted a three-run shot off Phil Maton in the sixth inning to give the Cubs a 6-0 lead. It was his second home run of the year. He has now logged two multi-hit contests in his last four games. Heyward is slashing .244/.279/.390 with two home runs, nine RBI and six runs across 43 plate appearances this season.

Jon Lester (2-0) allowed one earned run on three hits and two walks while striking out four across six innings in Tuesday's 7-1 victory over the Indians. He earned his second win of the season.

Fantasy Impact: Lester was sharp once again and didn't allow a run until the sixth inning. He threw a total of 93 pitches, landing 61 of them for strikes. Lester has had a resurgence in 2020, owning a 1.06 ERA, 0.65 WHIP and 9:4 K:BB across 17 innings. His next scheduled start is Sunday against the Brewers.

Jose Quintana (thumb) will throw three innings in a simulated game Tuesday. (Source: Bruce Levine on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Quintana continues to work his way back from thumb surgery and is set to throw a three inning simulated game Tuesday. He threw 35 pitches in his last simulated outing. Quintana continues to build up arm strength and will ramp up his activity to join the Cubs rotation soon.

Kelvin Herrera signed a minor league contract with the Cubs on the Thursday. (Source: Jesse Rogers on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Herrera was designated for assignment by the White Sox and then released. He signed with the Cubs and will report to the their alternate training site. Herrera will look to latch onto the Cubs main roster after posting a 6.54 ERA in his last two seasons with the White Sox.

Victor Caratini went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Thursday's 13-2 loss to the Royals.

Fantasy Impact: Caratini laced an RBI single in the ninth to produce the Cubs first run of the game. He is slashing .313/.353/.375 with four RBI and two runs scored across 34 plate appearances this season. Caratini is worth owning in two-catcher and deep-league formats.

Tyler Chatwood (2-1) allowed eight runs on 11 hits while striking out four across two 1/3 innings in Thursday's 13-2 loss to the Royals. He picked up his first loss of the season.

Fantasy Impact: Chatwood was impressive in his first starts of the year, but imploded in Thursday's loss to the Royals. He yielded 11 hits before exiting in the third and watched his ERA rise to 5.40 on the season. Despite the rough outing, Chatwood is worth hanging onto in all league formats. He owns a 5.40 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and a 23:4 K:BB across 15 innings, His next scheduled start is Wednesday, away against the Indians.

Kyle Schwarber scored a ninth-inning run versus the Royals Thursday. The run salvaged something from an overall bad game for the Cubs in a 13-2 loss.

Fantasy Impact: Schwarber has the power to be a difference-maker in most leagues and has learned to reach base at a good clip. He is not a standout in shallow leagues yet but seems to be hitting in a great batting slot with enough youth to still have more growth.

Willson Contreras was quiet most of the game but managed to drive in a late run to offer some value to his owners. The Cubs would pull away late to win 6-1.

Fantasy Impact: Contreras has a solid chance to bat in a favorable place in a strong batting order somewhere between the cleanup and the 6th spot. He is a top 5 fantasy catcher who is going to get a boost from this season's use of the designated hitter.

Ian Happ did not start the game but he came in as a pinch hitter before staying in. He would score a late run as the Cubs used the last few innings to turn a close game into a rare comfortable ninth-inning.

Fantasy Impact: Happ likely will likely see time in centerfield, second base, and even designated hitter. He is not getting enough playing time to matter in shallow leagues.

Anthony Rizzo would score twice in the 6-1 victory Wednesday. The first of the two runs would end up being the eventual game-winner.

Fantasy Impact: Rizzo is an extremely reliable top option at first base. He has even managed not to get hit by pitches quite as often this week.

Yu Darvish (2-1) allowed one run on five hits and one walk while striking out five across seven innings in Wednesday's 6-1 win over the Royals. He earned his second win of the year.

Fantasy Impact: Darvish has pitched well in last two starts. He is (2-0) with a 11:2 K:BB across 17 innings during that span. The 33-year-old owns a 2.12 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 16 strikeouts through 17 innings this season. He will look to keep things rolling in Tuesday's start against the Indians.

Kyle Ryan allowed one hit across a scoreless 2/3 innings to earn the save in Tuesday’s 5-4 win over the Royals.

Fantasy Impact: Ryan retired the final two batters to earn his first save of the season. Craig Kimbrel entered the game in the ninth, but allowed two hits and retired one batter before exiting. The Cubs turned to Ryan to convert the save. He could see more save opportunities, but will most likely be in a committee with Jeremy Jeffress and Rowan Wick. Ryan is worth stashing in deep-league formats.

Kyle Hendricks (2-1) allowed two runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out three across seven innings in Tuesday’s 5-4 win over the Royals.

Fantasy Impact: Hendricks bounced back after a disastrous outing to pick up the win in Tuesday’s game. He didn’t walk anyone and threw a total of 94 pitches, landing 62 of them for strikes. Hendricks is scheduled to face the Cardinals on the road Sunday.

Jason Kipnis hit a two-run HR to put the Cubs up 4-1 Tuesday. The Cubs would win 5-4.

Fantasy Impact: Avoid Kipnis outside of deep leagues unless he starts getting several starts a week. Kipnis' value was severely hurt when the minor leagues were canceled which ended the concept of having Nico Hoerner start the season down there.

Rowan Wick allowed one hit and struck out one across one 1/3 scoreless innings in Monday's 2-0 win over the Royals.

Fantasy Impact: Wick has now converted two saves in back-to-back games. Cubs manager David Ross decided to skip current closer Craig Kimbrel and roll with Wick in Monday's win. Wick and Jeremy Jefress have converted saves early in the season, and that trend could continue until Kimbrel is able to shake off his struggles.

Alec Mills (2-0) allowed three hits and three walks while striking out four across seven scoreless innings in Monday's 2-0 win over the Royals.

Fantasy Impact: Mills has been terrific in his last two outings, yielding two runs across 13 innings. Jose Quintana is set to return at some point, which could send Mills back to the bullpen. Fantasy owners should continue to stream Mills in his next scheduled start Saturday, away against the Cardinals.

The Cubs placed RHP James Norwood on the 10-day injured list with shoulder inflammation. (Source: Patrick Mooney on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: It's not clear how serious the injury is. Norwood has given up three runs in 1 2/3 innings this season.

Steven Souza Jr. went 0-for-4 with a stolen base in Sunday's 2-1 win over the Pirates,

Fantasy Impact: Souza has only appeared in three contests, batting .100 (1-for-10) with a stolen base. He will continue to split DH duties with Victor Catrini and Ian Happ. Souza is a dart throw in deep-league formats only.