Conforto is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the White Sox.
The left-handed-hitting Conforto started against a lefty opener Tuesday, but he will begin Wednesday's contest on the bench as southpaw Sean Newcomb takes the ball first for the White Sox. Conforto could enter mid-game once the White Sox turn to righty Jose Urquidy in bulk relief.
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Cubs' Michael Conforto: Smacks 10th home run Saturday
Rotowire
Conforto went 1-for-2 with a three-run home run in Saturday's 8-4 loss to the Cardinals.
Conforto took St. Louis starter Michael McGreevy deep in the second inning with two runners on, giving him 10 long balls and 30 RBI through 81 games this season. The veteran outfielder is still seeing occasional playing time against right-handed pitching, but Chicago's addition of Tyrone Taylor before the trade deadline has added more depth to the outfield, which has cut into Conforto's role. He'll have reduced fantasy appeal unless there's an injury that pushes him into the lineup more regularly.
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Cubs' Michael Conforto: Pops pinch-hit home run Tuesday
Rotowire
Conforto went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 11-2 win over the Tigers.
Conforto got an opportunity against Detroit righty Brenan Hanifee in the fifth inning, and he made the most of it. The veteran outfielder now has nine home runs on the season, with seven of those coming against righties. Conforto continues to see sporadic playing time in right field with Matt Shaw (hand) on the injured list, and he generally hits the bench against southpaws.
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Cubs' Michael Conforto: Idle against southpaw
Rotowire
Conforto is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.
The left-handed slugger will head to the bench for the third time in four games, with all three of his absences coming against left-handed pitching. Conforto will give up his spot in the lineup to Kevin Alcantara, who will bat ninth as the DH.
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Cubs' Michael Conforto: Lifts off Wednesday
Rotowire
Conforto went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 9-7 win over the Orioles.
Conforto has seen an elevated role in right field with Matt Shaw (hand) on the injured list, and the veteran has done well with the opportunity. Over his last 12 games, he's batting .324 with four home runs and nine RBI. Conforto will still generally hit the bench against left-handed pitching, though he's been useful recently against righties.
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Cubs' Michael Conforto: Sitting versus lefty
Rotowire
Conforto is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.
Conforto started the previous three games and will take a seat Sunday after going 5-for-11 with two walks, two homers, four RBI and four runs during that span. The veteran outfielder should continue to see regular playing time against right-handed pitching through the All-Star break with Matt Shaw (hand) on the injured list, though Conforto is likely to continue sitting versus southpaws. Kevin Alcantara is starting as the designated hitter against St. Louis lefty Matthew Liberatore while Seiya Suzuki handles right field.
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Cubs' Michael Conforto: Bigger role expected through break
Rotowire
With Matt Shaw (hand) out at least through the All-Star break, per Patrick Mooney of The Athletic, Conforto should continue to see an expanded role in right field.
Conforto has been the top option in right field against right-handed pitching with Shaw on the shelf, with Seiya Suzuki and Kevin Alcantara also mixing in. Suzuki also frequently serves as Chicago's DH, which was the alignment Saturday, when Conforto started in right and tallied two hits and and a walk from the seventh spot in the lineup. The veteran outfielder has a strong .837 OPS so far this season, and he should continue to be a useful fantasy performer when he's in the lineup.
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Cubs' Michael Conforto: Goes deep twice in big win
Rotowire
Conforto went 3-for-4 with a walk, two home runs, four RBI and four total runs scored in Wednesday's 23-3 win over the Padres.
Conforto hit two of Chicago's eight total home runs in the blowout victory. It was the veteran's first multi-homer performance of the season, and he's now up to seven long balls overall across 56 contests. Conforto is expected to see a short-term increase in playing time with Matt Shaw (hand) recently landing on the injured list, and so far he is off to a strong start.
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Cubs' Michael Conforto: Likely to benefit sans Shaw
Rotowire
Conforto will start in right field and bat seventh in Monday's game against the Padres.
Conforto will draw his second consecutive start and could be primed for a strong-side platoon role in the corner outfield after Matt Shaw (hand) was moved to the injured list Monday. For the season, Conforto is holding down a .781 OPS over 129 plate appearances, though he's slashing just .147/.194./265 with a 36.1 percent strikeout rate in June.
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Cubs' Michael Conforto: Sitting against righty again
Rotowire
Conforto is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Pirates.
Conforto finds himself on the bench for a second straight matchup versus a right-handed starter (Bubba Chandler) after going 0-for-16 with seven strikeouts over his previous six games. The 33-year-old appeared to briefly overtake Moises Ballesteros as the Cubs' preferred designated hitter against right-handed pitching earlier this month, but the ongoing dry spell at the plate looks to have resulted in Conforto sliding back down the depth chart.
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Cubs' Michael Conforto: Sitting amid slump
Rotowire
Conforto is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Pirates.
After going 0-for-12 with five strikeouts while starting in the past four games, the slumping Conforto will head to the bench. Moises Ballesteros will receive the nod at designated hitter Tuesday in place of Conforto.
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Cubs' Michael Conforto: Heading to bench Wednesday
Rotowire
Conforto is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Brewers.
After a seven-game stretch in which he produced six extra-base hits and drew five walks, Conforto's bat has cooled down during the Cubs' series with Milwaukee. He's gone 0-for-4 with two strikeouts over the first two contests against the Brewers and will take a seat for the second day in a row Wednesday. Conforto may still be the Cubs' favored option at designated hitter versus right-handed pitching, but Miguel Amaya will start at DH on Wednesday against Brewers lefty Kyle Harrison.
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Cubs' Michael Conforto: Overtaking Ballesteros at DH
Rotowire
Conforto will start at designated hitter and bat sixth in Monday's game against the Brewers.
The Cubs are including Conforto in the starting nine for a third consecutive game, with the struggling Moises Ballesteros having hit the bench for all of those contests. At this point, Conforto appears to have emerged as the Cubs' preferred option at DH while he's maintained a magnificent .345/.456/.655 slash line to go with three home runs, 11 RBI and 11 runs in 68 plate appearances on the season. The Cubs are still likely to shield the left-handed-hitting Conforto from lefty pitching, but that arrangement could help prop up his batting average.
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Cubs' Michael Conforto: Lifts off Sunday
Rotowire
Conforto went 2-for-4 with a walk and a three-run home run in Sunday's 9-8, 10-inning loss to the White Sox.
Conforto's third home run of the season was a critical one, as it tied the game at 7-7 before the Cubs ultimately fell in extra innings. The veteran outfielder has been good when given playing time this season, as he's now sporting a 1.111 OPS across 27 games. However, Conforto would likely need an injury to one of Chicago's regulars for his role to grow significantly.
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Cubs' Michael Conforto: Heading back to bench Wednesday
Rotowire
Conforto is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game in Atlanta.
Conforto will hit the bench after he had started at designated hitter in four of the Cubs' past five games while going 6-for-14 with a home run, three doubles, three walks, three runs and two RBI during that stretch. Though he's been magnificent in a part-time role this season with a 1.065 OPS over 58 plate appearances, Conforto will likely find consistent reps hard to come by while Moises Ballesteros (.804 OPS) has been productive enough as the Cubs' primary DH and has more long-term investment from the organization.
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Cubs' Michael Conforto: Stays hot with two hits, walk
Rotowire
Conforto went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and a run scored in Friday's 7-1 win over the Rangers.
After going 3-for-3 with a double, a homer and two RBI Thursday against the Reds, Conforto was given another start. He hit second in the Chicago lineup and reached base three more times. In limited at-bats, Conforto has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball the last couple weeks, but Friday was just his fifth start in the last 18 games. Across 12 plate appearances this month, Conforto is 6-for-10 with four extra-base hits, including two home runs, three RBI, four runs scored and a 2:1 BB:K. Conforto has done enough to earn more playing time against right-handed pitching, but the Cubs' outfield is set in stone. Moises Ballesteros has cooled off as the primary designated hitter, as he's just 2-for-31 (.065) since April 28.
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Cubs' Michael Conforto: Leads offense Thursday
Rotowire
Conforto went 3-for-3 with a walk, a double, a solo home run, an additional run scored and two total RBI in Thursday's 8-3 win over the Reds.
Making his first start since April 29, Conforto responded with his first three-hit game of the season and also delivered his second home run. The veteran outfielder is locked into a reserve role for the Cubs, which limits his fantasy appeal, but he's been good when given an opportunity with a .361/.467/.667 slash line across 36 at-bats.
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Cubs' Michael Conforto: Reaches three times in loss
Rotowire
Conforto went 1-for-3 with two walks and a run scored in Saturday's 4-3, extra-innings loss to the Pirates.
This was Conforto's first game action in three days, as the veteran has settled in as a reserve outfielder for the Cubs. With Seiya Suzuki back in the fold, Conforto figures to remain on the bench, though he could eventually see more time at DH if he continues to show some life in his bat. Over his last five appearances, Conforto is slashing .385/.556/.462 with five walks, three RBI and three runs scored.
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Cubs' Michael Conforto: Sitting again Saturday
Rotowire
Conforto isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Nationals.
Conforto entered the season as the favorite to start in right field while Seiya Suzuki works his way back from a knee injury, but the Cubs have instead given Matt Shaw the starting nod in both of their first two contests. Conforto should still make occasional starts in the field, though perhaps not as often as initially thought.
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Cubs' Michael Conforto: Not starting Thursday
Rotowire
Conforto is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Nationals.
The veteran outfielder was expected to open the season as Chicago's primary right fielder versus right-handed pitching with Seiya Suzuki (knee) on the injured list, but Matt Shaw will instead receive the Opening Day nod. Conforto could still get semi-regular opportunities, but between Shaw and Dylan Carlson, there's strong competition for playing time.
