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Kelly is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Marlins.
Kelly started behind the dish in Tuesday's series opener, but he will begin Wednesday's festivities on the bench. Miguel Amaya will do the catching an occupy the No. 9 spot in the Cubs' lineup.
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Cubs' Caleb Thielbar: Takes loss in extras Tuesday
Rotowire
Thielbar (3-4) took the loss after allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits over one inning in Tuesday's 8-2 extra-innings loss to the Marlins.
Thielbar worked a scoreless 11th inning before returning for the 12th, but that's when things went south for the left-hander. Thielbar allowed the first batter he faced to drive home the inherited runner at second, and by the time the frame ended, the Marlins had built a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Thielbar's ERA rose to 4.99, and this mark his first outing allowing more than one earned run since Aug. 16.
Cubs' Daniel Palencia: Continues improved play Tuesday
Rotowire
Palencia tossed 1.1 scoreless innings of relief with a strikeout in Tuesday's 8-2, extra-innings loss to the Marlins.
Palencia hasn't retaken his job as Chicago's primary closer, but he has started to pitch better lately after a slow start in his return from the injured list earlier this month. Across his last seven appearances, the hard-throwing righty hasn't allowed an earned run while striking out six batters across 7.2 innings. Palencia hasn't been able to match his 2025 breakout campaign, when he posted a 2.91 ERA with 22 saves and 61 strikeouts across 52.2 regular-season innings, though his improved performance does give him a little momentum heading into a possible Chicago playoff run.
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Cubs' Shota Imanaga: Pitches well in no-decision
Rotowire
Imanaga allowed just one run on four hits across five innings but did not factor into the decision in Tuesday's 8-2, extra-innings loss to the Marlins. He struck out seven and didn't issue any walks.
The lefty was sharp again Tuesday, though he needed 91 pitches to complete five frames, which likely prevented him from going longer into the game. Over his last four appearances, Imanaga has a sparkling 1.96 ERA with 23 strikeouts across 23 innings, and he's lowered his overall ERA from 4.01 to 3.74 in the process. He's not currently slated to take the mound again during the 2026 regular season, with the Cubs instead turning their attention to slotting Imanaga in near the top of their postseason rotation, assuming they lock up their spot soon. It's quite possible that the southpaw even serves as a Game 1 starter.
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Cubs' Alex Bregman: Will avoid IL stint
Rotowire
Manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday that the Cubs will not place Bregman (face) on the injured list, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
Bregman suffered multiple facial fractures after getting struck by a foul ball while in the on-deck circle Sunday. Though it remains unknown how far away he is from returning, the Cubs say that they are taking a day-by-day approach with the veteran third baseman and haven't ruled him out of returning before the end of the regular season. In the meantime, Pedro Ramirez is expected to receive the bulk of starts at third base.
Cubs' Alex Bregman: Suffers multiple facial fractures
Rotowire
Bregman has been diagnosed with multiple facial fractures after being struck on the left side of the face with a foul ball while on the on-deck circle during Sunday's game versus the Reds, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
The injury will end Bregman's regular season, but he does not need surgery and is hopeful of returning at some point during the postseason. When exactly that return might happen is unclear, but more could be known later this week after the Cubs see how the third baseman progresses. Bregman overcame a slow start to finish with a .262/.352/.452 batting line and 26 home runs over 153 games in his first season with the Cubs. With Bregman out, the Cubs could turn to Pedro Ramirez at third base.
Cubs' Michael Conforto: Goes deep in comfortable win
Rotowire
Conforto went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Sunday's 9-1 win over the Reds.
Getting a chance to serve as the DH Sunday, Conforto took Cincinnati reliever Carson Spiers deep in the fifth inning for his 15th home run of the season. That's an impressive total for the veteran outfielder, who has largely served as a reserve for the Cubs this year and has has seen 253 at-bats across 108 games, down from 418 at-bats in 138 games for the Dodgers last regular season. Conforto should be a key bench option for Chicago in the postseason as an experienced hitter who's capable of delivering in big spots.
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Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong: Stays hot in easy win Sunday
Rotowire
Crow-Armstrong went 3-for-5 with a double, a two-run home run and an additional run scored in Sunday's 9-1 win over the Reds. He also stole a base.
The star outfielder is following up a scintillating August with a big final month of the regular season, as he's now sporting a .946 OPS with six stolen bases, seven home runs and 16 RBI across 18 September contests. Overall, Crow-Armstrong is up to 45 long balls and 38 steals, putting him within shouting distance of just the seventh 40-40 campaign in MLB history. If he swipes two bases and goes deep five more times in the final week, Crow-Armstrong will be just the second player in MLB history to reach 50 homers and 40 steals, joining Shohei Ohtani during his incredible 2024 campaign, when he was unanimously named National League MVP. Crow-Armstrong seems well on his way to taking home that award this year.
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Cubs' Seiya Suzuki: Blasts 25th home run Sunday
Rotowire
Suzuki went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Sunday's 9-1 win over the Reds.
Suzuki was 0-for-4 with a strikeout until his final at-bat of the game in the eighth inning, when he crushed his 25th home run of the season. It was the talented outfielder's first long ball this month, and his overall total is the second highest of his MLB career, trailing only the 32 homers he hit in 151 regular-season games last year. Suzuki missed a little time to begin 2026 due to a right knee sprain suffered in the World Baseball Classic, but it's been another strong offensive campaign for the 32-year-old slugger.
Cubs' David Peterson: Impressive again in ninth win
Rotowire
Peterson (9-8) earned the win Sunday over the Reds, allowing a run on three hits and a walk across six innings. He struck out seven.
Peterson has now turned in back-to-back quality starts while holding opponents to just three runs across 16.1 innings in his last three outings. The 31-year-old left-hander sports a 4.96 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 131:63 K:BB across 143.1 innings between the Cubs and Mets this year. Peterson will likely make one more regular-season start, currently slated to come next weekend in Boston.
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Cubs' Alex Bregman: Struck by foul ball
Rotowire
Bregman was removed from Sunday's game against the Reds after being struck in the face by a foul ball while in the on-deck circle, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
A check swing by Michael Busch resulted in an unusual trajectory for the foul ball, and Bregman had minimal time to protect himself. The veteran third baseman immediately headed to the clubhouse and was replaced by a pinch hitter. According to Montemurro, Bregman had a laceration, a bloody nose and a swollen cheek. He was sent to the hospital to be evaluated further.
