NEW YORK (AP) — Anthony Rizzo remained out of the Chicago Cubs' lineup Tuesday night against the New York Mets because of tightness in his back.Ian Happ started in Rizzo's place at first base again in the opener of a critical three-game series. Chicago entered with a one-game lead over Philadelphia for the second NL wild card, while the Mets were two back. The Cubs were three games behind first-place St. Louis in the NL Central.Cubs manager Joe Maddon and president of baseball operations Theo Epstein acknowledged Rizzo could miss the entire series. If he is able to return against the Mets, it would most likely be in Thursday's finale, Epstein said.The team wants to be smart about the injury so Rizzo doesn't wind up missing an extended stretch."I know he's really frustrated by it," Epstein said. "We're hopeful it's just a couple days."Rizzo left Saturday's game against Washington in the fifth inning and sat out Sunday, when the slumping Happ made his third career start at first base. Chicago... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Cubs utility man Ben Zobrist, who left the team three months ago to deal with a divorce, began a minor league assignment Friday with Class A South Bend.Zobrist has been on the restricted list since May 8.Cubs president Theo Epstein said he expects Zobrist will progress through the team's farm system this month. Epstein did not provide a schedule for Zobrist's return but said he trusts the 14-year veteran's judgment."He would not be attempting to come back if he didn't think he could play at a high level," Epstein said. "He's well aware of what it takes physically and mentally to prepare, especially at age 38. We'll make a good decision. He's not going to come back and embarrass himself."Zobrist was the MVP of the 2016 World Series when the Cubs beat Cleveland to end a 108-year championship drought. He was batting .241 with 10 RBIs through 26 games this season. Epstein said Zobrist would not be a full-time starter when he rejoins the team.Zobrist, a three-time All-Star, will begin as the designated hitter with South Bend.Slugger Kris Bryant said teammates will welcome Zobrist's return."I look at his locker every day," Bryant said. "Not having him here has been a bummer. He's a veteran guy with a smile in the clubhouse and we need that sometimes. We've certainly missed him — not just what he does in the field, but what he does in here."___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Cubs' Ben Zobrist, who left the team three months ago to deal with a divorce, will begin his minor league assignment in South Bend, Indiana.Zobrist has been on the restricted list since May 8. The team said he'll start his assignment with the South Bend Cubs on Friday.Cubs president Theo Epstein expects the 38-year-old Zobrist will progress to Triple-A as he makes his way through the team's system in August. Epstein stopped short Friday of providing a schedule for Zobrist's return, but said he trusts the 14-year veteran's judgment."He would not be attempting to come back if he didn't think he could play at a high level," Epstein said. "He's well aware of what it takes physically and mentally to prepare, especially at age 38. We'll make a good decision. He's not going to come back and embarrass himself."Zobrist was the MVP of the 2016 World Series when the Cubs beat Cleveland to end a 108-year championship drought. He was batting .241 with 10 RBIs through 26 games... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Cubs' Ben Zobrist, who left the team three months ago to deal with a divorce, will begin his minor league assignment in South Bend, Indiana.Zobrist has been on the restricted list since May 8. The team says he'll start his assignment with the South Bend Cubs on Friday.Cubs president Theo Epstein says the 38-year-old Zobrist will eventually progress to Triple-A.Zobrist was the MVP of the 2016 World Series when the Cubs beat Cleveland to end a 108-year championship drought.He'll be the designated hitter with South Bend and is expected to remain with the farm club through the weekend.Zobrist was batting .241 with 10 RBIs through 26 games this season.

CHICAGO (AP) — President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein insisted Saturday he's not pinning the Chicago Cubs' struggles on manager Joe Maddon.The way Epstein sees it, there's blame to go around."I see us as in it together," Epstein said. "My job is to put him in a position to succeed. I like nothing more as an executive than sitting back — the team's playing well, the manager's on a roll, you guys are all talking about this is the best job he's ever done. That makes me feel good. Now, the team's struggling so there's going to be speculation in the other direction."The Cubs entered Saturday's game against the crosstown White Sox trailing NL Central leader Milwaukee by a half-game at 46-42. They were coming off an 11-3 romp at Pittsburgh on Thursday, but the Cubs have been in a funk for weeks, struggling at the plate and making mistakes in the field and on the bases.They were 22-28 in the 50 games prior to Saturday. That included a 14-15 mark in June — their first losing month since May... [More]

June 301908 — At 41 years, 3 months, Cy Young of the Boston Red Sox pitched the third no-hitter of his career, an 8-0 win over the New York Highlanders.1948 — Cleveland's Bob Lemon pitched a 2-0 no-hitter against the Detroit Tigers for the first American League no-hitter at night.1962 — Sandy Koufax of the Los Angeles Dodgers struck out 13 New York Mets en route to the first of four career no-hitters, a 5-0 victory at Dodger Stadium.1970 — Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati was dedicated, but Henry Aaron spoiled the show for the crowd of 51,050 with a first-inning homer off Jim McGlothlin as Atlanta beat the Reds 8-2.1978 — Willie McCovey became the 12th player in major league history to hit 500 home runs. His milestone shot off Atlanta's Jamie Easterly wasn't enough, as the Braves beat the San Francisco Giants 10-5 in the second game of a doubleheader at Fulton County Stadium.1995 — Eddie Murray of the Cleveland Indians became the second switch-hitter and the 20th player in baseball history... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Free-agent closer Craig Kimbrel has agreed to a three-year contract with the Cubs that guarantees $43 million in a big move to strengthen Chicago's bullpen.The team said Friday he passed his physical and will be optioned to Triple-A Iowa.Kimbrel gets $10 million this year — a prorated share of his $16,173,913 listed salary — and $16 million in each of the following two seasons.Chicago has a $16 million option for 2022 with a $1 million buyout. The option would become guaranteed if he has at least 110 games finished in 2021-22 combined, including a minimum 55 in 2021, and he does not have a non-temporary injury.He has a full no-trade provision this year, and a limited no-trade provision for 2020 in which he must by this Oct. 31 designate eight teams he can't be deal to without his consent.The addition plugs a major hole for Chicago, which has been beset by blown saves but is still tied for the NL Central lead. Brandon Morrow is going slowly after a setback in his recovery... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Free-agent closer Craig Kimbrel has agreed to a three-year contract with the Cubs in a big move to strengthen Chicago's bullpen.The team said Friday he passed his physical and will be optioned to Triple-A Iowa.The addition plugs a major hole for Chicago, which has been beset by blown saves but is still tied for the NL Central lead. Brandon Morrow is going slowly after a setback in his recovery from offseason elbow surgery, and Pedro Strop just returned after another hamstring injury.Even before the deal was announced Cubs manager Joe Maddon said he thought Kimbrel would be ready to pitch in about three weeks."I would imagine in the position that's he's been in, he had some kind of a strategy of program mapped out," Maddon said Thursday. "The first thing you do is find out and then set up program. You think about a three-week window, normally it sounds right."Once Kimbrel is ready to go, Strop will likely move back to his usual setup role and Steve Cishek will be freed up... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Free-agent closer Craig Kimbrel has agreed to a contract with the Cubs in a big move to strengthen Chicago's bullpen.The team said Friday he passed his physical. Contract terms were not disclosed.The addition plugs a major hole for Chicago, which has been beset by blown saves but is still tied for the NL Central lead. Brandon Morrow is going slowly after he had a setback in his recovery from offseason elbow surgery, and Pedro Strop just returned after being sidelined by another hamstring injury.Even before the deal was announced Cubs manager Joe Maddon said he thought Kimbrel would be ready to pitch in about three weeks."I would imagine in the position that's he's been in, he had some kind of a strategy of program mapped out," Maddon said Thursday. "The first thing you do is find out and then set up program. You think about a three-week window, normally it sounds right."Once Kimbrel is ready to go, Strop will likely move back to his usual setup role and Steve Cishek will... [More]

Using the search engine at Baseball-Reference.com, The Associated Press evaluated each team's draft performance from 1996 through 2018, adding up wins above replacement (WAR) figures for drafted players.For each pick, the player's career WAR was added to the appropriate total for the team, depending on whether or not the player signed with the team after being drafted. Some players had their WAR totals included multiple times, if they were drafted more than once.Stats are through May 25. Compensation picks were considered part of the first round where applicable.___ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKSTotal WAR for all drafted players: 581.8 (MLB rank: 4th)Total WAR for drafted players who signed: 440.1 (rank: 5th)Total WAR for drafted players who did not sign: 141.7Impact players (10 WAR or more) drafted: 17 (rank: tie-9th)Impact players drafted and signed: 13 (rank: 12th)Most recent impact player drafted and signed: Trevor Bauer, 2011, first round, pick No. 3 (15.2 WAR)Lowest pick for impact player drafted... [More]

Using the search engine at Baseball-Reference.com, The Associated Press evaluated each team's draft performance from 1996 through 2018, adding up wins above replacement (WAR) figures for drafted players.For each pick, the player's career WAR was added to the appropriate total for the team, depending on whether or not the player signed with the team after being drafted. Some players had their WAR totals included multiple times, if they were drafted more than once.Stats are through May 25. Compensation picks were considered part of the first round where applicable.___ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKSTotal WAR for all drafted players: 581.8 (MLB rank: 4th)Total WAR for drafted players who signed: 440.1 (rank: 5th)Total WAR for drafted players who did not sign: 141.7Impact players (10 WAR or more) drafted: 17 (rank: tie-9th)Impact players drafted and signed: 13 (rank: 12th)Most recent impact player drafted and signed: Trevor Bauer, 2011, first round, pick No. 3 (15.2 WAR)Lowest pick for impact player drafted... [More]

May 261916 — Benny Kauff of the Giants was picked off first base three times by Boston's Lefty Tyler. The miscues didn't hurt as New York won its 14th consecutive road victory beating the Braves, 12-1.1925 — In Detroit's 8-1 win over the Chicago White Sox, Ty Cobb became the first to collect 1,000 career extra-base hits. He finished his career with 1,139.1929 — Pinch-hitters Pat Crawford of the Giants and Les Bell of the Boston Braves hit grand slams in New York's 15-9 victory.1930 — Joe Sewell of the Cleveland Indians, who fanned only three times in 353 at-bats during the season, was struck out twice in the same game by Pat Caraway of the White Sox.1933 — Philadelphia's Chuck Klein hit for cycle in a 5-4 14-inning loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. Dizzy Dean went the distance for St. Louis.1937 — Billy Sullivan and Bruce Campbell appeared for the Cleveland Indians as pinch hitters. Each hit a home run, making it the first time two American League pinch hitters hit home runs in the same... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Cubs' Ben Zobrist and his wife, Julianna Zobrist, have filed court documents in separate states seeking to end their marriage.Ben Zobrist filed a complaint for legal separation in Tennessee, according to The Tennesseean . The couple has a home in Williamson County.Julianna Zobrist filed for divorce on Monday, according to Cook County Circuit Court records.The Cubs placed Ben Zobrist on leave for undisclosed personal reasons on May 8, prompting the team to recall Addison Russell from Triple-A Iowa a little earlier than planned.Ben Zobrist, who turns 38 on May 26, is batting .241 this season. Zobrist, who is in the final season of a four-year contract with Chicago, was the World Series MVP when the Cubs won the championship in 2016.Manager Joe Maddon said Wednesday he doesn't know when Zobrist might feel ready to return."We're going to respect his privacy," Maddon said before the Cubs' game at Cincinnati. "He'll let us know."His wife, the former Julianna Gilmore, is a Christian pop singer who has released several recordings. She has retained Chicago law firm Berger Schatz. The company represented billionaire hedge fund manager Ken Griffin in his split with wife Anne Dias Griffin in 2014.Russell was left in the minors for extended preparation time after completing a 40-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — Julianna Zobrist, the wife of Chicago Cubs World Series MVP Ben Zobrist, has filed for divorce.The Cubs placed Ben Zobrist on leave for undisclosed personal reasons on May 8, prompting them team to recall Addison Russell from Triple-A Iowa a little earlier than they planned.Julianna Zobrist filed for divorce on Monday, according to Cook County Circuit Court records.Ben Zobrist, who turns 38 on May 26, is batting .241 this season. He is in the final season of a four-year contract with the Cubs.His wife, the former Julianna Gilmore, is a Christian pop singer who has released several recordings. She has retained Chicago law firm Berger Schatz. The company represented billionaire hedge fund manager Ken Griffin in his split with wife Anne Dias Griffin in 2014.Russell was left in the minors for extended preparation time after completing a 40-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — Addison Russell says he understands the booing he has heard since returning to the Chicago Cubs after his suspension for violating baseball's domestic violence policy, calling it "a serious issue."Russell received a mostly chilly reception when he started Wednesday against Miami in his first major league game since September. The 25-year-old infielder was optioned to Triple-A Iowa after he completed his 40-game suspension last week, but he returned to the majors when infielder/outfielder Ben Zobrist went on the restricted list for undisclosed personal matters.Russell was the talk of sports radio in Chicago on Friday after he did an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times that made it sound as if he was faulting the fans for booing. But he seemed to walk back his comments before making his second start at second base in the opener of a three-game series against Milwaukee."I totally understand. It's a serious issue," Russell said. "What can I do? Get better day by day. That's... [More]

May 121910 — Chief Bender of the Philadelphia Athletics pitched a 4-0 no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians.1937 — St. Louis' Joe Medwick hit two home runs and two doubles to lead the Cardinals to a 15-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.1955 — Sam "Toothpick" Jones of the Cubs got a no-hitter the hard way. In the ninth inning against Pittsburgh, he walked the bases full and then struck out the next three batters for a 4-0 victory.1956 — Carl Erskine of the Brooklyn Dodgers pitched a 3-0 no-hitter against the New York Giants.1966 — Lou Brock's RBI single in the 12th inning gave the St. Louis Cardinals a 4-3 victory over Atlanta in the opening of Busch Memorial Stadium. Felipe Alou hit two home runs for the Braves.1970 — Ernie Banks hit his 500th home run off Pat Jarvis in Chicago's 4-3 victory over Atlanta at Wrigley Field.2000 — Boston's Pedro Martinez, who had 17 strikeouts in his last start May 6 against Tampa Bay, struck out 15 in a 9-0 win over Baltimore, to tie an AL record... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Addison Russell and the Chicago Cubs don't believe the 2016 All-Star has become a completely changed man since his ex-wife accused him of physical and emotional abuse.They do believe he's made positive strides and, with the Cubs needing an infielder for a depleted roster, Russell has been deemed the best option available.Russell rejoined the surging Cubs on Wednesday after completing a 40-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy and spending extra time in the minors to get ready.The Cubs recalled Russell from Triple-A Iowa, then started him at second base and in the eighth during a 3-2, 11-inning win over Miami. Russell was eligible to rejoin the team May 3 against St. Louis at Wrigley Field, but the organization opted to give him more time with the minor league club."This is not a finish line," Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Esptein said. "This does not represent the end of the road or an accomplishment in any way, but there... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Addison Russell and the Chicago Cubs don't believe the 2016 All-Star has become a completely changed man since his ex-wife accused him of physical and emotional abuse.They do believe he's made positive strides, and with the Cubs needing an infielder for a depleted roster, Russell has been deemed the best option available.Russell rejoined the surging Cubs on Wednesday after completing a 40-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy and spending extra time in the minors to get ready.The Cubs recalled Russell from Triple-A Iowa, then started him at second base Wednesday night and in the eighth spot in the batting order against Miami. Russell was eligible to rejoin the team May 3 against St. Louis at Wrigley Field, but the organization opted to give him more time with the minor league club."This is not a finish line," Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Esptein said. "This does not represent the end of the road or an accomplishment in... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Addison Russell and the Chicago Cubs don't believe the 2016 All-Star has become a completely changed man since his ex-wife accused him of physical and emotional abuse.They do believe he's made positive strides, and with the Cubs needing an infielder for a depleted roster, Russell has been deemed the best option available.Russell rejoined the surging Cubs on Wednesday after completing a 40-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy and spending extra time in the minors to get ready.The Cubs recalled Russell from Triple-A Iowa, then started him at second base Wednesday night and in the eighth spot in the batting order against Miami. Russell was eligible to rejoin the team May 3 against St. Louis at Wrigley Field, but the organization opted to give him more time with the minor league club."This is not a finish line," Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Esptein said. "This does not represent the end of the road or an accomplishment in... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Shortstop Addison Russell is rejoining the Chicago Cubs after completing a 40-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy and then spending extra time in the minors to get ready.The Cubs recalled Russell from Triple-A Iowa before Wednesday night's game against the Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field. He was set to start at second base and bat eighth.Russell was eligible to rejoin the Cubs on May 3 against St. Louis at Wrigley Field, but the organization opted to give him more time with the minor league club to prepare for his return.In a corresponding move, the Cubs placed infielder/outfielder Ben Zobrist on the restricted list. Team spokesman Peter Chase said the veteran was leaving the team for an indefinite period for personal reasons.Russell was suspended last fall after a series of allegations made by ex-wife Melisa Reidy. Without getting into specifics, he said in February that he was accountable for his past actions and apologized for... [More]