Fantasy News

• Cubs' Drew Smyly: Reinstated from IL

  Rotowire May 25, 2024

  The Cubs reinstated Smyly (hip) from the injured list Saturday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Smyly landed on the injured list in late April due to a right hip impingement. He struck out five batters in three scoreless innings during his lone rehab game at High-A South Bend on Tuesday. He had put up a 4.97 ERA and 1.34 WHIP across 12.2 innings before getting injured and figures to reprise his role as a middle reliever now that he's fully recovered. Jose Cuas was optioned to Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move.

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• Cubs' Drew Smyly: Nearing return

  Rotowire May 24, 2024

  Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Friday that Smyly (hip) is likely to be activated from the injured list during this weekend's series against the Cardinals, Elise Menaker reports. Smyly made a rehab start with High-A South Bend on Tuesday, throwing three perfect innings while striking out five. Despite the fact that Kyle Hendricks was moved to the bullpen and Jordan Wicks (forearm) remains on the IL, Counsell noted that he will use Smyly in a multi-inning relief role when he returns, rather than moving him into the rotation. Smyly appeared in nine games before going on the injured list, registering a 4.97 ERA and 1.34 WHIP over 12.2 innings.

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• Cubs' Drew Smyly: Shines in rehab start

  Rotowire May 22, 2024

  Smyly (hip) struck out five over three perfect innings in his rehab start Tuesday with High-A South Bend. Pitching in a game for the first time in a month after landing on the 15-day injured list April 23 with a right hip impingement, Smyly looked about as good as possible while tossing 40 pitches. The lefty had been working exclusively as a reliever prior to landing on the shelf, but with the Cubs moving the struggling Kyle Hendricks to the bullpen earlier this week, Smyly could be under consideration to step in as the team's No. 5 starter if he makes it back from the IL before Jordan Wicks (forearm). If the Cubs intend to bring Smyly back in a starting role, he'll still need to get stretched out a bit further, so it wouldn't be surprising if he stuck around at South Bend or joined a higher-level affiliate for another rehab outing. Regardless of whether Smyly serves as a starter or reliever upon his return to the Cubs, manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday that he expects the 34-year-old to be activated at some point next week, per MLB.com.

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• Cubs' Drew Smyly: Making rehab start

  Rotowire May 21, 2024

  Smyly (hip) will make a rehab start Tuesday with High-A South Bend, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports. Smyly is set for his first rehab appearance since suffering a pinched nerve in his right hip back in April. It's unclear how long of a rehab stint is required, but Smyly should be on pace to return in late May or early June.

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• Cubs' Drew Smyly: Will begin rehab in High-A

  Rotowire May 18, 2024

  Manager Craig Counsell said Saturday that he expects Smyly (hip) to begin a rehab assignment with High-A South Bend sometime next week, Mike McGraw of the Chicago Daily Herald reports. Counsell did not specify how many appearances Smyly will make in the minors, though the lefty figures to require multiple outings given he's been on the shelf since April 23 with a hip impingement. The 34-year-old put up a 4.97 ERA and 1.34 WHIP across 12.2 innings before getting hurt, and he will likely return to a multi-inning relief role once he rejoins Chicago.

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• Cubs' Drew Smyly: Completes bullpen session

  Rotowire May 13, 2024

  Smyly (hip) threw another bullpen session Monday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports. Smyly continues to work his way back from a right hip impingement, which prompted his placement on the 15-day injured list April 23. The 34-year-old southpaw will need to advance to facing live hitters in batting practice and will likely require a rehab assignment before being activated.

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• Cubs' Drew Smyly: Throwing off mound

  Rotowire May 7, 2024

  Smyly (hip) will throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports. He's continuing his throwing progression as he works his way back from a right hip impingement. Smyly has already missed a couple weeks of action and will probably be asked to make at least one rehab appearance before being activated.

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• Cubs' Drew Smyly: Cleared to resume throwing

  Rotowire May 3, 2024

  Smyly (hip) has been cleared to begin playing catch, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports. Smyly hasn't pitched in nearly two weeks because of a right hip impingement but is ready to begin ramping things back up. The left-hander seems likely to require a rehab assignment before rejoining the Cubs' bullpen.

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• Cubs' Drew Smyly: To IL with hip injury

  Rotowire Apr 23, 2024

  The Cubs placed Smyly on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a right hip impingement, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports. Smyly last pitched Sunday against the Marlins and must have suffered an injury during the outing. He'll be eligible to return May 7, although it's not clear at this point whether he will be ready at that time.

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• Cubs' Drew Smyly: Solid so far

  Rotowire Apr 12, 2024

  Through four appearances (6.2 innings), Smyly has a 4.05 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and seven strikeouts. Outside of his first appearance of the season, Smyly has retired more than three batters in all of his outings, and he should continue to work in a long-relief role for the Cubs. While a 4.05 ERA isn't amazing, it is an improvement on the 5.00 ERA he posted in 2023. The veteran southpaw has also lowered his WHIP from 1.43 last season. It's still early, but Smyly's results have been encouraging so far.

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• Cubs' Drew Smyly: Misses out on rotation spot

  Rotowire Mar 21, 2024

  Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed Thursday that Smyly will begin the season in the bullpen, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports. Though Jameson Taillon (back) is slated to begin the season on the injured list, the Cubs are electing to fill the final two spots in the five-man rotation with Jordan Wicks and Javier Assad rather than opening the campaign with Smyly in a starting role. Counsell noted that he still expects Smyly to make starts at some point this season, so the 35-year-old lefty presumably checks in at seventh on the organization's rotation depth chart, including the injured Taillon.

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• Cubs' Drew Smyly: Could serve as spot starter

  Rotowire Mar 18, 2024

  Smyly could start the regular season in the rotation with Jameson Taillon (back) set to miss some time into April, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. Taillon could return as soon as April 8 in San Diego, but the Cubs will have to fill his rotation spot until then. Justin Steele is set to start Opening Day on March 28, and Chicago gets an off day after that. However, the Cubs then have games on five straight days, so a full rotation will likely be needed. Beyond Steele, Kyle Hendricks and Shota Imanaga should be locked into starting spots, and Jordan Wicks is making a strong case in camp. That could leave Smyly, Javier Assad and Hayden Wesneski to compete for the No. 5 spot, at least until Taillon returns.

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• Cubs' Drew Smyly: Pitches well Sunday

  Rotowire Mar 11, 2024

  Smyly tossed 3.1 scoreless innings in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Rangers. He allowed four hits and a walk, while striking out four. Smyly still has a rough 6.14 ERA in Cactus League play due to some rough outings earlier this spring, but this was a step in the right direction. The veteran lefty is likely headed for a bullpen role at some point, though a short-term opportunity to start may open up with Jameson Taillon (back) in jeopardy of missing time to start the regular season. Righties Javier Assad and Hayden Wesneski are also options for spot starting duties.

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• Cubs' Drew Smyly: Gets hit hard Thursday

  Rotowire Feb 29, 2024

  Smyly allowed five runs on seven hits and a walk across two innings during Thursday's Cactus League game against the Rockies. He struck out one. Smyly allowed a pair of home runs in his two frames and was just hit around the park in general. The veteran lefty was much better in his first spring start Saturday, but he now has an inflated 11.25 ERA across four innings in Cactus League play. Smyly is competing for the fifth spot in Chicago's rotation, though he could ultimately end up in a similar swing role to the one he occupied last season.

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• Cubs' Drew Smyly: Competing for rotation spot

  Rotowire Feb 4, 2024

  Smyly is likely competing with Hayden Wesneski, Javier Assad and Jordan Wicks for the fifth spot in the Cubs' rotation to begin the season, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. Smyly made 41 appearances, including 23 starts, for Chicago last season and struggled with a 5.00 ERA and 1.43 WHIP. The veteran lefty can still miss some bats, as he recorded 141 strikeouts in 142.1 innings in 2023, and the team may want to deploy him in a relief role to see if his stuff plays up in favorable matchups. Smyly can still have some limited fantasy value in the right spots, though he's likely best used as a streamer if he's starting.

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• Cubs' Drew Smyly: Sticking with Cubs

  Rotowire Nov 6, 2023

  Smyly exercised his $8.5 million player option for the 2024 season Monday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports. Smyly will remain in Chicago for the 2024 campaign, as he was unlikely to surpass his guaranteed money elsewhere over the next year. He'll look to bounce back after a rocky 2023 season, accruing a 5.00 ERA and 1.43 WHIP with a 141:56 K:BB across 142.1 innings.

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• Cubs' Drew Smyly: Starting Sunday

  Rotowire Oct 1, 2023

  Smyly will start Sunday's game against the Brewers, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Smyly figures to work a few innings in what may turn out to be a bullpen game for Chicago after the club was eliminated from postseason contention Saturday night. The veteran southpaw has plenty of experience in a starting role, though he was converted to a reliever for the final month of the season and has worked only 15.2 innings over 11 appearances in September.

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• Cubs' Drew Smyly: Returning to relief role

  Rotowire Aug 24, 2023

  Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said Thursday that Smyly will return to a bullpen role, Mike McGraw of the Chicago Daily Herald reports. It's unclear who might fill the vacant rotation spot, though Hoyer offered an intriguing "no comment" when asked if it could be top pitching prospect Jordan Wicks. Smyly was lit up for seven earned runs over 3.2 innings in his most recent start Tuesday at Detroit and holds a 5.28 ERA in 124.1 total innings (22 starts, five relief appearances) this year with Chicago.

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• Cubs' Drew Smyly: Seven earned runs in loss

  Rotowire Aug 23, 2023

  Smyly (9-9) took the loss Tuesday, allowing seven runs on eight hits and three walks over 3.2 innings in an 8-6 loss to the Tigers. He struck out four. The veteran southpaw's return to Chicago's rotation was a disaster, as he allowed 11 baserunners and served up two long homers to Andy Ibanez. Smyly pitched well in his three recent relief appearances, but this marks his second consecutive start allowing seven earned runs. Smyly now has an 8.60 ERA and 1.62 WHIP across 30.1 second-half innings and it remains to be seen whether he will receive another start.

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• Cubs' Drew Smyly: Rejoining rotation Tuesday

  Rotowire Aug 20, 2023

  Smyly is scheduled to start Tuesday against the Tigers, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports. The veteran left-hander was shifted to the bullpen earlier in August and covered one frame in each of his past three outings, but he'll return to the rotation Tuesday with Marcus Stroman (ribs/hip) still on the injured list. Smyly hasn't covered multiple innings since his last start Aug. 7, so he could have some workload limitations in Detroit. Even without those limitations, Smyly's 4.92 ERA in 21 starts this year makes him an undesirable fantasy option.

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