Mastrobuoni is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.
Mastrobuoni started at third base in each of the Cubs' final five games before the All-Star break as well as Friday's 5-2 loss to Arizona, but he'll hit the bench for the second day in a row to close out the series with the Diamondbacks. The 28-year-old no longer looks slated to get regular playing time moving forward after the Cubs brought Mike Tauchman back from the injured list Friday.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni: Getting fifth straight start
Rotowire
Mastrobuoni will start at third base and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Cardinals.
Since heading to the bench for Wednesday's 4-0 win over the Orioles, the lefty-hitting Mastrobuoni has re-emerged as a regular part of the Cubs' lineup against right-handed pitching. Mastrobuoni will close the first half of the season with his fifth consecutive start, with his uptick in playing time coinciding with Cody Bellinger's (finger) placement on the injured list Thursday. Mastrobuoni has gone 4-for-13 with an RBI and two runs over his prior four starts.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni: Returns to bench role
Rotowire
Mastrobuoni is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Orioles.
The lefty-hitting Mastrobuoni had been included in the lineup in each of the Cubs' last three matchups with right-handed pitchers, but the uptick in playing time looks to have been the result of outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong being unavailable due to a thumb injury. After serving as a pinch runner in Tuesday's 9-2 win, Crow-Armstrong has received the green light to re-enter the starting nine Wednesday for the first time in a week, so Mastrobuoni will head back to the bench.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni: Reaches four times, swipes base
Rotowire
Mastrobuoni went 2-for-3 with two walks and a run scored in Tuesday's 9-2 win over the Orioles. He also stole a base.
This was just the second multi-hit effort this season for Mastrobuoni and his first since May 11. The stolen base was also his first of the year. Mastrobuoni is batting just .172 overall, and while he's capable of the occasional solid performance, the utility player doesn't see consistent enough playing time to be much of a fantasy contributor.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni: Drawing start at third base
Rotowire
Mastrobuoni will start at third base and bat eighth in Friday's game against the Angels.
Christopher Morel is getting a second straight day in the designated hitter spot, so Mastrobuoni will be tasked with handling the hot corner. It's his first start since he was recalled from Triple-A Iowa back on June 18.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni: Back in big leagues
Rotowire
Mastrobuoni was called up from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday.
Mastrobuoni will return to the major-league roster after being sent down May 20, replacing Mike Tauchman (groin) with the Cubs after Tauchman was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday. Mastrobuoni produced a .264 average with three home runs, 14 RBI, 16 runs scored and four stolen bases over 87 at-bats in 22 games with Iowa since his demotion.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni: Sent to Triple-A
Rotowire
Mastrobuoni was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Monday, per MLB's transaction log.
Mastrobuoni went 0-for-10 at the dish over his last three games, and he'll be demoted to the minors now that Dansby Swanson (knee) is ready to be activated from the 10-day IL and Luis Vazquez is ready to get a shot with the big-league club. Mastrobuoni will likely be seen again in the majors this season considering his versatility.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni: Playing time picking up
Rotowire
Mastrobuoni will start at shortstop and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against Atlanta, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
With Dansby Swanson (knee) recently going on the injured list and with Nico Hoerner (hamstring) out of the lineup for the second day in a row, Mastrobuoni has been the main beneficiary from a playing-time perspective. He'll draw his fifth start in seven games Wednesday and could continue to see fairly steady playing time in the middle infield even if Hoerner avoids a trip to the IL.
Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni: Tallies first three hits Saturday
Rotowire
Mastrobuoni went 3-for-4 with a walk, a double, an RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's 10-9 loss to the Pirates.
Mastrobuoni was productive from the No. 8 spot in the lineup and he recorded his first three hits of the season, as he came into the contest 0-for-14 across 10 games. The 28-year-old has bounced between Triple-A and the majors and serves in a utility role when he's with the Cubs, so he doesn't see a ton of regular playing time, which makes Saturday's performance an outlier.
The Cubs recalled Mastrobuoni from Triple-A Iowa on Saturday.
Mastrobuoni made the Cubs' Opening Day roster and was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on April 18 after Patrick Wisdom returned from a stint on the 10-day injured list due to a back injury. Mastrobuoni has appeared in 10 games for Iowa, slashing .231/.318/.436 with 10 runs, five doubles, one home run and four RBI over 44 plate appearances. Matt Mervis was sent down to Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni: Optioned to Iowa
Rotowire
The Cubs optioned Mastrobuoni to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
He was able to crack the Opening Day roster with Patrick Wisdom on the injured list before the season began. Mastrobuoni appeared in just eight games and only reached base once on a walk across 13 plate appearances. In a corresponding move, Wisdom was activated from the 10-day injured list.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni: Cracks Opening Day roster
Rotowire
The Cubs informed Mastrobuoni on Monday that he'll be included on the Opening Day roster, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Mastrobuoni's ability to win a spot on the Opening Day roster spot initially seemed to be tied to the health of Nick Madrigal (hamstring), but even though Madrigal looks poised to avoid a stint on the injured list to open the season, the Cubs will apparently have room for both players as utility options. Though he's capable of filling in at second base, third base, shortstop and both outfield spots and brings quality speed to the table, Mastrobuoni's status as a left-handed hitter means that he won't be a candidate for a platoon role. Instead, Mastrobuoni is likely to see most of his limited opportunities in the late innings as a pinch runner or defensive replacement.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni: Likely to make roster?
Rotowire
Mastrobuoni seems likely to secure one of Chicago's final bench spots coming out of camp due to Nick Madrigal (hamstring) being possibly set to miss time, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Mastrobuoni may not be able to hold onto the role once Madrigal is fully healthy, but for now, the super utility job seems to be his. The 28-year-old can fill in at multiple positions, though he doesn't offer enough offensive upside to warrant serious fantasy attention in most leagues. That could change if a larger role opens up for Mastrobuoni, however.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni: Vying for final bench role
Rotowire
Mastrobuoni seems likely to secure a utility role with the Cubs out of spring training, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
The Cubs have a few options for bench spots, but Mastrobuoni likely has an inside track due to his left-handed bat and his defensive versatility. The 28-year-old had some nice moments toward the end of last year, though he finished with just a .609 OPS across 61 games and doesn't profile as a great fantasy asset in 2024.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni: Stays hot Tuesday
Rotowire
Mastrobuoni went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored in Tuesday's 7-6 loss to Atlanta.
Mastrobuoni had eight hits over four games before hitting the bench for Sunday's contest, though he did appear as a pinch hitter. He got the start Tuesday and picked up right where he left off, pushing his batting average to an even .500 for the month. With the Cubs scrapping for a playoff spot, they may need to keep Mastrobuoni in the lineup and ride his bat while it's hot.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni: Two more hits Saturday
Rotowire
Mastrobuoni went 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored in Saturday's win over the Rockies. He also stole a base.
Mastrobuoni has been playing well lately, as he's currently riding a four-game hitting streak and batting a robust .533 during the stretch. He still profiles as more of a bench option for the Cubs overall, though increased playing time has been available with Jeimer Candelario (back) and Nick Madrigal (hamstring) both on the injured list.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni: Big effort in loss
Rotowire
Mastrobuoni went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored in Wednesday's 13-7 loss to the Pirates.
Mastrobuoni entered the contest with just three hits at the MLB level since July 21, so Wednesday's performance was certainly unexpected, particularly out of the No. 9 spot in the order. The 27-year-old is still just a bench option for the Cubs, though he's seen a slightly larger role recently with Jeimer Candelario (back) and Nick Madrigal (hamstring) both currently out.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni: Recalled from Iowa
Rotowire
The Cubs recalled Mastrobuoni from Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Despite his lackluster MLB stats this season, Mastrobuoni appears to have rediscovered his swing over the last several weeks. He appeared in 13 games during his last major-league stint in July and slashed .324/.375/.432 with three RBI and 10 runs scored. Once he was optioned to Triple-A, his hot hitting continued with a .959 OPS since Aug. 1. Mastrobuoni will likely serve in a bench role with the Cubs, but the team could look for ways to get his hot bat in the game. Tucker Barnhart was DFA'd in a corresponding move.
