Dansby Swanson felt an internal nudge to make changes this winter. So he attacked the offseason in a different way and believes it will allow him to find himself on offense www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

A look at three depth options for the Cubs rotation and what they worked on this offseason to find their best selves. www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

Cade Horton was touching 98 during a live BP and Craig Counsell said he was cruising. On the high expectations in year 2 for the ROY runner-up www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...

A look into what PCA felt went wrong in the second half last summer and what he's working on to find more consistency with his offensive game. www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...

A look at three relievers in Cubs camp who are trying to bounce back and find their best form www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...

Charles Barkley at Cubs camp chatting with Rick Sutcliffe and Fergie Jenkins.

A decade ago, Theo Epstein spent all his time obsessing about what could go wrong and coming up with solutions. Now that headache belongs to Jed Hoyer who searches for depth for a team that's built to win. www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...

The Cubs are back! Pitchers and catchers report to Mesa and there's a new episode of North Side Territory with Patrick Mooney and me. Subscribe on all platforms and to the YouTube channel! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/n... open.spotify.com/episode/78gv... www.youtube.com/embed/hI35xD...

Craig Counsell usually avoids labels for his bullpen arms. They're all "out-getters" as far as he's concerned. But on Wednesday, he admitted that if the season were to start now, Daniel Palencia would be his guy in the ninth. www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...

Will the Cubs get any extensions done this spring? How healthy will their pitching be to enter the season? Any spring surprises coming? Three burning questions as we head to Mesa. www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...

A look at how Alex Bregman's offensive style fits Wrigely Field www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...

A look at what options the Cubs have with Matt Shaw. His value to the team as depth and as a potential trade candidate. www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...

After being pursued by the Nats early last month, the Cubs are keeping Tyler Zombro and naming him VP of pitching. Already impactful on MLB side, he now has significant influence throughout the organization after just one year on staff. t.co/NjsUYFmMDP

I'm trying to remember the last time the Cubs had one of these "get a lead and then continue to tack on" games at Wrigley. It feels like it's been a decent while. They're important! Especially with the wind blowing out. Feels like the other team is never really out of it.

So much of baseball is about the smallest things. If the Nats have an average defensive left fielder or if James Wood just gets a *slightly* better jump, that's a one-run inning. Instead, the inning goes on, Dansby gets a shot with men on and slugs a three-run shot. Cubs up 5-0 after one.

The Cubs knew Owen Caissie could dominate Triple-A this season without making any changes. But they had to get him prepared for the big leagues. A look at how Caissie embraced the organization's challenge to improve upon his few remaining flaws. t.co/J3nEwvt2NZ

Baseball isn't all luck, but you need some things to just go your way sometimes. William Contreras got a sinker in the heart of the zone at 91.3 mph. That's a pitch he may have pounded on a different day. Instead, it's a hard ground ball to Dansby Swanson who turns a huge 6-4-3 double play.

Each pitcher has now walked the bases loaded. Brewers got just one run on their chance. Cubs have no outs, bases juiced and top of the order up. Prime opportunity they have to jump on.

Seiya gave one a ride in the first but it's a flyout tonight. Wind coming in pretty strong at 14 mph at first pitch. Cost Seiya a solo shot, but both he and Busch hit the ball hard against Misiorowksi.

Max Scherzer just threw his 13th pitch of the 7th inning to end the frame. That is the highest pitch total for either pitcher in an inning today.

The Cubs are allowed to hit line drives that touch the ground. It has happened. After six of the first seven batters hit the ball well only to find defenders, Dansby Swanson doubles with one out in the third.

Davis Schneider steals extra bases from Owen Caissie. The rookie hit the first pitch he saw on a line and it seemed ticketed for the left-center gap. Schneider made a nice diving catch to steal a likely double. Cubs are once again hitting line drives, but getting little in return for their work.

A few stories from Toronto. First one on Miguel Amaya being carted off field, but apparently avoids a major injury with a left ankle sprain, will go on IL www.nytimes.com/athletic/655...

Counsell says x-rays came back negative for Amaya. Swollen badly, but right now appears to just be a sprain. Will require an IL stint.

Miguel Amaya legs out an infield single, but hits the bag awkwardly and is down in foul territory just past first. Seems like he twisted his left ankle badly and is in major pain. Needs to be carried onto the cart. It was Amaya's first game back after missing significant time with an oblique issue

It's gonna just go down as an out, but hard, in the air and 388 feet for Tucker is a good sign. Quite a bit of hard contact all around tonight with just two runs to show for it.

Cade Horton seems to get better every time out. So far tonight it's five innings of no-hit baseball with eight Ks and one walk. Getting whiffs on the sweeper and change. He's doing this against arguably the best offense in baseball.

Dansby Swanson should just stop hitting the ball hard. Hit it negative MPH. That's his only chance.

Michael Busch skies one that gets over the fence in right. I was sure that was going to fall just short. But somehow the Cubs actually have a 1-0 lead.

PCA with a 101.3 mph liner for an out. Nico singles and then Dansby hits one 108.3 on a line. Again, for an out. The Cubs just need to keep hitting the ball like that and they'll eventually find gaps, but this is definitely one of those mind-numbing stretches.

This really is getting rough for the Cubs. They're not putting up bad at-bats. They're swinging at the right pitches. They're even hitting them hard at times. Seiya's hit two balls really well. Nothing to show for it.

Really like that plate appearance from Matt Shaw. Attacked good pitches, but eventually worked a walk in a 10-pitch PA to turn it over to the top. Let's see if this offense can actually do something with it though.

Cubs moves for today: ⚾️ Javier Assad activated from 60-day IL ⚾️ Miguel Amaya activated from 60-day IL ⚾️ Nate Pearson optioned to Triple A ⚾️ Jon Berti DFA'd Javier Assad is expected to start tonight

First pitch is scheduled for 7pm here in St. Louis (weather permitting)

First pitch will be delayed here in St. Louis

Hard line drives all over the place, grounders finding holes, aggressive on the basepaths. This looks more like the Cubs offense that fans have grown accustomed to this season. They have themselves a 6-0 lead and have chased Andrew Pallante here in the second with two outs.

The Cubs offense is struggling to come up with the big hit. A look at their issues and comparing it to last year's slump -- it's not nearly as bad, but the Brewers insane run is making everything seem worse. t.co/ek5r8xc5ED

Going to do a mailbag episode of North Side Territory after tonight's game. Feel free to send questions here now, during the game or after! ⤵️

What’s going on with Kyle Tucker? Examining slump of Cubs star t.co/VFDEHSjrYF

Justin Turner entered today with a 125 wRC+ against lefties and has gone 2-for-4 with a double against Andrew Abbott. Feels important that he's starting to slug again. Would be a huge development for this team if he can do this consistently the final two months and into October.

Andrew Kittredge responds to a rough outing last night with an immaculate inning. That was impressive. He's largely been damn good for the Cubs since being added at the deadline.

Seiya Suzuki hits a solo homer to put the Cubs up 2-0. He's hammered the ball in all three plate appearances today. That's huge for him and this offense. They need the sluggers to get going.

Zack Littell has struck out six Cubs through four innings. That's one below his season-high in strikeouts, which came on March 29 against the Colorado Rockies. Kyle Tucker, who entered the night with seven more walks than strikeouts on the season, has struck out twice already.

Counsell says in postgame that Soroka is headed to the IL.

Right shoulder discomfort for Michael Soroka. That doesn't sound great!

We have Ben Brown warming in the Cubs bullpen and Nick Lodolo exiting with two outs in the second. He had a broken nail issue a few weeks ago, so wonder if that's what this is. With Brown warming, not clear if Soroka is planned to be just one time through the lineup or what.

Michael Soroka still sitting 91, so the velocity drop remains, but he struck out three in his first inning of work as a Cub, so I guess you'll take it.

Feels like Ian Happ has been hammering the ball lately and just not always getting the results. Doubles in one there, barely missing a three-run shot as Carson Kelly gets thrown out at home. 2-0 Cubs after one. Offense is due for one of those days where they tack on and make it easy.

Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer joined North Side Territory to talk all things trade deadline. Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nor… Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6NhwZx��� YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL0-6HqjTMw&list=PLLhBjhMrlsWNKALU5wY1H2EHQarW3hTUR

Seiya Suzuki's power production has taken a huge jump this season as a more aggressive approach has led to him becoming a feared slugger t.co/czyAilePl4