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May 20: Cubs activate SS Dansby Swanson from 10-day injured list, option INF Miles Mastrobuoni to Triple-A Iowa
Cubs manager Craig Counsell noted on Sunday that Swanson was on target to be activated ahead of Tuesday night's game against the Braves. Chicago made the move on Monday's off-day, adding the two-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glover back to the mix.

Swanson had been out since May 8 (placed on the IL on May 10) due to a right knee sprain. In 37 games this season, the veteran has hit .209 with four homers, 12 RBIs and a .626 OPS for the Cubs. The shortstop was 2-for-22 in May before landing on the shelf.

Mastrobuoni has hit .125 (5-for-40) in 19 games with the Cubs this season, serving as a backup all over the infield.

May 20: Cubs option CF Pete Crow-Armstrong to Triple-A Iowa
On Monday's off-day, Chicago sent Crow-Armstrong back to Triple-A, where he can get regular at-bats over residing on the bench in the Majors. Crow-Armstrong recently graduated from Pipeline's prospect lists, but he was the Cubs' top prospect and No. 15 on the Top 100 list before his MLB service time bumped him.

In 23 games with the Cubs this year, the 22-year-old Crow-Armstrong has hit .236 with four extra-base hits, nine RBIs, five steals and a .659 OPS. He garnered consistent playing time while Cody Bellinger was on the injured list, but the veteran's return on May 7 pushed the rookie to more of a matchup/bench role.

While the Cubs have not announced a corresponding move, the team is reportedly set to promote infield prospect Luis Vazquez from Triple-A Iowa. ESPN's Jorge Castillo (Vazquez's cousin) broke the news Sunday night. Vazquez (Pipeline's No. 13 Cubs prospect) is known for his strong defensive play at short and has hit .262 with a .757 OPS in 39 games for Iowa this year.

May 20: INF Nico Hoerner on target for Tuesday return
Both Dansby Swanson and Hoerner went through a pregame workout on Sunday at Wrigley Field and, with Swanson activated from the 10-day injured list on Monday, Hoerner is also on a path to rejoin the Cubs' lineup for Tuesday's game against the Braves. Swanson (right knee) had been on the IL since May 10 (retroactive to May 8), while Hoerner has been on the bench due to a left hamstring issue for the past six games.

The Cubs had a team off-day on Monday.

"We're hoping Tuesday that both of those guys are in the lineup," Cubs manager Craig Counsell said on Sunday.

Prior to the hamstring flare-up, Hoerner spent five games filling in at shortstop in place of Swanson, who was 2-for-22 in seven games in May prior to being shelved. Hoerner is batting .269 with two homers, 11 doubles, 12 RBIs and 25 runs scored through 41 games this season.

"Nico's doing well. We're having positive days," Counsell said. "The goal is to just get it behind him, and I think we have a chance to do that."

May 18: Cubs acquire Minor League LHP Jeff Belge from Rays in exchange for LHP Richard Lovelady
After designating Lovelady for assignment on Tuesday, Chicago worked out a deal with Tampa Bay for the lefty. The Cubs are receiving the 26-year-old Belge, who has a 4.20 ERA with 17 strikeouts and eight walks in 15 innings for Double-A Montgomery. Belge was an 18th-round pick by the Dodgers in the 2019 Draft and has a 3.81 ERA in parts of five Minor League seasons in the Los Angeles and Tampa Bay systems.

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10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST

LHP Drew Smyly (right hip impingement)
Expected return: May
Smyly threw around 40 pitches in a two-inning live BP workout on May 17. Cubs manager Craig Counsell said on May 19 the lefty was slated to head out on a Minor League rehab with High-A South Bend on May 21. Smyly first felt the hip issue during the team's April 15-17 series in Arizona. After the issue persisted against Miami on April 21, the Cubs opted for an IL stint on April 23 (retroactive to April 22). (Last updated: May 19)

RHP Daniel Palencia (right shoulder strain)
Expected return: May
In a Minor League rehab outing with Triple-A Iowa on May 18, Palencia logged 24 pitches in one inning, allowing three runs on three hits (two homers) with three strikeouts. The righty was placed on the IL on May 7 due to a right shoulder strain -- an injury that flared on his final pitch in the Cubs' 6-3 loss to the Padres on May 6. (Last updated: May 19)

LHP Jordan Wicks (left forearm strain)
Expected return: May
Wicks threw around 40 pitches in a two-inning live BP workout on May 17. Cubs manager Craig Counsell said on May 18 that the lefty has a bullpen session in the coming days, after which Wicks will likely head out on a Minor League rehab assignment. Wicks was placed on the IL on April 28. Imaging on his left forearm revealed no structural damage. (Last updated: May 18)

RHP Colten Brewer (low back strain)
Expected return: May/June
Manager Craig Counsell noted Brewer first felt the back issue on May 15, when the Cubs were on the road in Atlanta. The team waited to see if it would improve before opting to place the right-hander on the IL -- a move retroactive to May 14. Brewer, whom the Cubs selected from Triple-A Iowa on April 17, has a 3.09 ERA in seven appearances this season, with 12 strikeouts and four walks in 11 2/3 innings. (Last updated: May 17)

RHP Yency Almonte (right shoulder strain)
Expected return: May/June
Almonte was placed on the IL on May 11 (retroactive to May 8) after he did not recover well from his most recent outing on May 7 against the Padres. Manager Craig Counsell said on May 17 that Almonte is currently shut down from throwing and is in a strengthening progression, which the team hopes will be “relatively short.” Almonte had a 3.45 ERA over 17 appearances for Chicago to begin the season. (Last updated: May 17)

RHP Keegan Thompson (viral illness)
Expected return: May/June
Cubs manager Craig Counsell noted on May 15 that Thompson initially became ill on May 12 while the team was in Pittsburgh. Thompson was placed on the IL on May 15 (retroactive to May 12) after it was clear he would need multiple days of recovery after losing strength due to the illness. In nine games this season, the righty has a 4.97 ERA with 19 strikeouts and six walks in 12 2/3 innings. (Last updated: May 15)

RHP Adbert Alzolay (right forearm strain)
Expected return: June
Imaging on Alzolay's arm showed a right flexor strain. The pitcher said on May 14 that he will rest and receive treatment for five days before being reassessed. Alzolay was placed on the 15-day IL on May 13 with the injury, which flared during his outing on May 12. In 18 games this season, Alzolay has a 4.67 ERA with 13 strikeouts, six walks and six homers allowed in 17 1/3 innings.

"It was good news," Cubs manager Craig Counsell said of the test results on May 14. "Obviously, [Alzolay is still] on the injured list with an elbow issue, but I think overall it was good news. Good enough that we're going to treat it for a little while here, but we're not a long ways off from possibly picking up a ball again." (Last updated: May 14)

60-DAY IL

RHP Julian Merryweather (rib stress fracture)
Expected return: TBD
On May 17, Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Merryweather is doing well and has “turned the corner a little bit.” The current plan is for him to begin playing catch on May 20 in Arizona. Counsell noted Merryweather’s IL stint will be longer than 60 days. The 32-year-old has been shut down from throwing the last six weeks after imaging in April revealed he was dealing with a rib stress fracture in his back.

Merryweather was placed on the 15-day IL (retroactive to April 6) on April 7 and transferred to the 60-day IL on April 17, meaning he’ll be out until at least early June. He had a 1.93 ERA with six strikeouts and two walks through four outings (4 2/3 innings) this season. (Last updated: May 17)

RHP Caleb Kilian (right shoulder strain)
Expected return: July
Kilian left his March 5 start against the Royals in the third inning, and an MRI exam revealed a strain of the teres major in his throwing shoulder. The 26-year-old prospect -- acquired from the Giants as part of the Kris Bryant trade in 2021 -- is unlikely to return to game action until July, per manager Craig Counsell. In '23, Kilian made three appearances for the Cubs and went 8-3 in Triple-A with a 4.56 ERA in 120 1/3 innings. The Cubs placed him on the 60-day IL on March 28. (Last updated: March 28)

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