{"id":672448,"date":"2026-04-10T12:15:26","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T12:15:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/672448\/"},"modified":"2026-04-10T12:15:26","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T12:15:26","slug":"cubs-expect-seiya-suzuki-back-in-lineup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/672448\/","title":{"rendered":"Cubs expect Seiya Suzuki back in lineup"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Chicago Cubs\u2019 combination of great starting pitching and big nights from the offense helped them finish their first road trip<\/a> of the season on a high note.<\/p>\n

A weekend home series against the Pittsburgh Pirates leads into three-game set in Philadelphia that kicks off a challenging stretch of the schedule.<\/p>\n

The Chicago White Sox are getting their first taste of the American League Central with a four-game series against the Kansas City Royals that began Thursday at Kauffman Stadium. The Sox were outscored 34-9 while losing all seven games in Kansas City last season.<\/p>\n

Every Friday during the regular season, Tribune baseball writers will provide an update on what happened \u2014 and what\u2019s ahead \u2014 for the Cubs<\/a> and White Sox<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Want the latest baseball news? Subscribe to the Chicago Tribune<\/a> to read it all \u2014 and sign up for our Cubs Insider<\/a>\u00a0and White Sox Insider<\/a> newsletters.<\/p>\n

Cubs being cautious with Hunter Harvey\u2019s early usage
\n\"CubsCubs reliever Hunter Harvey reacts as he leaves the game after giving up a two-run home run during the seventh inning against the Guardians on April 3, 2026, in Cleveland. (Jason Miller\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Battling injuries has been a part of Cubs reliever Hunter Harvey\u2019s career.<\/p>\n

Harvey and the Cubs are making a concerted effort to make sure something doesn\u2019t pop up to derail his 2026 season, especially so early in the season. That has meant a more deliberate approach to his usage through the first two weeks. Harvey appeared in four of the first 12 games, pitching the ninth inning of Wednesday\u2019s 6-2 win against the Tampa Bay Rays after getting four days off between appearances.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I walk off the mound and I\u2019m healthy, that\u2019s a check for me \u2014 we\u2019re just checking that box,\u201d Harvey told the Tribune this week. \u201cSo that\u2019s the main thing for me because everything else, we\u2019ve got to play it out. We\u2019ll figure out stuff if we get off. I mean, there\u2019s some mechanics stuff we can look at, but there\u2019s not a whole lot. Being healthy is the main thing for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harvey was attracted to the Cubs in free agency by conversations about how the organization believed it could keep him on the field. That has meant tweaking pregame work depending on how he\u2019s feeling.<\/p>\n

Part of the health equation requires trust, honesty and communication between Harvey and the team. Manager Craig Counsell and pitching coach Tommy Hottovy told Harvey they wanted to stay away from using him during Sunday\u2019s doubleheader in Cleveland barring a late-inning emergency. Harvey admitted that was tough to agree to, even as he understands their big-picture vision.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t ever want to say no. If I\u2019m able to pitch, I want to pitch,\u201d Harvey said. \u201cAnd I\u2019ve pitched with a lot of stuff (in my career). I\u2019ve pitched hurt, like, I\u2019m sore. I can pitch, but I get where they\u2019re at. They want me to be healthy for later in the year when it starts to matter even more.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut getting my mind wrapped around it, I guess it\u2019s how I was raised. I don\u2019t ever want to say I\u2019m down.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Cubs bullpen hasn\u2019t really slotted into a rhythm for its roles, given how games have played out through the first two weeks. Harvey is an important part of the back-end options, and the Cubs want to do everything they can to ensure he gets through the grind of a long season healthy and feeling his best.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome guys, especially early in a tenure with a team, want to prove the contract and all those things,\u201d Hottovy told the Tribune. \u201cAnd it\u2019s a long season. If we have to buy a day early because you need an extra day because you\u2019re not recovering well, let\u2019s take it and play the long game.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously we want to win every game we have a chance of doing, but we don\u2019t want to do that to sacrifice the potential health of guys throughout the course of the year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sox catcher Kyle Teel making progress in recovery
\n\"KyleKyle Teel of Team Italy rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the United States in the second inning of a World Baseball Classic game March 10, 2026, in Houston. (Kenneth Richmond\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Kyle Teel keeps taking steps in the right direction as he recovers from a right hamstring strain.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m feeling good,\u201d the Sox catcher said Wednesday morning at Rate Field. \u201cMy running is getting back to normal. My range of motion isn\u2019t fully there yet, so I\u2019m just trying to increase that.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut overall the pain is a lot less than it has been in previous weeks, and we\u2019re making big progress.\u201d<\/p>\n

Teel suffered the injury March 10<\/a> while running out a double for Italy in the World Baseball Classic. He hit .273 as a rookie in 2025 with 11 doubles, eight home runs and 35 RBIs in 78 games.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did tee work the past three days and it doesn\u2019t sound like much,\u201d he said, \u201cbut two weeks ago when I was doing tee work, it was really grabbing at me, so just to be able to go in there pain-free is great because I love to hit. A lot of weight off my shoulders to get back in the cage and get back to work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Teel said no date is set for a minor-league rehab assignment.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust trying to hit my sprint speed,\u201d he said. \u201cNot trying to rush either, just let it naturally happen. Whenever it\u2019s time to go, it\u2019s time to go. Hopefully sooner than later.\u201d<\/p>\n

Number of the week: 2.72<\/p>\n

Entering Thursday, the Cubs rotation had the third-best ERA in the majors at 2.72, trailing only the New York Yankees (2.28) and Cleveland Guardians (2.67).<\/p>\n

Week ahead: Cubs
\n\"CubsCubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki hits a solo homer in the Cactus League opener against the White Sox on Feb. 20, 2026, at Sloan Park in Mesa, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

Friday: vs. Pirates, 1:20 p.m., Marquee
\nSaturday: vs. Pirates, 1:20 p.m., Marquee
\nSunday: vs. Pirates, 1:20 p.m., Marquee
\nMonday: at Phillies, 5:40 p.m., Marquee
\nTuesday: at Phillies, 5:40 p.m., Marquee
\nWednesday: at Phillies, 5:40 p.m., Marquee
\nThursday: off<\/p>\n

The Cubs lineup, after producing back-to-back good offensive games against the Rays, is expected to get a boost this weekend.<\/p>\n

Right fielder Seiya Suzuki completed his rehab assignment at Double-A Knoxville and is rejoining the team Friday. As long as Suzuki reports feeling good after his final rehab game Thursday night, the expectation is the Cubs will have their slugger back<\/a> for their first division series.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis guy hit third or fourth for us for all last year,\u201d Counsell said. \u201cSo you\u2019re putting one of your core offensive players back in the lineup.\u201d<\/p>\n

Left fielder Ian Happ sat out the last two games at Tampa Bay because of a bruised left heel that resulted from a wonky play in the field Monday. His heel was pretty swollen Tuesday, but he was feeling better Wednesday and was available off the bench.<\/p>\n

Counsell said they wanted to give Happ another day to let his heel recover because the Cubs were off Thursday. Suzuki\u2019s impending return and the presence of Michael Conforto, Matt Shaw and Dylan Carlson give Counsell flexibility in the corner outfield spots if Happ still isn\u2019t feeling 100% Friday.<\/p>\n

Week ahead: White Sox
\n\"WhiteWhite Sox second baseman Chase Meidroth is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after scoring on Lenyn Sosa’s third-inning single against the Orioles on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Rate Field. (Chris Sweda\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

Friday: at Royals, 6:40 p.m., CHSN+
\nSaturday: at Royals, 3:10 p.m., CHSN+
\nSunday: at Royals, 1:10 p.m., CHSN
\nMonday: off
\nTuesday: vs. Rays, 6:40 p.m., CHSN
\nWednesday: vs. Rays, 6:40 p.m., CHSN+
\nThursday: vs. Rays, 1:10 p.m., CHSN<\/p>\n

Chase Meidroth made team history March 26, becoming the first Sox player to lead off a season with a home run.<\/p>\n

The hits have continued for the infielder. He entered Thursday with a team-leading 10 hits. Meidroth had reached base safely in nine of 11 games through Wednesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just taking it day by day, at-bat by at-bat,\u201d he said Wednesday at Rate Field. \u201cJust staying together and keep the main thing the main thing, and that ultimately is winning.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meidroth has three multihit games this year, two coming in the last series against the Baltimore Orioles<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s been great,\u201d manager Will Venable said Monday. \u201cHe\u2019s up there (at the top of the lineup) for a reason, has the ability to set the tone for the group. You know you\u2019re going to get a quality at-bat. You just feel really good about his presence up front there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meidroth keeps the same mindset regardless of where he is slotted in the lineup.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a leadoff guy, you only lead off one time,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s at the beginning, and after that it\u2019s one through nine. We\u2019ve got nine guys every day and we\u2019ve got to break down the pitcher with nine guys.\u201d<\/p>\n

What we\u2019re reading today<\/p>\n

Quotable<\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody in this locker room still believes in him. He\u2019s still a dog, he\u2019s still one of our guys.\u201d \u2014 Sox pitcher Sean Burke on fellow starter Shane Smith, who was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte<\/a> on Wednesday<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Chicago Cubs\u2019 combination of great starting pitching and big nights from the offense helped them finish their…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":639421,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2399],"tags":[5,1001,138,24,49,4245,161,4156,36,13095,4,105,3399],"class_list":{"0":"post-672448","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-chicago-cubs","8":"tag-baseball","9":"tag-chase-meidroth","10":"tag-chicago","11":"tag-chicago-cubs","12":"tag-chicago-white-sox","13":"tag-chicagocubs","14":"tag-cubs","15":"tag-hunter-harvey","16":"tag-ian-happ","17":"tag-kyle-teel","18":"tag-mlb","19":"tag-seiya-suzuki","20":"tag-shane-smith"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@mlb\/116380365565328039","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/672448","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=672448"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/672448\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/639421"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=672448"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=672448"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=672448"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}