{"id":705744,"date":"2026-05-22T13:06:19","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T13:06:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/705744\/"},"modified":"2026-05-22T13:06:19","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T13:06:19","slug":"chicago-baseball-report-cubs-moises-ballesteros-hits-rough-patch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/705744\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicago baseball report: Cubs’ Mois\u00e9s Ballesteros hits rough patch"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Chicago Cubs went into the season\u2019s first series against the Milwaukee Brewers sitting in first place in the National League Central. They needed to regroup on Thursday\u2019s day off after getting swept by their division rival<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A three-game series versus the Houston Astros on the holiday weekend leads into a seven-game trip to NL Central foes Pittsburgh and St. Louis to close out May.<\/p>\n

After three games in San Francisco this weekend, the Chicago White Sox get their first look at the Minnesota Twins when the teams meet for a four-game series beginning Monday at Rate Field.<\/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\u2019 Matthew Boyd takes first steps toward return
\n\"MatthewMatthew Boyd pitches batting practice during the Cubs’ first full-squad workout at spring training Feb. 16, 2026, in Mesa, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

The fluky meniscus tear<\/a> Matthew Boyd experienced in his left knee while playing with his kids fortunately will not end the left-hander\u2019s season.<\/p>\n

Boyd was estimated to be out four to six weeks after his surgery May 7 \u2014 likely on the longer end of that time frame \u2014 but he already is starting the buildup process. Boyd threw a bullpen session Tuesday and is scheduled to throw an up-down bullpen Friday at Wrigley Field.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe biggest thing is that I\u2019m doing everything like I want to,\u201d Boyd told the Tribune. \u201cThe velocity was great in the bullpen, and I\u2019m waking up the next day not aggravating it, so there\u2019s no inflammation. That\u2019s a win in a lot of ways.\u201d<\/p>\n

Boyd was standing and throwing the day after his meniscectomy. Initially the plan was to throw while sitting in a chair to keep weight off his knee, but within a couple of throws, Boyd realized he could stand without pain. Within three or four days of the operation, he was up to 80 to 100 throws.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s an intentional plan of keeping the volume and the workload up,\u201d Boyd said. \u201cIt\u2019s just a matter of how you recover. \u2026 The medical team and the pitching department have done a great job of trying to minimize the layoff as much as possible, and I\u2019m so grateful for all of them.\u201d<\/p>\n

The pitching staff is slowly getting healthier. Lefty reliever Caleb Thielbar was activated from the injured list Tuesday, and the Cubs designated left-hander Ty Blach for assignment.<\/p>\n

Left-hander Justin Steele (forearm strain) is still shut down<\/a> but has been around the team this week. Steele is scheduled for a follow-up visit late next week in Texas with Dr. Keith Meister, who performed his elbow surgery in April 2025.<\/p>\n

Sox catcher Kyle Teel trying to stay positive
\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 is focused on staying positive after being diagnosed Monday with a sprained lateral collateral ligament<\/a> (LCL) in his right knee.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m learning as I go throughout this process,\u201d Teel said Tuesday in Seattle. \u201cJust trying to do everything I can to get healthy.\u201d<\/p>\n

The team said the injury is expected to require three to six weeks of rest and rehabilitation before Teel can return.\u00a0He suffered the setback Saturday while on an injury rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte.<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst swing I took in my last at-bat in Charlotte, my front spike got caught as I was swinging and I felt something move, and the next two swings just didn\u2019t feel right,\u201d Teel said. \u201cGot it checked out and just a sprain, so I\u2019m grateful for that. Just trying to stay positive, stay focused on my rehab.\u201d<\/p>\n

Teel was working his way back from a right hamstring strain he suffered in March while playing for Italy in the World Baseball Classic.<\/p>\n

Teel has learned a lot about himself while dealing with the injuries.<\/p>\n

\u201cPatience is important,\u201d he said. \u201cAt the same time, being impatient in a way that\u2019s trying to get back as fast as I can. So it\u2019s the combo of those two variables.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said Sox teammates have been helpful.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne thing about this team is we\u2019ve all got each other\u2019s backs,\u201d Teel said. \u201cThroughout this process, I see that. Guys asking me how I\u2019m doing. Guys patting me on the shoulder (Tuesday).\u201d<\/p>\n

Teel rejoined the team in Seattle to aid in any way he can while recovering.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to bring energy to the clubhouse, I want to bring energy during the games,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd then when it\u2019s time to go, I want to go and give it my all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Number of the week: .625<\/p>\n

The Sox are 10-6 (.625 winning percentage) in one-run games this season after going a combined 47-95 (.331) from 2023-25.<\/p>\n

Week ahead: Cubs
\n\"CubsCubs designated hitter Mois\u00e9s Ballesteros has a laugh with his teammates in the dugout before a game against the Brewers on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at Wrigley Field. (Chris Sweda\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

Friday: vs. Astros, 1:20 p.m., Apple TV
\nSaturday: vs. Astros, 1:20 p.m., Marquee
\nSunday: vs. Astros, 1:20 p.m., Marquee
\nMonday: at Pirates, 12:35 p.m., Marquee
\nTuesday: at Pirates, 5:40 p.m., Marquee
\nWednesday: at Pirates, 5:40 p.m., Marquee
\nThursday: at Pirates, 5:40 p.m., Marquee<\/p>\n

Mois\u00e9s Ballesteros wasn\u2019t going to bat .400 the entire season.<\/p>\n

The rookie\u2019s hot start<\/a> has morphed into a tough stretch over the last three weeks. Ballesteros is 3-for-49 (.061) in his last 15 games and recently has gotten fewer at-bats in favorable matchups against right-handers because of his struggles.<\/p>\n

The Cubs have been fortunate that Michael Conforto has been locked in over that same stretch, hitting .333 with five doubles, three home runs and six RBIs in his last 13 games. Conforto\u2019s hot hitting has given manager Craig Counsell another lefty option at designated hitter while Ballesteros works through his slump.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got a player (Conforto) that\u2019s played pretty darn well, so I guess you could argue that\u2019s made it a little harder for Mois\u00e9s to come out of it,\u201d Counsell said Wednesday. \u201cHe\u2019s in a rough patch results-wise for sure \u2014 there\u2019s no hiding behind that \u2014 but I also think when you start to get enough sample of a player these things were going to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

It doesn\u2019t appear, at least for now, that the Cubs plan to send Ballesteros to Triple A to help him turn things around. He has started only one of the last five games.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause he makes a ton of contact and swings a lot \u2014 there\u2019s no infield hits in there \u2014 he\u2019s going to go through stretches like this,\u201d Counsell said. \u201cIt\u2019s probably a little exaggerated, and hopefully he can shrink them as he gets better, but he\u2019s going to have stretches like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Week ahead: White Sox
\n\"WhiteWhite Sox starting pitcher Noah Schultz throws against the Mariners during the first inning Monday, May 18, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo\/Lindsey Wasson)<\/p>\n

Friday: at Giants, 9:15 p.m., CHSN
\nSaturday: at Giants, 3:05 p.m., CHSN
\nSunday: at Giants, 3:05 p.m., CHSN
\nMonday: vs. Twins, 1:10 p.m., CHSN
\nTuesday: vs. Twins, 6:40 p.m., CHSN
\nWednesday: vs. Twins, 6:40 p.m., CHSN
\nThursday: vs. Twins, 1:10 p.m., CHSN<\/p>\n

Noah Schultz<\/a> saw some of his work between starts pay off Monday against the Seattle Mariners.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did hit two guys, but no walks is definitely a step in the right direction,\u201d the left-hander said, \u201csomething we\u2019re really trying to get down to limit that number.\u201d<\/p>\n

Schultz allowed three runs on five hits with six strikeouts and no walks in 5 1\/3 innings in the 6-1 loss<\/a>. It was the first time in his seven big-league starts that Schultz didn\u2019t allow a walk. His previous low was one walk in five innings April 19 against the Athletics, and he walked a career-high five in 4 1\/3 innings May 13 against the Kansas City Royals.<\/p>\n

Manager Will Venable noted the strides in Monday\u2019s start.<\/p>\n

\u201cNoah was really good, a lot of strikes,\u201d Venable said after the game. \u201cObviously that\u2019s what we\u2019ve been talking about, being more effective in the zone, commanding the baseball.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought he did a really good job, especially with the fastball. The cutter was around the plate. We see when he is in the zone, he\u2019s extremely effective.\u201d<\/p>\n

Schultz said the recent work included \u201ca lot of stuff with my posture.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaking myself go straight to the plate, not doing too much being over-rotational,\u201d he said. \u201cDefinitely some great work from (pitching coach Zach) Bove and (assistant pitching coach) Bobby (Hearn) and those guys during the week to really help me get in a good spot for the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

Schultz is slated to start Sunday\u2019s series finale against the Giants at Oracle Park.<\/p>\n

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

Quotable<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the beauties of the schedule is that there are going to be losses, but you get to come play the next day, and because of that you continually have to turn the page very, very fast. I remember Joe Maddon \u2026 said a really good statement on that of you celebrate or be disappointed about a loss or a win for 30 minutes, and then it\u2019s time to move on to the next day.\u201d \u2014 Counsell on the highs and lows in a season<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Chicago Cubs went into the season\u2019s first series against the Milwaukee Brewers sitting in first place in…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":705745,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2379],"tags":[5,138,24,49,2561,13095,2000,4,1896,10557,396,2562],"class_list":["post-705744","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-chicago-white-sox","tag-baseball","tag-chicago","tag-chicago-cubs","tag-chicago-white-sox","tag-chicagowhitesox","tag-kyle-teel","tag-matthew-boyd","tag-mlb","tag-moises-ballesteros","tag-noah-schultz","tag-white-sox","tag-whitesox"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@mlb\/116618381817017129","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/705744","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=705744"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/705744\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/705745"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=705744"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=705744"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=705744"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}