The Cubs come in 32-28 and just dropped the rubber game in St. Louis, but they'd taken 3 of 4 before that and the lineup has been the steadier half of this team. The A's are 28-31 and have lost 4 of 5, all at home, which is the part that should worry Oakland — they couldn't hold serve in front of their own crowd and now they're traveling.
- Day-To-DayLeo De Vries (SS) — De Vries went 3-for-5 with two solo home runs Sunday for Double-A Midland.05/30
- 10-Day-ILMax Muncy (3B) — Muncy (hand) will serve as the designated hitter for Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.05/31
- 10-Day-ILJacob Wilson (SS) — Wilson (shoulder) has been ramping up his baseball activities and could begin a rehab assignment next week, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.05/31
- 15-Day-ILLuis Severino (SP) — Severino was removed from Friday's game against the Yankees with right arm soreness, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.05/30
- 15-Day-ILAaron Civale (SP) — The Athletics placed Civale on the 15-day injured list Tuesday due to right shoulder tendinitis.05/27
- 15-Day-ILBrooks Kriske (RP) — Kriske (shoulder) will be shut down from throwing for at least three weeks, Jason Burke of SI.com reports.05/18
- 60-Day-ILDenzel Clarke (CF) — Clarke (hamstring) will receive a platelet-rich plasma injection Tuesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.05/27
- 60-Day-ILGunnar Hoglund (SP) — Hoglund (knee/back) will be sidelined for the rest of the 2026 season after undergoing surgery on his left hip Monday.05/20
- Day-To-DayBrandon Birdsell (RP) — Birdsell (elbow) will miss the entire 2026 season, Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayJeff Brigham (RP) — Brigham was placed on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A St. Paul, retroactive to April 6, with a left oblique strain, TwinsDaily.com reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayJaxon Wiggins (SP) — Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that Wiggins was placed on Triple-A Iowa's 7-day injured list Wednesday due to right elbow inflammation, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.05/08
- 10-Day-ILMatt Shaw (RF) — Shaw went 3-for-4 with a double, a solo home run and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 5-4 win over the Padres.05/22
- 15-Day-ILMatthew Boyd (SP) — Boyd (knee) struck out two batters and allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and one walk across four innings Sunday in a rehab start with Triple-A Iowa.06/01
- 15-Day-ILEdward Cabrera (SP) — Cabrera (finger) threw a 25-pitch bullpen session Thursday and had been scheduled to throw off the mound Sunday with greater intensity, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.06/01
- 15-Day-ILRiley Martin (RP) — Martin has been diagnosed with flexor strain in his left elbow and is expected to miss eight weeks, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILHunter Harvey (RP) — The Cubs moved Harvey (triceps) from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL on Sunday.05/17
- 60-Day-ILJustin Steele (SP) — Manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday that Steele's (elbow) setback will keep him sidelined until after the All-Star break, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILPorter Hodge (RP) — The Cubs transferred Hodge (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILShelby Miller (RP) — The Cubs placed Miller (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Sunday.05/08
- 60-Day-ILCade Horton (SP) — The Cubs transferred Horton (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Saturday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILTyler Austin (1B) — The Cubs placed Austin (knee) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.05/08
The injury column is where this gets ugly for both sides. The A's are without Luis Severino (arm soreness, 15-day IL), Aaron Civale (shoulder), and Gunnar Hoglund (done for the year), plus Jacob Wilson and Max Muncy are still working back. The Cubs counter with a rotation missing Justin Steele, Cade Horton, Matthew Boyd and Edward Cabrera — which is how you end up handing the ball to Taillon and hoping for the best.
Take Chicago to win the opener, but don't expect a clean one. Jump has swing-and-miss stuff and Taillon will give up a couple of loud outs — this feels like a 6-4 type of night where the Cubs' offense plays the role of tiebreaker.