Both clubs are also patching pitching staffs together with duct tape. The Cubs are still without Justin Steele (elbow, out until after the All-Star break), Cade Horton, and Matthew Boyd, who's headed for a rehab start at Triple-A Iowa on Saturday. Edward Cabrera is targeted to start Saturday against the Giants, which would at least give the rotation a reinforcement. The A's are dealing with their own rotation hits — Luis Severino landed on the 15-day IL with right arm soreness, joining Aaron Civale (shoulder) and Gunnar Hoglund (done for the year).
- 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
- 60-Day-ILBrooks Kriske (RP) — Kriske (shoulder) will be shut down from throwing for at least three weeks, Jason Burke of SI.com reports.06/02
- 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-ILEdward Cabrera (SP) — Cabrera (finger) will start Saturday's game against the Giants, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.06/02
- 15-Day-ILMatthew Boyd (SP) — Boyd (knee) will make a rehab start with Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.06/02
- 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
Market has the Cubs as moderate home chalk at -124 on the moneyline, with the total parked at 8.5. That feels right — two middling starters, two offenses that have shown they can put up crooked numbers and also vanish for a week. Springs has historically been better than the line suggests when his command is on, but he's been mortal lately, and Rea has the kind of profile that either eats 6 innings of 3-run ball or gets ambushed in the third. Pick your poison.
The pitch for the Cubs is simple: this is the soft part of the schedule. You can't drop a series at home to an Athletics team missing Jacob Wilson (shoulder) and Max Muncy (hand) and then turn around and complain about being out of the race in August. Wednesday isn't must-win in June, but in the context of how this team has played, it kind of is.