Ian Happ cracked a smile recently when asked about the pickoff move that Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd has used to nab unsuspecting runners at first base. “His pickoff move, it’s gross,” Happ said. “It looks exactly like a slide step.

The Chicago Cubs’ need to upgrade a position has been deemed the most urgent in MLB, according to Eno Sarris of The Athletic.

For casual bettors, now is a good time to start getting your feet wet before diving in when there are far fewer sports to play this coming summer. We've got you covered here with some Friday Night (baseball) lines.

Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week.

Manager Will Venable returns to face his previous team Friday when the White Sox begin a three-game series against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Venable spent 2023-24 on Bruce Bochy’s staff as the associate manager.

The Cubs are the best team in the NL Central, but they have a future star at the AAA level in Kevin Alcantara who need to be called up.

The Chicago Cubs are on top of the NL Central with a depleted rotation. The quiet consistency of Matthew Boyd is a major reason for their success.

Chicago Cubs release an update on ace Shota Imanaga, who has been on the injured list since May 4 with a hamstring strain.