Sep 13, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs 2nd baseman Nico Hoerner (2 contends a dual play after displacing Tampa florida Bay Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe (8 during the ninth inning at Wrigley Field. Obligatory Credit History: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images The Chicago Cubs are running thin in best field as they try to clinch a National Organization playoff place.
Chicago (84 – 64 is 6 1/ 2 games behind the first-place Milwaukee Makers in the NL Central and has a 3 1/ 2 -game lead on the San Diego Padres for the top wild-card area in spite of a 5 – 4 loss to the Tampa fl Bay Rays on Saturday.
The Cubs and Rays (73 – 75 will play the rubber game of their series Sunday mid-day in Chicago. The Cubs won the opener 6 – 4 on Friday.
Chicago right fielder Kyle Tucker stays on the damaged list with a left calf stress. Seiya Suzuki missed a second consecutive video game Saturday with an illness, and manager Craig Counsell claimed after the game that Suzuki is anticipated to miss out on Sunday’s competition too.
Chicago raised possibility Owen Caissie to fill in. Caissie left the video game after making a running catch in the third inning yet tripped over Pete Crow-Armstrong, that had moved to prevent a crash. Caissie’s momentum sent him right into the ivy-covered brick wall surface at Wrigley Field, head first.
Counsell claimed Caissie remains in concussion procedure.
“Suzuki is still under the weather and not looking excellent,” Counsell claimed. “His standing is most definitely in question for tomorrow. Caissie actually hit his head hard and was not really feeling well in the dugout.”
Willi Castro completed after Caissie’s injury.
The Cubs did get a boost from novice Moises Ballesteros, who struck his initial major league home run in the second inning in his 8th job game.
“He did a nice task and like we understood, he is a large offensive ability,” Counsell claimed. “He is actually a danger and a really gifted player.”
The Cubs had runners on very first and 3rd without any one out against Tampa closer Pete Fairbanks on Saturday but might not connect the game. The threat was finished by a fielder’s selection and 2 strikeouts.
The big play in the inning came when Matt Shaw struck a sharp grounder to 3rd and Dansby Swanson was caught in a review off 3rd.
“We had multiple moments when we could have won that video game, and it just did not happen,” Counsell said. “Inevitably, we simply could not get it done.”
Chicago will certainly send left-hander Shota Imanaga (9 – 7, 3 21 AGE) to the mound on Sunday. His last win came Sept. 2, when he beat the Braves 4 – 3 He shed the rematch with Atlanta on Monday, 4 – 1 The local of Japan has never ever pitched versus Tampa fl Bay.
The Rays will certainly respond to with right-hander Adrian Houser (8 – 4, 3 11 PERIOD), a trade-deadline purchase from the Chicago White Sox in July. Tampa florida Bay has won 5 straight Houser begins, and he is 2 -0 throughout that stretch.
Houser is 4 – 2 with a 3 98 Age in 10 beginnings versus the Cubs, including 1 -0 in 2025 after a 12 – 5 win on July 25 as a participant of the White Sox.
Tampa Bay got a lift from Nick Fortes on Saturday as the catcher came off the bench to obtain a pinch-hit double in the seventh and the game-winning home run in the ninth. The leadoff blast broke a 4 – 4 connection.
“We have an actually durable team,” Fortes said. “We have good guys that are ready to come off the bench whenever they require to. This was just an actually excellent win.”
— Field Level Media