The week in review:
The Cubs moved into first place in the NL Standings with a 4-3 win over the San Diego Padres on Tuesday to open the month of June, and now have a 32-26 record following Saturday's 4-3 loss to San Francisco on the road. The Northsiders are currently tied with the Milwaukee Brewers for the division lead.
On the week, Chicago went 3-4, having swept a very talented Padres team at home during the middle of the week. In a 7-2 victory over San Diego on Monday, the Cubs swatted five home runs, as shortstop Javier Baez and third baseman Patrick Wisdom each hit two. Wisdom was called up on May 25.
The Cubs cooled off quite quickly upon arrival in the Golden State, however, and have lost three straight to the Giants, who are 37-21 on the year.
Wisdom was the Player of the Week for the Cubs, as he went 9-for-21 with four home runs and a walk. He will need to improve his strikeout numbers if he hopes to remain a member of the major league squad, as he struck out in six straight games from May 30-June 4. He is batting .400 in 30 at-bats since being called up.
On the mound, starter Adbert Azolay holds the team lead in strikeouts with 58, and moved to 4-4 on the year as he tallied a win over San Diego on June 2. In his only start of the month so far, Azolay fired five innings, allowing just three hits, one walk, and one earned run.
The week ahead:
The Cubs will close out their series in San Francisco this afternoon, with a 3:05 p.m. CT first pitch, but are staying in California until Wednesday. Chicago gets set for a rematch in San Diego, playing a three-game set against the Padres. A classic NL Central battle is next on the schedule, as the Cubs face the St. Louis Cardinals following a travel day from June 11-13.
Roster moves:
On Saturday, veteran outfielder Jason Heyward was activated off the 10-day injured list. He had been dealing with a hamstring injury after making a sliding catch on May 20.
Additionally, right-handed pitcher Cory Abbott was recalled from Triple-A Iowa, where he is 1-3 with a 6.39 ERA this season.
Minor leaguer Dakota Chalmers, who has a sky-high 9.49 ERA this season and has made five appearances on the mound, was claimed from the Minnesota Twins organization and optioned to Double-A Tennessee.
Joc Pederson, who was 0-for-2 in Saturday's loss, exited the game with lower right back tightness, according to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian.
Expect Dakota Mekkes to receive a call-up within the next week or two, as the right-handed reliever has an ERA of 1.88 in seven appearances with Triple-A Iowa this season. He has allowed just seven hits and four walks in 14.1 innings of work.
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