Anthony Rizzo Promoted To Chicago Cubs 25-Man Roster, Will Debut Tuesday

The Chicago Cubs, no longer encumbered by service time concerns, have pulled the trigger on their top prospect, 1B Anthony Rizzo. The team is reportedly calling up the dynamic slugger, and he could be with the team as soon as Monday night's game against the New York Mets:

It's officiaL: Iowa Cubs announcing #AnthonyRizzo to Chicago

— Randy Peterson (@RandyPete) June 25, 2012

Rizzo was hitting an astonishing .349/.410/.710 slash with a 1.120 OPS. And though the Pacific Coast League is known for its offense-favoring parks, Rizzo's park-adjusted numbers suggest he was hitting 80% better than the league average, according to FanGraphs.

Though Rizzo is leaving Iowa immediately, the first basemen is not expected to be fully added to the roster until Tuesday night's game against the Mets.

UPDATE: Rizzo will make his debut on Tuesday.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more extensive coverage of this series visit Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more baseball news coverage, visit Baseball Nation.

Anthony Rizzo Update: Rizzo Starting For Triple-A Iowa On Monday

With the call-up of top 1B prospect Anthony Rizzo imminent, many Chicago Cubs fans will be paying more attention to the lineup of Triple-A Iowa Cubs than they will the lineup of the major league squad. Today's update: Rizzo is starting for Triple-A Iowa in Monday's game.

Anthony Rizzo watch: He's starting at 1B and batting 4th for @IowaCubs today. #Cubs

— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) June 25, 2012

Rizzo is demolishing the minors this year, having put up a triple-slash line of .349/.410/.710 through 68 games. Rizzo played in 49 major league games for the San Diego Padres in 2011, hitting only .141/.281/.242.

When Rizzo is called up, the team is expected to shift current first basemen Bryan LaHair to the outfield.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more extensive coverage of this series visit Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more baseball news coverage, visit Baseball Nation.

Anthony Rizzo Update: Cubs Players Hope To See Top Prospect In Chicago Soon

The Chicago Cubs have been going through another offensive drought, which has left several players hopeful that the organization's top minor league prospect can join the team soon and help turn things around.

‘‘Yeah, I hope they can call him up soon,’’ left fielder Alfonso Soriano said. ‘‘People have a lot of respect for him, and now it’s the perfect time because we are struggling offensively.

‘‘To me, it’s the right time to see what he’s got in him. And I hope he feels comfortable and can do here what he’s doing in the minor leagues.’’

Related: Cubs Vs. Diamondbacks Final Score: Chicago Gets Swept In Arizona

The Cubs have scored a total of nine runs over their last five games. Rizzo has had a huge season at triple-A, hitting .349/.410/.710 with 23 home runs in 68 games.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more extensive coverage of this series visit Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more baseball news coverage, visit Baseball Nation.

Cubs Vs. Diamondbacks Final Score: Chicago Gets Swept In Arizona

The Arizona Diamondbacks handed the Chicago Cubs their fourth straight loss on Sunday afternoon, as young D-Backs starter Wade Miley proved he was worthy of the hype. Miley went eight innings and allowed just three hits and one run as Chicago fell 5-1 at Chase Field. The sweep of the Cubs moves Arizona to 37-35 on the season, while the Cubs fall to 24-48.

Matt Garza pitched well for the Cubs, going seven innings and allowing only five hits and three earned runs while striking out seven. Garza still gets tagged with the loss, moving him to 3-6. Justin Upton was the star for Arizona, going 2-for-4 with three RBI. Second baseman Aaron Hill added two hits and an RBI for the Diamondbacks.

The Cubs scored their lone run when Alfonso Soriano hit his 14th home run of the year in the seventh inning.

Miley, the 23-year old lefty, moves to 9-3 with the win.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more extensive coverage of this series visit Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more baseball news coverage, visit Baseball Nation.

Cubs Vs. Diamondbacks Lineups: Dale Sveum Continues To Mix And Match

With their struggles continuing, Chicago Cubs manager Dale Sveum has been toying around with different lineups recently to try to jumpstart the team's offense. Those maneuvers have continued for Sunday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, as only four starters from Saturday's game are getting the nod again.

Hoping to avoid the sweep, only shortstop Starlin Castro, catcher Geovany Soto, center fielder David DeJesus and left fielder Alfonso Soriano are starting for the second time in two days. Here's the Cubs' lineup:

#Cubs lineup @Dbacks 6/24: DeJesus CF, Johnson RF, Castro SS, Soriano LF, Baker 1B, Soto C, Barney 2B, Mather 3B, Garza P

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) June 24, 2012

And the Diamondbacks' lineup:

Lineup vs. #Cubs: @88_gparra CF, Hill 2B, @JUS10UP10 RF, Kubel LF, Montero C, Overbay 1B, @RRoberts14 3B, McDonald SS, @wademiley36 P

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) June 24, 2012

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more extensive coverage of this series visit Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more baseball news coverage, visit Baseball Nation.

Cubs Vs. Diamondbacks Preview: Garza, Cubs Hope To Avoid Sweep

The Chicago Cubs have been outscored 16-6 in Arizona this weekend, and they'll put the ball in the hand of Matt Garza on Sunday to see if he can be of any help reversing the trend. Opposing him will be Arizona Diamondbacks starter Wade Miley, who has racked up an impressive 8-3 record in only 11 starts this season.

Cubs Vs. Diamondbacks Final Score: Chicago Takes 10-5 Loss

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Paul Maholm hit a home run on Saturday night, but that was just about the only high point for both the pitcher and the team. Maholm's fourth inning bomb put the Cubs up 2-1, but it wouldn't stay that way for very long, as the Diamondbacks would score six runs in the bottom of the inning to go up 7-2. They would not look back.

Cubs Vs. Diamondbacks Lineups: Chicago Makes Several Changes For Saturday Game

After losing to the Diamondbacks on Friday, the Chicago Cubs made a batch of changes to their lineup. Bryan LaHair will replace Reed Johnson in right field and Adrian Cardenas will take over for Darwin Barney at second base among other moves as the Cubs seek a win in the second game of their series against Arizona.

Arizona didn't make a single change to their hitting lineup from Friday, save for the obvious pitcher swap in the ninth spot.

Here are the full lineups for Saturday's game between the Cubs and DBacks:

#Cubs lineup @Dbacks 6/23: DeJesus CF, Castro SS, LaHair RF, Soriano LF, Valbuena 3B, Soto C, Clevenger 1B, Cardenas 2B, Maholm P

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) June 23, 2012

#Dbacks lineup vs #Cubs 6/23: Bloomquist SS, Hill 2B, Upton RF, Kubel LF, Goldschmidt 1B, Montero C, Young CF, Roberts 3B, Kennedy P

— Al Yellon (@bleedcubbieblue) June 23, 2012

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more extensive coverage of this series visit Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more baseball news coverage, visit Baseball Nation.

Cubs Vs. Diamondbacks Preview: Paul Maholm Meets Ian Kennedy At Chase Field

Paul Maholm is set to take the hill for the Chicago Cubs on Saturday night at Chase Field vs. the Arizona Diamondbacks, who have now won three of their last four games. The Diamondbacks polished off the Cubs 6-1 in the series opener on Friday night. If Maholm is to find success, he'd certainly appreciate some support from his offense. Since exploding for 12 runs against the White Sox on Monday, the Cubs have combined to score just three runs over their last three games.

Maholm enters at 4-5 with a 4.88 ERA and 1.32 WHIP. He'll be opposed by Arizona's 27-year old right-hander Ian Kennedy, who is 5-7 this season with a 4.13 ERA and 1.29 WHIP.

Game Date & Time: Saturday, June 23, 9:10 p.m. CT

TV: CSN

Location: Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more extensive coverage of this series visit Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more baseball news coverage, visit Baseball Nation.

Cubs Vs. Diamondbacks Final Score: North Siders Fall 6-1

Arizona Diamondbacks starter Joe Saunders was a late scratch on Friday night, but the Chicago Cubs still couldn't take advantage of a new starter on short notice. The Cubs fell 6-1 as six Arizona pitchers combined to shutdown the punchless Chicago offense. Anthony Rizzo, come on down.

The North Siders were able to string together nine hits on the night, just one less than the D-Backs, but only got the scoreboard with Geovany Soto's solo homer in the fourth inning. That would give the Cubs a 1-0 lead, but it wouldn't last for long. The Diamondbacks surged ahead in the fourth inning when Jason Kubel hit a two-run homer to left, his ninth of the year. They wouldn't look back.

Cubs starter Jeff Samardzija allowed seven hits and five earned runs over five innings while striking out six to fall to 5-6.

Three Arizona players finished with two hits on the night, led by catcher Miguel Montero, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more extensive coverage of this series visit Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more baseball news coverage, visit Baseball Nation.

Cubs Vs. Diamondbacks Lineups: Jeff Samardzija Takes The Hill For Chicago On Friday

Jeff Samardzija will be on the mound for Chicago as the Cubs begin a weekend series Friday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Cubs are coming into town off a satisfying series win over the White Sox.

The full lineups for Friday's game are listed below.

#Cubs lineup @Dbacks 6/22: Johnson RF, Castro SS, Soriano LF, Baker 1B, Soto C, Barney 2B, Mather CF, Valbuena 3B, Samardzija P

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) June 22, 2012

Related: Cubs Vs. Diamondbacks Preview: Jeff Samardzija Tries To Iron Out Road Issues

#DBacks lineup vs #Cubs 6/22: Bloomquist SS, Hill 2B, Upton RF, Kubel LF, Goldschmidt 1B, Montero C, Young CF, Roberts 3B, Saunders P

— Al Yellon (@bleedcubbieblue) June 22, 2012

First pitch is scheduled for approximately 8:40 p.m. CT and WGN will have the coverage.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more extensive coverage of this series visit Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more baseball news coverage, visit Baseball Nation.

Jeff Samardzija Will Scale Back Offseason Routine

Jeff Samardzija has been one of the few pleasant surprises in a Chicago Cubs season that has otherwise been characterized by long losing streaks and disappointing developments. Samardzija takes the mound today at Chase Field against the Arizona Diamondbacks with a 5-5 record and a 4.04 ERA and 1.35 WHIP.

Samardzija can credit a grueling offseason routine for his evolution into a dependable starter, but as the innings and pitches continue to pile up this season for the 27-year old righty, Samardzija is talking about scaling back his November workouts in an effort to preserve his arm long-term.

Here's what he told ESPN Chicago:

"Obviously I felt I was in a good position to throw a lot this past offseason," Samardzija said. "I thought my arm was in good shape from the previous year. But this year with throwing the innings we’re going to throw I’ll probably push it back a little bit."

"I will be out there for sure, just for the fact that if anybody wants to go out there and work out with us, it’s a great atmosphere," he said. "We had a couple of guys out there usually every year. It’s usually low key. You have the whole weight room to yourself, the whole field to yourself. It’s just good to be there with a couple of guys that you don’t see in the offseason."

Samardzija will face Arizona lefty Joe Saunders on Friday, who enters at 4-5 with a 3.44 ERA.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more extensive coverage of this series visit Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more baseball news coverage, visit Baseball Nation.

Cubs Vs. Diamondbacks Preview: Jeff Samardzija Tries To Iron Out Road Issues

The Chicago Cubs are just 10-26 away from Wrigley Field this season. Can they start to turn things around in Arizona against the Diamondbacks?