Cubs short-handed in OF as they close series against Rays

The Chicago Cubs are running thin in right field as they try to clinch a National League playoff spot.

Chicago (84-64) is 6 1/2 games behind the first-place Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central and has a 3 1/2-game lead on the San Diego Padres for the top wild-card spot despite a 5-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday.

The Cubs and Rays (73-75) will play the rubber game of their series Sunday afternoon in Chicago. The Cubs won the opener 6-4 on Friday.

Chicago right fielder Kyle Tucker remains on the injured list with a left calf strain. Seiya Suzuki missed a second consecutive game Saturday with an illness, and manager Craig Counsell said after the game that Suzuki is expected to miss Sunday's contest as well.

Chicago brought up prospect Owen Caissie to fill in. Caissie left the game after making a running catch in the third inning but tripped over Pete Crow-Armstrong, who had slid to avoid a collision. Caissie's momentum sent him into the ivy-covered brick wall at Wrigley Field, head first.

Counsell said Caissie is in concussion protocol.

"Suzuki is still under the weather and not looking good," Counsell said. "His status is definitely in question for tomorrow. Caissie really hit his head hard and was not feeling well in the dugout."

Willi Castro filled in after Caissie's injury.

The Cubs did get a boost from rookie Moises Ballesteros, who hit his first major league home run in the second inning in his eighth career game.

"He did a nice job and like we knew, he is a big offensive talent," Counsell said. "He is really a threat and a very talented hitter."

The Cubs had runners on first and third with no one out against Tampa closer Pete Fairbanks on Saturday but could not tie the game. The threat was ended by a fielder's choice and two strikeouts.

The big play in the inning came when Matt Shaw hit a sharp grounder to third and Dansby Swanson was caught in a rundown off third.

"We had multiple moments when we could have won that game, and it just did not happen," Counsell said. "Ultimately, we just could not get it done."

Chicago will send left-hander Shota Imanaga (9-7, 3.21 ERA) to the mound on Sunday. His last win came Sept. 2, when he beat the Braves 4-3. He lost the rematch with Atlanta on Monday, 4-1. The native of Japan has never pitched against Tampa Bay.

The Rays will counter with right-hander Adrian Houser (8-4, 3.11 ERA), a trade-deadline acquisition from the Chicago White Sox in July. Tampa Bay has won five straight Houser starts, and he is 2-0 during that stretch.

Houser is 4-2 with a 3.98 ERA in 10 starts against the Cubs, including 1-0 in 2025 after a 12-5 win on July 25 as a member of the White Sox.

Tampa Bay received a lift from Nick Fortes on Saturday as the catcher came off the bench to get a pinch-hit double in the seventh and the game-winning home run in the ninth. The leadoff blast broke a 4-4 tie.

"We have a really resilient group," Fortes said. "We have good guys who are ready to come off the bench whenever they need to. This was just a really good win."

--Field Level Media