The Chicago Cubs are basically back to full strength now, too late for it to matter in the standings, but not too late for the Trade Deadline and second half implications.
That is to say, today the Cubs activated David Bote off the Injured List (shoulder), and gave us our first look in months at how guys would be positioned if everyone were healthy. It’s Bote getting the start at third base, with Nico Hoerner sticking at second, and both Patrick Wisdom and Kris Bryant moved into the outfield. If all four were going to start on a given day, that’s probably the best way to do it. Of course, even that leaves at least one guy you want getting starts – Matt Duffy – on the bench.
In a corresponding move, the Cubs sent reliever Trevor Megill back to Triple-A Iowa, bringing the bullpen back down to the normal 13. Megill is solidly an up-down guy this year, and if he survives the offseason on the 40-man roster, he figures to be in that role again next year (he’s got minor league options left; the rub is that his performance this year has been rough at both levels, so it’s all about projection).