American baseball third baseman for the Chicago Cubs
The Cubs’ star third baseman has suffered facial fractures after a foul ball struck him in the face near the on-deck circle. He has undergone hospital checks and is expected to fly back to Chicago. Cubs are contending for a playoff spot with one wild-card game left.
The San Diego Padres have swept the Chicago Cubs in the wild-card series, holding Chicago to just one run across two games. The Padres now face the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS as they seek to maintain their hot streak and push toward a first World Series since 1998.
The Houston Astros have not renewed Joe Espada’s contract and will not bring back five coaches for 2027, while bench coach Omar Lopez is offered a new internal role. The organization is also searching for a new manager and GM after a season that saw seven straight ALCS appearances end in 2026 with a sub-.500 finish.