Cubs will start 2022 with series against all four NL Central rivals

DENVER — No one knows yet what the Cubs will look like in 2022, but their initial opponents will be quite familiar.

The Cubs’ first four series next season will be against National League Central rivals. They will open the season on Friday, March 31 in a three-game series against the Reds in Cincinnati. The home opener is Monday, April 4 against the Cardinals. The Cubs then have series against the Brewers at Wrigley Field and the Pirates in Pittsburgh.

The annual crosstown series against the White Sox will be May 3-4 at Wrigley Field and May 28-29 at Guaranteed Rate Field.

The Cubs will face the AL East in interleague play:

• Tampa Bay comes to Wrigley on April 18-20.
• The Cubs will play at Yankee Stadium on June 10-12.
• The Red Sox will visit the North Side on July 1-3.
• And the Blue Jays will host the Cubs Aug. 29-31.

The regular season will end with another three-game series in Cincinnati on Sept. 30-Oct. 2.

Davis, Jensen win team honors

The Cubs have named outfielder Brennen Davis and right-hander Ryan Jensen as minor-league player and pitcher of the month for July. The honor caps a great month by Davis, who was also the MVP of the Futures Game at All-Star Week, hitting two homers.

The Cubs’ No. 1 prospect slashed .301/.414/.675 with 10 doubles and seven homers in 23 games.

“Brennen’s having a great season,” manager David Ross said last month. “He really put his stamp on [things]. The first time I got to really see him play in person was in spring training. The athleticism, the ability to go get the ball and run the bases. The physique and just who he is and what he looks like and continues to develop into at such a young age.”

Jensen had his best stretch of the season in July with a 1.99 ERA in five starts. He struck out 28 batters and walked just four.

Wisdom wins it with three-run double

Third baseman Patrick Wisdom had the biggest hit of the game in the Cubs’ 3-2 victory against the Rockies on Wednesday. Wisdom stepped to the plate in the fifth inning with the Cubs down 2-0, but with one swing of the bat, he turned the game around.

Wisdom came just inches from a grand slam. The ball went off the left-field wall and caromed back toward the infield, allowing all three runs to score, giving the Cubs a 3-2 lead. The three-run double backed Alec Mills, who earned the win. Mills allowed two runs on eight hits over six innings.