Conforto isn't in the lineup Wednesday for Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Padres.
Conforto will retreat to the bench for a second straight game as the Cubs use Alex Bregman as their designated hitter again, allowing Matt Shaw to start at the hot corner.
Boyd (0-1) took the loss in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Padres on Tuesday. He gave up four runs on five hits with four strikeouts and a walk over four innings.
The left-hander didn't have trouble finding the zone with 42 of his 58 pitches going for strikes, but the Friars made plenty of hard contact with four extra-base hits, including three homers. The poor showing from Boyd was a departure from his recent form, as he surrendered just two earned runs across 12 frames in his final two starts of the regular season. The Cubs will need to salvage the next two games in San Diego for Boyd to get a chance at redeeming himself with another playoff start.
The Cubs outrighted Kelly to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday.
He's now off the team's 40-man roster. Kelly has been outrighted previously, so he has the ability to decline the assignment and become a free agent, which seems likely. The lefty made one scoreless relief appearance for the Cubs this season in his major-league debut.
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Cubs' Kevin Gausman: Tapped for Game 2 start
Rotowire
Gausman will start Game 2 of the wild-card series versus the Padres on Wednesday, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.
Gausman will be tasked with helping to stave off elimination after the Cubs were shut out in the Padres' 8-0 Game 1 victory. The right-hander injured his left (non-throwing) shoulder in his final regular-season start one week ago, but he feels well enough to take the ball in Game 2's win-or-go-home scenario.
Bregman is starting as the designated hitter and batting second Tuesday for Game 1 of the wild-card series against the Padres.
Bregman is not in the field Tuesday since it is the "safest way to make sure he gets at-bats" according to Cubs manager Craig Counsell, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports. With the 32-year-old starting as the designated hitter, Pedro Ramirez enters the lineup as the third baseman and Michael Conforto exits to the bench.
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Cubs' Michael Conforto: Not starting in series opener
Rotowire
Conforto is not in the lineup Tuesday for Game 1 of the wild-card series against the Padres.
Alex Bregman has the start as the designated hitter instead of Conforto on Tuesday and is batting second. With Bregman not in the field, Pedro Ramirez is taking over at the hot corner.
Steele (elbow) is not on the Cubs' roster for their wild-card series versus the Padres, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Steele has been out all season while recovering from UCL revision surgery and a flexor strain. He is physically ready to pitch now, having made four rehab appearances this month, but the Cubs have decided he's not a fit for their playoff roster. Steele could earn consideration in subsequent rounds, if his team advances.
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Cubs' Caleb Thielbar: Absent from wild-card roster
Rotowire
Thielbar is not on the Cubs' roster for their NL Wild Card Series against the Padres, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Thielbar carried a 60:18 K:BB over 50 regular-season innings, but he also had a 4.86 ERA and served up a whopping 11 home runs. The lefty could be under consideration for the NLDS roster, should the Cubs advance.
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Cubs' Kevin Gausman: On roster for wild-card round
Rotowire
Gausman (shoulder) is on the Cubs' roster for the wild-card series against the Padres, Jared Wyllys of AllCHGO.com reports.
Gausman injured his left (non-throwing) shoulder during his final start of the regular season last Wednesday. The Cubs have not yet announced their probable starters for Game 2 on Wednesday or a potential Game 3 on Thursday, but it's likely Gausman will start one of those contests. Gausman logged a 4.83 ERA and 57:11 K:BB over 50.1 innings in nine starts after the Cubs acquired him at the trade deadline.
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