SEIYA SUZUKI

Good morning, Chicago. Here are some of the top stories you need to know to start your day.

Javier Assad pitched four scoreless innings in his major league debut and combined with four relievers on a five-hitter as the Chicago Cubs cooled off the St. Louis Cardinals 2-0 in the first game of a doubleheader.

After the Griffeys played catch in Iowa, Drew Smyly took over.

Willson Contreras drew a standing ovation in perhaps his last home game at Wrigley Field, then keyed an early burst as the Chicago Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2 for their season-high sixth straight win.

Ramón Urías hit a two-run homer and made a big defensive play, and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Chicago Cubs 4-2 for their ninth straight victory.

Tony Gonsolin pitched seven strong innings for his 11th victory in the Los Angeles Dodgers' 5-3 win over the Chicago Cubs.

Justin Verlander looks to become the first 11-game winner in the majors when Houston hosts the last-place Royals in the finale of a four-game series Thursday afternoon.

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The Chicago Cubs became the first team in 23 years to stop a losing streak of 10 or more game while ending an opponent’s winning streak of at least 10 games, beating the Braves 1-0 to end the Braves’ 14-game run.

Manny Machado lined a single for his 1,500th hit and hit a two-run homer in a four-RBI night to help the San Diego Padres beat the reeling Chicago Cubs 19-5.

Matt Carpenter homered twice and tied his career high with seven RBIs, powering the New York Yankees to complete a weekend sweep of the Chicago Cubs with a 18-4 rout for their 11th win in 12 games.

Aaron Judge hit two of the Yankees’ six solo homers off rookie Matt Swarmer, and New York routed the Chicago Cubs 8-0 for its 10th win in 11 games.

Kyle Farmer homered and had five RBIs to power the Cincinnati Reds to their high-scoring game in 23 years, a 20-5 rout of the Chicago Cubs.

Carlos Correa and the Minnesota Twins dodged a major problem this past week.

Clayton Kershaw dominated over seven innings and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the struggling Chicago Cubs 7-0 in the opener of a split doubleheader.

Marcus Stroman threw two-hit ball for seven innings, outpitching Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes and leading the Chicago Cubs over the Milwaukee Brewers 2-0.

Alfonso Rivas had three hits and five RBIs, and the Chicago Cubs stopped a four-game slide by pounding the Pittsburgh Pirates 21-0.

Cubs Pirates Baseball Chicago Cubs' Seiya Suzuki (27) heads back to the dugout after hitting a solo home run off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jose Quintana during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, April 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar)PITTSBURGH — (AP) — Seiya Suzuki homered twice, Drew Smyly pitched five scoreless innings and the Chicago Cubs beat Pittsburgh 2-1 on Tuesday, spoiling the Pirates’ home opener. Smyly also signed a $10 million, two-year contract with the Cubs in December 2017, but he never pitched for Chicago. Pirates: RHP Luis Oviedo (right ankle sprain) began an injury rehabilitation assignment at Low-A Bradenton on Sunday and pitched one scoreless inning. Pirates: RHP Zach Thompson (3-7, 3.24 ERA in 2021) makes his debut for Pittsburgh after being acquired from Miami in an offseason trade.

Seiya Suzuki homered twice, Drew Smyly pitched five scoreless innings and the Chicago Cubs beat Pittsburgh 2-1, spoiling the Pirates’ home opener.

Brewers Cubs Baseball Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks delivers against the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning of a baseball game, Thursday, April 7, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski) (Kamil Krzaczynski)CHICAGO — (AP) — Ian Happ had three hits, including a tiebreaking two-run double in the seventh inning, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-4 on Thursday on opening day. Japanese outfielder Seiya Suzuki reached three times and scored in his first big league game. Suzuki singled in the fifth for his first big league hit and walked twice. Steele made his big league debut in 2021, going 4-4 with a 4.26 ERA in 20 appearances, including nine starts.

A few miles away in Mesa, Japanese star outfielder Seiya Suzuki also was in camp Friday, ready to bolster the Chicago Cubs. In the case of Freeman and Bryant, the money is certainly substantial but the pull of family loomed large in both decisions. 3 overall pick in the 2013 draft before the Chicago Cubs swooped in and grabbed him with the No. Bryant will stay in the NL West after finalizing his $182 million, seven-year deal on Friday. ANGELS ADD BRADLEYRight-hander Archie Bradley has agreed to a $3.75 million, one-year deal to bolster the Los Angeles Angels’ bullpen.

Justin Verlander is one of the greatest pitchers of his generation with eight All-Star appearances, two Cy Young Awards, one MVP, one Rookie of the Year and a World Series title.

Cubs Suzuki Baseball FILE - Japan's Seiya Suzuki plays during a baseball game at Yokohama Baseball Stadium during the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 31, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. The Chicago Cubs and star Japanese outfielder Seiya Suzuki have agreed to an $85-million, five-year contract, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File) (Matt Slocum)CHICAGO — (AP) — The Chicago Cubs and star Japanese outfielder Seiya Suzuki have agreed to an $85-million, five-year deal, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The person, confirming several reports, spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a physical. ____More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

A person familiar with the situation says the Chicago Cubs and star Japanese outfielder Seiya Suzuki have agreed to an $85-million, five-year deal.

Japanese outfielder Seiya Suzuki will be posted on Monday by his Japanese club and will be available for bidding by the 30 Major League Baseball teams. MLB told its teams on Sunday that the posting will start Monday morning and run through 5 p.m. EST on Dec. 22. The 27-year-old, Japan's 2019 Home Run Derby champion, has spent nine seasons with the Central League's Hiroshima Toyo Carp.