Chicago Cubs third base prospect Matt Shaw went 2-for-4 with a double, a triple, an RBI, and a stolen base during Friday's contest. The 23-year-old was able to crack the Opening Day roster but was optioned back to Triple-A after his slow start. During his first 18 games in the majors, Shaw held a modest .172/.294/.241 slash line with just one double and a long ball. However, since his return to Triple-A Iowa, Shaw has posted a strong .262/.392/.415 slash line with five doubles, one triple, one long ball, and three stolen bases. Last summer at Triple-A, the Maryland product posted a stellar .298/.395/.534 slash line with eight doubles and seven long balls. Given his recent stretch at Triple-A, fantasy managers should expect the top prospect to return to the big leagues in the coming weeks.

The Chicago Cubs are expected to recall third base prospect Matt Shaw to the majors to operate as their No. 1 third baseman later this season. The top prospect in Chicago was able to break camp with the major league roster but was optioned after his first 18 games. During his first taste of the majors, the Maryland product held a .172/.294/.241 slash line with one double and a home run. However, since returning to Triple-A Iowa, Shaw has begun to flip the script and is showcasing his elite upside. Through 10 games at the top level of the minor leagues, Shaw has posted a strong .324/.457/.486 line. Throughout the season, the Cubs have had a revolving door at the hot corner. Currently, Jon Berti has emerged as the top option but he hold a career .261/.339/.365 line at the majors. Fantasy managers in deeper 15-team formats should continue to stash Shaw as he continues to work out his struggles at Triple-A.

Chicago Cubs infield prospect Matt Shaw went 4-for-5 with a double and an RBI during Tuesday's contest against Triple-A Buffalo. This was Shaw's third-straight game tallying multiple hits. Since returning to Triple-A Iowa on April 18, the Maryland product has held a strong .290/.405/.452 slash line with two doubles and a home run. Shaw was able to make the Opening Day roster out of spring training but was optioned back to the minor leagues after he struggled. Across his first 18 games in the big leagues, the former 13th overall pick held a modest .172/.294/.241 slash line with just two extra-base hits. Fantasy managers in deeper NL-only formats should continue to monitor his status at Triple-A, as he should contend for an early return to the big leagues. When he does return, he will be worth rostering in all standard leagues given the potential he has shown at Triple-A.

Chicago Cubs infield prospect Matt Shaw went 2-for-5 with a double and a home run during their contest on Sunday against Triple-A Louisville. This was his second-straight contest, tallying two hits. This was also his first long ball since returning to Triple-A. Shaw was able to earn a spot on the MLB roster out of spring training but was optioned following his first 18 games when he held a .172/.294/.241 slash line with just one double and a home run. During this first taste of the MLB, he held a 26.5 percent strikeout rate. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he should be in the mix for an early return to the major leagues. Last summer at Triple-A, the former 13th overall pick held a .298/.395/.534 slash line. Fantasy managers in deeper NL-only formats should continue to stash Shaw on their bench.

The Chicago Cubs have optioned third baseman Matt Shaw to Triple-A Iowa. Shaw was able to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster out of spring training but will be sent back to the minor leagues to continue his development. Through his first 18 games in the majors, the Maryland product posted a modest .172/.294/.241 slash line with two doubles and one home run. Shaw drew walks at a strong 14.7 percent rate but generated a weak .272 xwOBA. In addition, Shaw posted a hefty 26.5 percent strikeout rate with a 30.8 percent whiff rate. Last summer, the former 13th overall from the 2023 MLB Draft performed very well in Double-A and Triple-A. Across 121 games split between the upper levels, Shaw posted a stellar .284/.379/.488 slash line with 21 long balls. Fantasy managers should expect Justin Turner and Jon Berti to split time at the hot corner going forward.

Chicago Cubs third base prospect Matt Shaw went 2-for-4 with two RBI during their 10-2 victory over the Athletics on Wednesday afternoon. In the third inning, Shaw hit an RBI single, which scored Justin Turner. Later in the seventh, he would bring outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong home on his second single. Since posting a .118/.167/.118 slash line through his first four games in the major leagues, the former first-round pick has begun to flip the script. Over his last five games, the Maryland product has posted an impressive .294/.429/.529 slash line with one double and one long ball. He has held a 4:5 BB:K over this stretch. Last summer, the 23-year-old posted an elite .298/.395/.534 line through his first 35 games at Triple-A. Fantasy managers should continue to expect the Cubs to provide Shaw an everyday opportunity at the hot corner, as long as he continues this production.

Chicago Cubs third baseman Matt Shaw (rest) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Saturday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The rookie slugger will get a day off after playing in the first four games to begin the season. Gage Workman will cover third base and bat eighth versus right-hander Brandon Pfaadt. Workman put on a solid performance in spring training, but probably isn't going to offer much fantasy value in a bench role. The expectation is that Shaw will return to the lineup after his rest day here.

Chicago Cubs third baseman Matt Shaw was officially added to the Cubs' 40-man roster and 26-man roster prior to the club's first game in Tokyo, Japan. This doesn't come as a shock, as the team announced last week that he would be making the Opening Day roster. Shaw is one of the game's top prospects, as he slashed .284/.379/.488 with 21 home runs and 31 steals in 121 games between Double-A and Triple-A in 2024. He also showed off excellent plate discipline with an 11.9% walk rate and 18.2% strikeout rate. His profile looks very nice for fantasy, as he has 20/20 upside if everything breaks right for him in his rookie year.

Chicago Cubs third base prospect Matt Shaw (oblique) will travel with the team to Tokyo, Japan, for the season-opening two-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on March 18 and 19, according to manager Craig Counsell. Shaw suffered a mild oblique injury early in camp but has returned to Cactus League action and should start for the Cubbies at third base on March 18. The 23-year-old has played in four spring training games and has gone only 2-for-12 with two RBI and a run scored, but the most important thing is that he's healthy and ready to go for the start of the 2025 regular season. Despite having never played in a big-league game, Shaw should be relevant in all fantasy leagues right away after hitting .284/.379/.488 with 21 home runs and 31 steals at Double-A and Triple-A in 2024. MLB Pipeline has Shaw ranked as the No. 19 overall prospect this year.

The Athletic's Patrick Mooney writes that Chicago Cubs third base prospect Matt Shaw (oblique) isn't guaranteed to be ready for the season-opening two-game series in Tokyo, Japan, on March 18 and 19 versus the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to team officials. Shaw entered spring training as the favorite to earn the third base job for the Cubbies, but then he suffered a setback in mid-February with oblique discomfort. He sat out the first 10 days of Cactus League action and has only nine plate appearances with only five days to go until the team leaves for Japan. Shaw has no major-league experience and isn't on the 40-man roster, so Chicago may proceed slowly with the young infielder. However, the good news for fantasy managers that already have Shaw in dynasty leagues is that the Cubs want him to win this competition and expect him to be their everyday third baseman for years to come. The former first-rounder has 25-25 potential.