Chicago Cubs All-Star Anthony Rizzo will retire as a Cub during an honorary on-field ceremony before Saturday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Rizzo spent his final MLB seasons with the New York Yankees, but will forever be known as a Cub. He spent his prime with the Cubs from 2012 to 2021.

Over the 10 seasons with the Cubs, he emerged as an icon. Rizzo led the team to their first World Series in 2016 since 1908, ending an over-century drought. He has earned three All-Star selections, four Gold Glove awards, a Silver Slugger award, and the 2017 Robert Clemente Award.

He was the first baseman who caught Kris Bryant‘s throw for the final out in the 2016 World Series, securing his position as a historic player. Rizzo’s career reflected consistency with a batting average of .272, 242 home runs, and 784 RBIs in 1,308 games for the Cubs.

Rizzo will transition into an ambassador for the organization following the retirement ceremony.

“Anthony Rizzo was the face of one of the most successful eras in Chicago Cubs history, and we are so excited he will be a part of our organization for many years to come,” Cubs Executive Chairman Tom Ricketts said in a statement.

The Cubs initially obtained Rizzo on Jan. 6, 2012, in a trade with the San Diego Padres. Despite being drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 2007, Rizzo did not make his MLB debut until 2010 with the Padres.

After playing one season with the Padres, Rizzo was traded to the Cubs in January 2012. His time with the Cubs proved Rizzo is a jack-of-all-trades on the field.

The night before the announcement, Rizzo was spotted at a Yankees game with his wife, Emily, and their newborn son, sharing smiles with the crowd as the game continued.

The ceremony at Wrigley Field will celebrate more than statistics, but honor Rizzo’s leadership, philanthropy and impact on the team. For Cubs fans, Saturday will be less of a goodbye to Rizzo and more of a welcome back.

2024 has not been Anthony Rizzo’s year.

As the New York Yankees soared to the best record in the AL, the 1B bottomed out. Manager Aaron Boone brought him in and out of the lineup, trying to spark the former Chicago Cub.

Now, he will not be in the order for at least a month.

During the series finale loss to the Boston Red Sox on Sunday, Rizzo ran hard to first base and collided with Red Sox reliever Brennan Bernardino, covering the bag. The ESPN broadcast caught Rizzo falling hard on his wrist as he writhed in pain. Two days later, Boone announced he would be put on the injured list and not participate in baseball activity for four to five weeks.

Rizzo, 35, is on the hook for $17 million this season and $17 million in 2025.

General Manager Brian Cashman faces a difficult decision with what he wants to do at the trade deadline with the veteran left-hander. Rizzo’s timeline lines up with a return sometime around July 31.

However, even with Rizzo returning, the Yankees may need more from the 1B spot. Before the injury, the 1B hit just .223 with 8 HRs and a .630 OPS, a concerning sight from a batter that exploded for 32 round-trippers in 2022.

Along with Rizzo going down, the American East-leading Yanks have begun to slump. The pinstripes are 5-5 in their last ten games and lost back-to-back series to the Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles, who sit just 0.5 games behind first place in the division.

However, the Bronx Bombers received positive injury news with the return of ace Gerrit Cole on Wednesday as he made his season debut. The former Cy Young winner went 4.0 IP while allowing two earned runs in five strikeouts on 62 pitches in a no-decision.

The Yankees were the first team to have 50 wins in the MLB and led the AL with a 51-26 record.

After a slow first several days of MLB free agency, two big names just came off the board.

First, the New York Yankees are re-signing Anthony Rizzo to a multi-year contract.

Under the deal, the first baseman is getting two years with $40 million guaranteed.

There is also a $6 million buyout and a $17 million club option.

Just last week, Rizzo opted out of his two-year $32 million deal.

The 33-year-old is coming off a season where he hit .224/.338/.480 (batting average, on-base and slugging).

He also posted 32 home runs.

Another big signing today was made by the Los Angeles Angels, who are bringing in starting pitcher Tyler Anderson.

The deal is reportedly for three years in the $39 million range.

The southpaw is coming off a breakout season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he commanded a 2.57 earned run against average (ERA).

However, in his MLB career, his ERA is only 4.16.

In other baseball news, Texas Rangers starter Martín Pérez accepted his qualifying offer and will return to the team next season.

The 31-year-old posted a 2.89 ERA last year with 169 strikeouts.

But most importantly for the Yankees – Rizzo is taken care of – meaning it could return its full attention towards bringing back star outfielder Aaron Judge now.

The 30-year-old is coming off a historic season, where he hit 62 home runs, which is the most ever by an American League player.

And owner Hal Steinbrenner indicated that the Yankees will not be outbid for Judge.

“We have plenty of ability to make (your contract) happen and still have money to make other things happen too,” he said today, citing a conversation he had with Judge recently. 

But it’s unclear if Judge will opt to play elsewhere anyways.

The Athletic is projecting an eight-year $320 million contract for Judge.

Pain for the New York Yankees continues, as the team got some bad news surrounding its starting first baseman.

Anthony Rizzo is heading to the 10-day injured list, according to the team’s manager Aaron Boone.

While Rizzo has been dealing with a back issue for weeks, the reason for the stint is because of headaches.

Boone noted that he will have additional testing to determine the cause of the throbbing pain.

“He’s still under doctor’s orders to rest,” Boone said. 

But he added it “seems like the back is good.”

Rizzo hasn’t played since August 30 and also missed sometime in July with a back injury. 

Last week, Rizzo reportedly saw a back specialist in California. 

The unfortunate news for the Yankees comes as second baseman DJ LeMahieu and outfielder Giancarlo Stanton are question marks for Wednesday’s lineup.

Boone said both wouldn’t have played in tonight’s contest against the Minnesota Twins, which has been rained out.  

Tweets by Yankees

On Monday, Stanton fouled a ball off his foot, but X-Rays were negative. 

LeMahieu, on the other hand, has been dealing with a nagging toe injury since August. 

If all three are forced to miss some time, that could put more pressure on Aaron Judge, who may win the American League MVP this year.

Judge leads the MLB by a wide margin in home runs – with 54. 

Plus, the Yankees have struggled in the second half of the season. 

In the past nine games, the team’s record is just 3-6. 

The Yankees’ AL east divisional lead is now down to just five games. 

Before the regular season ends, the Yankees will need to play the second-place Tampa Bay Rays and the Toronto Blue Jays, which are 5.5 games behind them, in two separate three-game series’. 

Rizzo is batting .225 on the year with a .832 On-base plus slugging (OPS).

Tuesday’s AL Wild Card Game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees was a highly anticipated one with each team having their backs against the wall. The victor would go on to play in the ALDS against the 100-win Tampa Bay Rays, who won the stacked AL East that featured four 90-win teams. Both squads played a recently as late September 26, the Yankees’ sweeping the Red Sox with the help of Giancarlo Stanton‘s dominant three-homer, 10 RBI series.

The game even had historical significance, given the precedent of the 1978 AL East tie-breaker game, defined by the iconic Bucky Dent homer in the seventh inning to give the Yanks the lead.

Alas, last night’s game did not turn out the way Yankee fans had hoped for.

Gerrit Cole took the mound for New York while former Yankee Nathan Eovaldi started for the Red Sox. Cole, who was putting up Cy Young-worthy number throughout most of the season, had been struggling over the past five games, going 2-2 with a 6.15 ERA, in part due to a nagging left hamstring injury. Last night was a test to see if the Yankees $324 million man would be able to deliver when it mattered most.

The Bronx Bombers got off to a seemingly promising start in the first inning, coming out aggressive in the box and making solid contact off Eovaldi. With two outs in the bottom of the first, Stanton launched a slider more than halfway up the Green Monster, however, it ultimately ended up being a loud single. The ball seemed to be a goner off the bat, fooling everyone from Stanton himself to Yankees’ play-by-play announcer John Sterling, which at least made for a hilarious call.

The Red Sox set the tone for the night in the bottom of the first inning. After giving up a two-out walk to blossoming star Rafael Devers, Cole hung a changeup right down the middle that was sent 427 feet over the center-field wall by Xander Bogaerts, giving the Sox a 2-0 lead.

Cole’s woes continued in the top of the third. Leading off the inning, Kyle Schwarber pummeled a 435-foot to right field, extending the lead to 3-0. The home run was eerily reminiscent of what had transpired during the 2015 Wild Card Game.

After allowing a walk to Devers, Cole was pulled from the game by Aaron Boone after just two innings of work.

Eovaldi, on the other hand, was dealing, striking out eight of the first 18 batters and retiring 11 straight during one stretch.

Yankees’ first baseman (and Schwarber’s former Cubs teammate) Anthony Rizzo was the only hitter to tag the right-hander, pulling a curveball around Pesky’s Pole for a solo home run to cut the lead to 3-1.

To the shock of many, including Eovaldi, Red Sox manager Alex Cora decided to remove his pitcher from the game after a subsequent in-field hit by Aaron Judge.

“When I went to the mound, he gave me this look, like, ‘What are you doing?'” Cora said after the game.

“It’s just such a tough game to manage. If he stays there and he hits a home run, then oof. We felt like our bullpen was ready for the rest of the game. We got lucky that the ball stayed in the ballpark, we made a great play, then we did a great job the rest of the game.”

The Red Sox thus brought in reliever Ryan Brasier to face Stanton. The substitution initially appeared to backfire, as the Yankees DH crushed a 400-foot line-drive off the Monster, again. The ball would have been a home run in 11 MLB stadiums. Instead, it ended up resulting in a costly out that would put a halt to the Yankees’ mid-game comeback, as the Sox nailed Judge at home plate after a perfectly executed relay.

The Red Sox added a few more insurance runs with two clutch hits by left fielder Alex Verdugo, slapping an RBI-double in the bottom of the sixth and then lining a two-run single in the top of the seventh to put his team up for good.

The Yanks did add a run in the top of the ninth inning with the scorching hot Stanton hitting an opposite field home run just inside the pole.

However, one cannot help but acknowledge the irony that Stanton’s weakest hit ball of the evening was the one that ended up going over the fence. It just may be the best way to summarize last night’s misfortune.

The New York Yankees acquired All-Star Anthony Rizzo from the Chicago Cubs on Thursday, the team announced.

“The New York Yankees today announced that they have acquired INF Anthony Rizzo and cash considerations from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for minor league right-handed pitcher Alexander Vizcaíno and outfielder Kevin Alcántara,” the team said on Twitter.

“All good things come to an end,” Rizzo said about the trade. “To be able to go to another historic franchise like the Yankees, it’s unbelievable. Getting all the calls and texts, how excited they are, how excited I am. My family is all from New Jersey and New York. Emily’s family is up in Connecticut. It’s going to be a really special opportunity for me these next three months. I’m just going to enjoy it all.”

Rizzo wasn’t in the lineup for the Cubs’ series finale against the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday. The three-time All-Star is batting .248 with 14 home runs and 40 RBIs in 92 games this season. Rizzo will become a free agent after this season. The first baseman spent over 10 years with Chicago. He helped lead the franchise to its first World Series in over 100 years in 2016.

The acquisition of Rizzo comes after the Yankees acquired All-Star outfielder Joey Gallo from the Texas Rangers. Both All-Stars are left-handed hitters, which the Yankees wanted to add to their predominantly right-handed lineup.

The arrival of the two All-Star hitters will greaten New York’s chances at snagging a Wild Card spot in the American League.

The Chicago Cubs have traded outfielder Joc Pederson to the Atlanta Braves for minor league first baseman Bryce Ball. Both teams announced the trade Thursday evening.

The trade is a tell-tale sign for both teams and signals each franchise’s planned direction. The Cubs are officially sellers as we inch closer to the July 30 trade deadline. The Cubs have lost 19 of their last 25 games to fall out of the NL Central race. Chicago held on to hopes of remaining competitive, but their current 11-game losing streak dashed any dreams of a potential playoff berth.

Another reason Chicago is selling is that they have many soon-to-be free agents on their roster. Superstar trio Kris Bryant, Javier Báez and Anthony Rizzo are among those who will become free agents after this season. Kyle Davies and Craig Kimbrel are also likely to be moved from the team. Chicago will look to hammer out a contract extension for Baez and Rizzo. If that fails, the organization may elect to look for a trade partner.

The move bolsters the Braves’ push to make the playoffs. Entering the second half of the season, the Braves are only four games behind the first-place New York Mets in the National League East and just a game under .500. However, a few significant injuries have hampered their playoff hopes. Superstar Ronald Acuna Jr. will miss the rest of the season after tearing his ACL recently. Pederson will be a welcomed addition to the outfield in the wake of Acuna’s injury.

Pederson is batting .230 with 59 hits, 39 RBIs and 11 home runs. The outfielder also has a .718 OPS in the 73 games played for the Cubs this season.

Pederson signed a one-year, $4.5 million deal that included a $10 million mutual option and $2.5-million buyout. The outfielder is still owed $2.2 million of his $4.5-million salary this season. He’ll be paid another $2.5 million if the Braves decline his $10 million mutual option after the season.

Opening Day of Major League Baseball is almost here. With that being said, now is the perfect time to break down each team’s prognosis heading into the 2021 season following an abbreviated 60-game 2020 campaign.

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The Chicago Cubs missed the postseason in 2019 but reigned atop the National League Central division in 2020 and made the playoffs for the fifth time in six seasons. Chicago won a World Series in 2016, marking the third championship in the franchise’s 145-year history. The Cubs finished 10th in ERA in 2020, posting a 3.99 ERA, and finished 17th in home runs with a total of 74. Chicago’s pitching staff will have to overcome some hardships, but the North Siders could surprise many and have the potential to make the playoffs in 2021.

Here are Chicago’s projected starters.

Chicago Cubs Projected Batting Order:

1. OF Joc Pederson 
2. 3B Kris Bryant
3. 1B Anthony Rizzo
4. SS Javier Baez
5. C Willson Contreras 
6. OF Ian Happ
7. OF Jason Heyward 
8. 2B Nico Hoerner 
9. Pitcher

Chicago Cubs Projected Pitching Staff:

• SP1 Kyle Hendricks 
• SP2 Zach Davies 
• SP3 Jake Arrieta 
• SP4 Trevor Williams
• SP5 Alec Mills 
• CL Craig Kimbrel

Chicago Cubs Team Outlook:

The offseason started out slow for the Cubs, but the team ended up making several moves. The team added outfielders Joc Pederson and Jake Marisnick, starters Jake Arrieta and Trevor Williams, reliever Brandon Workman and catcher Austin Romine. Chicago also picked up starter Zach Davies and four minor leaguers for starter Yu Darvish and Victor Caratini.

Along with these additions came the losses of second baseman Jason Kipnis, outfielder Kyle Schwarber and starting pitchers Tyler Chatwood, Jon Lester, and Jose Quintana. Regarding the starting rotation, ace Kyle Hendricks and new acquisition Zach Davies are steady arms. The backend of the rotation is on the weaker side. However, the bullpen looks better and will continue to provide results, especially if closer Craig Kimbrel can shape up.

Offensively, Chicago has two edge bats in shortstop Javier Baez and catcher Willson Contreras. First baseman Anthony Rizzo and Joc Pederson should also contribute power to the starting lineup. While Kris Bryant continues to decline, his name has been prevalent in trade rumors, and who knows what the future holds for Bryant. From the looks of it, Chicago will face some challenges in 2021, but they could surprise many by making yet another playoff run.

Chicago Cubs Schedule:

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On Monday, Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo allowed ESPN to mic him up during a plate appearance in a spring training game against the Los Angeles Angels. Rizzo while at the plate cracked a joke about the Houston Astros and their sign-stealing scandal.

As the veteran MLB slugger went through the mental work during an at-bat, Rizzo had to guess what pitch was coming next. When Rizzo couldn’t figure out what was coming, he threw out an obvious joke at the expense of the Astros.

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“I have no idea. I wish I knew,” he said. “Someone bang for me.”  The first baseman one pitch later, hit a beautiful ball into the outfield to get him on base.

Rizzo’s joke was drawing attention to the Astros’ misconduct operation that began in 2017. The Astros used an illegal live feed to crack the opposition’s signs. They would then signal to the batter’s box what pitch was coming by either banging on a trash can or not. The story was brought to attention in November after Oakland Athletics pitcher and former Astros’ pitcher Mike Fiers went public with information about the scheme. A league investigation concluded with the Astros being stripped of two draft picks and fined $5 million in January. The Astros also fired general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager A.J. Hinch after both were suspended for the season.

Rizzo was not the only player to knock on the Astros. Kris Bryant, Rizzo’s teammate, and Cubs third baseman, also took a stab at the Astros while mic’d up during his at-bat. He told Angels catcher Jason Castro that he’s mic’d up and the broadcasters were “going to tell me everything.” This is a reference to the fact that the Astros used a camera to relay pitch signs.

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Trevor Bauer decided to give an example of what the Astros were doing.  While facing the Los Angeles Dodgers, Bauer deliberately told them what pitch was coming. Bauer is known for taking shots at the Astros. The pitcher decided to flip his glove to show the catcher and batter what ball he was going to throw instead of hiding the pitch behind his back.

This week the Chicago Cubs hit a rough stretch in terms of travel and first baseman Anthony Rizzo wasn’t too happy about the way the league handled the team’s schedule.

Anthony Rizzo calls MLB’s makeup game “a joke.”

The MLB decided to schedule a makeup game on Thursday after Sunday’s game against the Washington Nationals was canceled due to rain. Thus making it the 24th consecutive gameday on the Cubs schedule.

The Cubs had to jump on a plane Wednesday after their 5-1 loss at home to the Milwaukee Brewers and fly to Washington, D.C. to play a makeup game against the Nationals.

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On the plane, slugger Rizzo decided to wear his full uniform and called MLB’s decision to schedule the game “kind of a joke.”

“I was just kind of having fun throughout a tough stretch in the season,” Rizzo told reporters. “I mean, we’re flying into a state of emergency with rain in the forecast. It’s kind of a joke, so why not keep joking around about it and just have fun?”

Cubs manager Joe Maddon commented on Rizzo’s statement by saying he wished he had learned of his player’s opinion sooner.

“I wish he had said something sooner because we all could have done it,” Maddon said. “I would have done it in a heartbeat.”

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Instead of waiting until the end of the season to make up the game, the MLB opted to send the Cubs to D.C. Thursday despite the potential threat of inclement weather from Hurricane Florence.

The game ended at 8:00 p.m. local time, at which point the Cubs had to jump right back onto another plane and fly home to host the Cincinnati Reds Friday at 8:05 p.m. EST. Rizzo said he did not bring a change of clothes and will wear his full uniform again on the trip back to Chicago.

“At the end of the day, our front office, our owner, they have our back,” Rizzo said. “We’re in a long stretch of games. There’s people in MLB that have been on the players’ side. They understand the human element of it, and they seem not to care at all. So it is what it is. We can sit here and complain about [it], or we can joke about [it]. I’ll take the joking around part—a lot more fun.

The Cubs don’t have another off-day until Sept. 20, which puts them into a 30-day stretch without a single day off.

Anthony Rizzo already has a Roberto Clemente Award to his name, but now he has more hardware to boast.

Anthony Rizzo Marvin Miller Award win news

The Chicago Cubs first baseman — who helped lead his team to a World Series victory in 2013 — took home the prestigious Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award on Wednesday.

Named for the founding executive director of the modern MLB Players Association, the Marvin Miller Award is given each year to the player who contributes the most to his team and to his community through charity.

Rizzo has done several good deeds through his Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation, which he established in 2012, four years after he was diagnosed with a limited case of cancer form Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The foundation focuses on helping children and their families affected by the disease.

This year he committed more than $4 million to establish the Hope 44 program at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, which he regularly visits. The 18th-floor waiting room at the hospital is named in his honor.

“On the field you want to do things the right way, you want to play the game the right way,” Rizzo said. “Off the field I really try to use the platform that we’ve been provided by Major League Baseball to go out and help. It’s amazing what it can do to someone — a moment can last a lifetime for them, seeing a person in a Cubs jersey. That’s what I try to keep and remember at all times.”

On Dec. 3, Rizzo will perform another humanitarian deed: that day, he will host his sixth Walk-Off for Cancer in his hometown of Parkland, Fla. It’s been a great year for the first baseman: he got engaged to his girlfriend Emily Vakos this summer.

Sammy Sosa was the last Cub to win the Marvin Miller Award in 1999.

In other MLB news, the Gold Glove Awards were handed out on Tuesday. Rizzo’s teammate, Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward, won his fifth Gold Glove. Here is the full list of winners:

CATCHER

National League – Tucker Barnhart, Reds (1)

FIRST BASE

AL – Eric Hosmer, Royals (4)
NL – Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks (3)

SECOND BASE

NL – DJ LeMahieu, Rockies (2)

SHORTSTOP

AL – Andrelton Simmons, Angels (3)
NL – Brandon Crawford, Giants (3)

THIRD BASE

AL – Evan Longoria, Rays (3)
NL – Nolan Arenado, Rockies (5)

LEFT FIELD

AL – Alex Gordon, Royals (5)
NL – Marcell Ozuna, Marlins (1)

CENTER FIELD

NL – Ender Inciarte, Braves (2)

RIGHT FIELD

AL – Mookie Betts, Red Sox (2)
NL – Jason Heyward, Cubs (5)

PITCHER 

AL – Marcus Stroman, Blue Jays (1)
NL – Zack Greinke, Diamondbacks (4)

LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 19: Anthony Rizzo #44 of the Chicago Cubs hits a two-run single in the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game four of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on October 19, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Anthony Rizzo did not seem afraid to appear emotional Tuesday during a ceremony commemorating his foundation’s $3.5 million donation to Lurie’s Children’s Hospital in Chicago.

Anthony Rizzo children’s hospital donation news

The 28-year-old Cubs first baseman was diagnosed with Hodgkins-Lymphoma in April 2008 at the age of 18. Rizzo, a three-time All-Star, underwent chemotherapy treatment for six months before doctors finally told him he was cancer-free.

“This means a lot to me,” a teary-eyed Rizzo said after seeing the waiting room for the first time. “I remember sitting with my mom saying we were going to do this 10 years ago. And you know, this is just a little step in our mission.”

Also part of the ceremony was the unveiling of a new waiting room in the hospital named after Rizzo, who helped lead the Cubs to a World Series victory in 2016.

Rizzo — the 2016 Gold Glove Award winner — was joined by his parents and fiancee at Tuesday’s ceremony.

The Cubs star’s foundation created two endowed funds for cancer patients and their families.

“To be able to give back, to do this type of work, is so much bigger than a World Series and doing anything on a baseball field just because my family’s been through it, there’s so many families going through it,” Rizzo said. “This is as real as it gets in life.”

LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 19: Anthony Rizzo #44 of the Chicago Cubs hits a two-run single in the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game four of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on October 19, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

A terrible assault on a Chicago-area middle school student has led Anthony Rizzo to respond with an extremely generous gesture.

Cubs’Anthony Rizzo Offers Game Tickets To 12-Year-Old Assault Victim

Henry Sembdner, a 12-year-old boy from South Elgin, Illinois was attacked after he bumped into another student in the hall of Kenyon Woods Middle School on Friday. Sembdner ended up in a coma after sustaining head injuries and facial fractures.

Upon learning of the assault, Cubs first baseman Rizzo reached out to the family of the boy, who is a fan of the reigning World Series champion Cubs:

Tickets and batting practice passes for a Cubs game at Wrigley Field sounds like a great deal, and no doubt this boy will appreciate it.

Rizzo also made the effort to remain informed of how Henry’s school was handling his assault, and when he heard the school would be wearing Cubs apparel to express their support for the beaten seventh-grade boy. The first baseman encouraged everyone to participate.

Since Monday, Rizzo’s Twitter feed has been filled with photos of people supporting Henry by wearing Cubs gear. Henry’s mother Karen tweeted a photo of her whole family including her son at Rizzo to let the Cubs star know Henry is finally home from the hospital and is recovering.

Rizzo responded to the tweet to express his relief the boy was finally home.

Henry was taken to Presence St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin before being transferred to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge.

Two GoFundMe pages have been set up to help the Sembdner family with medical expenses. As of Monday, one page had raised more than $17,500 and the other had raised $7,400.

Clearly, Henry is receiving lots of support, and Rizzo’s attention was greatly appreciated.

Police said their investigation is ongoing to determine whether or not the boy who committed the assault should face criminal charges.

CHICAGO, IL – JULY 18: Anthony Rizzo #44 of the Chicago Cubs points to the dugout as he runs the bases after hitting a three run home run in the 3rd inning against the New York Mets at Wrigley Field on July 16, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Miguel Montero sat on the Chicago Cubs bench for five hours Monday night, watching a close game between his team and the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field.

Anthony Rizzo, Miguel Montero Lead Cubs To 13-Inning, 8-7 Win Over Pirates

The veteran catcher has been relegated to a backup role following the appearance of rookie Wilson Contreras, but Montero had his big moment in the 13th inning.

Anthony Rizzo blasted a game-tying RBI single in the 13th, and Montero followed with the game-winning hit, a walk-off RBI single to lift the Cubs to an 8-7 victory over Pittsburgh in a game that began Monday night and ended Tuesday morning.

“The resiliency of our team was incredible,” Chicago starter Jake Arrieta said. “Just a crazy ballgame all the way around. So many things happened.”

The Pirates snapped a four-game winning streak, a sweep of the Brewers in Milwaukee. On Monday, they got six runs on Arrieta, thanks to homers from Josh Bell and Gregory Polanco and a two-run double by Josh Harrison. 

The Cubs, meanwhile, were coming off a 2-1 series loss against the Dodgers, which was preceded by a three-game sweep of the Padres. Both series were on the road. Manager Joe Maddon stated his players were comfortable because they wore pajamas on their charter flight.

“Look at how they played tonight — it must have been the onesies,” Maddon said. “If you’re flying on a charter airplane, and you have onesies on, you feel better the next day.”

The Pirates had gained a 7-6 lead in the top of the 13th on Harisson’s sacrifice fly. However, Dexter Fowler singled off Jeff Locke, who who was pitching his fourth inning, and reached third on Kris Bryant’s single. Pittsburgh had intentionally walked Bryant in the 10th to face Rizzo, and got him to hit into an inning-ending double play. But Rizzo then delivered the game-tying RBI single, and after Ben Zobrist was intentionally walked, Montero smacked a single to left for the game-winner.

“It’s one of those situations where you’ve got to go until something happens. If it’s good, we win. If it’s bad, we tie and maybe we lose,” Locke said. “I wouldn’t do it any differently. I would just try to do it better next time.”

With the victory, the Cubs improved to 20-6 in August. Chicago is now 7-4 in extra-inning games.

Bell hit a solo homer in the fourth and Polanco slapped a three-run homer in the sixth to help Pittsburgh take a 6-3 lead. However, Contreras blasted a two-run homer in the eighth off Neftali Feliz, and Jorge Soler tied the game at 6 with a one-out rocket in the ninth off Tony Watson. 

Chicago loaded the bases in the 10th, and believed they had scored the winning run when Javier Baez slid home on Rizzo’s fielder’s choice. Baez was ruled out, and the Cubs challenged the call but following a review, the call stood. Baez also tripled in the 12th and attempted to score on Addison Russell’s fly ball to left but again, was thrown out at the plate.

“It was a really, really good ballgame to watch and be a part of. Our guys played hard all night,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “At the end of the day, we came up one run short. We kept pushing. We kept battling. Proud of everybody that took the field.”

The two teams will face off again Tuesday night for the second game of the three-game series. Rookie Pirates right-hander Chad Kuhl will make his ninth Major League start. The Cubs’ Kyle Hendricks, who leads the Majors with a 2.19 ERA, will make his 25th start of the season on Tuesday. In 17 straight starts, he’s given up three runs or less.

CHICAGO, IL – JULY 18: Anthony Rizzo #44 of the Chicago Cubs points to the dugout as he runs the bases after hitting a three run home run in the 3rd inning against the New York Mets at Wrigley Field on July 16, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Anthony Rizzo smacked a three-run homer in the third inning and Jon Lester allowed one run over 7 2/3 innings to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 5-1 home victory over the New York Mets on Monday night.

Anthony Rizzo, Jon Lester Lead Cubs To 5-1 Win Over Mets

The win ended the Mets’ streak of eight straight games against the Cubs: their four-game sweep of the 2015 National League Championship Series and another sweep from June 20-July 3 at Citi Field.

“We didn’t play very well in New York, and I think that’s the biggest thing,” lefty Lester said. “We came out tonight and played clean baseball.”

Rookie left-hander Steven Matz, who was pitching with a painful bone spur in his left elbow, took the loss for the Mets and exited after five-plus innings.

“I thought he was, even though he threw the ball fine, I didn’t think he had his real grade-A stuff,” said Mets manager Terry Collins of Matz. “But he battled the best he could. Hopefully he’s feeling OK after this. It was good work for him today.”

Matz (7-6) gave up eight hits and four runs, and also struck out five and walked one. leaving after 102 pitches and a leadoff double in the sixth. He has lost five consecutive decisions over his last nine starts and has not recorded a win since May 25.

The Cubs (56-36, 1st in NL Central) beat the Mets (49-43, 3rd in NL East) for the first time since July 2, 2015 when they won 6-1 at Citi Field.

In the four previous meetings with the Mets this year, the Cubs did not score more than three runs in a game. On Monday, they matched that in one inning. With one out in the third, Javier Baez singled, his second hit of the game, and Kris Bryant was hit by a pitch to set up Rizzo, who fought Matz in a 10-pitch at-bat. Rizzo hit five straight foul balls before his home run. According to Statcast, the first baseman’s homer was hit at 106.9 mph and traveled 423 feet. He now has 68 RBIs, most on the Cubs.

“That was a fabulous at-bat — that’s what you’re looking for,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. “We want to be about that kind of two-strike at-bat.”

Baez delivered well on his second straight start at second base for Ben Zobrist, who was given the time off for his personal All-Star break. Baez had two hits and made a perfectly timed jump to rob Curtis Granderson of a potential hit leading off the Mets’ sixth. Baez wasn’t the only sub who came through, however, as Matt Szczur, starting in right field for Jason Heyward, posted his first career three-hit game. Szczur scored on David Ross’ sacrifice fly off Seth Lugo to put the Cubs up 4-0.

“He stays ready,” Maddon said of Szczur. “Here’s a guy who’s been playing sporadically but he’s always ready, He’s always engaged. There’s never a pout. He’s a wonderful team player. His football background probably helps with that. They understand the team concept.”

Shifting to left field on a quasi-permanent basis to ease pressure off his sore right quadriceps, Yoenis Cespedes saved Matz an additional run in the third with a rocket throw home. After Rizzo’s homer, Cubs catcher Wilson Contreras hit a ground-rule double into the ivy on the left-field wall, then attempted to score on Szczur’s single. However, Cespedes’ throw beat Contreras home by several steps. Cespedes later committed a two-base fielding error in the eighth inning, allowing Albert Almora Jr.’s RBI single to roll all the way to the fence.

The two teams will face off for the second game of their series at Wrigley Field on Tuesday night. After an 11-day layoff to rest his tired right arm, Noah Syndergaard will take the mound for the Mets. Syndergaard’s arm fatigue caused him to miss the All-Star Game.

Righty Jake Arrieta will start for the Cubs. Arrieta gave up a season-high six runs on nine hits over six innings in his last outing against the Pirates July 8.

PHOTO: CHICAGO, IL – JULY 18: Anthony Rizzo #44 of the Chicago Cubs points to the dugout as he runs the bases after hitting a three run home run in the 3rd inning against the New York Mets at Wrigley Field on July 16, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The Chicago Cubs scored three home runs, including an inside-the-park homer by first baseman Anthony Rizzo to cruise to a 9-2 victory over the Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati Wednesday afternoon.

Billy Hamilton Hit In Face By Anthony Rizzo’s Opening Homer In Cubs’ 9-2 Road Win

Rizzo made it 3-0 three batters into the game against rookie left-hander Cody Reed when his drive to left-center field caused Reds outfielders Billy Hamilton and Adam Duvall to converge. The ball appeared to skip off Duvall’s glove and into Hamilton’s face as the latter attempted to make a sliding catch.

Hamilton went down hard, and the center fielder was forced from the game. The play was ruled a hit by the official scorer, and Tyler Holt came in to replace Hamilton in center.

The Cubs then pushed their lead to 5-0 in the third innings when catcher Wilson Contreras hit a two-out RBI double, followed by Javier Baez’s RBI single. Solo homers in the fourth by Addison Russell and 22-year-old center fielder Albert Almora Jr. — the first of his career — stretched the lead to seven runs.

Chicago starter Kyle Hendricks had a strong start, allowing two earned runs, eight hits and two walks with five strikeouts. The right-hander lasted 6 2/3 innings.

“I thought his last two innings were his best stuff,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. “Combination of his command really got better, his aggressiveness in the zone got better and it looked like he normally does in the beginning part of the game. He was really good today.”

Duvall opened scoring for Cincinnati in the fourth with a leadoff homer, followed by pinch-hitter Zack Cozart’s RBI groundout that scored Eugenio Suarez. The Reds have lost seven of their last eight games, while the Cubs have won four of eight, including all three games in their series against Cincinnati.

Almora’s first career homer traveled 399 feet and came off the bat at 103mph, according to Statcast. Called up in early June with Dexter Fowler and Jorge Soler on the disabled list, the Cubs’ No. 5 prospect got the start Wednesday as Jayson Heyward received a routine day of rest. Almora contributed defensively with a fine diving catch in center field to rob Brandon Phillips of a hit in the seventh inning.

Reed, who made his third major league start, easily had the worst outing of his career. The 23-year-old allowed seven earned runs and nine hits over four innings with three homers. Ranked as the No. 3 Reds prospect and No. 59 in baseball by MLBPipeline.com, the left-hander had never allowed more than six earned runs in four Minor League seasons. He is now 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA.

“I just didn’t throw a lot of first-pitch strikes,” Reed said. “You make mistakes to the guys in that lineup and they’re going to do it to you. I’ve got to be better next time out and be a little more fine with myself and just stay within myself throughout the outing.”

Rizzo’s first-inning line drive to left-center was his first career inside-the-park home run and his 19th homer of the season, tying him with the Milwaukee Brewers’ Chris Carter for the lead among National League first baseman. It’s the first Cubs inside-the-park homer since Tony Campana on Aug. 5, 2011, which also came against the Reds.

In the top of the eighth, Cincinnati reliever Jumbo Diaz hit Kris Bryant with a pitch, but no warnings were issued.

The Cubs (51-26, 1st in NL Central) next start a four-game road series against the New York Mets on Thursday night. Right-hander John Lackey (7-4, 3.29 ERA) will start for Chicago in the first game between the Cubs and Mets since the 2015 NL Championship Series.

The Reds (29-50, 5th in NL Central) will begin a four-game road series against the Washington Nationals Thursday night, with left-hander Brandon Finnegan set to take the mound for Cincinnati.

CINCINNATI, OH – JUNE 8: Billy Hamilton #6 of the Cincinnati Reds makes a diving catch of a line drive from Matt Adams #32 of the St. Louis Cardinals in the fifth inning at Great American Ball Park on June 8, 2016 in Cincinnati, Ohio. St. Louis defeated Cincinnati 12-7. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Anthony Rizzo recently made a pair of Chicago Cubs fans very happy.

Cubs FB Anthony Rizzo Helps Fan With Surprise Marriage Proposal

The 26-year-old Cubs first baseman showed up at the Fanatics memorabilia show in Chicago on Saturday and helped fan Steve Milsap propose to his girlfriend, Leslie.

Rizzo posed for a photo with the family before setting Steve up to pop the question. Before Steve could even get a chance to finish, Leslie said yes.

The couple even received a customized Cubs jersey with “Marry Me” on the back and Rizzo’s own number, 44.

Rizzo has been batting .279/.419/.620 (172 OPS+) for the Cubs.

Rizzo and the Cubs defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-2 on Saturday, but then lost to the Pirates 2-1 on Sunday. Both games were at Wrigley Field in Chicago. He hit a three-run homer in Saturday’s victory.

As WeAreFanatics.com noted, Leslie was under the impression that the surprise was for her daughter, so it all went off without a hitch.

PHOTO: CHICAGO, IL – MAY 13: Anthony Rizzo #44 of the Chicago Cubs bats against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field on May 13, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. The Cubs defeated the Pirates 9-4. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)