Matt Shaw’s offensive struggles prompted manager Craig Counsell to start Jon Berti at third base Wednesday in the Chicago Cubs’ 4-2 loss.

The Chicago Cubs are linked to five starters, Sandy Alcantara, Edward Cabrera, Mitch Keller, Merrill Kelly, and Zac Gallen, amid the team's dire need in the rotation.

A year after taking Cam Smith and trading him to the Astros in a package for Kyle Tucker, the Cubs own pick No. 17 in this summer's draft.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell held rookie Matt Shaw out of the starting lineup on Wednesday, giving the young third baseman a day to focus on his pregame work without worrying too much about the night’s game against the Twins.

The 36-year-old right-hander had been pitching in the Mexican League until he announced his retirement over the weekend.

The Cubs’ Michael Busch is a rare Simley product gaining fame without wrestling. Will Short, coach of Simley’s powerhouse wrestling program, is over it: “We couldn’t be more proud of Michael.” Read more in Patrick Reusse's latest column.

The Chicago Cubs enter the month of the trade deadline with very clear needs for Jed Hoyer to address. The biggest need of all is in their starting rotation. Sandy Alcantara, understandably, is a pitcher Cubs fans have been clamoring for really since Opening Day. While he's a big name, he continues to prove the Cubs should go in another direction.

PITCHING PROBABLES: Cubs: Colin Rea (6-3, 4.13 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 60 strikeouts); Twins: Chris Paddack (3-7, 4.64 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 68 strikeouts) BOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Cubs will aim to stop a three-game road skid when they face the Minnesota Twins.