MLB: Spring Training Los Angeles Dodgers at Chicago Cubs Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (50) gets the force out on Chicago Cubs third base Jon Berti (5) during the second inning at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

Calls mount for Chicago Cubs roster change after 3B takes 3 strikeouts

Originally posted on ChiCitySports | By Jordan Sigler | Last updated May 16, 2025 6:26 PM ET

The Chicago Cubs mostly took care of business on Friday in a 13-3 win over their crosstown rival. Cubs starting pitcher Cade Horton improved to 2-0 on the back of an offense that recorded 15 hits, much to the excitement of the home crowd of 40,171 at Wrigley Field.

One bat wasn’t hot in the Cubs’ lineup on Friday, and it came from a position of weakness for the roster. Veteran third baseman Jon Berti went 0-for-3 at-bat against the weak Chicago White Sox.

All three at-bats ended in strikeouts for Berti. (Nicky Lopez, who took his place in the lineup batting ninth, also took a strikeout and went 0-for-2 at bat.)

Time for Matt Shaw?

Berti’s performance came on the same afternoon that rookie Matt Shaw hit a lead-off and walk-off home run to give Iowa an 8-7 win over St. Paul in Triple-A. Shaw was sent to Iowa after a slow start at the plate in the majors, batting .172/.294/.241 from the start of the regular season until April 14, his last appearance with Chicago.

Shaw has homered three times in the last three days in Triple-A.

Chicago Cubs fans call for Shaw

MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers at Chicago Cubs MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers at Chicago Cubs Mar 18, 2025; Bunkyo, Tokyo, JPN; Cubs second baseman Matt Shaw (6) heads to the dugout after an out in the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the Tokyo Series at Tokyo Dome. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Fans on social media were calling for the Cubs to call up Shaw for another opportunity in the majors.

“With what they’re getting from Berti/Lopez they might as well call Shaw back up and let him figure it out,” wrote a fan.

“Berti is absolutely horrible. There’s no reason we aren’t calling up Shaw,” posted another.

“Cubs need to call up Shaw and let him figure it out at the big league level the way they did with PCA last year. Berti/Lopez/Brujan provide nothing and have no long term potential here. Time to let Shaw take over,” argued a poster.

“Bring Shaw back up and just DFA Berti,” suggested a fan.

“I’m no longer interested in the Jon Berti experiment. He shouldn’t be anything more than the Brujan pinch runner role. Bring Shaw back up, enough,” posted another.

“Berti strikes out way too much. DFA him and call up Shaw,” wrote a fan.

MLB: Chicago Cubs at Arizona Diamondbacks Mar 29, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Chicago Cubs second base Matt Shaw (6) celebrates after hitting a two run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the seventh inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

This article first appeared on ChiCitySports and was syndicated with permission.

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