Kelly went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI in Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Padres.

EDGE Analysis

Kelly connected in the fifth inning for his first home run of the exhibition slate. The veteran catcher got off to a scorching hot start in 2025 before eventually cooling off, but he still finished with a respectable .761 OPS and 17 home runs across 111 regular-season games. Heading into 2026, Kelly should be Chicago's top backstop again with Miguel Amaya serving in a complementary role. Amaya dealt with a myriad of injuries last year and could push for a larger chunk of playing time this season if he stays healthy, which would allow Kelly to stay fresher but might reduce his fantasy ceiling.

Kelly is out of the lineup for Friday's game against St. Louis.

EDGE Analysis

Kelly will yield to Reese McGuire behind the dish for Friday's series opener. It looks to be just a rest day for Kelly, who had caught four consecutive games leading up to the contest.

Kelly isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Cincinnati.

EDGE Analysis

Kelly will receive a day off Saturday after going 2-for-4 with a strikeout during Friday's loss. Reese McGuire will catch for starter Javier Assad instead and bat ninth.

Kelly is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Pirates.

EDGE Analysis

Kelly will head to the bench for the day game after he started behind the plate Monday and Tuesday while going 3-for-9 with a double. Reese McGuire will handle catching duties for the Cubs in the series finale.

Kelly is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays.

EDGE Analysis

Kelly will get some rest for the series finale after he started at catcher in each of the team's last four contests. Reese McGuire will form a battery with starting pitcher Matthew Boyd on Sunday.

Kelly went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 3-2 win over Atlanta.

EDGE Analysis

Kelly continued his recent power surge, as he now has four home runs over his last six games. During that span, he's also tallied seven RBI and he's sporting a 1.058 OPS. Kelly now has 17 long balls for the season, which puts him within one of his previous career high. The Chicago catcher has already set a new career high with 50 RBI this year.

Kelly is out of the lineup for Monday's game in Atlanta.

EDGE Analysis

Kelly will get a breather for the series opener in Atlanta after he started behind the plate in the final two games of the Cubs' weekend set versus the Nationals, going 2-for-7 with a pair of solo home runs, an additional RBI and a walk between those contests. Reese McGuire will handle catching duties for Chicago on Monday.

Kelly went 2-for-4 with two solo home runs in Sunday's 6-3 loss to the Nationals.

EDGE Analysis

Kelly went deep for the second time in his last four games as he registered his third multi-homer performance of the season. The Chicago catcher is up to 16 long balls this year, which is two away from his career high of 18 home runs that he set back in 2019 while playing for the Diamondbacks. Kelly has been a pleasant surprise all season for the Cubs with his .800 OPS, and he should continue to start most days behind the plate moving forward.

Kelly is absent from the lineup for Friday's contest against the Nationals.

EDGE Analysis

Kelly didn't start Wednesday's game versus Atlanta, either, prior to Thursday's team off day, so he's getting some extended rest. Reese McGuire will do the catching and bat ninth for the Cubs on Friday.

Kelly is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against Atlanta.

EDGE Analysis

After going 2-for-8 with his 14th home run of the season, a walk and three RBI while starting behind the plate in the first two games of the series, Kelly will get a breather for the finale. Reese McGuire will handle catching duties for the Cubs.