Cabrera (blister) aiming to be activated for Friday's Giants opener

CHICAGO – The Cubs are hoping that Edward Cabrera’s stint on the injured list can wind up being something that helped him get a quality mid-season break in preparation for some important months ahead. The righty’s recent reset is expected to come to an end on Friday.

Prior to Thursday’s game against the A’s, Cubs manager Craig Counsell noted that Cabrera is on target to be activated from the 15-day IL on Friday to pitch against the Giants in the opener of a three-game set at Wrigley Field. Cabrera has been shelved since May 21 due to a blister on his right middle finger.

“I think maybe the rest can do him some good,” Counsell said. “I think it does every starter some good if it happens. It doesn’t always happen, but hopefully that can do us some good and freshen him up and get him ready for the next four months.”

Cabrera exited his outing against the Brewers on May 20 in the fourth inning when the blister issue -- a setback he has dealt with throughout his career -- became too problematic. It impacted that three-inning appearance, though it is not entirely clear how much Cabrera was hindered by the blister in other starts leading up to that game.

In his three appearances prior to being placed on the IL, Cabrera logged a 6.39 ERA in 12 2/3 innings. Before that stretch, the hard-throwing righty had turned in a 3.27 ERA in 41 1/3 innings across his first seven starts for Chicago. Overall, Cabrera has a 4.00 ERA with 47 strikeouts and 20 walks in 54 innings this year.

“Cabby got off to a good start,” Counsell said. “Obviously, the blister issue came up. It certainly affected him in the Milwaukee start. Hopefully, there’s a combination of we got him a little break and the finger can resolve itself. It’s going to be an issue again -- it’s been an issue every season for him. It’s part of him pitching.”

Cabrera did a full warm-up and then simulated three innings in an extensive bullpen session on Sunday in St. Louis as one of his final tests ahead of being activated. The righty recovered well after that workout and has continued with his typical between-start routine over the past few days in Chicago.

The Cubs are also hopeful about having veteran lefty Matthew Boyd back in the rotation soon.

Boyd, who has been on the IL since undergoing surgery on his left knee on May 7, logged 63 pitches in four innings during a Minor League rehab start with Triple-A Iowa on Sunday. The lefty is scheduled to make another rehab start with Iowa on Saturday and, if that goes well, his next appearance could be back with the Cubs.

“Look,” Counsell said, “Matt started Game 1 of the season. Edward started Game 4. We’ve had significant losses in the rotation. … So yeah, we need healthy bodies back. And absolutely, the signs right now, everything is pointing to them returning in the near term.”