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 came to an end on Friday afternoon.
As planned, Cabrera was activated from the 15-day IL to start the opener of a three-game set against the Giants at Wrigley Field. The end result was rough -- San Francisco tagged Cabrera for eight runs en route to an 18-3 win over the Cubs -- but there was life to Cabrera’s arsenal, even if the command was lacking.
“The stuff, I thought, was probably ticked up,” manager Craig Counsell said. “He just made some bad pitches and they put them in the seats, essentially.”
Over the first three innings, Cabrera was solid -- collecting five strikeouts, with his only setback a two-run homer to Willy Adames in the first. Things spiraled in the fourth, when the Giants struck for six runs on six hits against Cabrera, who exited with 80 pitches logged in 3 2/3 innings overall. That outburst included a grand slam by Matt Chapman and a two-run shot by Casey Schmitt.
Within the outing, Cabrera reached at least 99 mph with his fastball four times. He had not thrown a pitch at least that speed since Aug. 30 last season for the Marlins. Cabrera topped out at 99.5 mph against the Giants, offering some hope that the time off did have its benefits.
“I think maybe the rest can do him some good,” Counsell said on Thursday. “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 had been shelved since May 21 due to a blister on his right middle finger. Reliever Tyler Ferguson was optioned to Triple-A Iowa to clear a roster spot.
Cabrera was disappointed he could not do more in his first start back from the IL.
“For me personally, it bothers me, because I’m a competitive person that doesn’t like to lose,” Cabrera said via team interpreter Fredy Quevedo Jr. “That time off helped me be able to get stronger. The [overall] result was bad, but it was the first time since last year that I touched 100. In terms of that, the results were there.”
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 4.99 ERA with 53 strikeouts and 21 walks in 57 2/3 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.”