CHICAGO -- Edward Cabrera was scheduled to play catch and test things off a mound on Sunday morning at Wrigley Field. It soon became clear that the results did not match Cabrera’s recent optimism that he would not miss a start for the Cubs.
Prior to Sunday’s 8-5 loss to the Astros, Chicago placed Cabrera on the 15-day injured list – retroactive to Thursday – due to the right middle-finger blister that abruptly forced an end to his last start. The Cubs recalled left-hander Jordan Wicks from Triple-A Iowa to fill the latest hole in a pitching staff beset with injury issues.
“He threw his bullpen and it’s just still there, I think is the best way to say it,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said after Sunday’s game. “He got through his bullpen fine, but the more he stepped on a pitch, the more he felt it. And I think that was a sign to us where he’s going to feel it on Tuesday when he pitches.”
Following Shota Imanaga taking the ball for the North Siders on Sunday, the Cubs plan on having righty Ben Brown start on Monday in the opener of a four-game series in Pittsburgh. The rest of the rotation against the Pirates is currently listed as TBA. The Cubs will need a starter for Tuesday and Wicks would now be the leading candidate for that spot.
Based on the schedule, Jameson Taillon and Colin Rea would not be able to start until Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, at the earliest. The Cubs will likely hold off on officially announcing the rotation plans beyond Brown until Monday. Counsell would only say that Wicks would “be involved” in Tuesday’s pitching plans.
Cabrera exited his outing on Wednesday after one errant pitch to Joey Ortiz to open the fourth inning of the Cubs’ 5-0 loss to the Brewers. Both the wildness of the fastball and velocity (92.5 mph) made the pitch alarming and the righty was immediately pulled from the game. It was then revealed that he had been trying to pitch with the blister issue even prior to that start.
Asked about managing the issue and potentially making his next scheduled start, Cabrera said he was “not worried.” Clearly, the blister required more time to heal, considering the Cubs opted for the move to the IL. Cabrera will not be eligible to return until June 5 at the earliest against the Giants at home.
“Really, we’re optimistic that this can be a minimum, or very close to minimum, stint,” Counsell said. “But we’ve just got to let that hot area cool down, so to speak. And then get him back in there.”
On the season, the 28-year-old Cabrera has a 4.00 ERA with 47 strikeouts and 20 walks in 54 innings (10 starts).
The Cubs are also currently without lefty Matthew Boyd, who is on the 15-day IL after undergoing left knee surgery on May 7. Boyd simulated multiple innings off a mound on Friday and is slated to face hitters in a live BP session at some point during the upcoming series in Pittsburgh. Boyd also needs to continue building through a running program.
Beyond Boyd, Chicago is without Cade Horton (right elbow surgery) for the rest of this season and may not see Justin Steele (left flexor strain) until the second half. Steele is scheduled for a check-up with Dr. Keith Meister next week and will need clearance before resuming his throwing program.
As for Wicks (5.21 ERA in 26 games for the Cubs across 2023-25), he headed into Spring Training as a candidate for either the bullpen or back of the rotation, but a left forearm issue landed him on the IL to begin the season. The 26-year-old lefty was activated on May 15, but optioned to Triple-A Iowa to continue on as a part of the I-Cubs’ rotation.
Wicks – a first-round pick by the Cubs in the 2021 Draft – last pitched on Thursday, lining him up for a potential start against the Pirates on Tuesday. In his three most recent outings at Triple-A, the lefty allowed just one run on seven hits in 15 innings combined, striking out eight and walking four in those starts.