Injuries & Moves: Hoerner (hamstring) remains out of lineup
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May 18: INF Nico Hoerner held out of lineup for fifth game in a row
Hoerner was held out of the starting lineup on Saturday, marking his fifth straight game on the bench due to a left hamstring issue. The infielder went through drills before Saturday's game and remains in a day-to-day assessment mode. With an off-day looming Monday, the Cubs are discussing how to handle the next couple days for Hoerner.
"We're kind of coming in always hoping he just keeps getting better," manager Craig Counsell said before Saturday's game. "And I think he made some improvements [Friday]. We don't have any information from today yet, still going through that. We're going to have a decision. Hopefully, he feels great and we've got a tough decision for [Saturday] ready to go.
"But if not, then I think logically waiting through the off-day, that could be a path we take here. We're just going on how he feels and how he's responding. And it truly is day to day."
Prior to the hamstring flare-up, Hoerner spent the previous five games filling in as the Cubs’ shortstop in place of two-time Gold Glove winner Dansby Swanson, who is on the injured list with a right knee injury. Hoerner is batting .269 with two homers, 11 doubles, 12 RBIs and 25 runs scored through 41 games this season. The 27-year-old has hit .289 with a .929 OPS in 12 games in May.
May 18: Cubs acquire Minor League LHP Jeff Belge from Rays in exchange for LHP Richard Lovelady
After designating Lovelady for assignment on Tuesday, Chicago worked out a deal with Tampa Bay for the lefty. The Cubs are receiving the 26-year-old Belge, who has a 4.20 ERA with 17 strikeouts and eight walks in 15 innings for Double-A Montgomery. Belge was an 18th-round pick by the Dodgers in the 2019 Draft and has a 3.81 ERA in parts of five Minor League seasons in the Los Angeles and Tampa Bay systems.
May 17: RHP Colten Brewer (low back strain) placed on 15-day injured list; RHP Porter Hodge recalled from Triple-A Iowa
Manager Craig Counsell noted Brewer first felt the back issue on May 15 in Atlanta during the Cubs’ series against the Braves. The team waited to see if it would improve before opting to place him on the IL. Brewer, who has a 3.09 ERA in seven appearances this season, is now the seventh Cubs reliever on the IL.
The Cubs selected Hodge in the 13th round of the 2019 Draft, and the 23-year-old reached Triple-A Iowa for the first time this season. In 12 appearances between Iowa and Double-A Tennessee this season, he has a 4.80 ERA with 26 strikeouts and 12 walks in 15 innings.
“This is a young pitcher with a very good arm,” Counsell said of Hodge. “It’s a little fast [promotion] for Porter, frankly. But it’s a good arm, and this is going to be a good experience for him. This is going to be development for him, for sure.”
10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
SS Dansby Swanson (right knee sprain)
Expected return: May
Swanson went through a workout before Saturday's game and manager Craig Counsell said the shortstop is "heading in a good direction" for being activated in the near future (possibly as soon as May 21). Swanson was placed on the IL on May 10 (retroactive to May 8) after he was unable to play through discomfort in his right knee, stemming from pain he felt after a slide on April 25. Following a period of rest, recovery and treatment, Swanson has gradually ramped up his activity, including facing live pitching and taking BP in recent days. (Last updated: May 18)
LHP Jordan Wicks (left forearm strain)
Expected return: May
Wicks threw around 40 pitches in a two-inning live BP workout on May 17. Cubs manager Craig Counsell said on May 18 that the lefty has a bullpen session in the coming days, after which Wicks will likely head out on a Minor League rehab assignment. Wicks was placed on the IL on April 28. Imaging on his left forearm revealed no structural damage. (Last updated: May 18)
LHP Drew Smyly (right hip impingement)
Expected return: May
Smyly threw around 40 pitches in a two-inning live BP workout on May 17. Cubs manager Craig Counsell said on May 18 the lefty could head out on a Minor League rehab with High-A South Bend "early next week." Smyly first felt the hip issue during the team's April 15-17 series in Arizona. After the issue persisted against Miami on April 21, the Cubs opted for an IL stint on April 23 (retroactive to April 22). (Last updated: May 18)
RHP Daniel Palencia (right shoulder strain)
Expected return: May
Palencia was scheduled to begin a Minor League rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on May 18, per the Cubs. The righty completed a 25-pitch bullpen session on May 15 in Atlanta and reported feeling good after the workout. Palencia was placed on the IL on May 7 due to a right shoulder strain -- an injury that flared on his final pitch in the Cubs' 6-3 loss to the Padres on May 6. (Last updated: May 18)
RHP Colten Brewer (low back strain)
Expected return: May/June
Manager Craig Counsell noted Brewer first felt the back issue on May 15, when the Cubs were on the road in Atlanta. The team waited to see if it would improve before opting to place the right-hander on the IL -- a move retroactive to May 14. Brewer, whom the Cubs selected from Triple-A Iowa on April 17, has a 3.09 ERA in seven appearances this season, with 12 strikeouts and four walks in 11 2/3 innings. (Last updated: May 17)
RHP Yency Almonte (right shoulder strain)
Expected return: May/June
Almonte was placed on the IL on May 11 (retroactive to May 8) after he did not recover well from his most recent outing on May 7 against the Padres. Manager Craig Counsell said on May 17 that Almonte is currently shut down from throwing and is in a strengthening progression, which the team hopes will be “relatively short.” Almonte had a 3.45 ERA over 17 appearances for Chicago to begin the season. (Last updated: May 17)
RHP Keegan Thompson (viral illness)
Expected return: May/June
Cubs manager Craig Counsell noted on May 15 that Thompson initially became ill on May 12 while the team was in Pittsburgh. Thompson was placed on the IL on May 15 (retroactive to May 12) after it was clear he would need multiple days of recovery after losing strength due to the illness. In nine games this season, the righty has a 4.97 ERA with 19 strikeouts and six walks in 12 2/3 innings. (Last updated: May 15)
RHP Adbert Alzolay (right forearm strain)
Expected return: June
Imaging on Alzolay's arm showed a right flexor strain. The pitcher said on May 14 that he will rest and receive treatment for five days before being reassessed. Alzolay was placed on the 15-day IL on May 13 with the injury, which flared during his outing on May 12. In 18 games this season, Alzolay has a 4.67 ERA with 13 strikeouts, six walks and six homers allowed in 17 1/3 innings.
"It was good news," Cubs manager Craig Counsell said of the test results on May 14. "Obviously, [Alzolay is still] on the injured list with an elbow issue, but I think overall it was good news. Good enough that we're going to treat it for a little while here, but we're not a long ways off from possibly picking up a ball again." (Last updated: May 14)
60-DAY IL
RHP Julian Merryweather (rib stress fracture)
Expected return: TBD
On May 17, Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Merryweather is doing well and has “turned the corner a little bit.” The current plan is for him to begin playing catch on May 20 in Arizona. Counsell noted Merryweather’s IL stint will be longer than 60 days. The 32-year-old has been shut down from throwing the last six weeks after imaging in April revealed he was dealing with a rib stress fracture in his back.
Merryweather was placed on the 15-day IL (retroactive to April 6) on April 7 and transferred to the 60-day IL on April 17, meaning he’ll be out until at least early June. He had a 1.93 ERA with six strikeouts and two walks through four outings (4 2/3 innings) this season. (Last updated: May 17)
RHP Caleb Kilian (right shoulder strain)
Expected return: July
Kilian left his March 5 start against the Royals in the third inning, and an MRI exam revealed a strain of the teres major in his throwing shoulder. The 26-year-old prospect -- acquired from the Giants as part of the Kris Bryant trade in 2021 -- is unlikely to return to game action until July, per manager Craig Counsell. In '23, Kilian made three appearances for the Cubs and went 8-3 in Triple-A with a 4.56 ERA in 120 1/3 innings. The Cubs placed him on the 60-day IL on March 28. (Last updated: March 28)