LATEST NEWS

April 28: LHP Jordan Wicks placed on 15-day IL; LHP Luke Little optioned to Triple-A Iowa; RHP Daniel Palencia recalled; LHP Richard Lovelady selected from Triple-A Iowa
Wicks was placed on the injured list due to a left forearm strain. The lefty said he first felt tightness prior to his start against the Astros on April 23, but it did not feel serious. However, Wicks said the discomfort persisted over the past few days.

"We just wanted to be precautionary this early in the season," said Wicks, who was initially lined up to start Sunday's series finale against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. "I feel like there's no reason to push it or put anything unnecessarily at risk. Obviously, I'm extremely frustrated that we had to do that, but it's the best course of action going forward with the bigger picture in mind. I'm not overly concerned."

Wicks, 24, logged a quality start against the Astros in his most recent outing, giving the rookie lefty a 4.70 ERA through five starts this year. In 23 innings, Wicks has 28 strikeouts against nine walks.

The 28-year-old Lovelady had a 20-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 12 1/3 innings over 10 appearances with Triple-A Iowa, but he also allowed 22 hits and had a 5.84 ERA. Palencia, 24, has made three appearances for the Cubs this season, pitching to a 6.00 ERA. Little, 23, owns a 7.00 ERA in 10 appearances (one as an opener) this season for the Cubs.

• All Cubs transactions

10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST

RHP Kyle Hendricks (low back strain)
Expected return: May
Hendricks will make a rehab start for Double-A Tennessee on Thursday. He is expected to throw 75-80 pitches, as the Cubs want to make sure that he is recovering successfully from his back issues.

“He hasn’t missed too much time. As long as he is doing [well], [we want him to] pitch as much as he can,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said.

Hendricks noted on April 24 that he felt his lower back issue flare up during his bullpen session between his previous two starts, then worsen throughout his April 21 start against the Marlins. The move to the IL (retroactive to April 22) gave the veteran not only a chance to recover, but to work on bouncing back from a rough start to his season. Through five starts, Hendricks is 0-3 with a 12.00 ERA in 21 innings. The timetable for his return is unclear. (Last updated: May 1)

LHP Jordan Wicks (left forearm strain)
Expected return: Mid-to-late May
Wicks played catch for the first time on April 30 without any problems, manager Craig Counsell said. Wicks was scheduled to start on April 28 in Boston, but he was scratched the night before due to a left forearm issue. Imaging showed there is nothing structurally wrong with the forearm.

“He is going to keep playing catch and keep progressing,” Counsell said.

Wicks said he first felt the issue while warming up for his start against the Astros on April 23, but it calmed down and he did not think it was anything serious. When the discomfort persisted over the next few days, he opted to be cautious. There is no firm timetable yet for Wicks' return. (Last updated: May 1)

LHP Justin Steele (left hamstring strain)
Expected return: May
After throwing 47 pitches during an extended spring game on April 26th in Arizona, Steele is expected to have a rehab start for Triple-A Iowa on May 1. He is scheduled to throw 60 to 65 pitches. If things go well, manager Craig Counsell indicated his next start could be with the Cubs.

“We are going to see how [May 1] goes, so [May 1] is a big day for sure,” Counsell said. “We’ll make the plan after [May 1]."

On March 30, the Cubs announced that Steele had a Grade 1 strain of his left hamstring. Steele exited his Opening Day outing against the Rangers on March 28 after 4 2/3 innings and 67 pitches due to the injury. While fielding a bunt and flipping the ball to first base, Steele said he "felt something grab" in his leg. (Last updated: April 29)

OF Cody Bellinger (two right rib fractures)
Expected return: May/June
Bellinger did some light exercises, played catch and participated in fielding drills with Major League coach Jonathan Mota before the Cubs played the Mets at Citi Field on Monday. This follows his recovery after he ramped up activity in Boston the series prior.

“I think we are always advancing … and we’ll wait and see how [I] recover,” Bellinger said.

Bellinger injured his right side while running into Wrigley Field's brick wall on a catch attempt in the fourth inning of the Cubs' 7-2 win over the Astros on April 23. X-rays that night showed nothing alarming, but a follow-up CT scan on April 24 revealed two fractured ribs on the center fielder's right side. (Last updated: April 29)

LHP Drew Smyly (right hip impingement)
Expected return: May
Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy noted on April 25 that Smyly would remain in rest/recovery mode through the April 26-28 weekend. From there, the Cubs will assess the lefty's progress before mapping out a throwing schedule.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said the 34-year-old Smyly began dealing with the hip issue during the team's April 15-17 series in Arizona, where the lefty appeared in all three games against the D-backs. The issue persisted in Smyly's outing against Miami on April 21, per Counsell.

Through nine appearances this season, Smyly has a 4.97 ERA with 11 strikeouts and five walks in 12 2/3 innings. He allowed five runs (four earned) in his last four appearances (four innings total) prior to landing on the IL (retroactive to April 22). (Last updated: April 25)

OF Seiya Suzuki (right oblique strain)
Expected return: Mid-May
Suzuki resumed baseball activities on April 21 and began adding light swinging to his workouts on April 22, per manager Craig Counsell. The manager noted that Suzuki would continue to ramp up his activity through the upcoming road trip (April 26-May 2), and a Minor League rehab assignment could follow soon after that, barring any setbacks.

"Seiya's doing great. We're doing good," Counsell said on April 24. "We should be in a pretty good place once we get through that road trip, in terms of starting to talk about going to play."

On April 14 in Seattle, Suzuki injured his side while running down to first base in his final at-bat, leading to his placement on the 10-day IL on April 15. This is the second oblique injury Suzuki has sustained in as many seasons -- he missed six weeks last season after straining his left oblique. On April 16, Counsell suggested a rough timeline of four weeks for Suzuki to return to action from the latest oblique issue. (Last updated: April 24)

60-DAY IL

RHP Julian Merryweather (rib stress fracture in back)
Expected return: TBD
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said on April 8 that imaging revealed that the 32-year-old Merryweather was dealing with a rib stress fracture in his back. The pitcher will be shut down for four weeks before being re-evaluated, making the timetable for return unclear at this stage. Merryweather was placed on the 15-day IL (retroactive to April 6) prior to Chicago's April 7 game against the Dodgers, and transferred to the 60-day IL on April 17, meaning he’ll be out until at least early June.

Merryweather had a 1.93 ERA with six strikeouts and two walks through four outings (4 2/3 innings) this season. (Last updated: April 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 pitching 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. The righty had a 1.50 ERA in three Cactus League outings this spring. In '23, Kilian made three appearances for the Cubs and went 8-3 with a 4.56 ERA in 120 1/3 innings for Triple-A Iowa. The Cubs placed him on the 60-day IL on March 28. (Last updated: March 28)

• More injury news