Injuries & Moves: Roberts exits with right ankle soreness

Injuries & Moves: Roberts exits with right ankle soreness

August 28th, 2024

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Aug. 28: RHP exits game vs. Pirates with right ankle soreness
Roberts faced nine batters in relief of starter Kyle Hendricks before he was checked by the training staff upon allowing a single to Yasmani Grandal with no outs in the bottom of the fourth inning in Wednesday's series finale, and he promptly left the game. He is considered day to day. Roberts returned from Tommy John surgery rehab on June 30 and has posted a 3.14 ERA in 10 games since then.

Aug. 27: RHP to 15-day IL with right knee tendinitis; RHP recalled from Triple-A
Merryweather last pitched in Sunday’s series finale against the Marlins, against whom he allowed four runs in one inning. Manager Craig Counsell said the injury has come and gone over the course of the season, but it got to the point where an injured list stay was the best move for the team.

Thompson went to the 15-day injured list on June 28 with a right rib fracture. Once his rehab was complete and he was activated on Aug. 7, he stayed with Iowa and pitched eight innings across six appearances with three runs allowed (one earned).

Aug. 27: RHP optioned to Triple-A Iowa; RHP recalled from Triple-A Iowa
Neely made four appearances in his first trip to the Majors, allowing four runs in an inning in his debut, but he followed it up with two scoreless outings and a two-run showing in Pittsburgh on Monday. Manager Craig Counsell said he hopes Neely learns from the "feedback" he got from Major League hitters to continue his development.

Palencia has been back and forth between Triple-A Iowa over the course of the season, but his most recent stay has been his longest. Since being optioned on July 16, Palencia has allowed five runs over 10 appearances (12 1/3 innings), and Counsell said his last couple of outings have been exceptional.

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10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST

C (right knee sprain)
Expected return: September
Nido moved his rehab to the Cubs' complex in Arizona on Aug. 4. He caught seven innings in an Arizona game on Aug. 27 as part of his progression. Chicago announced on July 30 that Nido underwent a right knee scope (debridement) procedure during the series in Cincinnati.

The veteran catcher tweaked his knee on July 24 and was placed on the 10-day IL two days later. Manager Craig Counsell indicated on July 31 that Nido would likely be sidelined around four to six weeks. (Last updated: Aug. 28)

RHP (right knee tendinitis)
Expected return: September
Manager Craig Counsell describe Merryweather's knee issues as an "off and on" situation throughout the season, and it worsened recently to affect his performance in a four-run relief outing on Aug. 25 against the Marlins. Merryweather has allowed 11 runs over 15 innings this season in the Majors after breaking out with a 3.38 ERA in 72 innings last season. (Last updated: Aug. 27)

RHP (right forearm strain)
Expected return: Late August or early September
Wesneski continued his throwing progression with a bullpen session on Aug. 21, per the Cubs. The righty moved his rehab to Arizona on Aug. 9, and was back on a mound by Aug. 13. Wesneski was placed on the IL on July 20 after imaging revealed a forearm strain, following a setback in his July 19 outing against Arizona.

In 25 games (seven starts) this season, the 26-year-old Wesneski has logged a 3.94 ERA in 61 2/3 innings for the Cubs. (Last updated: Aug. 21)

60-DAY IL

RHP (neck strain)
Expected return: Likely 2025
Cubs manager Craig Counsell told reporters on Aug. 28 that it's unlikely Brown, who is still in Arizona, will return this season.

Brown was transferred to the 60-day IL on July 26 and has been rehabbing in Arizona. Counsell noted on June 19 that testing on the pitcher's neck revealed a "benign area of concern." Brown, who has a 3.58 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 55 1/3 innings, was placed on the IL on June 11. (Last updated: Aug. 28)

RHP (fractured left hand)
Expected return: TBD
Brewer threw 17 pitches in one inning of a game at the Cubs' Arizona complex on Aug. 27. The club noted on Aug. 20 that Brewer met with a hand specialist and was cleared to continue with his throwing progression. The 31-year-old reliever punched a wall in the Cubs’ dugout after his outing against the Angels on July 6 and sustained a fractured left hand.

Brewer has logged a 5.66 ERA in 20 2/3 innings this season, striking out 22 and walking nine. He had a 3.45 ERA in his first 11 outings for the Cubs, but has slumped to the tune of a 12.60 ERA in his past five appearances, culminating in the July 6 setback. (Last updated: Aug. 28)

LHP (right oblique strain)
Expected return: Late August or early September
Wicks logged 73 pitches in 4 2/3 scoreless innings with four strikeouts, one walk and three hits allowed in his fourth rehab outing with Triple-A Iowa on Aug. 25. Cubs manager Craig Counsell said on Aug. 26 that Wicks will make another Triple-A rehab start on Aug. 30.

Wicks exited his start against the Cardinals on June 14 after 1 2/3 innings due to an oblique issue. The Cubs placed him on the injured list on June 15 after he underwent further testing, which revealed a Grade 2 strain, according to Counsell. Wicks’ start against St. Louis was his first since April 23 and his second appearance after returning from the 15-day IL on June 7 due to a left forearm strain. (Last updated: Aug. 26)

RHP (right flexor strain)
Expected return: TBD
Alzolay was scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery on Aug. 7, manager Craig Counsell announced. The right-hander is expected to miss a significant portion of the 2025 season, but his timetable for return has not yet been fully established.

Counsell noted on July 29 that Alzolay had not recovered well from his Minor League rehab outing with Triple-A Iowa on July 27. Counsell called it a "setback," noting that the reliever was headed to Chicago to be evaluated by the Cubs’ medical team. (Last updated: Aug. 7)

LHP (left shoulder strain)
Expected return: 2025
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said on July 20 that the current expectation is that Little will miss the remainder of the 2024 season due to his left shoulder/lat injury. The lefty landed on the 15-day IL on July 13 -- one day after exiting his outing against the Cardinals after just four pitches. He was moved to the 60-day IL on July 22.

“I think Luke had gotten to a point where there was a real role for him on this team,” Counsell said on July 20. “I think there was development that happened this year and I think he was really trending in a good direction. Unfortunately, that’s probably going to have to stop now and wait until next year.”

Little posted a 3.46 ERA in 30 games overall this season, but had a 1.59 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 17 innings and a .127 opponents’ average in the 20 appearances prior to the IL stint. (Last updated: July 22)

RHP (right shoulder strain)
Expected return: 2025
Almonte underwent a successful labral repair surgery, per the Cubs. The righty had been attempting to come back from the injury for two months after landing on the injured list on May 11, retroactive to May 8, before opting for the surgery.

“I got news that I didn't want to get,” said Almonte, who was acquired from the Dodgers in January. “It's upsetting. I came here with a positive mindset from the trade, ready to go dominate. And I feel like I started off pretty well and just was in a good place mentally.”

Almonte faced hitters in a live batting practice session on June 18 with High-A South Bend and was “not symptom free” during that workout, leading to the second opinion. The pitcher said he is dealing with a minor tear of his labrum. Almonte posted a 3.45 ERA over 17 appearances for Chicago. (Last updated: July 12)

MINOR LEAGUE INJURED LIST

RHP (right lat strain; No. 2 on Cubs' Top Prospects list, No. 31 overall)
Expected return: 2025
Horton’s 2024 regular season is over after he suffered a setback in his rehab from the right subscapularis strain that sidelined him in May. Returning to competitive action before the end of the Minor League season would be difficult at this stage, but GM Carter Hawkins said trying to ramp up for the Arizona Fall League could be a challenge, but "not out of the question."

“At this point of the year and this point of his career,” Hawkins said on Aug. 13, “it's not something that we wanted to push. We feel confident that he'll be ready to rock and roll come Spring Training, and certainly he’ll be part of our plans for next year. We just felt like pushing for this year wasn't the smartest thing.”

Horton, who was Chicago’s first-round pick (No. 7 overall) in the 2022 MLB Draft, exited his May 29 start for Triple-A Iowa after logging 20 pitches in one inning (two runs allowed) against Louisville. The righty has posted a 7.50 ERA with 22 strikeouts and 11 walks in 18 innings (five starts) for Iowa, following a four-start stint (1.10 ERA with 18 strikeouts and two walks in 16 1/3 innings) with Double-A Tennessee to begin the season. (Last updated: Aug. 22)

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