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Cubs Placing Right-Hander on IL With Move to Bullpen Looming
0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. The Chicago Cubs are placing right-handed pitcher Edward Cabrera on the injured list with a blister ahead of their series against their crosstown rivals.
Cabrera arrived in Chicago ahead of the season in a blockbuster trade with the Miami Marlins, but has been far from impressive in his 15 starts this season. He has a 5.68 ERA through 76 innings pitched, striking out just 67 batters in the process. Additionally, his -1.2 bWAR is the worst on the team.
He first landed on the injured list in May, struggling with a blister on his right-middle finger, but took another trip to the sidelines in June after straining his left hamstring.
Cabrera's most recent start came against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday, which marked his first appearance in MLB since June 23. The right-hander threw just 3.2 innings while surrendering seven earned runs and earning a loss — clearly struggling with the effects of the blister.
“It didn’t go well. And I think the lack of swing and miss, again, is concerning,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said . “He obviously got some big swing-and-miss in some of his rehab starts. To me, it looks like the separation between the changeup and the fastball right now, the hitter is not showing you that it’s a lot.”
Cabrera has clearly not performed up to standard since his arrival in Chicago, and the Cubs are planning to move him out of the rotation whenever he returns.
According to ESPN's Jesse Rogers, the Cubs believe he is best suited for shorter outings due to his recent struggles with his blister, and they'll begin running him out as a reliever whenever he's reinstated.
Cabrera, a six-year MLB veteran, has only ever made two appearances out of the bullpen during the regular season, both of which came in 2023. One of those outings came behind an opener, but he served as a legitimate long relief option in the other against the Los Angeles Dodgers — allowing just one hit and no earned runs over the course of four innings.
If Cabrera can get right in the bullpen upon his return, the Cubs will have a weapon in their bullpen for the postseason.
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