Injuries & Moves: Cubs select Roberts; Cuas DFA'd
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June 16: RHP Ethan Roberts selected to the 40-man roster, optioned to Triple-A Iowa; RHP Jose Cuas designated for assignment
The Cubs signed Roberts to a Minor League contract on Dec. 2 last offseason. He had an opt-out in his contract this weekend. The 26-year-old made his Major League debut with the Cubs on April 9, 2022, and made nine relief appearances that season. Roberts landed on the 10-day injured list due to right shoulder inflammation on May 2, 2022, and on July 13 underwent Tommy John surgery. He did not pitch in 2023.
Roberts has a 0.00 ERA in 12 appearances this season between the Arizona Complex League Cubs, Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa. In 10 appearances with Iowa, he has 13 strikeouts and six walks in 9 2/3 innings.
The Cubs acquired Cuas from the Royals for outfielder Nelson Velázquez on July 31, 2023. He compiled a 4.62 ERA in 36 appearances with the Cubs the past two seasons, including a 7.43 ERA in nine outings across three stints in the Majors this year.
June 15: LHP Jordan Wicks (right oblique strain) placed on 15-day injured list; RHP Keegan Thompson recalled from Triple-A Iowa
Wicks has a right oblique strain, Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed after Friday's 3-0 loss to the Cardinals. The 24-year-old lefty, who exited his start after 1 2/3 innings due to the injury, was officially placed on the injured list prior to Saturday’s game against St. Louis. Wicks underwent testing on Saturday, which revealed a Grade 2 strain, according to Counsell.
“We’re seeing how that progresses, but he’s going to miss some time here,” Counsell said.
Friday was Wicks' first start since April 23 and his second appearance since coming off the 15-day injured list on June 7, after he dealt with a left forearm strain. In seven appearances (six starts) this season, he has a 4.18 ERA.
This is Thompson’s third stint with the Cubs this season. He has a 4.97 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP in nine appearances, with 19 strikeouts and six walks in 12 2/3 innings.
June 14: RHP Ben Brown has stress reaction in his neck
Manager Craig Counsell revealed that Brown has been diagnosed with a stress reaction in his neck. The rookie right-hander underwent testing in Chicago in recent days after going on the 15-day IL on June 11 with what the team initially called a left neck strain. Counsell said Brown’s symptoms began as a stiff neck but they “just didn’t get better.”
The Cubs are still determining a potential timeline for Brown’s absence and the next steps for him. Counsell acknowledged the diagnosis “is going to mean an absence, for sure.”
“We're still trying to figure out exactly how long and what it means and what he can do,” Counsell said. “It's a unique injury, a little bit of a rare injury for a pitcher. We're trying to just get some more opinions and figure out exactly what's next for him.”
Brown has been a key member of the Cubs’ pitching staff this season, working between the rotation and bullpen. He has a 3.58 ERA in 15 appearances (eight starts), with 64 strikeouts and 19 walks in 55 1/3 innings.
10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
LHP Jordan Wicks (right oblique strain)
Expected return: July at the earliest
Wicks exited his start against the Cardinals on June 14 after 1 2/3 innings due to the oblique issue. The lefty said he felt “tightness” in his side after throwing a pitch, and it persisted for a couple of pitches in a row, leading to his exit. The Cubs placed him on the injured list on June 15 after he underwent further testing, which revealed a Grade 2 strain, according to manager Craig 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 after dealing with a left forearm strain. (Last updated: June 16)
RHP Yency Almonte (right shoulder strain)
Expected return: June
Almonte threw a live batting practice on June 14 in Arizona, after which he returned to Chicago to continue his progression. Cubs manager Craig Counsell said on June 16 that Almonte will throw another live BP on June 18 and then begin a Minor League rehab assignment by the end of the week.
Almonte went on the IL on May 11 (retroactive to May 8) with a right shoulder strain. The injury popped up when the right-hander did not recover well from his outing on May 7 against the Padres. Almonte resumed playing catch on May 21, and has a 3.45 ERA over 17 appearances for Chicago so far this season. (Last updated: June 16)
RHP Ben Brown (stress reaction in neck)
Expected return: TBD
Brown, who went on the injured list on June 11 with a left neck strain, was diagnosed with a stress reaction in his neck after undergoing further testing, manager Craig Counsell said on June 14. The team is still determining the next steps for the rookie right-hander, but Counsell acknowledged the new diagnosis “is going to mean an absence, for sure.”
“It's a unique injury, a little bit of a rare injury for a pitcher,” Counsell said. “We're trying to just get some more opinions and figure out exactly what's next for him.”
Counsell said there wasn't a specific moment the injury cropped up for Brown, who is 1-3 this season with a 3.58 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 55 1/3 innings. (Last updated: June 14)
7-DAY MINOR LEAGUE INJURED LIST
RHP Cade Horton (right lat strain)
Expected return: July
After a recent checkup in Chicago, the 22-year-old Horton (MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 Cubs prospect and the No. 17 prospect on the Top 100 list) was diagnosed with a right lat strain, president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said on June 4. The current plan calls for Horton to be shut down from throwing for three to four weeks while rehabbing at the Cubs’ complex in Arizona.
Horton, who was Chicago’s first-round pick (No. 7 overall) in the 2022 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: June 4)
60-DAY IL
RHP Julian Merryweather (rib stress fracture)
Expected return: July
Merryweather threw a 26-pitch bullpen session in Arizona on June 14, after he resumed playing catch on May 21. Cubs manager Craig Counsell said on June 16 that the expectation is that the reliever is on track to return around the All-Star break. Imaging in April revealed that Merryweather was dealing with a rib stress fracture in his back and the righty was placed on the 15-day IL on April 7 (retroactive to April 6). He was transferred to the 60-day IL on April 17. Merryweather has a 1.93 ERA with six strikeouts and two walks through four outings (4 2/3 innings) this season. (Last updated: June 16)
RHP Caleb Kilian (right shoulder strain)
Expected return: July
As of June 7, Kilian had resumed throwing bullpen sessions at the team’s complex in Arizona. The right-hander threw a 32-pitch bullpen on June 14.
Kilian left his March 5 start against the Royals in the third inning before an MRI exam revealed a strain of the teres major in his throwing shoulder. The 27-year-old pitcher -- acquired from the Giants as part of the Kris Bryant trade in 2021 -- was projected to return to game action around July at the time of the injury. In '23, Kilian made three appearances for the Cubs and went 8-3 with a 4.56 ERA in 120 1/3 innings with Triple-A Iowa. He was placed on the 60-day IL on March 28. (Last updated: June 15)
RHP Adbert Alzolay (right flexor strain)
Expected return: TBD
The Cubs noted on May 26 that Alzolay has moved his rehab process to Arizona for the time being. The right-hander is currently in a minimum two-week down period from throwing, as manager Craig Counsell noted on May 22. Alzolay was shut down after seeking a second opinion on his right flexor strain, which is similar to an issue the reliever dealt with last September. He was transferred to the 60-day IL on June 2.
“It's going to be a while,” Counsell said on May 22.
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. (Last updated: June 2)