This article is brought to you by Ankin Law, Chicago's injury law firm. With over 80 attorneys and staff, Ankin Law is here to help.
Call 312.600.0000. Injury law made personal - That's Ankin Law.
With the season in its waning days, the time is running short for injured players to get back and make a meaningful impact on the Cubs’ desperate final push. Indeed, I don’t even like framing it that way, because I sure as heck don’t want to see anyone brought back prematurely just enhanced the 1.0% chance of a playoff run.
Some Cubs injury updates …
Justin Steele (elbow tendinitis) was able to throw his first bullpen session yesterday in L.A., so that’s a positive sign. He’s expected to throw another this weekend, and as long as he doesn’t feel anything, it’s possible he does make additional start(s) before the season ends.
“This is a true day-to-day thing,” Craig Counsell said of Steele’s situation, . “And so we had a really good day today. We’re getting good news. This is like five days of straight good news, which is encouraging. We’ve got more days to accomplish good news, but so far, so good.”
There is also good news on reliever Porter Hodge, who dealt with a bit of heart racing on Tuesday and required attention on the mound. Thankfully, Hodge seemed OK in the moment,🐻 and then was checked ou🔯t again after the game and everything was all right:
Elsewhere in the bullpen group, Hayden Wesneski is getting very close to a return. Out since mid-July with a forearm strain, Wesneski has been making rehab appearances at Iowa without issue (including 39 pitch⛦es on Tuesday). I suspect the Cubs will want to get him back before the end of the season just to finish his year on a strong note. He remains a valuable swing/up-down/controllable utility pitcher going into 202♊5.
Jorge Lopez (groin) a 20-pitch bullpen session earlier this week, so t༒hat seems a good sign for his possible return this month, too.
Ditto to all of that on Julian Merryweather (knee tendinitis), a rehab appearance 🧜at Iowa soo🍌n.
Here’s where you ask whether there are any updates on Ben Brown or Cade Horton, and I unfortunately tell you that there are not. I am just preparing myself for the scenario that they aren’t going to really start throwing again until their usual ramp-up for 2025.
