Ben Brown Joins Edward Cabrera In Going On Cubs' Injured List

[Steve Drumwright]

 

 

Within the span of about 12 hours, the Chicago Cubs lost 40% of their starting rotation.

The Cubs on Wednesday placed right-handed starters Edward Cabrera and Ben Brown on the 15-day injured list. Right-handed relievers Gavin Hollowell and Vince Velasquez were called up from Triple-A Iowa. Velasquez needed to be added to the 40-man roster, which is full, so right-hander Eduardniel Nunez was designated for assignment.

Cabrera went on the IL after he strained his left adductor and left hamstring while stretching for a throw as he covered first base in Tuesday's 9-6 victory over the New York Mets. Brown's IL placement was due to a strained neck. They make it six Cubs starting pitchers on the IL, with left-hander Matthew Boyd set to come off Thursday.

More testing was set for Wednesday to determine the extent of Cabrera's injury, which figures to be much more longer than Brown's. Brown is likely to just have a minimal IL stay. Cabrera, acquired in a big offseason trade with the Miami Marlins, is on the IL for the second time this season after missing the minimum with a blister on his right middle finger, having just returned June 5.

Cabrera has a 5.07 FIP (5.10 ERA) with a 9.4% walk rate and 21% strikeout rate in 14 starts. Brown has stepped into the rotation following a myriad of injuries, making eight starts in his 20 appearances. He has a 2.50 FIP (1.85 ERA), walking 7.2% and striking out 24.5% of batters.

Hollowell had just been sent down the day before as right-hander Jayden Murray was added to the roster following a trade.

Velasquez made a triumphant return to the majors this season after last appearing in 2023. The recently turned 34-year-old pitched in just one game, going 2⅓ shutout innings, with one hit, no walks and one strikeout April 25 in a 12-4 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

 

 

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[UMFan83]

Not a bad thing for his arm to get a rest since he's a critical piece of the team going forward, but obviously horrifically bad timing for that.

Rotation is now....

Shota, Boyd, Rea, Assad, Velasquez.   Damn

[Andy]

18 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

Not a bad thing for his arm to get a rest since he's a critical piece of the team going forward, but obviously horrifically bad timing for that.

Rotation is now....

Shota, Boyd, Rea, Assad, Velasquez.   Damn

Until Boyd actually pitches I'm not penciling him back in there.

[Derwood]

Just now, Andy said:

Until Boyd actually pitches I'm not penciling him back in there.

Also, Boyd sucks

[UMFan83]

27 minutes ago, Derwood said:

Also, Boyd sucks

The other option is Jordan Wicks sooo....

[Tryptamine]

 We are bordering on historical levels of SP injuries right? I mean every damn pitcher other than Shota has hit the IL at least once. Realistically your top 5 arms in Steele/Horton/Boyd/Brown/Cabrera are all injured. Assad was injured, Wicks was injured, etc. etc. 

[Neuby]

Go sign Trevor Bauer you cowards.

[Rob]

3 minutes ago, Neuby said:

Go sign Trevor Bauer you cowards.

1. Please no. He's a piece of human garbage and I don't want my money going in his pockets.

2. Please no. He was bad in Japan last year.

3. Please no. He's 35 years old. There's not much reason to suspect he's going to get any better than he was last year.

4. Please no. He was never all that great to begin with. He had two great years - 2018 and 2020. For the rest of his career, he floated between a 1 - 3 fWAR guy.

5. Please no. He'd be a distraction for the clubhouse.

6. Please no. Only the chuds would be excited by that signing, and I hate chuds and want to deny them any happiness.

[Derwood]

"Sign Bauer" has to be a joke/meme at this point, right? No one actually wants him, right? RIGHT?

[Soul]

4 minutes ago, Derwood said:

"Sign Bauer" has to be a joke/meme at this point, right? No one actually wants him, right? RIGHT?

Definitely a meme.

[KCCub]

 

 

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Just now, KCCub said:

 

 

Sort of good news? I wouldn't have guessed moderate anything after what I saw

[KCCub]

7 minutes ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

Sort of good news? I wouldn't have guessed moderate anything after what I saw

Yea, it's better than a complete tear. Looks like 4-6 weeks is the typical rough estimate for returning. 

This is worse news however -

He went on the IL on 6/9/24 for that injury and did not return that season. 

Edited 4 hours ago by KCCub

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

2 minutes ago, KCCub said:

Yea, it's better than a complete tear. Looks like 4-6 weeks is the typical rough estimate for returning. 

This is worse news however -

 

 

[Rcal10]

I think we are getting close to the time the Cubs have to get pitching via trade and jump the market. Maybe a deal with a team similar to what they did when they traded Samardzija and Hammels to the A’s. Maybe talk to the Royals about Lugo and Wacha. Both are older but still decent. Both have at least a year after this one. If they get guys back from injury that is great. But they need guys now too if they want to stay in the race. Doesn’t have to be these two guys, Just saying they need to move sooner, rather than later, IMO. The Cubs Samardzija trade was over the 4th of July. So we are getting close. 

[Derwood]

#nek

[Brian707]

2 hours ago, Neuby said:

Go sign Trevor Bauer you cowards.

Probably the stupidest post on NSBB

[Tryptamine]

57 minutes ago, Brian707 said:

Probably the stupidest post on NSBB

Don't you dare underestimate NSBB