Cubs Recall Jordan Wicks, Place Edward Cabrera on 15-Day IL
The Cubs’ injury issues continued when Edward Cabrera was forced to leave his last start early due to a blister on his right middle finger. Hey, at least he avoided getting a blister on his thumb. After testing the finger during a pregame bullpen on Sunday, the team opted to place him on the 15-day IL. To fill the rotation spot, they have promoted lefty Jordan Wicks, who missed a few weeks earlier in the season due to elbow inflammation.
The 26-year-old put in work on his arsenal over the winter, with a big focus on improving his curveball. With the help of the folks at Tread Athletics, he moved from a spike grip to stacked fingers. Removing his index finger from the ball entirely should help to eliminate the “bump” out of the hand that gave his breaking ball away in the past.
Though a 4.44 ERA at Triple-A Iowa this season might not seem stellar, it came from giving up six earned runs in back-to-back starts. Wicks has allowed just one run on seven hits in his last three starts combined, and he’s ramped up to go at least six innings. The Cubs have not officially announced their starters after Ben Brown on Monday in Pittsburgh, but Wicks figures to get the ball on Tuesday.
The Chicago Cubs today recalled left-handed pitcher Jordan Wicks from Triple-A Iowa. In a corresponding move, right-handed pitcher Edward Cabrera has been placed on the 15-day injured list with a right middle-finger blister (retroactive to May 21).
Wicks, 26, is 0-2 with a 4.44 ERA (13 ER/26.1 IP), 20 strikeouts, 12 walks, and a .282 opponent batting average in seven starts with Triple-A Iowa this season, including five rehab appearances. Wicks started the season on the injured list with left-elbow inflammation and was reinstated from the IL and optioned to Triple-A on May 15. In his last three games (15.0 IP) dating to May 19, the lefty has allowed just one run with 12 strikeouts, compared to 12 runs and eight strikeouts in his previous four outings (11.1 IP) to start the season.
Cabrera, 28, is 3-2 with a 4.00 ERA (24 ER/54.0 IP), 47 strikeouts, 20 walks and a .262 opponent average in 10 starts with the Cubs this season.
The Cubs play the Houston Astros today at 1:20 p.m. at Wrigley Field in a game that can be seen on Marquee Sports Network and heard on 104.3 the Score and, in Spanish, on TUDN 106.7.
