Cabrera Back at Wrigley as Miller, Steele Continue Rehab Assignments
Edward Cabrera arrived at Wrigley prior to Saturday’s game against the Pirates and will soon be recalled to help a bullpen that desperately needs more velocity and whiffs. The big righty has been on the IL since August 17 with a blister issue that cropped up during his first start since June 23 after suffering a hamstring injury. That was his second IL stint due to a blister, which prompted the Cubs to shift him into a relief role for at least the immediate future.
Update: Cabrera has been activated and Trent Thornton has been placed on the 15-day IL with ankle soreness.
“He’s healthy,” Craig Counsell said of Cabrera on Friday. “He’s a healthy player. He’s pitched out of the bullpen three times now. He’s pitched a two-inning outing. He feels good. So we’ve got to sit down and have a conversation about him.”
Fyi Cub fans
Edward Cabrera arriving at Wrigley Field today with his bags@crawlyscubs @BleacherNation @CubbieBlue2016 pic.twitter.com/qRzKJnPA2r
— Sam Bernero (@sambernero) September 12, 2026
Cabrera has been throwing as hard as ever during his rehab stint, touching 100.7 mph this past Wednesday. He also gave up six earned runs over 3.2 total innings, so we’ll just have to hope that was a matter of building up rather than really trying for results. That’s been the case for Shelby Miller and Justin Steele as they continue to work their respective ways back to the bigs.
Steele just made his third rehab appearance with the I-Cubs on Thursday, working two innings of relief with two runs allowed on four hits. He struck out three and didn’t give up much hard contact, but he only topped out at 90 mph after being slightly above 91 in his second game. That’s not going to be enough to finish off MLB hitters, so there’s still more work to be done.
“I would say I need to be throwing a little bit harder,” Steele told the Des Moines Register after his latest appearance. “I feel like I’m commanding the ball well. I feel like I’m moving the ball around. I have command for the most part of all my pitches. I just feel like my velo needs to be a tick higher.”
Counsell likewise noted that the lefty will need at least one more game before they consider activating him, and I’d say it’s still a longshot that he makes it back. Miller, on the other hand, is throwing harder across 12 appearances for the I-Cubs and Knoxville Smokies less than a year removed from his second elbow reconstruction.
“What we’re evaluating with guys like Shelby,” Counsell said, “is the seriousness of his injury, and, ‘Are you back to yourself at this point?’ Is he healthy? I think he’s a healthy pitcher. Is he back to himself? I think that’s what we’re trying to evaluate.”
He sure looks like he’s back to himself in terms of velocity, which has led to 17 strikeouts in 9.2 innings, but Miller has also allowed nine earned runs on 11 hits and eight walks. With the Cubs already trying to work around a number of relievers whose performances vary from game to game, they can ill afford to part with one in order to bring Miller back right now. That could change over the next few days, though.
