The Chicago Cubs have placed their 15th player on the injured list so far in 2024, as right-handed relief pitcher Keegan Thompson is the latest victim to get hit with the injury bug. This time it’s literally a viral bug.
Thompson is headed to the injured list because of a viral illness. The Cubs have called up left-handed reliever Luke Little to take Thompson’s spot on the 26-man roster and will be available to pitch Wednesday night against the Atlanta Braves.
Thompson began the 2024 season at Triple-A, and was then called up by the Cubs in April to replace Jose Cuas in the bullpen. Thompson was incredible in his first five relief appearances with the Cubs, allowing no earned runs in 9.2 innings, while posting a 12/3 K/BB ratio. However, the wheels started to fall off in May, as Thompson allowed seven earned runs in three innings of work over four appearances.
Little is back in the Cubs bullpen for the fourth time this season. He as one of the eight relievers on the Opening Day roster and was then optioned a few different times during the month of April. He was last demoted to the Iowa Cubs following a bad showing against the Boston Red Sox on April 27, when the young lefty allowed five earned runs in 0.2 innings.
Prior to that bad appearance, Little was doing just fine, posting a 2.16 ERA in 8.1 innings. Standing at 6-foot-8, Little has had some issues with his command, as the left-hander has walked 7 batters and hit two more in 9 innings with the Cubs.
As a reminder, here are the 15 players who have been on the injured list in 2024. (* currently on IL)
SS Dansby Swanson*
LHP Jordan Wicks*
LHP Drew Smyly*
RHP Daniel Palencia*
RHP Julian Merryweather*
RHP Yency Almonte*
RHP Adbert Alzolay*
RHP Keegan Thompson*
RHP Caleb Kilian*
OF Cody Bellinger
OF Seiya Suzuki
3B Patrick Wisdom
RHP Jameson Taillon
RHP Kyle Hendricks
LHP Justin Steele
Plus, Ian Happ and Nico Hoerner have missed games because of hamstring issues, while this past week Jameson Taillon was pushed back a series because he had a back issue flare up.
By the way, Happ and Hoerner are missing their second game in a row against the Braves tonight.
Not great!
