You have got to be fucking kidding me. What kind of bad luck injury shit is going on with the Chicago Cubs right now. Just when you think the team starts to get healthy someone else gets hurt and now it’s left-handed starting pitcher Jordan Wicks, who has been scratched from his scheduled start on Sunday against the Boston Red Sox.
Wicks, who earned a rotation spot out of spring training, is not going to pitch the series finale in Boston because he’s been dealing with tightness in his left forearm. Not good. Not good at all.
The 24-year-old lefty has made five starts for the Cubs this season and while the overall 4.70 ERA in 23 innings doesn’t look impressive, Wicks has really only had one bad outing which was against the Seattle Mariners on April 12. Sure, you would love to see more length from him, but Wicks has only allowed two earned runs in every other start besides the four-run appearance in Seattle.
We have seen an influx of pitching injuries during the past few years and it seems like the rate of pitchers getting hurt is only increasing. People within baseball are searching for the why, while others think the answer is pretty simple. Guys are being taught to throw the ball hard, which is putting more stress on their arms and that’s why more pitchers are getting injured.
It hasn’t been a jaw-dropping increase, but compared to his 2023 stint in the majors, Wicks has increased his average fastball velocity from 91.3mph to 92.6mph so far in 2024.
And why is forearm tightness so scary to see attached to a pitcher? Well, often times a minimum stint on the injured list follows or worse…Tommy John surgery is needed.
Fuck.
