The Chicago Cubs‘ starting pitcher, Jordan Wicks, was scratched from his next scheduled start. He was set to take on the Boston Red Sox on Sunday Night Baseball at Fenway Park. However, he will not be taking the mound due to reported forearm tightness. Hayden Wesneski will start the game on what is looking like an emergency bullpen day.
Wicks has made five starts in the young 2024 season. He holds a 1-2 record with a 4.70 earned run average in those appearances. His last start was his best effort. Wicks went six innings of two-run baseball to take down the Houston Astros and register his first win of the year.
The Cubs hoped this was the start of his turning a corner and consistently giving the team the innings they needed from a starting pitcher. However, fate had other plans for the young left-hander. He now looks to be headed towards joining the long list of Cubs difference-makers on the injured list.
It feels like the Cubs’ injured list is close to being able to field a pretty good baseball team. However, the healthy Cubs continue to hold their own for the time being. 2024 feels different because the Cubs prepared their organization for injuries any team is bound to face at any given time. The current roster has plenty of reinforcement to pick up short-term absences. Additionally, the farm system is one of the best in baseball, stocked with young talent ready to take on any big-league opponent.
Should Wicks need to be placed on the injured list, the Cubs have options to fill the rotation for the time being.
Justin Steele could return to the Cubs as soon as the next homestand. There’s one, maybe two empty slots in between now and then. Craig Counsell could elect to do as he will do on Sunday and create built-in bullpen days for these starts. It’s possible we will see an additional bullpen arm join the roster in this case.
Just a couple of weeks ago, the Cubs signed veteran right-handed pitcher Julio Teheran. The New York Mets DFA’d Teheran on April 9th, and the Cubs signed him to a minor-league deal just a week later. Through two appearances with AAA Iowa, Teheran has pitched 7.2 innings, giving up eleven hits and holding a 9.39 ERA. Remember, Counsell and Teheran have a history together in Milwaukee.
Then, there’s a young arm destroying the minors by the name of Cade Horton. Horton is the Cubs’ second-ranked prospect behind Pete Crow-Armstrong, who is currently with the Chicago Cubs. Through four starts with AA Tennessee, Horton has a 1.10 ERA with 18 strikeouts. His last outing was his best, going five innings with six strikeouts. Many believe he has been major-league-ready since the beginning of the season.
For all we know, Jordan Wicks could be ready to go after just missing one start. But forearm tightness is undoubtedly nothing to be aggressive with, especially with a young pitcher at the beginning of the season. We’ll know what Counsell and the Cubs decide to do soon.
