Veteran right-hander Kyle Hendricks exited his start against the Angels today after just two innings of work, replaced by right-hander Colten Brewer to start the third inning. The Cubs later announced (as relayed by Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic) that Hendricks had exited his start due to lower back tightness.
The 2024 season has been a brutal one for the 34-year-old righty, as he’s struggled to an eye-popping 7.48 ERA with a 5.34 FIP in 61 1/3 innings of work entering play today. That rough performance saw the righty move to the bullpen earlier this season, although injuries elsewhere on the roster combined with a month’s worth of solid results (he posted a 2.67 ERA and 2.97 FIP in 27 inning from May 23 to June 25) allowed him to move back into the rotation in late June. Now, his status appears to be in question once again after his exit today due to an injury similar to one Hendricks already missed three weeks due to earlier this year.
Fortunately, Hendricks told reporters (as noted by Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network) after the game that the issue isn’t the same problem that caused him to miss time back in May. The veteran noted that he first felt his back lock up yesterday, and that while the pain lingered today he and the club decided to go ahead with his start in hopes he could manage the tightness. Hendricks expressed confidence that he would be able to make his next start, although manager Craig Counsell was more cautious, noting that it wasn’t yet clear if Hendricks would be ready to take the ball in time.
That could be a problem for the Cubs, as while they have a day off on Monday they’re scheduled to play seven games in six days after that in the run-up to the All Star break, including a doubleheader against the Cardinals on July 13. If Hendricks is unable to make one of those starts, that would leave the Cubs with just three healthy regular starters (Justin Steele, Shota Imanaga, and Jameson Taillon) amid injuries to Javier Assad, Ben Brown, and Jordan Wicks. Swingman Hayden Wesneski has joined the rotation in recent days despite struggling badly in the bullpen throughout the month of June and figures to continue chipping in for starts while the rest of the rotation gets healthy, but if Hendricks is unable to make one of those starts that still leaves the club in need of two more starters before the break.
Counsell suggested to reporters (including Andracki) after the game that Assad could return from the right forearm extensor strain that sidelined him late last month in time to make one of those starts, noting that the club is “optimistic” that he can contribute in the big leagues next weekend. If Assad, who has posted a solid 3.04 ERA across 16 starts despite a middling 4.16 FIP this year, can return while Hendricks avoids an IL stint of his own that would solve the club’s short-term rotation questions. If Hendricks doesn’t recover quickly enough to take the ball over the weekend, however, that would leave the club in search of innings just before the All Star break.
Speculatively speaking, the Cubs could tap veteran southpaw Drew Smyly to make one of those starts. The lefty started 23 games for Chicago last year but has been used exclusively out of the bullpen to this point in the 2024 campaign and last threw even 40 pitches in an outing back on April 5. Top prospect Cade Horton is at the Triple-A level but won’t be an option amid a shutdown due to a subscapularis strain last month. Journeyman lefty Thomas Pannone has made 18 starts for the club at Triple-A this year, but has posted mediocre results (4.57 ERA in 86 2/3 innings) and would need to be added to the club’s 40-man roster. A bullpen game could be another possibility for the club, but that may be a tall order for a relief corps that has already lost Wesneski to the rotation while Yency Almonte, Adbert Alzolay, Julian Merryweather, and Mark Leiter Jr. are all shelved with injuries of their own and had to cover seven innings in relief of Hendricks today.
I don’t think Hendricks hitting the IL will be a negative for the Cubbies. Getting time to heal might also be a benefit to Hendricks.
Couldn’t agree more. The injury to Assad is the concerning injury because he’s actually effective. But honestly I think the Cubs hope Hendricks can be effective to build some trade value. As middling as the NL wild card is I think the Cubs should sell any bits of the roster that don’t fit their timeline. They aren’t in a position for a full rebuild so a guy like Hendricks returning to form could really help their 25 and beyond chances. Bellingers contract with options isn’t moveable without him going on a tear. Most of what they have that teams would covet the Cubs need to keep for 25 so any moveable assets would be a blessing in a sellers market
What exactly do you think you’re going to get for Hendricks? ROTFLMAO. Hendricks has value. If they put him on the 60 day IL, Maybe just Maybe Ricketts can collect on the insurance policy on his contract. Tell them a Ciccada attacked his back. LOL
No, the Cubs are not hoping Hendriks can build trade value. No one would want him even if the Cubs ate most of the money. And if they did that, what’s the point?
All-Star has been hyphenated for over 90 years. It should be easy to remember and get correct.
Grammar police rant over.
Hendricks agent forgets to tell him this is his walk year.
Not much help on the dish, probably not tradable at this point.
6 teams between Cubbies and last wild card spot. Oof. Blow it up? If so, you gotta trade someone of value to get value in return.
If I’m a GM of a contender, the only player I’m asking Hoyer about is Steele. Period. He’s good (ace material level?) cheap and controllable. Cubs could get a ton in return.
Jeff, now THAT, would be really stupid!
Agreed Dogbone. Highly unlikely. Only applies if Hoyer wants to blow it up. And blow it up as in not seeking to contend for a couple of years. Again, highly unlikely.
Yeah they aren’t gonna do that. Pretty close to coming out of a rebuild, but with all the injuries this year they should trade at least one controllable asset. Lots of talent on the way next year. Would t mind seeing them trade Suzuki or Happ (prefer Suzuki, but return would be lower unless he goes on a hot streak the next couple weeks). Would love to get out from Belli’s deal and take that money and sign or trade for an actual star bat. Lineup needs a stud, lots of good pieces but without Belli raking it lacks star power.
Yeah but giving Happ and Suzuki the no trade clauses really muddies the water. Hoerner has a little bit of value and we have options for 2B. Steele and Imanaga aren’t going anywhere
The Chicago Cubs’ rotation is facing a critical juncture as veteran right-hander Kyle Hendricks departed his start against the Angels with lower back tightness. Hendricks, who has endured a challenging season with an inflated 7.48 ERA and a 5.34 FIP over 61 1/3 innings, was showing signs of a potential turnaround. His recent stretch from May 23 to June 25 saw a more encouraging 2.67 ERA and 2.97 FIP, but the recurrence of his back issues casts a shadow over his immediate future.
Hendricks’ exit couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Cubs, who are already contending with a depleted rotation. Injuries to key arms like Javier Assad, Ben Brown, and Jordan Wicks have left the Cubs scrambling for reliable starters. With an impending stretch of seven games in six days leading up to the All-Star break, including a doubleheader against the Cardinals, the rotation depth is being severely tested.
Currently, the Cubs’ healthy rotation options are limited to Justin Steele, Shota Imanaga, and Jameson Taillon. Hayden Wesneski has been pressed into starting duty despite a rocky June in the bullpen, but his transition back to the rotation is more out of necessity than performance merit.
Manager Craig Counsell’s cautious optimism about Assad’s return from a right forearm extensor strain is a potential silver lining. Assad’s 3.04 ERA across 16 starts belies his more pedestrian 4.16 FIP, indicating some regression might be in the offing. Nonetheless, his return would be a welcome addition to a rotation in flux.
Should Hendricks be unable to make his next start, the Cubs might have to turn to unconventional solutions. One speculative option is veteran lefty Drew Smyly, who has yet to start this season but brings experience and depth. However, Smyly hasn’t thrown more than 40 pitches in an outing since early April, which raises questions about his readiness for a starter’s workload.
Top prospect Cade Horton is sidelined with a subscapularis strain, and journeyman lefty Thomas Pannone, despite 18 starts in Triple-A, has not shown dominant form with a 4.57 ERA. The possibility of a bullpen game is another alternative, but the bullpen has been stretched thin with recent injuries to key relievers like Yency Almonte, Adbert Alzolay, Julian Merryweather, and Mark Leiter Jr.
In conclusion, the Cubs are at a pivotal moment as they navigate injuries and rotation uncertainties. The hope is that Hendricks’ latest ailment is a minor setback and that Assad’s return can provide some stability. However, the upcoming schedule and the current state of the pitching staff present a formidable challenge as the Cubs look to stay competitive in a tightly contested division.
Dude, you keep writing posts like you’re one of the site’s authors. I don’t want to sound mean, but you’re kind of stating the obvious.
He didn’t write that he copied and pasted it from somewhere.
@Unclemike1526
All that info is on baseball reference. How hard is it to do research?
I feel bad that the Rickets family is impoverished and can’t afford to acquire pitching depth.
Oscar, not that I have warm and fuzzy feelings for the Ricketts family (I don’t)- but to be fair: They are spending up to the salary cap. But more so, the ‘plan’ was to build thru the system. No one saw their top 3 returning RPs all going down – and – Neris is not a closer. Neris was a bad choice, in hindsight.
I think the organization was also expecting more initially from Little and maybe either Hodge or Sanders or Wesneski.
Yes, the bullpen and lack of RH hitting is killing this season.
Cubs could get all the pitching depth but the hitters aren’t producing