A trio of very important Cubs pitchers are currently on the disabled list, but each could be back relatively soon. Some updates tonight on Yu Darvish, Brandon Morrow, and Carl Edwards, Jr.
First, no definitive timeline yet on Yu Darvish, who had a mostly successful rehab start last night and is now in L.A. to be evaluated by the team:
Yu Darvish played catch today at Dodger Stadium and is expected to have another bullpen session this week, but #Cubs are still making day-to-day evaluations before deciding on his next start.
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) June 26, 2018
Recovery day for Morrow, Darvish likely to throw pen Wednesday to keep on five-day schedule
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) June 26, 2018
It’s good to hear that the expectation is that Darvish will stay on a normal five-day schedule, but that doesn’t mean it’s an automatic that he’ll rejoin the big league rotation this weekend. He could, instead, take another rehab start.
As for closer Brandon Morrow, he could be back tomorrow (insert name joke if you dare):
#Cubs Morrow feeling good, ready to go and hopes to be activated as soon as he's eligible.
— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) June 26, 2018
#Cubs closer Brandon Morrow (back) says he's ready to be activated from the DL tomorrow. Already cleared to take his pants on and off: "Yeah, I've been sitting down."
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) June 26, 2018
Just keep those pants in check, and he should be good to go.
Hopefully, soon after Morrow returns, he’ll be joined by the Cubs’ top setup man, who has been out of action for nearly a month with shoulder inflammation:
More #Cubs injury updates: Edwards to throw bullpen today. Darvish played catch. Today is rest day for Morrow.
— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) June 26, 2018
Edwards throwing another pen today. Next step could be a minor league rehab game.
— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) June 26, 2018
That’s a second bullpen session for Edwards, so, if he feels good after, it would make sense for him to get in an inning of work in a minor league game and then return to the big leagues soon thereafter. That could put a plausible return timeline to the end of this weekend or early next week.