The headline kinda says it all as far as your level of panic goes. When a veteran starting pitcher throws a warm-up pitch and then immediately leaves the game, it ain’t good.
Cole Hamels threw a warmup pitch before the 2nd inning here in Cincy and then walked off the field. Mike Montgomery entering. We will keep you posted on what the Cubs say.
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) June 28, 2019
Hamels had been pitching through something a bit ago. Had some back issues but not sure if that's what's going on here. I asked him about it a while back and he didn't give anything up.
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) June 28, 2019
We’ll let you know when there’s more to know, but you can already start hoping it’s, like, a two-week injury as opposed to a season-ending injury. Might as well start the hope early, right?
As for the game, Mike Montgomery took over, and the first pitch he threw resulted in a homer, so that part is also not good.
Best case scenario when a veteran pitcher throws a warm-up and immediately walks off without even waiting for the trainer is that it's something he's already been dealing with, and he can immediately tell it's not gonna work tonight. Back/leg, for example, would be the hope.
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) June 29, 2019
UPDATE: A side issue:
Hamels still under evaluation, but club says he felt something wrong in his left side.
— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) June 29, 2019
Well, it’s information. For what it’s worth, Hamels had an oblique injury in 2017 that not only cost him two months, it also set his mechanics out of whack, and he didn’t recover until just before the trade the Cubs in 2018. For what it’s worth, it was his right oblique that time, though I suppose he would be in a position to know immediately if it was a serious issue. Flip side, he’s a veteran who would also rightly err on the side of caution.
UPDATE: He’s immediately heading to the Injured List with an oblique strain, and that ain’t good news:
Maddon: Hamels will go on IL with left oblique strain. More info Saturday after MRI.
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) June 29, 2019