A number of Chicago Cubs injury updates before tonight’s game, with maybe some guys getting close to a return?
The full rundown from Jordan Bastian:
I would think the plan for Justin Steele (back) is to get him one more outing this year, if COMPLETELY-NO-RISK-HEALTHY. So he’ll throw another bullpen, and the Cubs will see what’s what from there. In any case, I wouldn’t expect him to appear for more than another four innings or so this season.
The previously-stated plan for Drew Smyly (shoulder) is to start again mid-week next week. He was effectively having a start skipped.
If Willson Contreras is full baseball activities, including running the bases, I’ve gotta believe he’s close to returning. I’m not sure he’ll go to Iowa for a game or two of a rehab assignment at this point, or if the Cubs will decide he hasn’t been away quite long enough to necessitate it. The ankle sprain has kept him out about three weeks at this point.
For Nico Hoerner, it’s really just a question of whether the triceps strain is sufficiently healed that there is no meaningful risk of a serious injury if he plays. Think about the flow of game action, and he instinctively uncorks a super-hard throw from deep in the hole at short. Is he totally fine to do that? If so, he’ll be back soon. If not, there’s just no way the Cubs – or Hoerner – would want to risk it at this stage of the season.