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With the season in its waning days, the time is running short for injured players to get back and make a meaningful impact on the Cubs’ desperate final push. Indeed, I don’t even like framing it that way, because I sure as heck don’t want to see anyone brought back prematurely just enhanced the 1.0% chance of a playoff run.
Some Cubs injury updates …
Justin Steele (elbow tendinitis) was able to throw his first bullpen session yesterday in L.A., so that’s a positive sign. He’s expected to throw another this weekend, and as long as he doesn’t feel anything, it’s possible he does make additional start(s) before the season ends.
โThis is a true day-to-day thing,โ Craig Counsell said of Steele’s situation, per the Sun-Times. โAnd so we had a really good day today. Weโre getting good news. This is like five days of straight good news, which is encouraging. Weโve got more days to accomplish good news, but so far, so good.โ
There is also good news on reliever Porter Hodge, who dealt with a bit of heart racing on Tuesday and required attention on the mound. Thankfully, Hodge seemed OK in the moment, and then was checked out again after the game and everything was all right:
Elsewhere in the bullpen group, Hayden Wesneski is getting very close to a return. Out since mid-July with a forearm strain, Wesneski has been making rehab appearances at Iowa without issue (including 39 pitches on Tuesday). I suspect the Cubs will want to get him back before the end of the season just to finish his year on a strong note. He remains a valuable swing/up-down/controllable utility pitcher going into 2025.
Jorge Lopez (groin) was able to throw a 20-pitch bullpen session earlier this week, so that seems a good sign for his possible return this month, too.
Ditto to all of that on Julian Merryweather (knee tendinitis), who may make a rehab appearance at Iowa soon.
Here’s where you ask whether there are any updates on Ben Brown or Cade Horton, and I unfortunately tell you that there are not. I am just preparing myself for the scenario that they aren’t going to really start throwing again until their usual ramp-up for 2025.