Bad News for Cubs Pitchers Heading into Crucial Part of 2024 Season

The Chicago Cubs are showing signs of life after two months of miserable play, but if they're going to climb back into the postseason picture before the trade deadline they'll have to do it without Ben Brown and Jordan Wicks. The pair of rookie pitchers have been out for an extended period of time and although the team expressed optimism that Brown and Wicks would return in July that no longer appears to be the case for at least one of them.

Brown, who was called up after Justin Steele went on the injured list following Opening Day, has been sidelined since June 8. The right-handed pitcher was starting and working out of the bullpen for the Cubs and in 55.1 innings Brown posted a 3.58 ERA. His best start came on May 28, against the Milwaukee Brewers, tossing seven no-hit innings and racking up 10 strikeouts on a career-high 93-pitch effort.

However, two starts later Brown was shut down because of a neck strain and unfortunately for the 24-year-old the issue has not improved much during the past month.

Jed Hoyer was on 670 The Score Friday afternoon and addressed the latest on Brown's progress.

However, the Cubs still have a positive outlook on Brown, who could still return by the end of July. As for Wicks, the lefty went down in June with an oblique strain and his rehab has not progressed to the point where the Cubs believe he will return before the end of the month as originally thought.

Via Meghan Montemurro.

Jordan Wicks (oblique) not progressing great & is still little symptomatic so he's going slower & remains in catch phase. Wicks now unlikely back before Aug.

Wicks began the 2024 season in the starting rotation and just went it looked like he was getting on a role the left-handed pitcher was placed on the injured list with a forearm strain following his fifth start. Wicks was out for six weeks before coming back in June, when he made one relief appearance and was then put back into the rotation. On June 14, Wicks started against the St. Louis Cardinals, but his outing was cut short after 1.2 innings as the lefty strained an oblique muscle.

The 2021 first rounder has posted a 4.18 ERA in 28 innings this season.

After a three-game sweep against the Baltimore Orioles, the Cubs carry a four-game winning streak into the final series before the All-Star break in St. Louis. The four-game set against the Cardinals features a double header on Saturday and as of Friday the expectation remains that Javier Assad will return from the injured list to pitch in one of those two games.

The Cubs enter Friday's series opener 3 games back of the third Wild Card spot in the National League, tied with the San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati Reds with a 45-49 record. It seems like the Cubs are coming back to life and the next 10 games could determine the front office's decision-making at the trade deadline.

After the All-Star break the Cubs have a six-game home stand, playing three games apiece against the Arizona Diamondbacks and Milwaukee Brewers, respectively. Despite the countless injuries to the pitching staff and the uncertain status of Brown and Wicks, there are more signs that the Cubs have finally pieced together a solid bullpen to go along with their strong rotation.

Let's hope that Brown and Wicks both return and more importantly that their presence on the team impacts the team's chances at making the playoffs this season.