It can't possibly get worse, right? Wrong. As if one wasn't bad enough the Chicago Cubs bookended Friday with two new injury updates that continue to derail the team's pitching staff. The 2024 Cubs continue to be cursed.
Let's begin with Ben Brown, who was placed on the 15-day injured list earlier this week with a neck strain. Well, before Friday afternoon's series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals the Cubs gave an ominous update as Brown is now expected to be out even longer with a rare injury.
Via Marquee Sports Network.
“We don’t have all the answers yet on Ben,” Craig Counsell said Friday morning. “He’s been diagnosed with a stress reaction in his neck, which is going to mean an absence for sure. Obviously he’s on the injured list, but we’re gonna miss him for – we’re still trying to figure out exactly how long and what it means and what he can do.
“It’s a unique injury, a little bit of a rare injury for a pitcher so we’re just trying to just get some more opinions and figure out exactly what’s next for him.”
Cool.
Brown has been a savior for the Cubs rotation in 2024, filling in for several injured pitchers, while also coming in out of the bullpen for seven relief outings. Overall in his rookie season, Brown has recorded a 3.58 ERA in 55.1 innings. The right-handed pitcher has posted a 1.01 WHIP, while striking out 64 batters in 15 games.
On May 28, Brown tossed 7 no-hit innings against the Milwaukee Brewers, with 10 strikeouts and 2 walks on a season-high 93 pitches. Unfortunately, Brown struggled in his next two starts, allowing eight earned runs in nine innings combined against the Cincinnati Reds. And now the rookie is going to be out for an extended period of time.
Meanwhile, left-hander Jordan Wicks slipped back into the rotation after Brown hit the injured list and Wicks made the start on Friday. The lefty gave up two singles in 1.2 scoreless innings before exiting the game with an injury. Following the 3-0 loss to St. Louis, Cubs manager Craig Counsell told the media that Wicks will likely be placed on the 15-day injured list because of an oblique injury.
Wicks, 24, had just returned from the injured list last week after missing time because of a forearm strain. The left-handed pitcher has a 4.18 ERA in 28 innings this season. Wicks has been limited to only 7 total appearances and 6 starts in 2024.
So, Brown and Wicks are going to be out of action for a while, which once again opens the door for Kyle Hendricks.
The veteran righty came in after Wicks on Friday and Hendricks showed that he can still dominate the Cardinals. Hendricks did not give up a run and only surrendered two hits in 4.1 innings. Yet, it's not like Hendricks was mowing down St. Louis either, as the pitcher only struck out one hitter. On the flip side, the Cardinals only had one hard-hit ball against Hendricks, a 101.6mph single off the bat of Masyn Winn.
So hey, no walks and weak contact. You'll take that from Hendricks on most days.
Prior to the 4.1 shutout innings against the Cardinals on Friday, Hendricks had a 9.07 ERA in 40.2 innings. Maybe Hendricks is showing actual progress though? If you include his previous pair of relief outings against the Cincinnati Reds last week, he's now up to 8.2 consecutive scoreless innings.
Hendricks will be scheduled to start against the San Francisco Giants next week if he does indeed join the rotation in place of Wicks.
