Cubs' Marcus Stroman: Beginning rehab assignment Sunday
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Stroman (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa on Sunday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Stroman has been throwing consistently over the last week, and he reached 40 pitches during a bullpen session last Saturday before throwing 36 pitches in a live batting practice session Tuesday. The right-hander threw another bullpen Friday and has now been cleared to return to game action with the Triple-A club. It's not yet clear how many rehab starts he'll require, but he's closing in on a return.
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Cubs' Marcus Stroman: Throwing bullpen session Friday
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Stroman (shoulder) is throwing another bullpen session Friday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Stroman will toss another bullpen session as he continues ramping up his activity following right shoulder inflammation. He'll likely start a rehab assignment in the next week and could return to the Cubs close to the All Star-break.
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Cubs' Marcus Stroman: Progresses to live BP
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Stroman (shoulder) threw 36 pitches in Tuesday's live batting practice session, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
He progressed to mound work just a little over a week ago, but this was the first time he threw to live hitters. Stroman will likely either throw another live batting practice session or advance to a rehab assignment.
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Cubs' Marcus Stroman: Throws approximately 40 pitches
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Stroman (shoulder) threw approximately 40 pitches during a bullpen session Saturday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Stroman's throwing session Saturday marked the second time he's thrown off a mound since landing on the injured list, and he tested his full pitch repertoire during the bullpen. The Cubs return home next week, and the right-hander should have a chance to join the team to throw live BP.
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Cubs' Marcus Stroman: Bullpen session on tap
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Stroman (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
It's unclear if Stroman will use all his pitches or throw at full intensity Wednesday, but the activity marks another checkpoint reached in his recovery from right shoulder inflammation. Stroman has been sidelined June 10 with the injury and is likely at least a week away from making his return from the 15-day injured list.
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Cubs' Marcus Stroman: Ready for mound work
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Stroman (shoulder) is expected to throw a bullpen session within the next few days, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Stroman's inflamed right shoulder apparently responded well to playing catch last week, so he's poised to get back on the mound in what will mark the next step forward in his throwing progression. Once Stroman is comfortable using all his pitches during bullpen sessions, he'll advance to facing hitters in live batting practice before throwing a simulated game or heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment.
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Cubs' Marcus Stroman: Plays catch
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Stroman (shoulder) played catch Thursday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Stroman hasn't pitched in nearly two weeks while battling shoulder inflammation. The fact he's now able to throw again is certainly a good sign, but he still has several steps to go before being activated off the injured list.
Stroman has been sidelined for a week due to right shoulder inflammation, and he's been shut down over the last few days while resting his injury. A timetable for the right-hander's return is unlikely to be revealed until he resumes throwing, but it seems possible that he'll require more than the minimum of 15 days on the injured list.
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Cubs' Marcus Stroman: Out with shoulder inflammation
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Stroman was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday with right shoulder inflammation, Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago reports. The move is retroactive to June 7.
Stroman wasn't listed among Chicago's probable starters for this weekend despite having Wednesday's start rained out, and the shoulder injury explains his absence. The right-hander apparently had the issue crop up while throwing in the bullpen during the rain delay, and he'll now be unavailable for the next two weeks. Wade Miley (shoulder) was activated from the injured list in a corresponding move and will slide into Stroman's spot in the rotation.
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Cubs' Marcus Stroman: Wednesday's start postponed
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Stroman won't start as scheduled Wednesday at Baltimore since the game was postponed due to inclement weather.
Wednesday's game was postponed following a lengthy rain delay, and it will be made up in mid-August. The Cubs have a scheduled day off Thursday, and it's unclear when Stroman will next take the mound, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago, since Wade Miley (shoulder) and Matt Swarmer are poised to start Friday and Saturday, respectively.
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Cubs' Marcus Stroman: Hit hard Friday
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Stroman (2-5) allowed nine runs on 10 hits across four innings to take the loss Friday against the Cardinals. He walked one and struck out seven.
Outside of the seven strikeouts, this was a disaster for Stroman, who saw his ERA rise to 5.32. It's the second time this year the righty has allowed at least seven earned runs in a start and the third time he's allowed at least five, though he has allowed two runs or fewer in his other six appearances, so there have been some positive signs. The Cubs were certainly expecting more consistent results, however, when they signed Stroman to a three-year, $71 million deal in the offseason. He'll look to turn things around in his next scheduled start, a tough matchup against the Yankees on the road next week.
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Cubs' Marcus Stroman: Superb in no-decision
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Stroman fanned two in seven scoreless innings while allowing three hits and two walks in a 5-4 loss Sunday against the White Sox. He did not factor into the decision.
After allowing a leadoff single, Stroman retired the next 13 batters he faced. He was efficient, needing just 90 pitches to get through seven frames, and induced 10 groundouts. It was the fifth straight start in which he's allowed two or fewer earned runs, leading to a 1.80 ERA and 0.83 WHIP in 30 innings over that span. The 31-year-old will likely make his next start next weekend against the Cardinals.
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Cubs' Marcus Stroman: Cruises to easy win
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Stroman (2-4) allowed two runs on four hits across five innings to earn the win Tuesday against the Reds. He walked two and struck out eight.
The Cubs scored three runs in the first inning and 11 in the game, so Stroman got plenty of run support in an easy win while also recording a new season high in strikeouts. The righty started the season slowly and his ERA is still a bit high at 4.71, but he's been better lately with a 2.35 ERA across his past four starts, and he's gone 2-2 in that stretch. He'll look to keep it rolling in his next scheduled start Monday as part of a doubleheader against the Brewers.
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Cubs' Marcus Stroman: Takes loss despite solid outing
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Stroman (1-4) allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and no walks while striking out six across five innings to take the loss Thursday against Arizona.
Stroman was activated from the COVID-19 injured list prior to his start, and he took the mound for the first time since May 1. He began the outing with a perfect three innings but coughed up three runs in the fourth. After allowing 13 earned runs across his first 13.1 innings of the campaign, Stroman has surrendered only four earned runs across his last 18 frames. Overall, he has a 4.88 ERA with a 28:7 K:BB across 31.1 innings.
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Cubs' Marcus Stroman: Activated for Thursday's start
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Stroman (illness) was activated from the COVID-19 injured list ahead of his start against the Diamondbacks on Thursday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
The 31-year-old has been on the COVID-19 injured list since testing positive for the virus May 8, but he's cleared MLB's testing protocols and will rejoin the rotation Thursday. Stroman delivered his best start of the season his last time out May 1 with seven scoreless innings, and he could have some workload limitations in his first start back from the shelf.
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Cubs' Marcus Stroman: Cleared but not activated
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Stroman cleared COVID-19 protocols Tuesday but has yet to be activated off the injured list, Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago reports.
Stroman has been on the injured list for over a week and hasn't pitched since May 1. He threw a bullpen session Tuesday, per Jordan Bastian of MLB.com. At this point, it's unclear whether he will require a rehab outing before he returns to the roster, but the righty's next steps should be revealed soon.
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Cubs' Marcus Stroman: Set to return Thursday
Rotowire
Stroman (illness) is listed as the Cubs' probable starting pitcher for Thursday's game against the Diamondbacks in Chicago, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Stroman cleared all COVID-19-related protocols Tuesday and rejoined the team, but the Cubs will give him two days to regain conditioning before formally reinstating him from the COVID-19-related injured list Thursday. Because Stroman didn't complete a rehab assignment beforehand and hasn't started since May 1 before landing on the IL, the Cubs could limit his workload more than usual in his return to action.
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Cubs' Marcus Stroman: Plays catch
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Stroman (undisclosed) played catch Saturday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Stroman has been on the COVID-19 injured list since Sunday. His expected return date is unclear, but the fact that he's ready for some activity suggests he may not miss too much more time.
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Cubs' Marcus Stroman: Lands on injured list
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Stroman (undisclosed) was placed on the injured list Sunday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
The move doesn't include an injury designation, which likely means Stroman's absence is related to COVID-19. Assuming that's the case, the 31-year-old can be activated as soon as he clears the MLB's testing protocols. He was scheduled to start Sunday against the Dodgers, but Justin Steele will instead take the mound for the Cubs.
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Cubs' Marcus Stroman: Dazzles for first win
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Stroman (1-3) tossed seven scoreless innings to earn the win Sunday against the Brewers. He allowed two hits and a walk while striking out five.
The Brewers came into Sunday's contest on a five-game winning streak and had scored 38 runs in that span, so Stroman's first win with the Cubs was certainly impressive. He also outdueled 2021 Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes, who allowed only two runs across his seven innings. Stroman has gotten off to a slow start with a 5.13 ERA through five starts, though his last two outings have been better, allowing just two earned runs across 13 innings. The righty will look to keep it rolling in his next scheduled start Saturday against the Dodgers.
