Alzolay (forearm) is set to advance to facing live hitters this week, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Alzolay already has a few successful bullpen sessions under his belt and is ready to take the next step in his recovery from the mild right forearm strain that has kept him sidelined since Sept. 10. He still has an outside shot of being able to return before the end of the regular season, though the clock is ticking. Julian Merryweather has been drawing the majority of the save chances for the wild-card-hunting Cubs.
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Bullpen goes well
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Alzolay (forearm) will play catch Saturday after his bullpen session Friday went well, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Alzolay will be eligible to return from a forearm strain as soon as Tuesday, and given his steady progress, a return on or around that date would seem to be in play. The Cubs enter play Saturday with a one-game lead for the third and final NL Wild Card spot, so they'll want to have Alzolay available for as much of the final week as possible if he is indeed cleared to return.
Alzolay (forearm) will throw a touch-and-feel bullpen session Friday, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.
While not a regular bullpen session, Alzolay getting on a mound in any fashion still looks to be a notable step forward. The Cubs' closer is working his way back from a right forearm strain and is still hopeful he can make it back before the end of the regular season. Alzolay is eligible for activation Sept. 26, although he could need a little more time than that even if all goes well.
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Advances to long toss
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Alzolay (forearm) threw long toss Tuesday at Wrigley Field, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
On the shelf since Sept. 10 due to a right forearm strain, Alzolay resumed playing catch over the weekend and has now advanced to long-distance throwing. There is still an outside chance that the 28-year-old could return to the Cubs' bullpen before the end of the regular season, but he'll have to move on to mound workouts rather soon. He had tallied 22 saves with a 2.71 ERA and 66:12 K:BB in 63 innings prior to the IL stint.
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Plays catch
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Alzolay (forearm) played catch Saturday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Alzolay hit the injured list Monday with a right forearm strain, an injury that's potentially quite worrisome for a pitcher. The righty, who's saved 22 games for the Cubs this season, certainly isn't out of the woods yet, but the fact that he's already throwing again so soon after the injury is an encouraging sign. Julian Merryweather and Michael Fulmer have each earned a save in Alzolay's absence, but Fulmer is now on the injured list with a forearm strain of his own.
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Lands on injured list
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Alzolay was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday retroactive to Sept. 10 with a right forearm strain, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Alzolay was bothered by an unspecified injury earlier this month and was not particularly sharp over his last few outings, and it turns out he is dealing with an issue that will cost him at least a couple weeks of action. The Cubs turned to Julian Merryweather for the save Sunday, so he is seemingly the favorite to work as the closer during Alzolay's absence.
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Available to pitch Wednesday
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Cubs manager David Ross said Alzolay is available to pitch Wednesday versus the Giants after overcoming an undisclosed minor injury, Ryan Herrera of AllCHGO.com reports.
Ross declined to offer any specifics on Alzolay's injury, but whatever it was appears to have abated enough for the closer to be ready to pitch. "When guys are dealing with stuff, you've just got to give a little bit of a rest," Ross said. "Sometimes, four days is better than 15."
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Blows save in nightcap
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Alzolay (2-5) blew his third save of the season and took the loss in the second game of Friday's doubleheader against the Reds, giving up two runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning. He struck out two.
The right-hander's rough outing was kicked off by a Nick Martini solo shot. Alzolay has blown his last two save chances, and since the beginning of August he has a 4.30 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 13:3 K:BB through 14.2 innings. The first-year closer likely isn't in any danger of losing his job just yet, but with the Cubs in a dogfight to secure a playoff spot, manager David Ross may not have the luxury of patience. Mark Leiter (2.08 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 18:4 K:BB in 13 IP over the last month) or Julian Merryweather (1.80 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 21:5 K:BB in 15 IP during that stretch) could get looks in the ninth if Alzolay continues to fade.
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Earns win Wednesday
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Alzolay (2-4) worked around a walk and a hit batsman to toss 1.1 scoreless innings and earn the win Wednesday against the Brewers.
The Cubs turned to Alzolay with the bases loaded and two out in the top of the eighth inning. The righty proceeded to hit Mark Canha, which allowed Milwaukee to tie the game at 2-2 and saddled Alzolay with just his second blown save this season. However, Chicago scored in the bottom half of the frame, and Alzolay pitched a clean ninth to earn the win. The Cubs' closer has pitched each of the last two days, but he will get to rest Thursday during a team off day, so he should be ready if needed Friday against the Reds.
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Cruises to 22nd save
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Alzolay retired all three batters he faced to record the save in Tuesday's 1-0 win over the Brewers. He struck out one.
Alzolay was dominant as he shut down Milwaukee on 11 pitches, giving the Cubs an important win against the division-leading Brewers. The righty now has 22 saves in 23 chances this season, and he's converted his last 18 opportunities in a row. After working mostly as a starter earlier in his career, Alzolay has developed into an outstanding reliever, and he could be settling in as Chicago's closer for the foreseeable future given his strong play this year.
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Gets last out for save
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Alzolay struck out the only batter he faced to earn the save in Saturday's 10-6 win over the Pirates.
Daniel Palencia was tasked with protecting a four-run lead in the ninth inning, but he walked two while collecting two outs. With Bryan Reynolds up to bat, manager David Ross tasked Alzolay with ending the threat. This was Alzolay's 21st save in 22 chances this season, and he's converted 17 chances in a row. For the season, he's maintained a 2.64 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 62:9 K:BB over 58 innings.
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Reaches 20 saves
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Alzolay allowed an unearned run in the 10th inning but managed to secure the save in Thursday's 5-4 win over the Pirates.
Pittsburgh scored their automatic runner following a ground out and a sacrifice fly, but Alzolay comfortably got through the 10th inning on 13 pitches. He's up to 20 saves, including one in each of the last two days. Alzolay has yet to pitch three days in a row this season, so he may not be available if the Cubs have a save opportunity Friday.
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Shuts door Wednesday
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Alzolay pitched around a hit and a walk to record a scoreless ninth inning and earn the save Wednesday against the Tigers. He struck out two.
Alzolay was a little shaky for the second straight appearance, though this time he kept the opponent off the board and preserved Chicago's 6-4 win. The righty now has 19 saves this season in 20 chances to go along with a 2.70 ERA. Alzolay has done more than enough to hold onto the closer job the rest of the way as the Cubs fight for a playoff spot.
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Shaky but earns save
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Alzolay allowed two runs on two hits but managed to secure the save in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Royals.
Alzolay got the benefit of working with a three-run lead but he wasn't particularly sharp, allowing the two hits and also hitting a batter. The righty was still able to escape with his 18th save in 19 chances, and his ERA remains a tidy 2.75. Alzolay was pitching in back-to-back games, so fatigue could have been a factor. He should still have a strong hold on the closer role in Chicago due to his performance so far this season.
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Picks up 17th save
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Alzolay picked up the save Saturday against the Royals, allowing one hit while striking out one batter over a scoreless inning.
Alzolay allowed a one-out single to MJ Melendez after being brought in to protect a two-run lead in the ninth but needed just five pitches to get through the final two batters and secure his 17th save. The 28-year-old right-hander has now converted his last 13 save opportunities, with his lone blown save coming back on July 4. He's also issued only two walks since the start of July.
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Nails down 16th save
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Alzolay picked up the save Saturday against the Blue Jays, striking out one over a perfect inning.
Alzolay entered the contest in the bottom of the ninth with a one-run lead and got Brandon Belt to go down on strikes in the opening at-bat. The right-handed reliever then made short work of the next two batters to complete a perfect inning and log his 16th save of the season. Alzolay has now converted each of his last 12 save attempts, with his only blown save coming back on July 4 against the Brewers. He's also issued just one walk over his last 11 appearances (spanning 11.2 innings).
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Shuts door Tuesday
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Alzolay worked around a hit to pitch a scoreless ninth inning and record the save in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Mets.
Alzolay continued his strong recent stretch, as he's now put together scoreless outings in nine of his last 10 appearances. The righty has established himself as Chicago's closer with his strong 2.49 ERA overall and 15 saves in 16 chances. After having some uncertainty in the role to begin the year, the Cubs have seemingly found a reliable option for the rest of this season and likely into 2024.
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Nabs 14th save
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Alzolay allowed a hit and struck out one in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Sunday's 6-4 win over Atlanta.
Alzolay allowed two runs in an inning Saturday versus Atlanta, but that was a non-save situation. He's given up a pair of runs four times in his last 15 outings while keeping runs off the board in his other 11 appearances in that span. The right-hander is now at a 2.54 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 55:7 K:BB while adding 14 saves and six holds through 49.2 innings this season.
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Earns another save
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Alzolay pitched a scoreless ninth inning to record the save in Wednesday's win over the White Sox.
A night after striking out the side to record a save, Alzolay retired the White Sox in order again to register his 11th save of the season in 12 chances. The righty is settling in as the Cubs' closer and should have decent job security at this point given his strong 2.40 ERA and 0.93 WHIP across 45 innings, to go along with 51 strikeouts.
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Secures eighth save
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Alzolay picked up the save Friday against St. Louis, tossing a scoreless ninth inning. He didn't record a walk or strikeout.
Alzolay entered with a one-run lead and proceeded to retire Lars Nootbaar and Paul Goldschmidt in order before Nolan Arenado reached on a fielding error. Alzolay then plunked Willson Contreras to put the go-ahead run on base but secured the save by retiring Tyler O'Neill. The right-hander has run away with the Cubs' closing job since May 6, going 7-for-8 in save chances while posting a 28:4 K:BB across 26.1 innings during that stretch.
