Wicks was diagnosed with a Grade 2 oblique strain Saturday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Craig Counsell didn't offer much of a timeline for Wicks' recovery, mentioning only that Wicks was "going to miss some time." However, a Grade 2 sprain likely indicates that Wicks will be sidelined for significantly longer than the minimum 15 days, leaving his rotation spot to Kyle Hendricks for the foreseeable future. Wicks sustained the injury Friday during his first start since April after spending a month on the IL due to a forearm injury.
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Cubs' Kyle Hendricks: Likely moving into rotation
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Cubs manager Craig Counsell said after Friday's loss to the Cardinals that Hendricks is likely to take Jordan Wicks' (oblique) spot in the rotation, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.
Hendricks came on in relief for the injured Wicks in the second inning and tossed 4.1 scoreless frames. The veteran right-hander has been disastrous on the whole this season with an 8.20 ERA, he's unscored upon over his last 8.2 innings out of the bullpen. Hendricks would tentatively be lined up to start Wednesday at home versus the Giants.
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Cubs' Keegan Thompson: Recalled from Triple-A
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The Cubs recalled Thompson from Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Thompson will provide a fresh arm for a bullpen that was needed to cover 7.1 innings Friday. He holds a 4.97 ERA and 19:6 K:BB over 12.2 relief innings during his time with the Cubs this season.
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Cubs' Jordan Wicks: IL move made official
Rotowire
The Cubs placed Wick on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a right oblique strain, Taylor McGregor reports.
Wicks had to be pulled from Friday's start against the Cardinals in the second inning due to the injury. It's not clear what grade the strain is, so it's difficult to project a return date. Typically, though, even low-grade oblique strains result in longer than a minimum stay on the IL. Kyle Hendricks will slide into Wicks' rotation spot.
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Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Out of lineup Saturday
Rotowire
Amaya is not in the lineup for Saturday's game versus the Cardinals.
Yan Gomes will do the catching for Shota Imanaga. Amaya started four of the previous five contests.
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Cubs' Michael Busch: Sitting out Saturday
Rotowire
Busch is absent from the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cardinals.
Right-hander Andre Pallante is starting for the Cardinals and has reverse splits, so Busch will begin this one on the bench. Cody Bellinger is handling first base and Pete Crow-Armstrong will patrol center field.
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Cubs' Julian Merryweather: Throws bullpen session
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Merryweather (ribs) threw a 26-pitch bullpen session Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Merryweather has been on the shelf since early April due to a rib stress fracture and has finally progressed to mound work. While he's moving in the right direction, the reliever would seem to still be several weeks away from a potential return.
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Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Throws off mound
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Kilian (shoulder) threw a 32-pitch bullpen session Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
It would appear to be the first time he's thrown off a mound since being diagnosed in early March with a teres major strain in his right shoulder. Kilian, who is on the 60-day injured list, figures to need a lengthy rehab assignment once he's deemed ready. Further, it isn't a given that he will be added to the big-league roster once he's off the IL.
Wesneski (2-4) allowed a solo home run in an inning of relief to take the loss Friday against the Cardinals.
Wesneski allowed the first run of the game in the eighth inning, a solo shot by Pedro Pages, then got saddled with the loss as the Cubs got blanked 3-0. Despite the hiccup, the 26-year-old has been solid this season as he's settled into a relief role for Chicago, posting a 2.84 ERA and 34 strikeouts across 38 innings.
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Cubs' Kyle Hendricks: Looks sharp Friday
Rotowire
Hendricks tossed 4.1 scoreless innings of relief in Friday's 3-0 loss to the Cardinals. He allowed two hits and struck out one.
Chicago starter Jordan Hicks departed after just 1.2 innings due to an oblique injury, which pushed Hendricks into action. The veteran responded well and had perhaps his best outing of the season, giving the Cubs some much-needed length out of the bullpen. While Hendricks still has an ugly 8.20 ERA overall, he's been better lately with 8.2 scoreless innings over his last three appearances. The veteran is the most likely candidate to move into the rotation with Wicks expected to land on the IL.
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Cubs' Jordan Wicks: IL stint likely
Rotowire
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said after Friday's 3-0 loss to the Cardinals that Wicks will get an MRI for his right oblique and that a stint on the injured list is "likely," Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Wicks was lifted from Friday's game after just 1.2 innings due to right oblique discomfort. He was previously on the injured list due to a left forearm strain that kept him out of action for nearly six weeks. Wicks made two appearances since being activated from the IL on June 7, including Friday's start. Kyle Hendricks came in to replace Wicks on Friday, and he figures to enter the Cubs' rotation.
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Cubs' Jordan Wicks: Dealing with oblique injury
Rotowire
Wicks had to be lifted from Friday's start versus the Cardinals because of right oblique discomfort, Marquee Sports Network reports.
Wicks recorded just five outs before having to be removed. Cubs manager Craig Counsell said during an in-game interview that the pitcher "felt it pretty good," but the team won't know more until after he's examined following the game. Kyle Hendricks replaced Wicks on Friday and is the obvious candidate to move into the rotation if the young southpaw needs to miss time, which seems likely.
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Cubs' Jordan Wicks: Exits outing with injury
Rotowire
Wicks was removed from Friday's start against the Cardinals in the second inning with an injury, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Wicks evidently tweaked something while surrendering a Dylan Carlson single with two outs in the second frame. The left-hander recently returned from a flexor strain, although it's not clear at this point whether that's what he might be dealing with again.
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Cubs' Ben Brown: Stress reaction in neck
Rotowire
Brown has been diagnosed with a stress reaction in his neck, Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Brown was placed on the 15-day injured list earlier this week with what was referred to as a neck strain at the time. With this more serious diagnosis, he is likely to be sidelined longer than the minimum 15 days, although a clearer timeline isn't yet available. Jordan Wicks has re-entered the Cubs' rotation in Brown's place.
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Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong: Not in Friday's lineup
Rotowire
Crow-Armstrong is out of the lineup for Friday's game versus the Cardinals.
Crow-Armstrong will sit Friday after a run of four straight starts, during which he went 3-for-15 with five strikeouts and two stolen bases. Mike Tauchman will man center field while Cody Bellinger receives a turn as Chicago's designated hitter.
Cubs' Yency Almonte: Throwing live batting practice
Rotowire
Almonte (shoulder) will throw a live batting practice session Friday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
It appears to be the first time he's faced hitters since going down with a right shoulder strain in early May. Almonte should be ready for a rehab assignment before long and is tracking toward a return before the end of the month.
