The Cubs reinstated Smyly (hip) from the injured list Saturday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Smyly landed on the injured list in late April due to a right hip impingement. He struck out five batters in three scoreless innings during his lone rehab game at High-A South Bend on Tuesday. He had put up a 4.97 ERA and 1.34 WHIP across 12.2 innings before getting injured and figures to reprise his role as a middle reliever now that he's fully recovered. Jose Cuas was optioned to Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Nearing return
Rotowire
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Friday that Smyly (hip) is likely to be activated from the injured list during this weekend's series against the Cardinals, Elise Menaker reports.
Smyly made a rehab start with High-A South Bend on Tuesday, throwing three perfect innings while striking out five. Despite the fact that Kyle Hendricks was moved to the bullpen and Jordan Wicks (forearm) remains on the IL, Counsell noted that he will use Smyly in a multi-inning relief role when he returns, rather than moving him into the rotation. Smyly appeared in nine games before going on the injured list, registering a 4.97 ERA and 1.34 WHIP over 12.2 innings.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Shines in rehab start
Rotowire
Smyly (hip) struck out five over three perfect innings in his rehab start Tuesday with High-A South Bend.
Pitching in a game for the first time in a month after landing on the 15-day injured list April 23 with a right hip impingement, Smyly looked about as good as possible while tossing 40 pitches. The lefty had been working exclusively as a reliever prior to landing on the shelf, but with the Cubs moving the struggling Kyle Hendricks to the bullpen earlier this week, Smyly could be under consideration to step in as the team's No. 5 starter if he makes it back from the IL before Jordan Wicks (forearm). If the Cubs intend to bring Smyly back in a starting role, he'll still need to get stretched out a bit further, so it wouldn't be surprising if he stuck around at South Bend or joined a higher-level affiliate for another rehab outing. Regardless of whether Smyly serves as a starter or reliever upon his return to the Cubs, manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday that he expects the 34-year-old to be activated at some point next week, per MLB.com.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Making rehab start
Rotowire
Smyly (hip) will make a rehab start Tuesday with High-A South Bend, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Smyly is set for his first rehab appearance since suffering a pinched nerve in his right hip back in April. It's unclear how long of a rehab stint is required, but Smyly should be on pace to return in late May or early June.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Will begin rehab in High-A
Rotowire
Manager Craig Counsell said Saturday that he expects Smyly (hip) to begin a rehab assignment with High-A South Bend sometime next week, Mike McGraw of the Chicago Daily Herald reports.
Counsell did not specify how many appearances Smyly will make in the minors, though the lefty figures to require multiple outings given he's been on the shelf since April 23 with a hip impingement. The 34-year-old put up a 4.97 ERA and 1.34 WHIP across 12.2 innings before getting hurt, and he will likely return to a multi-inning relief role once he rejoins Chicago.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Completes bullpen session
Rotowire
Smyly (hip) threw another bullpen session Monday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Smyly continues to work his way back from a right hip impingement, which prompted his placement on the 15-day injured list April 23. The 34-year-old southpaw will need to advance to facing live hitters in batting practice and will likely require a rehab assignment before being activated.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Throwing off mound
Rotowire
Smyly (hip) will throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
He's continuing his throwing progression as he works his way back from a right hip impingement. Smyly has already missed a couple weeks of action and will probably be asked to make at least one rehab appearance before being activated.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Cleared to resume throwing
Rotowire
Smyly (hip) has been cleared to begin playing catch, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Smyly hasn't pitched in nearly two weeks because of a right hip impingement but is ready to begin ramping things back up. The left-hander seems likely to require a rehab assignment before rejoining the Cubs' bullpen.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: To IL with hip injury
Rotowire
The Cubs placed Smyly on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a right hip impingement, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Smyly last pitched Sunday against the Marlins and must have suffered an injury during the outing. He'll be eligible to return May 7, although it's not clear at this point whether he will be ready at that time.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Solid so far
Rotowire
Through four appearances (6.2 innings), Smyly has a 4.05 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and seven strikeouts.
Outside of his first appearance of the season, Smyly has retired more than three batters in all of his outings, and he should continue to work in a long-relief role for the Cubs. While a 4.05 ERA isn't amazing, it is an improvement on the 5.00 ERA he posted in 2023. The veteran southpaw has also lowered his WHIP from 1.43 last season. It's still early, but Smyly's results have been encouraging so far.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed Thursday that Smyly will begin the season in the bullpen, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Though Jameson Taillon (back) is slated to begin the season on the injured list, the Cubs are electing to fill the final two spots in the five-man rotation with Jordan Wicks and Javier Assad rather than opening the campaign with Smyly in a starting role. Counsell noted that he still expects Smyly to make starts at some point this season, so the 35-year-old lefty presumably checks in at seventh on the organization's rotation depth chart, including the injured Taillon.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Could serve as spot starter
Rotowire
Smyly could start the regular season in the rotation with Jameson Taillon (back) set to miss some time into April, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Taillon could return as soon as April 8 in San Diego, but the Cubs will have to fill his rotation spot until then. Justin Steele is set to start Opening Day on March 28, and Chicago gets an off day after that. However, the Cubs then have games on five straight days, so a full rotation will likely be needed. Beyond Steele, Kyle Hendricks and Shota Imanaga should be locked into starting spots, and Jordan Wicks is making a strong case in camp. That could leave Smyly, Javier Assad and Hayden Wesneski to compete for the No. 5 spot, at least until Taillon returns.
Smyly tossed 3.1 scoreless innings in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Rangers. He allowed four hits and a walk, while striking out four.
Smyly still has a rough 6.14 ERA in Cactus League play due to some rough outings earlier this spring, but this was a step in the right direction. The veteran lefty is likely headed for a bullpen role at some point, though a short-term opportunity to start may open up with Jameson Taillon (back) in jeopardy of missing time to start the regular season. Righties Javier Assad and Hayden Wesneski are also options for spot starting duties.
