With Wicks, Brown injured, could Hendricks return to rotation?

CHICAGO -- The Cubs’ starting pitching depth is being put to the test by injuries.

Jordan Wicks exited his start against the Cardinals on Friday with a right oblique strain, Cubs manager Craig Counsell said following Chicago’s 3-0 loss to St. Louis at Wrigley Field. The 24-year-old left-hander is expected to go on the injured list.

“We'll get imaging [Saturday] and likely IL, and we'll go from there,” Counsell said.

Friday was Wicks’ first start since April 23 and his second appearance since coming off the 15-day injured list on June 7 after dealing with a left forearm strain. His turn on Friday was previously right-hander Ben Brown’s turn in the rotation.

Brown went on the 15-day IL on Tuesday with a left neck strain. But after undergoing further testing, he was diagnosed with a stress reaction in his neck, per Counsell, who noted pregame the new diagnosis “is going to mean an absence, for sure.”

Wicks retired five of the first six batters he faced on Friday, including striking out Nolan Gorman and Iván Herrera swinging to open the second. He then allowed a two-out single to Dylan Carlson and almost immediately showed signs of being in pain. Counsell and a trainer sprinted out to the mound to check on Wicks, who then exited the game.

“I just felt tightness in my right side after making a pitch,” Wicks said. “I didn't think a whole lot of it. Threw a couple more [pitches], and it just didn't get any better. When I knew it persisted a couple of pitches in a row, I knew something wasn't right.”

Wicks said he experienced an oblique injury earlier in his baseball career, but on his left side. That he suffered Friday’s injury so soon after he returned from the IL was an obvious source of discouragement for him.

“It’s extremely frustrating,” Wicks said. “Especially just coming back from the IL and feeling like I was in an outstanding spot physically. To have something like this happen, it's definitely frustrating. But there's not a lot we can do about it right now. We're going to get to work and hopefully come back as soon as we can.”

In the meantime, Kyle Hendricks could rejoin the starting rotation less than a month since he was moved to the bullpen. The veteran right-hander entered Friday’s game in immediate relief of Wicks.

“We'll see where we're at when we get there, but I think it looks like it,” Counsell said of Hendricks’ potential return to the rotation.

Hendricks retired the first 11 batters he faced Friday and worked out of the only jam he encountered. Masyn Winn and Nate Burleson hit consecutive one-out singles in the sixth, but Hendricks then got Paul Goldschmidt to fly out to right fielder Seiya Suzuki and Nolan Arenado to ground into a fielder’s choice.

Friday marked Hendricks’ first appearance in eight days and fifth as a reliever this season. In three appearances this month, he’s thrown 8 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing six hits and two walks with four strikeouts.

“In a lot of ways, Kyle continues to impress you, even though he's had a tough go of it so far,” Counsell said. “He's worried about the things that he can control -- and that's to be ready when his name is called and to not make it any more complicated than that. Easier said than done with what Kyle has accomplished and what he has meant here.

“But I think an outing like today is proof that that's how Kyle conducts himself and goes about his day. It’s to be ready for the next opportunity, no matter what is going on, or no matter what's happened in the past. And I thought today was a great example of it.”

Hendricks entered in a tough spot and kept the Cubs in the game, but Chicago’s offense struggled again on Friday. The Cubs tallied six baserunners: three singles and three walks -- two of which came in the ninth.

Patrick Wisdom hit what looked off the bat like a go-ahead two-run home run in the eighth, with the Cardinals up 1-0. But the long drive was caught at the wall by Brendan Donovan. It had a 111 mph exit velocity and 33-degree launch angle, according to Statcast, and would have been a homer in 20 ballparks.

“Do everything right, hit the ball on the nose and don't get results for it,” Wisdom said. “That kind of happens sometimes, but that's a tough one to swallow, especially given the situation late in the game and the game-deciding it would have been. But who knows how it would have played out.”