Notes: Quintana on mend; Rizzo feels ready

CHICAGO -- The day before José Quintana was scheduled to fly to Chicago for Summer Camp, he decided to help out at home and do the dishes. It was a routine task, but one that went awry when the stem of a wine glass broke and cut open the pitcher's left thumb.

"I don't have words to describe how that was," Quintana said on Tuesday. "It was really bad in my mind at that time."

One day earlier, Quintana had thrown 50-plus pitches in four simulated innings. He said his pitch velocity was up and he was excited about arriving to Summer Camp as a key member of the Cubs' rotation. Instead, Quintana underwent surgery on July 2 to repair a lacerated digital sensory nerve in the thumb, and now his status for 2020 is uncertain.

Quintana is on the mend, has resumed throwing -- he played catch up to 105 feet on Monday -- and might be cleared to move back to a mound in the next week to 10 days. Even so, his injury was a tough blow to a Cubs rotation already thin on depth. Given how long a traditional build-up takes for a starting pitcher, Quintana is unlikely to be available until September.

Quintana was originally acquired ahead of the Trade Deadline in 2017 to boost the rotation down the stretch. With the Trade Deadline on Aug. 31 in this shortened season, Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy put an optimistic outlook on the situation.

"We could potentially get Q at the Deadline again this year," Hottovy said, "and kind of give us that jolt we need at that time. ... Absolutely, when we can get him back, we're going to be excited. But we obviously understand the road he has to take to get back to that point."

The 31-year-old Quintana -- a free agent after this season -- said the good news right now is that he has no pain and full mobility with the thumb. The lefty also noted that the location of the cut, which required five stitches, is on the top of the digit, so it does not impact the grip for his fastballs, changeup or curve.

Without Quintana available for Opening Day, Tyler Chatwood moved up in the rotation and right-hander Alec Mills moved up as the top candidate for the fifth spot. During Spring Training, Mills was a virtual lock for the bullpen as a swing man. Behind Mills, the Cubs have righties Adbert Alzolay, Jharel Cotton and Colin Rea as starting depth.

Quintana said it was hard to convey his frustration over the setback.

"Oh my God. You can't imagine. It was tough. It was a lot of frustration in me," Quintana said. "It was an accident, man. I know how that feels and it's bad. Right now, I'm focused on being ready for throwing, and I'm lucky I can throw the ball."

Rizzo in plans vs. Twins
First baseman Anthony Rizzo (back) went through a full workout on Tuesday, including facing live pitching from a quartet of Cubs arms. The showing had manager David Ross optimistic about being able to start Rizzo at first base for Wednesday night's exhibition game against the Twins.

"It looks like all thumbs up from today," Ross said after the workout. "Again, I don't want to put the cart before the horse. We'll make sure he presents well tomorrow when he wakes up. He took some great swings, said he felt ready, doesn't think it's going to be an issue for the game tomorrow. So the plan is to have him start at first base."

Rizzo, who has not played in a game since a July 5 intrasquad contest at Wrigley Field, saw 33 pitches combined against Tyler Chatwood, Dan Winkler, Rowan Wick and Rex Brothers. Rizzo took 13 swings, putting six balls in play, fouling six off and missing once.

Worth noting
• Ross said he anticipates carrying 16 pitchers to start the season. The manager noted that bullpen candidate James Norwood "was impressive" in the fifth inning Monday against the White Sox. Norwood entered with Tim Anderson on first, and struck out Yoán Moncada on a 98-mph fastball before inducing a 5-4-3 double play off the bat of José Abreu.

"He's a guy that took that down time and really took advantage of it," Ross said. "He worked really hard on some of the feedback I gave him in the first Spring Training and really put stuff into action. I put him in a tough spot last night in the heart of that lineup, and he did a really good job."

• Chatwood worked five simulated innings during Tuesday's workout as a final tune-up for his scheduled start against the Brewers on Sunday. Ross said the righty was able to make some strides with his sinker in the practice session.

"Chatty looked good -- felt good," Ross said. "Had some depth to his sinker. Said he had felt a little bit like it was more of a runner lately out on the mound. Today, he got some real good depth to that. Felt like he could manipulate the ball, both sides."

• Ross noted that veteran Jon Lester is currently lined up to start the fourth game of the season on July 27 against the Reds in Cincinnati.

• Righty Alec Mills, who is the leading candidate for the rotation's fifth spot, is scheduled to throw live batting practice on Wednesday.

Up next
Lester is scheduled to take the ball for the Cubs on Wednesday night when the North Siders host the Twins in a 6:05 p.m. CT exhibition game at Wrigley Field. A handful of bullpen candidates are also penciled in to pitch for Chicago.