Injuries & Moves: Busch (triceps), Suzuki (ankle) day to day

Injuries & Moves: Busch (triceps), Suzuki (ankle) day to day

September 25th, 2024

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Sept. 25: OF Kevin Alcántara (Pipeline's No. 6 Cubs prospect and No. 69 on the Top 100) recalled from Triple-A Iowa; INF Miles Mastrobuoni optioned to Arizona Complex League
With outfielder Seiya Suzuki (right ankle sprain) banged up, the Cubs saw an opportunity to promote the 22-year Alcántara from Triple-A Iowa for the home stretch of the season. For Wednesday's game in Philadelphia, Alcántara got the nod in right field and in the ninth slot of the Cubs' lineup for his MLB debut.

Alcántara -- acquired at the '21 Trade Deadline from the Yankees in the Anthony Rizzo deal -- split his season between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa. In 111 games, the outfield prospect hit .278/.353/.428 with 14 home runs, 21 doubles, 61 RBIs, 14 stolen bases and 61 runs.

Sept. 25: 1B (right triceps contusion), DH (right ankle sprain) out of lineup
Busch and Suzuki exited Tuesday night's 10-4 win over the Phillies early due to injury setbacks, and they remained out of the starting lineup on Wednesday in Philadelphia. Both are considered day to day.

Busch was hit on the right arm by a pitch from lefty Tanner Banks in the second inning and sustained a contusion. Manager Craig Counsell said after the win that the concern for the rookie first baseman was his ability to throw without discomfort.

Suzuki was removed for a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning after spraining his right ankle while running from first to home on Cody Bellinger's three-run triple in the sixth. Suzuki expressed optimism after the win that he could return to the lineup soon, but the Cubs promoted prospect Kevin Alcántara from Triple-A Iowa as insurance.

Sept. 24: RHP added to active roster; RHP optioned to the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League
The Cubs claimed the 28-year-old Paredes off waivers from the Brewers on Monday and added him to the active roster ahead of Tuesday's game against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. In 17 games this season for the Brewers, the righty had a 1.74 ERA with 14 strikeouts and 10 walks in 20 2/3 innings.

Paredes previously posted a 3.90 ERA in 37 games for Houston between the 2020-22 seasons.

Hollowell was promoted from Triple-A Iowa on Monday and worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings in the Cubs' 6-2 loss to the Phillies. The righty was claimed off waivers from the D-backs on Aug. 23 and logged a 1.93 ERA with 15 strikeouts and four walks in 9 1/3 innings with Triple-A Iowa prior to his outing for Chicago.

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10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST

RHP Jorge López (right groin strain)
Expected return: 2025
López was out from Sept. 3-17 due to a right groin issue and landed back on the 15-day IL on Sept. 23 due to the same setback. That effectively ended López's season after he logged a 2.03 ERA with 31 strikeouts and eight walks in 26 2/3 innings (24 games) with the Cubs. The righty had a 2.89 ERA in 52 games overall between the Cubs and Mets in '24. (Last updated: Sept. 23)

LHP (right oblique strain)
Expected return: 2025
Wicks was placed on the 15-day IL on Sept. 20 due to a right oblique strain. The Cubs are still gathering more information, according to pitching coach Tommy Hottovy, who noted he’s “pretty optimistic” that it’s not the exact same issue that Wicks dealt with previously this season.

Wicks, who felt the issue during a bullpen session, went on the 15-day IL earlier in the season with a right oblique strain on June 10 and was activated on Sept. 1. The lefty also dealt with a left forearm strain early in the season. With one week left in the regular season, the Cubs do not want to push the issue. In 11 games (10 starts) overall for the Cubs this year, Wicks posted a 5.48 ERA with 42 strikeouts and 20 walks in 46 innings. (Last updated: Sept. 21)

RHP (right knee tendinitis)
Expected return: 2025
Merryweather was scheduled to undergo a patellar tendon debridement on his right knee on Sept. 20, manager Craig Counsell announced on Sept. 19. The righty made two recent rehab appearances with Triple-A Iowa, but the knee issue persisted, leading to the decision to undergo surgery. The Cubs "anticipate him being ready for Spring Training," per Counsell.

Merryweather, who missed time earlier this season due to a rib stress fracture, has allowed 11 runs over 15 innings in the Majors this year after breaking out with a 3.38 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 72 innings last season. He was placed on the IL on Aug. 27 (retroactive to Aug. 26). (Last updated: Sept. 19)

60-DAY IL

RHP (fractured left hand)
Expected return: 2025
Brewer began a Minor League rehab stint with Triple-A Iowa on Aug. 31 and logged a 2.84 ERA in seven outings for the I-Cubs down the stretch. The 31-year-old reliever punched a wall in the Cubs’ dugout after his outing against the Angels on July 6 and sustained a fractured left hand, resulting in his trip to the IL. Brewer has logged a 5.66 ERA in 20 2/3 innings this season, striking out 22 and walking nine. (Last updated: Sept. 24)

OF (left ankle fracture)
Expected return: 2025
Davis slid awkwardly into second base and sustained a fractured left ankle during a game with Triple-A Iowa on Sept. 10. In need of a 40-man spot, the Cubs recalled Davis on Sept. 13 and immediately placed him on the 60-day IL. The 24-year-old, who is the Cubs' No. 27 prospect, was limited to 55 games this season (.820 OPS) between High-A South Bend and Triple-A Iowa due to injury setbacks.

Davis has been impacted by multiple injuries in the years since the breakout 2021 campaign that landed him on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 list. The outfielder missed two-plus months this season due to a back fracture, had core muscle surgery in '23, underwent back surgery in '22 and has dealt with two concussions since '21. (Last updated: Sept. 24)

2B (left pinky fracture)
Expected return: 2025
Madrigal was recalled from Triple-A and placed on the 60-day injured list on Sept. 1. He sustained a left pinky fracture after he was hit by a pitch in his first game back with Iowa on June 5. He had been on the Minor League IL since June 6. Madrigal slashed .221/.280/.256 in 51 games for the Cubs before being optioned to Triple-A on June 2. (Last updated: Sept. 24)

RHP (neck strain)
Expected return: 2025
Cubs manager Craig Counsell noted on June 19 that testing on the pitcher's neck revealed a "benign area of concern." Brown, who posted a 3.58 ERA with 64 strikeouts in 55 1/3 innings for the Cubs this season, was placed on the IL on June 11 and spent the final three-plus months rehabbing in Arizona. (Last updated: Sept. 24)

RHP (right flexor strain)
Expected return: TBD
Alzolay underwent Tommy John surgery on Aug. 7 and is expected to miss a significant portion of the 2025 season. The right-hander's timetable for return has not yet been fully established. Alzolay's last rehab outing with Triple-A Iowa was on July 27, but he did not recover well after a season hindered by injury.

Expected to be the Cubs' closer in 2024, Alzolay was limited to 18 games and logged a 4.67 ERA. (Last updated: Sept. 24)

LHP (left shoulder strain)
Expected return: 2025
By late July, it was known that Little's 2024 season was over due to his left shoulder/lat injury. The lefty landed on the 15-day IL on July 13 -- one day after exiting his outing against the Cardinals after just four pitches. He was moved to the 60-day IL on July 22.

Little posted a 3.46 ERA in 30 games overall this season, but had a 1.59 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 17 innings and a .127 opponents’ average in 20 appearances prior to the IL stint. (Last updated: Sept. 24)

RHP (right shoulder strain)
Expected return: 2025
Almonte underwent a successful labral repair surgery in July. The righty attempted to come back from the injury for two months after landing on the IL on May 11 before opting for the surgery. Almonte posted a 3.45 ERA over 17 appearances for Chicago, which acquired him in a trade with the Dodgers in January. (Last updated: Sept. 24)

MINOR LEAGUE INJURED LIST

RHP (right lat strain; No. 2 on Cubs' Top Prospects list, No. 28 overall)
Expected return: 2025
Horton’s 2024 season ended in August after he suffered a setback in his rehab from the right subscapularis strain that sidelined him in May. Cubs GM Carter Hawkins said on Aug. 13 that, "at this point of the year and this point of his career, it's not something that we wanted to push. We feel confident that he'll be ready to rock and roll come Spring Training, and certainly he’ll be part of our plans for next year."

Horton, who was Chicago’s first-round pick (No. 7 overall) in the 2022 MLB Draft, exited his May 29 start for Triple-A Iowa after logging 20 pitches in one inning (two runs allowed) against Louisville. The righty posted a 7.50 ERA with 22 strikeouts and 11 walks in 18 innings (five starts) for Iowa, following a four-start stint (1.10 ERA with 18 strikeouts and two walks in 16 1/3 innings) with Double-A Tennessee to begin the season. (Last updated: Sept. 24)

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