LATEST NEWS

May 14: INF Nico Hoerner (left hamstring tightness) scratched from lineup
Shortly before Tuesday’s 7-0 loss to the Braves, Hoerner was pulled from the Cubs’ starting lineup due to left hamstring tightness. Cubs manager Craig Counsell explained after the game that Hoerner felt discomfort during batting practice and the team opted not to take any chances.

"It was just a spot where we didn't want to risk anything," said Counsell, who added that Hoerner would be reassessed prior to Wednesday's game.

Hoerner spent the previous five games filling in as the Cubs’ shortstop in place of two-time Gold Glove winner Dansby Swanson, who is on the injured list with a right knee injury. Hoerner is batting .269 with two homers, 11 doubles, 12 RBIs and 25 runs scored through 41 games this season. The 27-year-old has hit .289 with a .929 OPS in 12 games in May.

Hoerner was initially in the lineup as Chicago’s leadoff man and shortstop, and was replaced in the field by Miles Mastrobuoni.

"We're always dealing with little things here and there," Hoerner said. "But I've felt like I've been in a good spot to where I can still be a good version of myself on the field. And today I wasn't quite at that level where I felt like that. I definitely feel I'm in the day to day category."

May 14: RHP Adbert Alzolay diagnosed with right flexor strain
While the Cubs will be without Alzolay for at least the next couple of weeks, the news on Tuesday was positive, under the circumstances. Imaging on the reliever's arm confirmed a right flexor strain, but Alzolay is not dealing with any structural damage.

"Better than yesterday, for sure," said Alzolay, when asked how he was feeling about the test results. "We were pretty concerned, but I think it's not going to be that bad. The ligament is totally fine."

Alzolay said he plans on taking the next five days off, while receiving treatment, before being reassessed.

"It was good news," Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. "Obviously, [Alzolay is still] on the injured list with an elbow issue, but I think overall it was good news. Good enough that we're going to treat it for a little while here, but we're not a long way off from possibly picking up a ball again."

May 14: RHP Tyson Miller acquired from Mariners for Minor League INF Jake Slaughter
In need of bullpen reinforcements, the Cubs reached a deal with the Mariners on Tuesday to acquire Miller. Chicago sent Slaughter to Seattle to complete the deal.

Miller, 28, was designated for assignment by the Mariners on May 10 after posting a 3.09 ERA with 12 strikeouts and one walk in 11 2/3 innings this season. The righty -- originally a fourth-round pick by the Cubs in the 2016 Draft -- has a 5.91 ERA in 25 MLB games in parts of four seasons.

"He was performing relatively well for Seattle," Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins said on Tuesday. "He's consolidated his pitch mix [fastball-slider] a little bit. He's a guy that we feel like can get right-handed hitters out, and certainly the depth in the bullpen and getting somebody that we can trust to help finish out some of these games is certainly something we're always looking for."

The Cubs currently have five relievers (Yency Almonte, Adbert Alzolay, Julian Merryweather, Daniel Palencia and Drew Smyly) on the injured list.

The 27-year-old Slaughter (an 18th-round pick by the Cubs in the 2018 Draft) was batting .297 with five homers, 17 RBIs and an .878 OPS in 32 games with Triple-A Iowa this season.

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10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST

RHP Adbert Alzolay (right forearm strain)
Expected return: June
Imaging on Alzolay's arm showed a right flexor strain. The pitcher said on May 14 that he will rest and receive treatment for five days before being reassessed. Alzolay was placed on the 15-day IL on May 13 with the injury, which flared during his outing on May 12. In 18 games this season, Alzolay has a 4.67 ERA with 13 strikeouts, six walks and six homers allowed in 17 1/3 innings.

"It was good news," Cubs manager Craig Counsell said of the test results on May 14. "Obviously, [Alzolay is still] on the injured list with an elbow issue, but I think overall it was good news. Good enough that we're going to treat it for a little while here, but we're not a long ways off from possibly picking up a ball again." (Last updated: May 14)

RHP Yency Almonte (right shoulder strain)
Expected return: May/June
Almonte was placed on the IL on May 11 (retroactive to May 8) after he did not recover well from his most recent outing on May 7 against the Padres. Manager Craig Counsell said on May 14 that the Cubs would have a better idea of Almonte's comeback schedule after the current road trip. Almonte had a 3.45 ERA over 17 appearances for Chicago to begin the season. (Last updated: May 14)

RHP Daniel Palencia (right shoulder strain)
Expected return: May/June
Palencia was placed on the IL on May 7 due to a right shoulder strain -- an injury that flared on his final pitch in the Cubs' 6-3 loss to the Padres on May 6. Manager Craig Counsell said on May 14 that Palencia was doing well and was nearing the start of a throwing program. The right-hander had a 6.55 ERA with 12 strikeouts and eight walks in seven games for the Cubs. (Last updated: May 14)

LHP Jordan Wicks (left forearm strain)
Expected return: May
Wicks threw a bullpen session at Truist Park on May 13. Cubs manager Craig Counsell said the next step would be two innings of live BP on May 16 or May 17, when the team is back in Chicago.

Wicks had been slated to start on April 28 in Boston, but he was scratched the night before due to the left forearm issue. Imaging showed there was no structural damage. Wicks said he first felt the issue while warming up for his start against the Astros on April 23, but it calmed down and he did not think it was anything serious. When the discomfort persisted over the next few days, he opted to be cautious. (Last updated: May 13)

LHP Drew Smyly (right hip impingement)
Expected return: May
Smyly threw a bullpen session at Truist Park on May 13. Cubs manager Craig Counsell said the next step would be live BP on May 16 or May 17, when the team is back in Chicago. Smyly first felt the hip issue during the team's April 15-17 series in Arizona. After the issue persisted against Miami on April 21, the Cubs opted for an IL stint on April 23 (retroactive to April 22). Through nine appearances this season, Smyly has a 4.97 ERA with 11 strikeouts and five walks in 12 2/3 innings. (Last updated: May 13)

SS Dansby Swanson (right knee sprain)
Expected return: May
Swanson was placed on the injured list on May 10 (retroactive to May 8) after he was unable to to play through discomfort in his right knee stemming from pain he felt after a slide on April 25. His timeline for return isn't clear yet, but he's going to take a few days to rest completely then test the knee day by day with baseball activities.

“At this point in the year, grinding through four and a half months of this just doesn’t make sense,” manager Craig Counsell said. “So the hope is that with a little break here, he can have this behind him and not have it be an issue for the rest of the season.” (Last updated: May 10)

60-DAY IL

RHP Julian Merryweather (rib stress fracture)
Expected return: TBD
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said on April 8 that imaging revealed that the 32-year-old Merryweather was dealing with a rib stress fracture in his back. The pitcher will be shut down for four weeks before being re-evaluated, making the timetable for return unclear. Merryweather was placed on the 15-day IL (retroactive to April 6) on April 7 and transferred to the 60-day IL on April 17, meaning he’ll be out until at least early June.

Merryweather had a 1.93 ERA with six strikeouts and two walks through four outings (4 2/3 innings) this season. (Last updated: April 17)

RHP Caleb Kilian (right shoulder strain)
Expected return: July
Kilian left his March 5 start against the Royals in the third inning, and an MRI exam revealed a strain of the teres major in his throwing shoulder. The 26-year-old prospect -- acquired from the Giants as part of the Kris Bryant trade in 2021 -- is unlikely to return to game action until July, per manager Craig Counsell. In '23, Kilian made three appearances for the Cubs and went 8-3 in Triple-A with a 4.56 ERA in 120 1/3 innings. The Cubs placed him on the 60-day IL on March 28. (Last updated: March 28)

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