LATEST NEWS

July 6: RHP Kyle Hendricks exits early due to low-back issue
Hendricks logged two innings in Saturday's start against the Angels before bowing out of the 7-0 loss due to what the Cubs announced as tightness in his lower back. Hendricks said the issue was different than the back injury that kept him on the injured list from April 23-May 11 earlier this season.

Hendricks experienced a back spasm on Friday that led to tightness, but underwent treatment and tried to get through Saturday's outing. Cubs manager Craig Counsell said the veteran right-hander will be monitored in the coming days.

"As the morning was progressing, he was getting better and feeling better," Counsell said. "We thought he was good enough to go and, just as the game went on, he was having trouble finishing some pitches, so we made the decision to pull him."

Against Los Angeles, Hendricks was charged with two runs on four hits in his two frames, in which he struck out one, but issued two walks and hit one batter. The righty recently returned to the rotation with both Jordan Wicks and Ben Brown on the IL for Chicago.

On the year, Hendricks has a 7.53 ERA in 16 games (11 starts) with as many home runs allowed this season (13) as he had in 137 innings in 2023. He posted a 1.27 ERA in his first five games (including two starts) in June, but then hit a snag in his last outing (seven runs allowed on June 30 in Milwaukee).

July 6: RHP Yency Almonte opts for shoulder surgery, done for season
After seeking a second opinion on his shoulder injury, Almonte has opted to undergo surgery on his right shoulder (date TBD) and is done for the season. The righty has been attempting to come back from the injury for two months after landing on the injured list on May 11.

“I got news that I didn't want to get,” said Almonte, who was acquired from the Dodgers in January. “It's upsetting. I came here with a positive mindset from the trade, ready to go dominate. And I feel like I started off pretty well and just was in a good place mentally.”

Almonte faced hitters in a live batting practice session on June 18 with High-A South Bend and was “not symptom free” during that workout, leading to the second opinion. The pitcher said he is dealing with a minor tear of his labrum. Almonte posted a 3.45 ERA over 17 appearances for Chicago.

"Yency's been kind of going through it," Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. "He tried the rehab. It did go in a good direction for a while and then it started going in the wrong direction. That's when he had to seek some other opinions and answers. And we ended up in a place that this is what he has to do to get his career back on track and his arm back on track, really. So it's unfortunate, and it's difficult news."

July 6: CF Pete Crow-Armstrong remains day to day with thumb injury
Crow-Armstrong was out of the lineup on Saturday for the third game in a row for the Cubs. The center fielder sustained a laceration on his left thumb on a stolen base in the fourth inning on Wednesday against the Phillies. He remained in the game, but later required four stitches.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Crow-Armstrong was scheduled to do some light throwing on Saturday to test out his hand. The rookie outfielder did not throw on Friday due to lingering swelling around his thumb. With an off-day Monday, it is possible Chicago gives Crow-Armstrong another day to heal from the injury.

• All Cubs transactions

10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST

RHP Mark Leiter Jr. (right forearm strain)
Expected return: As soon as July 9 in Baltimore
Leiter faced hitters in a live BP session at Wrigley Field on July 6 and the plan is to activate the reliever during the Cubs’ upcoming road trip (July 9-14 at Baltimore and St. Louis), per manager Craig Counsell.

Leiter was placed on the 15-day IL with the forearm strain prior to the Cubs' game against the Mets on June 23. The move to shelve the right-hander came after he allowed eight earned runs in 3 1/3 innings in his previous four appearances, seeing his season ERA climb to 5.34 from 3.20 in that span. Leiter has 39 strikeouts and 13 walks in 28 2/3 innings (32 games) this season for Chicago. (Last updated: July 6)

RHP Javier Assad (right forearm extensor strain)
Expected return: July
Assad threw off a mound in a bullpen session on July 5 at Wrigley Field. The Cubs placed the 26-year-old on the IL on June 27 (retroactive to June 24) after he experienced discomfort while throwing on June 26. Manager Craig Counsell noted that Assad had been dealing with the issue “off and on” for a couple weeks, but the latest flare-up led to the decision to give the righty a period of rest and recovery.

In 16 starts this season, Assad (4-3) has fashioned a 3.04 ERA with 79 strikeouts and 33 walks in 83 innings for Chicago. The righty turned in a 2.27 ERA in his first 12 starts (63 1/3 innings) this season, but has since logged a 5.49 ERA in four starts (19 2/3 innings) in June. (Last updated: July 5)

OF Mike Tauchman (left groin strain)
Expected return: Late July/August
As of June 25, Tauchman had resumed agility work and light hitting drills, per Cubs manager Craig Counsell. On June 18, it was announced that Tauchman was diagnosed with a Grade 2 strain of his left groin, requiring the outfielder to be placed on the 10-day IL. Counsell said the early feedback was that Tauchman will likely need a month to heal from the setback.

Tauchman, 33, injured his groin while legging out an infield single in the third inning of the Cubs' 7-6 loss to the Giants on June 17. In 66 games this season, Tauchman has hit .259/.359/.382 with 16 extra-base hits and 33 walks, while moving between all three outfield spots. (Last updated: July 2)

RHP Ben Brown (neck strain)
Expected return: July
Brown threw in a bullpen session on June 29 in Milwaukee, following his mound workout on June 26 in San Francisco. The right-hander resumed a throwing program on June 18. Brown began throwing after follow-up testing on his neck revealed a “benign area of concern,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell noted on June 19.

Brown and the ballclub sought multiple opinions on the pitcher’s neck injury, which was initially believed to be a stress reaction. Counsell said that team doctors were “not concerned” after further examining the images taken of Brown. The rookie righty, who is 1-3 this season with a 3.58 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 55 1/3 innings, was placed on the IL on June 11. (Last updated: June 29)

RHP Keegan Thompson (right rib fracture)
Expected return: TBD
Thompson was placed on the IL on June 28 (retroactive to June 27) after sustaining a rib fracture in his right side. Cubs manager Craig Counsell noted that the injury occurred while Thompson was going through his post-outing shoulder maintenance work on June 26 in San Francisco. Thompson "felt a click" in his ribs and, after he experienced pain while throwing on June 27, the reliever underwent imaging that revealed the fracture.

Thompson, 29, has posted a 3.50 ERA with 26 strikeouts against 10 walks in 18 innings (13 appearances) this season for the Cubs. The timetable for his return is unclear at the moment. (Last updated: June 28)

LHP Jordan Wicks (right oblique strain)
Expected return: Late July
Wicks is currently in Arizona and in the “early stages” of his throwing program, manager Craig Counsell said on June 26. Counsell added that Wicks is unlikely to return to MLB games until after the All-Star break.

The lefty exited his start against the Cardinals on June 14 after 1 2/3 innings due to the oblique issue. The Cubs placed him on the injured list on June 15 after he underwent further testing, which revealed a Grade 2 strain, according to Counsell. Wicks’ start against St. Louis was his first since April 23 and his second appearance after returning from the 15-day IL on June 7 after dealing with a left forearm strain. (Last updated: June 26)

60-DAY IL

RHP Julian Merryweather (rib stress fracture)
Expected return: July
Merryweather faced hitters in a live BP workout on July 6 at Wrigley Field. Cubs manager Craig Counsell said the session went well and the right-hander is set to head out on a Minor League rehab assignment with High-A South Bend in the coming week.

Imaging in April revealed that Merryweather was dealing with a rib stress fracture in his back, and the righty was placed on the 15-day IL on April 7 (retroactive to April 6). He was transferred to the 60-day IL on April 17. Merryweather has a 1.93 ERA with six strikeouts and two walks through four outings (4 2/3 innings) this season. (Last updated: July 6)

RHP Yency Almonte (right shoulder strain)
Expected return: 2025
After seeking a second opinion on his shoulder injury, Almonte has opted to undergo surgery on his right shoulder (date TBD) and is done for the season. The righty had been attempting to come back from the injury for two months after landing on the injured list on May 11.

“I got news that I didn't want to get,” said Almonte, who was acquired from the Dodgers in January. “It's upsetting. I came here with a positive mindset from the trade, ready to go dominate. And I feel like I started off pretty well and just was in a good place mentally.”

Almonte faced hitters in a live batting practice session on June 18 with High-A South Bend and was “not symptom free” during that workout, leading to the second opinion. The pitcher said he is dealing with a minor tear of his labrum. Almonte posted a 3.45 ERA over 17 appearances for Chicago. (Last updated: July 6)

RHP Adbert Alzolay (right flexor strain)
Expected return: Late July/early August
Alzolay threw a 30-pitch bullpen session on July 5 in Arizona, per the Cubs. Pitching coach Tommy Hottovy noted recently that the recovery aspect between throwing sessions is most important for the reliever at this stage. Hottovy said Alzolay is "progressing well" in Arizona, where he moved his rehab on May 26. The righty will continue with bullpens for the time being before ramping up to facing hitters later this month.

Alzolay, whose right flexor strain is similar to an issue the reliever dealt with last September, was transferred to the 60-day IL on June 2. 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. (Last updated: July 6)

RHP Caleb Kilian (right shoulder strain)
Expected return: July
Kilian threw 32 pitches in 1 1/3 innings on July 5 in his second Minor League rehab assignment with High-A South Bend. He allowed one run on two hits, ending with one strikeout and a walk. The right-hander resumed throwing bullpen sessions at the team’s Arizona complex on June 7 and was built up to facing hitters by June 24. Kilian made his first rehab start on July 2.

Kilian left his March 5 start against the Royals in the third inning before an MRI exam revealed a strain of the teres major in his throwing shoulder. Last season, the 27-year-old pitcher made three appearances for the Cubs and also went 8-3 with a 4.56 ERA in 120 1/3 innings with Triple-A Iowa. He was placed on the 60-day IL on March 28. (Last updated: July 6)

7-DAY MINOR LEAGUE INJURED LIST

RHP Cade Horton (right lat strain)
Expected return: July
After a checkup in Chicago, the 22-year-old Horton (MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 Cubs prospect and the No. 17 prospect on the Top 100 list) was diagnosed with a right lat strain, president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said on June 4. The current plan calls for Horton to be shut down from throwing for three to four weeks while rehabbing at the Cubs’ complex in Arizona.

Horton, who was Chicago’s first-round pick (No. 7 overall) in the 2022 Draft, exited his May 29 start for Triple-A Iowa after logging 20 pitches in one inning (two runs allowed) against Louisville. The righty has 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: June 4)

• More injury news