Tag: injuries suck

Welcome Ben Brown

As you all know, Justin Steele got hurt and now a new guy gets his spot:

Naturally the Cubs will have their official social media tweet soon, but this has been confirmed by multiple Cubs beat folks so we should expect Ben Brown in uniform sometime soon, possibly even tonight if he got to town soon after Steele got off the field and into the training room.

Brown, of course, was the return in the David Robertson trade, and had impressed in the minors prior to his untimely injury right around when the Cubs left for London last season. He showed many bright spots this spring and there was an outside shot he would make the Opening Day roster, but now he gets his cup of coffee just two games into 2024.

The fact that they called him up right away instead of massaging some optionable moves suggests that the Cubs want to keep the possibility of Brown hopping into long relief as soon as tonight, and if they don’t need him, then he can pick up Steele’s next start. And although we like the Cubs pitching development these days, Brown is still technically unproven, so some restraint should be exercised with regard to our expectations even if we hope he just mows everyone down.

Good luck, kid!

UPDATE: The Cubs welcomed him too:

Garza Leaves Throwing Live BP Early with Trainers

Everybody was in the best shape of their lives and having fun watching Jed and Theo try their hand at bunting. Good times were had by all. That was yesterday.

Today, Matt Garza stepped up on the mound to face live hitters for the first time since July. It did not go well. He ended up leaving early after getting a visit from a trainer. On the plus side, everyone agreed he looked great until the end.

So I guess that's something.

We'll get any updates here ASAP.

Cashner exits game with tightness in his right shoulder

Andrew Cashner was taken out of today’s Cubs/Diamondbacks game in the 6th inning with tightness in his pitching shoulder. He had thrown the ball as well or better than any starter so far. He’d averaged about 94.5 mph on the fastball, but on one pitch in that 6th inning you could see him lower the shoulder after the follow through. The trainer immediately ran out to see what was wrong and Cashner was replaced by the team’s best wide receiver.

Tightness in the shoulder isn’t abnormal for pitchers and may not be a big deal. I’m hoping it isn’t, but I’m also not optimistic. You could clearly see something started bothering him after that last pitch and that’s troublesome. We won’t hear anything else for at least a day. If Cashner goes to the disabled list, he’ll likely be replaced in the rotation by Casey Coleman.

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