The Chicago Cubs roster has yet to be fully healthy in 2024. If it hasn’t been injuries to key starting pitchers, it’s been the bullpen that has suffered from seemingly nonstop injury list stints. But now the Cubs can finally see some light at the end of the tunnel, as they are close to getting key members of their pitching staff back. This comes just as they have finally started to play some of their best baseball of the season.
Cubs Trade Deadline Strategy is Still Unclear
The Cubs have been on the fence on whether they’ll buy or sell as the July 30 trade deadline looms. A week ago, they were looking like surefire sellers, and they still may be. But after a series win against the Los Angeles Angels, the Cubs have already clinched a series win against the first-place Baltimore Orioles after winning the first two games of the series. It’s how they have won that has fans thinking differently about this Cubs roster. Solid pitching and timely hitting, two things that have failed to coincide for the Cubs this season, have highlighted this stretch of good baseball.
Cubs Roster Starting to Get Healthy
The starting pitching remains solid, even with key starters Jordan Wicks and Javier Assad on the IL. Even the bullpen has been better as of late. Much of that has to do with a trio of rookies anchoring a bullpen that has struggled for most of the season. Left-hander Luke Little, right-hander Porter Hodge, and right-hander Hunter Bigge, who was just called up a week ago, have been excellent so far for the Cubs. Bigge only has one inning of work so far, but it was electric nonetheless. He is expected to remain on the Cubs roster going forward.
Merryweather Nearing Return
Here’s where it gets interesting. Hard-throwing right-hander Julian Merryweather is getting close to returning to the bullpen. Merryweather went on the IL on April 7 with a rib stress fracture. He began a rehab assignment Tuesday night with Triple-A Iowa and looked good, striking out a pair in an 11-pitch inning. Merryweather had a 1.93 ERA in 4 2/3 innings pitched before going on the IL. His return to the bullpen will add much-needed depth and another dependable arm in high-leverage situations. Pair that with the fact that the Cubs just activated reliever Mark Leiter Jr. from the 15-day IL, and the bullpen is starting to look a lot better than it has been this season.
RHP Julian Merryweather was sharp for the @IowaCubs in his first MLB rehab outing tonight.
Perfect 11-pitch inning with a pair of strikeouts.
Velocity sat 95-96, topping out at 96.7 mph.
— Alex Cohen (@voiceofcohen2) July 10, 2024
Assad Nearing Full Health
Starting pitcher Javier Assad is also nearing a return, with one report stating he may be activated to start before the All-Star break. Given that only one series remains before the break, he would have to pitch this weekend against the St. Louis Cardinals for that to happen. Even if he doesn’t return before the break, he’ll likely be back to start the second half of the season next weekend. Kyle Hendricks also returns this Friday to start the series opener in St. Louis. Hendricks exited his start against the Angels last Saturday due to lower back tightness, but appears to be good to go now.
The Cubs activated Mark Leiter Jr. from the IL and optioned Ethan Roberts to Iowa.
Pete Crow-Armstrong is not in tonight’s lineup; Craig Counsell expects him to be available in Baltimore.
Kyle Hendricks and Javier Assad are trending toward starting this weekend in St. Louis.
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) July 9, 2024
As for Assad, he has been out since late June with a strained forearm. However, he threw bullpen sessions last Friday and this past Tuesday with no reported setbacks. His return to the starting rotation will be huge for the Cubs. Assad has pitched to a 3.04 ERA so far this year in 16 starts.
All of these arms on the verge of returning to the Cubs roster make for a very interesting second half. With the Cubs playing better baseball as of late, we may not see Chicago sell just yet. They sit only 3.5 games out of the last Wild Card spot, and if they win the series in St. Louis this weekend, Jed Hoyer will have a lot to think about going into the second half of the season.
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