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The Chicago Cubs handed the San Diego Padres their first loss of the season on Friday as the team made their 2025 Wrigley Field debut.
April games can often be unpredictable at Wrigley Field giving the shift in wind patterns and change of seasons. Of course, the park factor was a large part of the discussion for the Cubs' offense in 2024 when Wrigley Field played to the extreme of a pitcher-friendly park.
Friday's game had a similar feel, but it also highlighted the diversification of the Cubs' offense. The Cubs only had three hits on Friday but mustered seven walks. Sure, Kyle Tucker and Seiya Suzuki can be drivers of the offense but finding ways to win games like the one they did on Friday will be the key to the Cubs outperforming their projections this season.
Chicago Cubs News: Vidal Bruján suffers a setback
When the Chicago Cubs placed Vidal Bruján on the IL to open season, it delayed an inevitable decision that the team will need to make with their 40-man roster. Gage Workman made the 26-man roster in place of Bruján but the former Marlins' utility man is out of minor-league options. Meaning, once healthy, the Cubs will need to decide between Bruján and Workman for a spot on the 40-man roster.
That decision may be put off even further. In an injury update provided before Friday's game, it seems that Bruján has suffered a setback in his recovery.
A couple injury updates from Craig Counsell:
— Maddie Lee (@maddie_m_lee) April 4, 2025
-Javier Assad is set to pitch 2 innings today in AZ. Likely a couple outings there before heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment.
-Vidal Bruján has been stalled a bit with continued symptoms, especially throwing.
Chicago Cubs News: Javier Assad returns to the mound
Javier Assad is inching closer to a return. Assad has been sidelined since the start of spring training with an oblique injury but has resumed pitching in extended spring training games in Arizona. Assuming Assad starts a minor-league rehab assignment in the next couple of weeks, chances are he will be ready to return by the start of May.
Assad may not have a spot in the starting rotation when he returns but he could have a valuable role in the bullpen. The bullpen has found some stability since their struggles against the Arizona Diamondbacks last weekend but Assad would be an ideal addition considering his ability to pitch multiple innings.
Chicago Cubs News: Despite leading the NL in saves, Ryan Pressly still looks shaky
With his save against the Padres on Friday, Ryan Pressly is now tied with San Diego's closer Robert Suarez for having the most saves in the National League this season with three. Of course, that doesn't tell the complete story. Even on Friday, it was a 33-pitch outing for Pressly where he gave up a hit and struggled with command issues.
For as mcuch as the Cubs may have assured Pressly he would be the closer to open the season, bullpen roles can be lost in April. If Porter Hodge continues to look dominant as the setup man, Craig Counsell may be quick to switch roles between the two.
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