Cubs Injury News: Ian Happ, Shota Imanaga, Porter Hodge, Ryan Brasier updates

The Chicago Cubs have weathered their share of injuries to this point in the 2025 campaign, losing ace left-hander Justin Steele for the year in April only to see his co-ace, Shota Imanaga shelved with a hamstring injury in early May.

So where do things stand with Imanaga? How about three-time Gold Glove outfielder Ian Happ? Are there reinforcements on the way from Triple-A Iowa with closer Porter Hodge heading to the injured list after Monday's heartbreaking late-inning loss? Here's the latest.

Shota Imanaga's return could come 'well into June'

According to Cubs manager Craig Counsell, the Cubs are hoping to get Imanaga on a mound in the next week or so - but his return to big-league game action may still be about a month away.

Prior to the injury, Imanaga picked up right where he left off in his brilliant 2024 rookie campaign. He leads all Cubs pitchers in bWAR (1.3) and carries a 2.82 ERA through eight starts. FIP (4.55) isn't as bullish on the results, but the production has been there and he's got a big role to play this summer if the team wants to win the division and return to the postseason.

The rotation has somehow stayed afloat without Imanaga and Steele, thanks largely to the efforts of Matthew Boyd and Colin Rea, but Imanaga's return can't come soon enough. No one would be surprised to see the Cubs active on the trade market, heavily focusing on pitching, in June and July - but getting back to full-strength remains their top priority.

Ian Happ is expected to rejoin the team this week

Counsell said his All-Star outfielder had a 'very good' weekend of recovery and should re-join the team during this week's Marlins series in Miami. Getting back a Gold Glove-winning outfielder whose proven himself to be one of the most consistent offensive producers in the game is always a good thing - but it will raise some interesting roster questions.

In Happ's absence, Seiya Suzuki has moved from full-time DH to left field, opening up a path to everyday at-bats for top prospect Moises Ballesteros in the process. There was some speculation that once Happ returns, first baseman Michael Busch, who played third base in the minors earlier in his career, might slide across the diamond so Ballesteros could play first, but the return of Matt Shaw puts that idea dead in the water.

Ryan Brasier seems close to making his MLB return

With Porter Hodge hitting the IL due to an oblique injury, all signs point to veteran right-hander Ryan Brasier being the next man up at Iowa. He's made five appearances at Triple-A, including pitching on back-to-back days, allowing just one run and punching out five, while walking none.

The 37-year-old was a fairly reliable piece of the Dodgers' bullpen last year, but at this point in his career, he's best served as a middle reliever, as opposed to a late-inning replacement for Hodge. If Counsell doesn't go to Pressly in the ninth with Hodge sidelined, I suspect we'll see Drew Pomeranz, Brad Keller and/or Daniel Palencia get the lion's share of save opportunities for the time being.