Cubs injury updates reveal pitching reinforcements are far from returning

If there were one word I would use to describe the Chicago Cubs' 2026 season, it would be injuries. Dear God, this team has seen way too many injuries, and almost all of them have been pitching injuries. New injury news went from feeling like a cruel joke, to becoming a regular expectation for this team. And this reality has been the primary reason why it feels like 2026 is not the Cubs' year.

The latest blow came on Wednesday, when the Cubs placed two more starting pitchers on the injured list, Edward Cabrera and Ben Brown. The Cubs rotation was already depleted, but now it looks completely gutted after this news. And to make matters worse, the team is running out of pitchers. Chicago has already been tapping into their minor league bullpen depth for months thanks to key injuries to the relief corps. Some help is on the way, with the Cubs swinging a trade for former All-Star David Peterson on Wednesday night.

With a streaky lineup that can't carry the team forever, the Cubs need some of these pitchers back as soon as possible. Here is when everyone is expected to be back.

Edward Cabrera

Injury: Left hamstring
Return Date: Several Weeks

MRI results revealed that Cabrera suffered a moderate left hamstring strain, which happened while he was covering first base in the fifth inning of Tuesday's game against the New York Mets. After completing the play, Cabrera couldn't walk under his own power, and he eventually had to be carted off the field.

While this is usually an indication that a player will be out for a long time, Cabrera is a player who is prone to injury. Unless he tore something in his leg, we should see Cabrera again this year, but it could be some time down the road. Reporters asked manager Craig Counsell about the state of his pitching staff after Tuesday's game, and he didn't sugarcoat the situation.

“We are in a rough spot,” Counsell said. “I think we could get through it through the All-Star break. … It’s going to be a little bit of a puzzle until then.”

Ben Brown

Injury: Neck strain
Return Date: Unknown

We were expecting Cabrera to hit the injured list on Wednesday, but the Ben Brown news came out of nowhere. Before Wednesday's doubleheader against the New York Mets, the Cubs announced that Brown would also be hitting the 15-day injured list with a neck strain.

Like Cabrera, we don't know exactly when Brown will return to action, but his history of neck issues makes me worried. In 2024, Brown missed about half of the season and needed surgery to remove a bone tumor on the left side of his neck.

While speaking to the media on Wednesday, Counsell said that Brown has been experiencing pain in the same area since his start against San Francisco on June 13. The pain was so bad that he couldn't complete his last bullpen session, and Counsell didn't rule out that this could be the same ailment Brown dealt with a couple of years ago. This is a major loss since Brown has been Chicago's best pitcher this year, and he could miss significant time once again.

Matthew Boyd

Injury: Meniscus
Return Date: June 25

The only piece of good injury news we've had recently is that Matthew Boyd will be activated and start Chicago's last game against the New York Mets on Thursday. It's a very welcome return after the Brown-Cabrera double whammy, but we'll see how Boyd fares after missing nearly two months. The team needs him to show signs of his 2025 self because another setback could derail this team.

Jameson Taillon

Injury: Left hamstring strain
Return Date: Likely Late July or August

We haven't heard much about Jameson Taillon after he suffered a moderate hamstring strain on June 7. We know that he is traveling with the Cubs on their New York/ Milwaukee road trip and trying to build up his throwing. I wouldn't be surprised if he's out for another month or so. Even though he was leading MLB in home runs allowed when he got hurt, I would take him back in a heartbeat right now just to cover innings.

Justin Steele

Injury: UCL surgery /flexor strain
Return Date: Likely 2027

Justin Steele hasn't pitched in a major league game since April 7, 2025. After that game, the southpaw underwent season-ending elbow surgery and has been sidelined ever since. On Monday, Steele finally resumed his throwing program after a flexor strain he suffered in April set his timeline back.

But Cubs President Jed Hoyer recently told 104.3 The Score that it's unrealistic to expect Steele to start any games this year. Meaning the team will have to look to the trade market for starting pitching options if they hope to compete in the second half of the season.

Jaxon Wiggins

Injury: Right elbow inflammation

Jaxon Wiggins is currently Chicago's best minor-league pitcher and the third-best prospect in the organization according to MLB Pipeline. The 24-year-old only made two starts with the Iowa Cubs before elbow inflammation put him on the injured list. But he finally has a pair of rehab games under his belt, including a solid, 49-pitch outing with the South Bend Cubs on June 21.

This guy could be a helpful addition to the big-league bullpen or even the starting rotation in the second half. As long as he can stay healthy.

Cade Horton

Injury: UCL surgery
Return Date: 2027

Cade Horton's loss was the earliest and probably the most painful blow this year. After putting together a rookie of the year campaign in 2025, Horton looked ready to step into ace-level territory for the Cubs. But his momentum was cut short after just two starts in 2026, and he underwent the same UCL repair surgery Steele had last year. If we're lucky, Horton will be back on the mound in the second half of 2027.

Daniel Palencia

Injury: Right flexor strain
Return Date: Unknown

Last week, Counsell said Palencia will be shut down from throwing through June before he tries to build up throwing. Since Palencia is on the shelf with an elbow issue, the Cubs will likely be without their closer until after the All-Star break or even longer. And the team does not have an ample replacement who can overpower batters with 100 mph gas like Palencia can.

Riley Martin

Injury: Left Elbow inflammation/flexor strain
Return Date: July

Man, I miss Riley Martin. This lefty made his MLB debut on April 6, and he pitched lights out in his eight appearances that month (2.16 ERA over 8 1/3 innings pitched). Then he went down with elbow inflammation in his throwing arm after an outing on April 23. He was eventually diagnosed with a flexor strain that was expected to sideline him for two months. We're approaching the end of that timetable, but we haven't had a solid update on Martin yet.

Hunter Harvey

Injury: Right Tricep
Return Date: Unknown

One of Chicago's main bullpen additions only made four appearances before he hit the injured list in April. On May 17, the team transferred him to the 60-day IL after he suffered a setback in his recovery from a tricep injury in his throwing arm. As far as we know, he is rehabbing at the Cubs' Arizona facilities.

Porter Hodge

Injury: UCL surgery
Return Date: 2027

This right-hander was once destined to be Chicago's closer after a stellar 2024 campaign. That year, he posted a 1.88 ERA with 52 strikeouts over 43 innings pitched. But 2025 saw him struggle with multiple injuries and poor performance.

More optimistic Cubs fans hoped Hodge would return to form in 2026, but that was before he underwent UCL surgery in April, which has a 12-14 month timetable.

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