Cubs Injury Updates: Shota Imanaga, Porter Hodge, Eli Morgan

Despite getting blanked in Sunday's series finale in Detroit, Chicago Cubs fans got some good news on the injury front, with manager Craig Counsell offering updates on some of his injured pitchers ahead of the contest. With the pitching staff strained as it is, here is when we can expect to see some reinforcements.

Shota Imanaga has a scheduled pitching appearance

Ace left-hander Shota Imanaga has been steadily progressing in his recovery with a left hamstring strain he sustained on the mound on May 5. The southpaw began throwing off a mound in mid-May and had a bullpen session scheduled at the end of the month. Now, Counsell said Imanaga threw 37 pitches in a bullpen session Saturday, and will pitch two innings in a Rookie-level Arizona Complex League game on Tuesday. The Cubs still don’t expect Imanaga will be back until late June, but his continued progress is showing encouraging signs.

Prior to the injury, Imanaga carried a 2.82 ERA in eight starts to go along with a 1.087 WHIP. Not only do the Cubs need him back, but they need to add a big arm alongside him before the deadline to replace the injured Justin Steele.

After a brief scare, Porter Hodge is progressing once again

After suffering a setback in his recovery, there was a growing concern for right-hander Porter Hodge, as the Cubs were unable to figure out what was causing the issue. Now, the team has issued a more encouraging update, as Hodge threw 30 pitches in a bullpen session recently, suggesting the Cubs hurler is progressing with his recovery once again.

Hodge had returned to the ninth-inning job after offseason addition Ryan Pressly struggled as closer, but it remains to be seen how Counsell will arrange his circle of trust when Hodge returns given Daniel Palencia's emergence. The team’s next steps are still being considered, but they expect Hodge will need a Minor League rehab appearance before he returns to the big-league club.

Right-hander Eli Morgan is showing gradual improvement

Morgan made seven appearences with the Cubs at the beginning of the season, but was placed on the injured list on April 15 with a right elbow injury. He was then placed on the 60-day IL on May 10 as Counsell revealed they had detected ulnar neuritis in his elbow. Counsell said on May 31 that after a shutdown period of three weeks, Morgan had resumed throwing off a mound once again, the first steps on the path to rejoining the team.