Cubs recall an old friend for huge weekend series v. Cardinals, option Jordan Wicks

Ahead of Friday's series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals, the Chicago Cubs made a roster move, optioning Jordan Wicks to Triple-A Iowa and recalling left-hander Drew Pomeranz, who rejoined the organization via a minor-league deal late last month after being dropped by the Angels.

The southpaw parlayed a breakout 2025 season with the Cubs into a one-year deal with Los Angeles, but that marriage went south right away. Pomeranz struggled to a 5.01 ERA and 6.33 FIP in 25 appearances, walking more than 11 percent and striking out just 14.8 percent of batters faced. Last year with Chicago, he punched out more than 28 percent of opponents, walking just 7.4 percent.

Pomeranz made two scoreless appearances last week with Triple-A Iowa, striking out three and allowing just one hit. The hope is that the Cubs can flip the switch and leverage him in favorable matchups the way they did last season, when he emerged as a key piece in Craig Counsell's circle of trust.

Jordan Wicks heads back to Iowa after picking up a couple of saves

On the other side of the equation, Wicks is headed back to Des Moines, where the Cubs plan on keeping him stretched out as a starting pitcher. If there's one moment we'll all remember from his latest go-round with the team, it's the vanishing act he turned in against Milwaukee last week, inheriting a bases-loaded, nobody out situation in the 10th - somehow locking down a huge win and giving Chicago a series win.

He also picked up a save (more on how that's even possible here) in the Cubs' 23-3 win over the Padres on Wednesday, firing three innings of one-run ball. These two appearances certainly went better than his two spot starts earlier in the year, and given the lack of depth, Chicago may turn to him again in a pinch.

For now, though, it's Pomeranz back in the fold. If the Cubs can fix his fastball (which was a major strength last year, but a huge weakness with the Angels), he could once again be a key out-getter as the club bides its time until the All-Star break.

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