Edward Cabrera's latest injury scare provides frightening Cubs' realization

It hasn't been an ideal first season with the Chicago Cubs for Edward Cabrera. While he's flashed signs of being the top-of-the-rotation pitcher the Cubs have always believed he could be, there's been far too many inconsistencies to suggest he's capable of reaching that status by the end of the season.

Making things worse is the injury scare that followed Cabrera during his time with the Miami Marlins have returned. In only his second start since returning from the IL with a blister, Cabrera exited the fifth inning of the Cubs' loss to the Colorado Rockies with the trainer.

By the time that Cabrera was removed from the game, it was clear that something wasn't right. He was laboring through his pitches, and there was notable regression with his command. Not exactly the pitcher the Cubs believed they fixed during his previous IL stint.

After the game, Craig Counsell confirmed that Cabrera exited the game with cramping in his right hand. It's a peculiar injury, considering that's not often an injury associated with pitchers (or really, any player), but just speaks to the nature of the Cubs' 2026 season. If there's an injury to be found, the Cubs' pitching staff will find it.

Cubs may have a growing Edward Cabrera concern

The silver lining to this latest setback for Cabrera is that the other testing was negative. There doesn't seem to be an injury to his elbow or shoulder, and that does leave out hope that he might avoid the IL.

Though, that may open the door to an uncomfortable reality for the Cubs. If there's been a trend throughout Cabrera's 13 starts with the Cubs, it's what when things go wrong or he realizes he doesn't have it, he comes a lost cause. That's clear when you look at his ERA of 5.21, and even more so with his FIP of 5.15.

The impression is that Cabrera is a pitcher that needs to not only feel 100% physically, but also mentally with his pitch-mix. If he doesn't, the results aren't going to be there. Now, that's not a bad thing, as the general goal is for a pitcher to be healthy, but there's also a hope that they can work through some things. It doesn't appear Cabrera has that trait, and could be one reason why he never quite becomes the ace the Cubs once thought he could be.

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