LATEST NEWS

Sept. 1: RHP Jose Cuas reinstated from the bereavement list; LHP Anthony Kay optioned to Triple-A Iowa
Cuas was activated to start Game 2 of the Cubs' doubleheader against the Reds. He has a 0.75 ERA (one run in 12 innings) in 11 relief appearances since he was acquired from the Royals for outfielder Nelson Velázquez before the Trade Deadline this season.

Kay allowed eight runs in 11 1/3 innings in 13 games with the Cubs this season.

Sep. 1: Cubs selected RHP Shane Greene and recalled OF Alexander Canario from Triple-A Iowa
Greene, 34, is a former All-Star who has found success with a couple of organizations. He has pitched mainly in relief, with his most recent MLB start back in 2016 with Detroit. Greene started five games for Iowa this summer, registering a 2.16 ERA in 16 2/3 innings.

Canario, the Cubs' 14th-best prospect according to MLB Pipeline, has slashed .276/.342/.524 with eight home runs while battling injuries this season. He hit 37 homers across three levels in 2022.

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INJURY UPDATES

15-day IL

RHP Michael Fulmer (right forearm strain)
Expected return: Mid-September
Fulmer had a checkup on Aug. 28 that showed improvement with his right forearm. The veteran resumed playing catch on Sept. 1 and has continued to throw regularly in the early phase of his rehab progression and ramp-up.

Fulmer was placed on the IL on Aug. 26 (retroactive to Aug. 25) after trying to pitch through discomfort in his throwing arm for the past couple of weeks. The veteran righty had a 9.53 ERA in his past seven outings, following a 30-inning run with a 1.20 ERA. Fulmer has a 4.47 ERA in 57 games (one start) overall this season.

"We did our best to try to push through it," Fulmer said on Aug. 27. "It just got to the point -- probably the last few days, last couple of outings -- it just wasn't responding the way it should." (Last updated: Sept. 4)

RHP Marcus Stroman (right rib cartilage fracture)
Expected return: TBD
Stroman is expected to throw a bullpen session on Sept. 4 in Arizona. On Sept. 1, he traveled to the Grand Canyon State to continue his baseball activity progression. He resumed playing catch on Aug. 30, building up to long toss at Wrigley Field. That came after a checkup on Aug. 29 that showed signs of healing since his setback a few weeks prior. The pitcher is still progressing based on pain tolerance during this early stage of recovery.

"It would be nice to get [Stroman] back at some point. Pitching depth is always important," Cubs manager David Ross said on Sept. 3. "He helped us be in this [pennant race]. He kind of carried us in the first half. [It's] good news out of camp [that he's] feeling better [enough] to throw a bullpen.”

Stroman's injury flared up as he cooled down after a light bullpen session in Toronto on Aug. 13. The righty was having issues breathing, and an MRI exam on Aug. 14 revealed a fracture in his right rib cage cartilage. This injury comes after Stroman landed on the IL on Aug. 1 due to a hip issue. There remains no clear timetable for his return. (Last updated: Sept. 3)

60-day IL

LHP Brandon Hughes (left knee inflammation)
Expected return: TBD
Hughes threw 21 pitches (12 strikes) in one shutout inning for Triple-A Iowa on Sept. 3, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out one. That came after the lefty built back up via bullpen sessions and live BP workouts in Arizona in August, following a surgical debridement on his left knee on June 28. Between multiple IL stints this season, the lefty posted a 7.24 ERA in 17 games for the Cubs. He had a 3.12 ERA in 57 games in 2022 for the North Siders. The Cubs transferred Hughes to the 60-day injured list on June 27. (Last updated: Sept. 4)

RHP Nick Burdi (appendectomy)
Expected return: TBD
Burdi rejoined Triple-A Iowa and worked one scoreless inning with one strikeout on nine pitches on Sept. 3. He was diagnosed with "right ulnar nerve irritation" after a recent evaluation and entered a period of rest and recovery, per the Cubs. He was cleared to begin playing light catch on Aug. 29, and threw a bullpen session on Aug. 30.

The righty worked one inning for Triple-A Iowa on Aug. 18 in his second rehab outing with the affiliate. Burdi underwent an appendectomy on May 24 and was placed on the injured list (retroactive to May 21), before being moved to the 60-day IL on June 13. He made three appearances for Chicago prior to the setback. (Last updated: Sept. 4)

RHP Brad Boxberger (right forearm strain)
Expected return: TBD
The righty pitched for the second consecutive day on Aug. 31, throwing 18 pitches (11 strikes) in one inning for Triple-A Iowa. Boxberger was with the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Sept. 4 to throw a bullpen session. The righty landed on the 15-day IL on May 15 (retroactive to May 14), but he was transferred to the 60-day on July 4. In 17 Major League games this year, Boxberger has a 5.52 ERA over 14 2/3 innings. (Last updated: Sept. 4)

RHP Ethan Roberts (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Late 2023 or '24
Roberts has resumed throwing bullpen sessions following a "de-load" period in his throwing program (lower intensity/volume in workload). Per the Cubs, he is scheduled to face batters in a live BP workout on Aug. 8. The righty initially returned to mound workouts in late May in his comeback from Tommy John surgery (July 13, 2022). He appeared in nine games for the Cubs early in 2022 before arm issues derailed his campaign. (Last updated: Aug. 7)

RHP Codi Heuer (right elbow surgery)
Expected return: 2024
Heuer faced another setback in his rehab with Triple-A Iowa on June 20. After firing a 1-0 offering over the head of the opposing Memphis batter, Heuer hopped around the mound in pain while favoring his pitching arm.

Jed Hoyer, the Cubs president of baseball operations, noted on June 24 in London that Heuer underwent surgery on June 23 to repair a fractured right elbow. Heuer will miss the remainder of the season and there is no timetable for his return.

Heuer, 26, was pitching for Triple-A Iowa as he worked his way back from Tommy John surgery (full reconstruction with an internal brace) and was nearing a potential return to the Cubs' bullpen. The silver lining within the latest setback for the hard-throwing righty is that all indications are that his surgically repaired ulnar collateral ligament is intact. (Last updated: June 24)

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