Cubs Notes: Hendricks, Assad & Rotation.

Veteran right-hander Kyle Hendricks left his start against the Angels after only two innings due to lower back tightness, replacing by Colten Brewer. According to Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic, Hendricks exited due to physical reasons rather than psychological.
2024 has not been kind to 34-year-old righty Kyle Hendricks, as his 3.48 ERA with 5.34 FIP through 61 1/3 innings is truly staggering. That performance caused injuries elsewhere on the roster combined with solid results (he posted 2.67 ERA/2.97 FIP in 27 innings from May 23-25th )to move him from bullpen back into rotation in late June; unfortunately today his status remains in question after leaving play early due to another injury similar to one Hendricks experienced earlier.
Hendricks assured reporters after the game, as noted by Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network, that this problem wasn’t similar to the one which caused his absence back in May. Instead, Hendricks noted he first felt his back lock up yesterday, yet even while pain persisted today the club and Hendricks decided it best for both to start him with hopes he could manage tightness effectively and hopefully resume play without restrictions or injuires in time. While Hendricks appeared confident of making his next start manager Craig Counsell was more cautious saying it wasn’t clear yet whether Hendricks could take up this task in time or not.
That could prove problematic for the Cubs as, though they will take Monday off from MLB action, their schedule for the remainder of July includes seven games over six days before reaching All Star break – with doubleheader against Cardinals scheduled on July 13. If Hendricks were to miss one of those starts, that would leave the Cubs with only three healthy regular starters (Justin Steele, Shota Imanaga and Jameson Taillon), due to injuries suffered by Javier Assad, Ben Brown and Jordan Wicks. Hayden Wesneski recently made the leap into the rotation despite struggling mightily in the bullpen throughout June and figures to provide starts while his fellow starters become healthy; but should Hendricks be unavailable, this still leaves two spots open before taking an extended break from pitching duties.
Counsell suggested to reporters (including Andracki) after the game that Assad could return from a right forearm extensor strain that has sidelined him since late last month in time to contribute in one or both starts over next weekend, noting they remain hopeful he can contribute at some level within MLB. Hendricks could make one start over next weekend while Hendricks would hopefully avoid going onto the disabled list; that would solve their short-term rotation woes; however if Hendricks fails recover quickly enough, that would leave the club looking for innings before their next All Star break.
Drew Smyly could make one or two starts for Chicago during their 2024 campaign if necessary, having previously appeared as a starter 23 times last season and been used more exclusively out of their bullpen so far in 2024 – last throwing more than 40 pitches was April 5. Cade Horton, one of baseball’s premier prospects, currently sits in Triple-A but won’t be available due to an subscapularis strain that occurred last month. Journeyman lefty Thomas Pannone has appeared in 18 starts at Triple-A this year but only managed an ERA of 4.57 over 86.2 3/3 innings; thus necessitating inclusion on their 40-man roster. Bullpen games could also be on the cards for this club; however, that will likely prove challenging with relief corps that has lost Wesneski to rotation while Almonte, Adbert Alzolay, Julian Merryweather and Mark Leiter Jr are sidelined with injuries; all four were needed today in relief of Hendricks to cover seven innings in relief of Hendricks.