Chicago Cubs Get Encouraging Update on Injured Starter

The Chicago Cubs are taking it slow with injured starting pitcher Marcus Stroman, who is dealing with an unusual injury.

Injured Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Marcus Stroman had an exam on his right rib cartilage and got some encouraging news, per the Chicago Tribune.

The report indicated that his right rib cartilage fracture is healing. While there is no timetable for Stroman’s return, he is doing light activity but nothing baseball-related.

The Cubs have been without Stroman since Aug. 2 when the Cubs placed him on the 15-day injured list with right hip inflammation. He was poised to return to the rotation when he was eligible to be activated after a final bullpen session in Toronto. But, well after the session, he reported some soreness to team trainers.

After an examination, he was diagnosed with the right rib cartilage fracture, which Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said wasn’t a “common pitching injury.”

Stroman said he had “no answers” as to how it happened.

At one time this season, Stroman was the Cubs’ best starting pitcher. He had such a good start to the season that he was entertaining Cy Young talk, attracting potential trade suitors and was asking the Cubs to extend his deal past this season.

But, after the All-Star Break his performance took a noticeable dip due to the hip injury. He has a 10-8 record with a 3.85 ERA in 23 starts, with 111 strikeouts and 50 walks.

But, in his last five starts before going on the IL he gave up at least four runs in four of them, went 2-3 and didn’t finish four innings in his last three starts.

Now? It’s not clear if Stroman will even pitch this season.

In an unrelated move, the Cubs promoted Jordan Wicks to the team on Saturday to make his first Major League start as the Cubs cleared a path for him to start by demoting Drew Smyly to the bullpen.

Meanwhile, several pitchers are set to hit the waiver wire on Thursday, including two starters with ties to the Chicago White Sox — Mike Clevinger and Lucas Giolito, the latter of which was traded from the White Sox to the Los Angeles Angels last month.