Chicago Cubs Ace Suffers Setback in Return From Injury

The Chicago Cubs were hoping that Marcus Stroman would be able to start against the White Sox.

Chicago Cubs pitcher Marcus Stroman will not start as scheduled on Wednesday due to right rib discomfort, per the Chicago Tribune.

Stroman is expected to be evaluated but there was no further update as the Cubs were preparing for Tuesday’s game with the Chicago White Sox.

After three bullpen sessions — two of which were in Toronto on Friday and Sunday — the Cubs and manager David Ross were comfortable enough to designate Stroman as the tentative starter for Wednesday’s game, meaning he would be activated without a rehab start.

That was, of course, barring a setback.

Now, it’s not clear who the Cubs will start on Wednesday. But they did make a move, also reported by the Tribune. The Cubs called up right-handed pitcher Michael Rucker from Triple-A Iowa and optioned right-handed pitcher Caleb Kilian back to Iowa.

He went on the injured list Aug. 1 with right hip inflammation. Ross said the hope was that Stroman would miss just one scheduled start, thanks to some scheduled off-days.

It now appears he’ll miss at least two.

Stroman has been one of the Cubs’ best pitchers this season, but his performance took a noticeable dip after the All-Star break, as the hip issue became more of a problem. 

Stroman is 10-8 with a 3.85 ERA in 23 starts, with 111 strikeouts and 50 walks.

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.

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