The word “but” can be applied to the Chicago Cubs' 2024 season in a variety of instances. They snagged manager Craig Counsell from a rival, but the Milwaukee Brewers are seven and a half games ahead of them in the standings. The team ranks fifth in most walks drawn and is in the top-10 in triples but sits in the bottom half of most other offensive categories. Chicago has an impressive starting pitching rotation, but it is getting dangerously thin.
That last one is particularly discouraging, as the Cubbies have been dealt a double whammy of injury blows on Friday. First, the club revealed that rookie right-hander Ben Brown has a “rare” and “unique” injury, adjectives no one ever wants to hear in this context.
“We’re still trying to figure out how long and what it means and what he can do,” Counsell said, per Patrick Mooney of The Athletic. “It’s a unique injury for a pitcher, so we’re trying to just get some more opinions.”
Then, the Cubs suffered another potential roadblock during Friday's game against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals. Left-hander Jordan Wicks exited in the second inning with what his skipper later said was an oblique injury, per Marquee Sports Network. With relievers Yency Almonte and Adbert Alzolay already serving stints on the injured list, this club is beginning to have a depth problem.
Former Cy Young contender Kyle Hendricks entered the game out of the bullpen and was able to keep the Cards off the scoreboard for 4 1/3 innings. He figures to slot back into the rotation if Wicks misses any starts. Adversity continues to pile up in front of Wrigley Field, as another hopeful campaign turns sour. Fortunately, circumstances afford Chicago some extra time to get back on its feet.
Craig Counsell says Jordan Wicks left today's game with an oblique injury.
Cubs somehow remain in the hunt
While the National League Central might be a lost cause, the Cubs are only one game out of the third Wild Card position. Though, every NL team except for the Colorado Rockies and Miami Marlins is still in playoff contention. Hence, there could be a melee of mediocrity that carries on for the rest of the regular season. Multiple players must wake up if Chicago is going to separate from the pack.
Shota Imanaga is contending for a Cy Young crown in his first MLB campaign, Javier Assad is in the All-Star Game conversation and both Justin Steele and Jameson Taillon have been trustworthy. The absence of Ben Brown (3.58 ERA and 64 Ks in 15 appearances), and possible absence of Jordan Wicks (4.18 ERA in 28 innings), obviously complicates matters for Craig Counsell, but the lineup has to carry its share of the workload.
Aside from the streaking Cody Bellinger and solid Seiya Suzuki, the bats have been frustratingly quiet lately. Christopher Morel and Michael Bush must bring more pop, Nico Hoerner needs to display his contact prowess and Ian Happ and Dansby Swanson are not performing close to their big contracts. June is the right time to correct these deficiencies.
The longer the offense stays cold, the more pressure there is on the pitching staff to keep this club afloat. That becomes increasingly more challenging if Wicks, who just returned to the mound after missing a month and a half with a forearm injury, joins Brown and heads back to the IL.
The Cubs are in rough shape, but they have the tools to stave off a complete collapse, especially in this league.
