The Chicago Cubs are losing another starting pitcher due to injury.
The Cubs officially placed Edward Cabrera on the injured list with a left hamstring strain and are recalling Gavin Hollowell from Triple-A Iowa, as well as selecting Vince Velasquez's contract from Triple-A. Chicago also placed fellow starting pitcher Ben Brown on the IL (retroactive to June 21) with a neck strain and designated Eduarniel Núñez for assignment.
Cabrera landed on the shelf after he left his start in the fifth inning on Tuesday against the New York Mets when he did an awkward split covering first base on a groundball at first base. He was carted off the field after not being able to walk off the field on his own.
Through 14 starts this season, the right-hander is 5-4 with a 5.10 ERA, 65 strikeouts, and a WHIP of 1.40 in 72.1 innings pitched. Cabrera now joins a growing list of Cubs starting pitchers who are currently on the shelf.
Jameson Taillon was placed on the IL at the beginning of June with a moderate left hamstring strain. Justin Steele is still recovering from elbow surgery, which cost him all of last season. Cade Horton is out for the whole season after undergoing Tommy John surgery and the aforementioned Brown now joins Cabrera on the IL with a neck strain.
This is also Cabrera's second stint on the IL this season. The 28-year-old missed two weeks with a right middle-finger blister a month ago.
If there is any silver lining, Chicago seems poised to get Matthew Boyd back as soon as Thursday. The lefty has been on the shelf since May 6 after tearing his left meniscus while playing with his kids.
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And with the Cubs purchasing Velasquez's contract, it seems likely he will be inserted into the rotation amid their mounting injuries. Velasquez has appeared in just one big league outing this season, coming on April 25 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he tossed 2.1 scoreless innings.
The Cubs acquired Cabrera in the offseason from the Miami Marlins in exchange for prospects Owen Caissie, Cristian Hernandez and Edgardo De Leon.
