The Chicago Cubs have made their pitching decision for the finale of this weekend's series against the St. Louis Cardinals, with Marquee Sports Network reporter Taylor McGregor reporting that Edward Cabrera will come off the injured list to start Sunday's game. The move gives Chicago another arm as it continues its push in the National League playoff race.
Cabrera has not pitched in the majors since landing on the injured list with a left hamstring strain in late June. His return comes after an impressive rehab assignment in which he threw five no-hit innings, convincing the Cubs he is ready to rejoin the rotation.
Cabrera's activation arrives at an important time for Chicago. The Cubs entered the series with a 71-51 record, sitting second in the National League Central and firmly in possession of the top National League Wild Card spot while continuing to chase the first-place Milwaukee Brewers.
The move also allows manager Craig Counsell to give the rest of his rotation additional rest during the stretch run. Rather than rushing Cabrera back earlier, the Cubs waited until he completed a successful rehab outing before putting him back into a meaningful divisional matchup.
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Cabrera has gone 5-4 with a 5.10 ERA and 65 strikeouts across 14 starts this season. While injuries have interrupted parts of his young career, his power arsenal has continued to make him one of the more intriguing starters in Chicago's rotation when healthy.
The Cardinals present a challenging first assignment. St. Louis entered the weekend at 61-60 and remains in the National League Wild Card race despite sitting behind both the Brewers and Cubs in the division standings. A strong outing from Cabrera would provide another boost for Chicago as it looks to strengthen its postseason position heading into the final weeks of the regular season.
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