What was supposed to be a triumphant return quickly turned into another concern for the Chicago Cubs.
Edward Cabrera returned from the injured list Sunday and took the mound against the St. Louis Cardinals, but his comeback outing could hardly have gone worse. The right-hander was pulled after just 3⅔ innings, having surrendered seven runs, as the Cardinals rolled to an emphatic 11-4 victory at Wrigley Field.
Cabrera had been sidelined since June 23 after suffering a left hamstring and adductor injury. The Cubs activated him Sunday after he completed three rehabilitation starts, including a particularly encouraging five-inning outing in which he allowed no hits and struck out seven.
That promising rehab work, however, did not translate into success against St. Louis.
Cabrera Struggles in Return
Cabrera initially showed flashes of the form the Cubs had hoped to see, but the Cardinals eventually broke through.
The decisive damage came in the fourth inning. Cabrera struggled to command his pitches and surrendered multiple hits and walks before Chicago went to the bullpen. He ultimately departed with the Cardinals already in control.
Even more concerning was the lack of swing-and-miss stuff and the sudden deterioration of his command. Cabrera issued three walks during the fourth inning alone, including a bases-loaded walk that helped fuel St. Louis’ six-run explosion.
There was also another issue surrounding the outing: Cabrera acknowledged that he was dealing with a blister on his middle finger, which affected his start.
That development could give the Cubs another problem to monitor as they attempt to stabilize their pitching staff for the remainder of the season.
A Brutal Day for Chicago
Cabrera’s struggles were part of a nightmare afternoon for the Cubs.
St. Louis erupted for six runs in the fourth inning and added two more in the eighth, with Alec Burleson and Jordan Walker each recording three hits, a home run and four RBIs. Hunter Dobbins also delivered five solid innings for the Cardinals.
Chicago managed home runs from Pete Crow-Armstrong and Miguel Amaya, but the offense could not keep pace with the Cardinals’ barrage.
The loss gave St. Louis an 11-4 win and a series victory over Chicago, making an already difficult weekend even more painful for the Cubs.
Cubs Now Face Questions About Cabrera
The biggest question for Chicago is what happens next with Cabrera.
The Cubs brought him back because they believed his rehab work had demonstrated that he was ready to contribute again. Before his injury, Cabrera had gone 5-4 with a 5.10 ERA in 14 starts during his first season with Chicago.
One poor outing does not erase his potential, particularly after nearly two months away from Major League competition. But the combination of command problems, diminished swing-and-miss ability and the finger-blister issue gives the Cubs plenty to evaluate.
Manager Craig Counsell and the Cubs will now have to determine whether Cabrera simply needs more time to regain his form or whether the physical issue is significant enough to affect his availability.
For a Chicago team with postseason ambitions, that decision could become increasingly important.
Another Blow After Swanson Injury
Cabrera’s rough return also came on a day when Chicago suffered another significant setback.
Shortstop Dansby Swanson exited the game with left oblique discomfort and is expected to undergo further evaluation, with the Cubs preparing to place him on the injured list pending MRI results.
That means Chicago could potentially leave Sunday’s game facing questions about both its rotation and its infield.
The Cubs entered the afternoon hoping Cabrera’s return would strengthen their pitching staff.
Instead, his difficult outing has created another storyline the organization must address.
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